Effects of Fire and Commercial Thinning on Future Habitat of the Northern Spotted Owl

Odion, Dennis C.; Hanson, Chad T.; DellaSala, Dominick A.; Baker, William L.; Bond, Monica L.

doi:10.2174/1874213001407010037

Cited by 11 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…This assumption may overestimate the loss of habitat to fire. Odion et al (2014) also found that thinning treatments in fire-prone landscapes reduced owl habitat more than did wildfire.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Using an agent-based model to examine forest management outcomes in a fire-prone landscape in Oregon, USA

Spies¹,

White²,

Ager³

et al. 2017

E&S

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. 2017. Using an agent-based model to examine forest management outcomes in a fire-prone landscape in Oregon, USA. Ecology and Society 22 (1) ABSTRACT. Fire-prone landscapes present many challenges for both managers and policy makers in developing adaptive behaviors and institutions. We used a coupled human and natural systems framework and an agent-based landscape model to examine how alternative management scenarios affect fire and ecosystem services metrics in a fire-prone multiownership landscape in the eastern Cascades of Oregon. Our model incorporated existing models of vegetation succession and fire spread and information from original empirical studies of landowner decision making. Our findings indicate that alternative management strategies can have variable effects on landscape outcomes over 50 years for fire, socioeconomic, and ecosystem services metrics. For example, scenarios with federal restoration treatments had slightly less high-severity fire than a scenario without treatment; exposure of homes in the wildland-urban interface to fire was also slightly less with restoration treatments compared to no management. Treatments appeared to be more effective at reducing high-severity fire in years with more fire than in years with less fire. Under the current management scenario, timber production could be maintained for at least 50 years on federal lands. Under an accelerated restoration scenario, timber production fell because of a shortage of areas meeting current stand structure treatment targets. Trade-offs between restoration outcomes (e.g., open forests with large fire-resistant trees) and habitat for species that require dense older forests were evident. For example, the proportional area of nesting habitat for northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) was somewhat less after 50 years under the restoration scenarios than under no management. However, the amount of resilient older forest structure and habitat for white-headed woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) was higher after 50 years under active management. More carbon was stored on this landscape without management than with management, despite the occurrence of high-severity wildfire. Our results and further applications of the model could be used in collaborative settings to facilitate discussion and development of policies and practices for fire-prone landscapes.

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“…This assumption may overestimate the loss of habitat to fire. Odion et al (2014) also found that thinning treatments in fire-prone landscapes reduced owl habitat more than did wildfire.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Using an agent-based model to examine forest management outcomes in a fire-prone landscape in Oregon, USA

Spies¹,

White²,

Ager³

et al. 2017

E&S

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Currently, a deficit in high-severity fire exists in most of western North America compared to historical levels [49,54]. Recruitment of older forests in dry ecoprovinces of the region is projected to outpace fire losses for the next several decades [55].…”

Section: Northern Spotted Owl Decline Slowed But Not Reversedmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, forest thinning may lead to cumulative losses in owl habitat that exceed those from severe fires. Using state transition models that accounted for recruitment of owl habitat over time vs. presumed habitat losses from severe fires, Odion et al [55] concluded that thinning of suitable owl habitat at intensities (22% to 45% of dry forest provinces) recommended by USFWS [40] would reduce LSOG three to seven times more than loss attributed to high-severity fires. Projected thinning losses were consistent with empirically based studies of habitat loss from thinning that reduced overstory canopy below minimum thresholds for owl prey species [56].…”

Section: Northern Spotted Owl Decline Slowed But Not Reversedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Building on Two Decades of Ecosystem Management and Biodiversity Conservation under the Northwest Forest Plan, USA

DellaSala

Baker

Heiken³

et al. 2015

Forests

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Abstract:The 1994 Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) shifted federal lands management from a focus on timber production to ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation. The plan established a network of conservation reserves and an ecosystem management strategy on ~10 million hectares from northern California to Washington State, USA, within the range of the federally threatened northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). Several subsequent assessments-and 20 years of data from monitoring OPEN ACCESSForests 2015, 6 3327 programs established under the plan-have demonstrated the effectiveness of this reserve network and ecosystem management approach in making progress toward attaining many of the plan's conservation and ecosystem management goals. This paper (1) showcases the fundamental conservation biology and ecosystem management principles underpinning the NWFP as a case study for managers interested in large-landscape conservation; and (2) recommends improvements to the plan's strategy in response to unprecedented climate change and land-use threats. Twenty years into plan implementation, however, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, under pressure for increased timber harvest, are retreating from conservation measures. We believe that federal agencies should instead build on the NWFP to ensure continuing success in the Pacific Northwest. We urge federal land managers to (1) protect all remaining late-successional/old-growth forests; (2) identify climate refugia for at-risk species; (3) maintain or increase stream buffers and landscape connectivity; (4) decommission and repair failing roads to improve water quality; (5) reduce fire risk in fire-prone tree plantations; and (6) prevent logging after fires in areas of high conservation value. In many respects, the NWFP is instructive for managers considering similar large-scale conservation efforts.

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“…Thus, NSO habitat and old-growth forests were likely maintained by mixed-severity fires. Efforts to reduce fuels and to prevent these fires in all areas will likely reduce future NSO habitat (see also Odion et al 2014). To maintain NSO habitat likely first requires restoration of historical fuels, which included abundant shrubs, small trees, and dense forests (Baker 2012).…”

Section: Old-growth Forest and Mixed-severity Firesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical Northern spotted owl habitat and old-growth dry forests maintained by mixed-severity wildfires

Baker

2014

Landscape Ecol

Self Cite

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Context Reconstructing historical habitat could help reverse declining animal populations, but detailed, spatially comprehensive data are rare. For example, habitat for the federally threatened Northern spotted owl (NSO; Strix occidentalis caurina) was thought historically rare because low-severity fires kept forests open and habitat restricted to fire refugia, but spatial historical data are lacking. Objectives Here I use public land-surveys to spatially reconstruct NSO habitat and old-growth forests in dry forests in Oregon's Eastern Cascades in the late1800s. I used reconstructions of forest structure across about 280,000 ha, including 9,605 tree records and 2,180 section-line descriptions. I was able to reconstruct likely NSO nest trees, nest stands, and foraging and roosting habitat, based on modern NSO habitat studies. Results Historical nest stands, including sufficient nest trees, were predicted across 22-39 % and foraging and roosting habitat across 11-68 % of the study area, thus neither were rare. More habitat than expected occurred in forests with preceding mixedseverity fires. Early post-fire succession produced foraging and roosting habitat. Mid-to late-succession produced nesting habitat. Late-succession after highseverity fires can also provide NSO habitat. Oldgrowth forests, covering 76 % of study-area forests, also likely link to preceding mixed-severity fires.Conclusions Mixed-and high-severity fires strongly shaped historical dry forests and produced important components of historical NSO habitat. Focus on shortterm loss of nest sites and territories to these fires is mis-directed. Fuel treatments to reduce these natural fires, if successful, would reduce future habitat of the NSO in dry forests.

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Effects of Fire and Commercial Thinning on Future Habitat of the Northern Spotted Owl

Cited by 11 publications

References 49 publications

Using an agent-based model to examine forest management outcomes in a fire-prone landscape in Oregon, USA

Using an agent-based model to examine forest management outcomes in a fire-prone landscape in Oregon, USA

Building on Two Decades of Ecosystem Management and Biodiversity Conservation under the Northwest Forest Plan, USA

Historical Northern spotted owl habitat and old-growth dry forests maintained by mixed-severity wildfires

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