Dale Blahna, Robert Deal, Jeff Kline, Trista Patterson, Tom Spies PNW Research Station

John Allen, Cindy Glick, Tom MaferaDeschutes National Forest

Nikola Smith, Karen BennettUSFS Region 6

Ecosystem Services as an All Lands Approach for Forest ManagementA collaboration between the Deschutes National Forest and the USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr852.pdf

Building a New Language for Management:An Ecosystem Services Framework

Articulate the values that the forest provides to the public.

Evaluate effects between management actions and the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services.

Build ecosystem services-based partnerships to design and fund needed work on the ground.

Create analytical tools that allow managers to assess project outcomes and tradeoffs in ecosystem services terms, i.e., across resource areas and over longer time scales.

Project Goals

Place-Based Approach 1.6 million acres along

the east side of the Cascade Range in Central Oregon

Diverse landscape, multiple climatic gradients

350 species of fish and wildlife, including the Northern Spotted Owl

History of fire suppression

One of the most heavily-used forests for recreation in the Pacific Northwest

Who benefits from Forest Service management actions?

Who shares common interests in ecosystem service provision?

The benefits of an ecosystem services approach to management

An integrated approach - allows managers to assess the costs and benefits of projects across resource areas and beyond forest boundaries.

Creates awareness about the services provided by public lands and brings attention to under-valued projects.

Leverages partnerships and funds to implement work needed on the ground.

Ecosystem Services in the USFS Planning Rule

“…..to guide the development, amendment, and revision of land management plans to maintain and restore National Forest System land and water ecosystems while providing for ecosystem services and multiple uses….”

Federal Register - April 9, 2012

From Theory to Practice – The Marsh Project

30,000 acre watershed just South of Crescent Lake in Central Oregon

Focal point: Big Marsh (2,000 acres) one of the highest elevation wetland / marsh complexes in the continental United States

Previously drained for cattle grazing. USFS and partners restored much of the hydrology and habitat.

Management Context

State’s largest Oregon Spotted Frog habitatHabitat for two rare graminoids (Scirpus subterminalis , Carex lasiocarpa)Matsutake mushroom , big game and fish habitatGreat grey and northern spotted owlTwo Late Successional ReservesOregon Cascades Recreation AreaImportant for late season water storage and flows to Little Deschutes RiverLimited motorized access, valued for dispersed recreation

Fire Regime Condition Class 3

• Dense lodgepole pine stands• Mixed conifer has contiguous ladder fuels• Reminiscent of conditions pre-Davis Fire (2003)

Resource/Activity Project Target/Metric FY08 Accomplishment Ecosystem Services Outcomes

Fuel Treatment Fuel Reduction Acres 25,000 Forest resilience to disturbance, resulting in sustained vegetation cover that provides climate, water and erosion regulation

Wildlife habitat Community safety Economic wellbeing (property protection)

Comparison of Targets with Ecosystem Services Accomplishments

"The Forest Service must not be viewed as an agency concerned only with the fate of our National Forests, but must instead be acknowledged for its work in protecting and maintaining all American forests, including state and private lands.”

- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

The USDA “All Lands Approach”

photo credits: Duncan Berry

“Integrated Resource Restoration” Emphases- Stressors and resiliency of ecosystems- Engagement of diverse groups and individuals- Utilizing traditional and emerging markets to improve ecosystem functions

Willamette National ForestSweet Home Ranger District

Participatory Planning Approach

• Collaboratively evaluate the inherent capacity of the landscape to provide ecosystem services

• Cascade Timber Consulting, South Santiam Watershed Council, City of Sweet Home, Linn County Parks, forest products industry, environmental organizations, universities, state and federal agencies

• Understand changes to that capacity based on historic land uses and existing conditions

• Cooperatively develop a restoration plan that is ecologically sustainable and economically viable

Articulating the Value of an Ecosystem Services Approach

for Forest Management

Working with partners to increase capacity to define water quality and habitat benefits that result from upland forest management

Stimulates market development and public / private partnerships

Encourages collaborative approaches to landscape scale restoration

Implementing an All-Lands Ecosystem Services

Framework An Ecosystem Services Framework can support a

more integrated, landscape scale approach that sustains the multiple benefits forests provide.

Increasing capacity to articulate connections between forests, ecosystem services and public benefits can stimulate market activity for restoration and encourage partnerships across ownerships.