science biodiversity and sustainable forestry
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SCIENCE BIODIVERSITY and SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY. A Findings Report of the NATIONAL COMMISSION on SCIENCE for SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY. NCSSF. January 4, 2005. NATIONAL COMMISSION on SCIENCE for SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY. A Program Conducted by the - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
SCIENCESCIENCEBIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY andand
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRYSUSTAINABLE FORESTRY
A Findings Report of the
NATIONAL COMMISSION on SCIENCE for SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY
NCSSFNCSSFJanuary 4, 2005January 4, 2005
NATIONAL COMMISSION on SCIENCE NATIONAL COMMISSION on SCIENCE for SUSTAINABLE FORESTRYfor SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY
A Program Conducted by theNational Council on Science for the Environment “NCSE”
www.ncssf.orgwww.ncssf.org
The CommissionThe CommissionScience CapabilitiesScience Capabilities
Ann Bartuska - USFS Joyce Berry - CSU Norm Christensen** - Duke John Gordon* - Yale Al Lucier- NCASI David Perry - OSU/UHI Ron Pulliam - UGA Hal Salwasser*** - OSU
Stakeholder NeedsStakeholder Needs
Greg Aplet - Wilderness Soc. Jim Brown – ODF/OR GNRO Bruce Cabarle - WWF Nils Christoffersen - WR Sharon Haines - IP Al Sample - Pinchot Inst. Tom Thompson – USFS Scott Wallinger - MWV
* Chair 2000-2001; ** Chair 2002-2003; *** Chair 2003-2005
F
Former members: Chip Collins - TFG, Wally Covington - NAU, Phil Janik - USFS, Mark Schaefer - NatureServe, Mark Schaffer - DoW
NCSSF MissionNCSSF MissionProvide Solutions for Sustainable Provide Solutions for Sustainable
ForestryForestry
““To improve the scientific basis for the To improve the scientific basis for the
development,development, implementationimplementation andand
evaluationevaluation of sustainable forestry of sustainable forestry
practices in the United States.”practices in the United States.”
How NCSSF WorksHow NCSSF Works
Linking Science to PracticeLinking Science to PracticeUser Needs Survey, Projects and WorkshopsUser Needs Survey, Projects and Workshops
Survey of practitioners, managers & policymakers
Eastern and Western interactive workshops
Identify gaps & prioritize user needs
Adapt NCSSF program to address key needs
Synthesize and translate science into usable tools and information – handoff to users
From: Doing Research To: Delivering Results
Synthesis Project Results Provide Useful Information and Identify Gaps
Research Project Results Develop New Knowledge and Applications
Tool Development Projects Pilot Demonstrations
Project Results and Synthesize into Findings NCSSF Deliberations and Implications for Users
NCSSF Program EvolutionNCSSF Program Evolution
NCSSF Projects – 2001-2004NCSSF Projects – 2001-2004 Fundamentals
State-of-science review (R) User needs, product utility (W) Biodiversity in forest planning (S) Biodiversity indicators (A) Ecosystem function indicators (A) Conservation theories and field
validation (B) Relative risk assessment (B) Conservation at multiple scales (A) Forest purposes in context (C)
Historical Influences Native American land uses (B) European settlement land uses (B) 20th century forest management (A) Non-native invasive species (A) Non-wood forest products (A) Management and ownership (B)
Managing for Resilience and Productivity Public values and attitudes (C) Biodiversity and wood-production forestry (C) Fire, forest “health,” biodiversity (S,C) Hydrology, water, biodiversity (A) Managing non-native invasive species (C) Old growth forest diversity (C) Risk management (B) Ecological restoration (A,C) Fragmentation effects (A) Decision support systems (A,C) Conservation incentives for private, non-
industrial forests (C) Monitoring protocols (C) Global wood market effects on forests (C)
First Findings ReportFirst Findings Report
FIRST FINDINGS REPORTFIRST FINDINGS REPORTPurpose: Present Commission findings to date and implications for users – 2-3 years of 5-year program
Audience: Users including: field practitioners, resource managers scientists, and policy makers
Sources: Commissioners’ deliberations, stakeholder input and NCSSF projects
Credibility of a diverse, independent body of
experts & stakeholders:
- Honest broker in identifying consensus findings and
implications
- Unique, interactive process engaging scientists,
managers, and decision makers
- Syntheses of existing information plus new work
commissioned to fill key gaps, build new tools
NCSSF FindingsNCSSF FindingsSignificance and Value for Users and ProducersSignificance and Value for Users and Producers
Jerry Rose – NASF
Joel Holtrop – USFS
Ajit Kirshnaswamy – NNFP
Si Balch – New England FF
Paul Trianosky – S.E. TNC
James Agee – U. Wash.
John Helms – U.C. Berkeley
Draft Report - Peer ReviewDraft Report - Peer Review
Sustainable ForestrySustainable Forestry
The suite of forest policies, plans and practices that seek to
sustain a specified
array of forest
benefits in a
particular place, i.e.,
conditions, values,
functions, uses,
products, &
services.
Sustainable ForestrySustainable Forestry A dynamic process and goal; not a single, fixed
end point Changes with knowledge and societal needs and
values
Benefits vary by forest purpose/ownership
Place varies from small sites to landscapes
and regions
Time horizon is decades to centuries
BiodiversityBiodiversity
BiodiversityBiodiversityThe variety and abundance of all life forms in
a place … and
the processes,
functions and
structures that
sustain variety
and allow it to
adapt to change
Why Biodiversity in Sustainable Why Biodiversity in Sustainable Forestry?Forestry?
Biological foundation for productivity, resilience in all ecosystems
Forests are typically rich in biodiversity – much is not readily observable; we usually only see the large plants and animals
Biodiversity effects forest sustainability and forest management effects biodiversity
SFM systems recognize importance of biodiversity: MP C&I, FSC, SFI, others
Ethical issues regarding role of humans vis a vis non-human life on Earth
NCSSF FindingsNCSSF FindingsMulti-scale context for biodiversity
Stands to landscapes, ecosystem legacies, mgmt. variations, fragments
Disturbance dynamics shape diversity Fire, invasive species, land uses, weather/geologic events,
climate change: future range of variation (FRV) needed
Indicators are essential Biodiversity is intractable w/o indicators to represent values/goals;
selection criteria, stakeholder process being tested
Adaptive management is key to success Constant change, adaptive problem solving tools, management
as experiments to test theories
ScaleScale
Biodiversity and ScaleBiodiversity and Scale Conservation knowledge and policies must
span multiple scales in space and time
Ecosystem “legacies” influence diversity
Forest fragments support reduced biodiversity
but rarely act like “islands”
Strategies must be place and time specific – no
universal generalities
DisturbanceDisturbance
Disturbance Dynamics KeyDisturbance Dynamics Key HRV useful but limited utility for SFM; need
practical FRV concept
Fire is major shaper of forest biodiversity at
multiple scales
Invasive species can cause radical ecosystem
changes; require interdisciplinary strategies
Disturbance variation is connected to climate
change, human land uses, management
Future Range of Variation (FRV)Future Range of Variation (FRV)
Legacy effects are lasting
Climate change is continual
More people with changing resource
demands, values, risk tolerance
Invasive species create new challenges
New technologies, “toys,” knowledge
IndicatorsIndicators
Match Indicators to Values, GoalsMatch Indicators to Values, Goals Biodiversity is too complex to address without
use of indicators No universal set of core indicators Clear objectives essential for indicator selection;
they represent different diversity values Structured, participatory process developed for
indicator selection and use Indicators serve different purposes SFM needs to rethink how it has used indicators
Adaptive ManagementAdaptive Management
Adaptive ManagementAdaptive Management Sustainability is NOT possible without continual
adaptation Biodiversity conservation requires traditional
forestry plus more NTFP impacts poorly understood Ready, open access to information, decision
support systems key to successful adaptation Conservation theories need adaptive
management for field validation
Adaptive Management – Adaptive Management – Its More Different than You Think!Its More Different than You Think!
Uncertainties, complex interactions, value conflicts are not solvable through technical plans, theories, models, more and better science alone
Works best when managers, scientists, stakeholders in constant conversation: testing ideas, sharing goals, taking risks, adjusting to new information -- TOGETHER
Requires redirection of resources from excessive planning to bold action, effective monitoring
Linking Values to SustainabilityLinking Values to Sustainability
Forest Values to be SustainedForest Values to be SustainedProblems to be SolvedProblems to be Solved
IndicatorsIndicators
Plan: Plan: Assessment, StrategiesAssessment, Strategies
ActionsActions
Monitoring & ResearchMonitoring & Research
EvaluationEvaluation““Audit”Audit”
ADAPTATIONADAPTATION
Work in ProgressWork in Progress
Public biodiversity awareness, attitudes and values Post-fire management and biodiversity – 3 regions Science basis for biodiversity standards & practices Guidelines for participatory monitoring Curriculum for non-timber forest products training Incentives for private forest owners – non-industrial Old growth strategies – PNW, NE & SE Impacts of global wood markets on forest biodiversity Planted forests and biodiversity Non-native invasive species management strategies Conservation planning and biodiversity Field trials of indicator selection protocol
NCSSF Ongoing WorkNCSSF Ongoing Work
NCSSF 2005 New WorkNCSSF 2005 New WorkEmphasis on Delivering Results:
Design “hand off” process for 2006 Applications workshops for users Illustrated implementation guide
book Applications of ecosystem
functions scorecard SFM certification “outcomes
assessment” protocol (FSC/SFI) HRV update to FRV approach Adaptive mgmt. implementation Economics of SFM practices
Increased awareness & understanding of SFM and biodiversity by policy makers, managers, practitioners and researchers
High quality research results published widely in peer reviewed journals
Communication of usable information to foresters and stakeholders
Application of NCSSF knowledge & tools to SFM policies, management and practices
NCSSF Measures of SuccessNCSSF Measures of Success
Questions or Comments?Questions or Comments?