FOREST ADAPTATION PLANNING AND PRACTICES

Transcription

1 FOREST ADAPTATION PLANNING AND PRACTICES ~ ONLINE COURSE ~ Session 4: Identifying Adaptation Strategies, Approaches and Tactics Friday, February 3, 1 pm ET

2 Today s Agenda Step 3 review and why it matters Participant roundrobin: challenges and opportunities Discussion Step 4 intro Conclude

3 Step 3: EVALUATE management objectives given projected impacts and vulnerabilities. Key Question: What management challenges or opportunities might occur? Can current management meet management goals? Do goals need to change?

4 Step 3: EVALUATE management objectives given projected impacts and vulnerabilities. Challenges to Meeting Management Objective with Climate Change Things that will make it harder to achieve the management objective due to climate change. Opportunities to Meeting Management Objective with Climate Change Things that will make it easier to achieve the management objective due to climate change.

5 Step 3: EVALUATE management objectives given projected impacts and vulnerabilities. Feasibility Can you meet your management objectives using current (business-as-usual) management actions? High: We can do it! Opportunities > Challenges Low: We ll need more resources or effort. Challenges > Opportunities Other Considerations Social, financial, or other factors that also affect your ability to meet objectives.

6 Step 3: EVALUATE management objectives given projected impacts and vulnerabilities. Slow down! Are you going to continue with these management objectives?

7 Workbook Cycle: Step 3 1. DEFINE area of interest, management objectives, and time frames. 5. MONITOR and evaluate effectiveness of implemented actions. 2. ASSESS climate change impacts and vulnerabilities for the area of interest. 4. IDENTIFY and implement adaptation approaches and tactics. 3. EVALUATE management objectives given projected impacts and vulnerabilities. or, RE-EVALUATE

8 Step 3 Discussion Remind people where you are and what you re doing. Share your major challenges, then opportunities for meeting management objectives in the face of climate change. Did you change any objectives? If so, why? Be concise! 3 min max!

9 FSI - Ash Mitigation Project Forest stand improvement with a focus on ash mitigation to reduce potential damage for emerald ash borer. Challenges: The ability to maintain species diversity with the loss of ash and hemlock species and the potential for the creation of a red maple monoculture. Opportunities: Possibly the shift from northern species to southern species could increase diversity for the short term but long term we will end up with a less diverse forest.

10 Protecting Riparian Zones with a Focus on Stream Crossings for Forest Management The project's purpose is to protect riparian zones through replacement of failed culverts, restoration of wildlife passage, and to protect riparian zones during forest management activities. Challenges: Opportunities:

11 Quabbin CFI long-term, permanent plot, forest inventory project ongoing since What data we might need to collect to help us see the effects of climate change as they affect managed and unmanaged forests? How can we use these plots to help us better manage our forests? Challenges: Opportunities:

12 Hill-Robert Forest Management Plan and Timber Sale Vermont Land Trust owns a 72-acre parcel, Planning a timber harvest in the next year and upgrade to the forest management plan using the Adaptation Workbook Challenges: Lower growing season precipitation, more frequent heavy rain events, shorter winters, and increased stress on forested systems will all present us with challenges. Getting adequate regeneration and growing those into poles and trees. We will have to be even more vigilant about erosion controls and post-harvest close out. Opportunities: A more temperate climate may make it more desirable for recreation, (although Vermonters do like their winter recreation, so it may be a wash.) More dieback and mortality will make coarse wood, snag, and cavity recruitment easier, if we can get the trees to grow to appropriate sizes.

13 Paul Smiths College Woodlands, Creighton Compartment One compartment within the 12,000 acre Paul Smiths College ownership. Writing a few property management plan to consider climate change. Educational goals to involve students in forest inventory and silvicultural recommendations Challenges: Access to the property for management operations based on weather (mild winters and severe rain events in the summer). Opportunities: There may be some early season maple sugaring opportunities. Any wildlife work that is done to benefit migrant songbirds will likely attract new species as migration patterns change. Also there may be opportunities for students to study what benefits the climate change adaptation management is having.

14 Tighe Carmody Watershed Timber Harvest Project - Western Shore City of Holyoke's watershed focusing on the management of a portion of the watershed on the western shore of the main reservoir. Upcoming timber sale with concerns about soil stability during and post harvest, drainage crossings, timing of harvest, bridge stabilization over the main feeder into the City's water supply. Challenges: Increased volume and frequency of rain storms, warmer winters with more rain, and lack of frozen ground. The protection of water quality is most challenging objective given climate change because we will have to consideration harvest design and engineering, extended schedule for the harvest if winters prove too warm. Opportunities: Warmer temperatures and longer growing benefit overall tree health.

15 Tannery Road Timber Sale Timber sale using uneven- and even-aged techniques. The mixed northern hardwoods currently occupy ~82 ac, and a series of small Norway spruce plantations comprise another ~19 acres. Challenges: The unknowns associated with shifts in species compositions and weather events. Opportunities: The removal of off-site Norway spruce plantations may accelerate. The ability to expedite removals through clearcutting and larger scale harvests is limited, but these limitations do not extend to salvage activities.

16 MacDonald Lot Management Plan Update 90-acre property owned by University of New Hampshire. Currently updating the Management Plan for this property (previous plan completed in 2004). Challenges: Most challenging climate impacts: expanded invasive species, increasing storm frequency/intensity, changing freeze-thaw conditions, changing water supply/dynamics Most challenging vulnerabilities: lack of diversity, existing prevalence of invasive species Opportunities: Most of the climate impacts will generally support the management goals related to education and research opportunities.

17 Invasives Removal and control of invasive species property wide 1,600 acres of tribal ownership. Forest types include northern hardwood, mixed hardwood-conifer, and lowland mixed conifer Challenges: Opportunities:

18 Bristol Lot A 42-acre management proposal to demonstrate a two-age silvicultural system (shelterwood with reserves) and sustain regeneration of oak species through the use of prescribed fire. Central hardwoodpine type. Challenges: Increase risk of moisture deficit and drought during the growing season. Low diversity systems are at greater risk. Insect pests and invasive species could be more problematic. Milder winters may reduce frozen conditions for harvesting equipment. Opportunities: Plant blight resistant chestnuts, which are that are more resistant to insect pests. Insect pests may to some degree increase the structural diversity if the outbreaks are small and scattered. A milder winter may allow early season or late season Rx burns to occur.

19 Forest Buffers in the Exeter-Squamscott (ForBES) Evaluating a subwatershed of the Squamscott-Exeter watershed to determine appropriate watershed:buffer forest requirements to protect ecosystem services, design and placement of forests in both landscape and buffers, and management practices that conserve, restore and adapt to damaged or changing forest ecosystems that ensure water and habitat quality goals are attained. Challenges: Human obduracy to change combined with the inevitability of climate change impacts. Opportunities: Some climate change impacts may change attitudes and open the door to better conservation and management efforts that will build resilience and better sustain ecosystem services with good outcomes for environmental quality.

20 Closed Canopy Forest (Prudence Island, RI) Preserved properties under ownership by three agencies covering 350 acres. Issues include invasives shrubs and vines. Effort will inform restoration component of revised forest management plan. Central hardwood-pine and lowland forest. Challenges: Warmer temperatures & more frequent short-term drought during the growing season. Increased stress and mortality from forest pest species. Groundwater levels would also decline, leading to more tree stress, forest pest impacts, and then invasive species as the forest canopy cover is lost (and so on in a vicious circle). Also: effects on drinking water supply Opportunities: Modest opportunities generally relate to strengthening the argument for management now as opposed to later

21 NorthWoods Stewardship Center ~1,473 acre forest used for conduct timber and habitat management, recreational trails, and education. Revisit 2015 management plan and also consider ~16- acre Norway Spruce plantation. Challenges: Species decline/shifts could impact management strategies that currently favor northern species- balsam fir, sugar maple, yellow birch, etc. Invasive plant/pathogen species -- have not yet been hit with EAB, HWA, etc Increased storm intensity and/or storm "weirdness" (such as early/late winter ice storms) could also cause damage to growing stock. Opportunities: Increasing forest diversity with more southern species is intriguing- some species (oaks, walnut, hickories, etc) have great value for wildlife and as timber trees. Increased productivity from a longer growing season could also be economically beneficial, but may not be significant at our small scale.

22 Moosehorn Road Quabbin Watershed Management Project Forest management of drinking water reservoir's watershed. Maintain a resistant and resilient forest associated with the ecosystem services which protect the water quality of the reservoir. Diversify species and age structure, promote healthy vigorous growth. Challenges: Decline of hemlock, general lack of diverse regeneration, and general lack of species diversity and structural diversity. Opportunities: Red oak and hickories may do better, which could increase species diversity. Increase in growth rate of the adapted species would increase productivity and could improve forest health and vigor. If so, could lead to higher seed production and quicker seedling establishment. Might also lead to lessened browsing impact, although likely temporary as herbivore population would increase with increased food supply.

23 Adaptation Workbook Process Resource: Climate Change Assessments Resource: Adaptation Strategies & Approaches

24 Adaptation Strategies & Approaches A menu of possible actions that allows you to decide what is most relevant for a particular location and set of conditions. Find in: Step 4 of online workbook, Chapter 3-4 of FAR, or

25 Adaptation Strategies and Approaches CONCEPT Option Strategy Approach Tactic Big ideas Increase resistance Build resilience Facilitate transition ACTION See Step 4 Course Materials for a recorded presentation that provides more details.

26 Climate-Driven Changes Desired Future TIME

27 Climate-Driven Changes Desired Future Climate Change Trajectory Increasing resources needed to meet DFC? TIME

28 Adaptation Options RESISTANCE Improve defenses of forest against change Maintain relatively unchanged conditions

29 Adaptation Options RESISTANCE RESILIENCE Improve defenses of forest against change Maintain relatively unchanged conditions Accommodate some degree of change Return to prior condition after disturbance

30 Adaptation Options RESISTANCE RESILIENCE TRANSITION Improve defenses of forest against change Maintain relatively unchanged conditions Accommodate some degree of change Return to prior condition after disturbance Facilitate change Enable ecosystem to respond to new and changing conditions

31 Adaptation Strategies and Approaches CONCEPT ACTION Option Strategy Approach Tactic Broad adaptation responses Sustain fundamental ecological functions Reduce the impact of existing biological stressors Maintain and enhance species and structural diversity Facilitate community adjustments through species transitions

32 Adaptation Strategies and Approaches CONCEPT Option Strategy Approach Tactic More specific actions Promote diverse age classes Maintain and restore diversity of native tree species Identify and move species to sites that are likely to provide future habitat ACTION

33 Adaptation Strategies and Approaches CONCEPT Option Strategy Approach Tactic Prescriptive actions selected by producer that are designed for individual site conditions and management objectives YOU DECIDE! ACTION

34 Adaptation Strategies & Approaches Management Goals & Objectives Climate Change Impacts Challenges & Opportunities Why it s important: Helps connect the dots from broad concepts to specific actions for implementation. Intent of Adaptation (Option) Make Idea Specific (Strategy, Approach) Action to Implement (Tactic)

35 Adaptation actions may not look that different from current management actions, especially in the near term. Same actions climate change just makes them that much more important Small tweaks that improve effectiveness New & different actions to consider, even some that may seem wild & crazy *individual results will vary

36 Step 4: IDENTIFY adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation. Key Question: What actions can enhance the ability of the project area to adapt to anticipated changes and meet management goals?

37 Step 4: IDENTIFY adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation. Approach Select from the menu. Pick any that seem to make sense and help address the challenges. Tactic Describe a specific action you can take. These details should ideally answer what, where, and how you will implement the actions. Approaches Tactics

38 Step 4: IDENTIFY adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation. Timeframe Specify when you will implement the tactic. For example: Summer 2016 Winter Within 3 years of After If then

39 Step 4: IDENTIFY adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation. Benefits Describe why the tactic is good. For example: addresses biggest or multiple challenges is cheap and easy has co-benefits is likely to succeed

40 Step 4: IDENTIFY adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation. Drawbacks and Barriers Describe why it s not so good. For example: it may have negative side effects, Requires high cost or effort may not be successful has social, financial, or other barriers

41 Step 4: IDENTIFY adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation. Practicability Is it both effective (will meet desired intent) and feasible (capable of being implemented)? High: Yes to both! Moderate: Yeah, but it will take some additional effort or planning Low: No, the barriers/drawbacks seem too big or the benefits too small.

42 Step 4: IDENTIFY adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation. Recommend Tactic Given all this, is this tactic likely to be helpful? Also consider: trade-offs, urgency, likelihood of success, cost, and effort Yes: look to integrate into plan, prescription, or other activities No: not useful at this time

43 Step 4.1: Adaptation Tactics Instructions & course materials Menu of Adaptation Strategies and Approaches Add a tactic

44 Step 4.1: Adaptation Tactics Select from pulldowns Details of specific action Add more

45 Step 4.1: Adaptation Tactics Select from pulldowns Details of specific action Add more

46 Step 4.1: Adaptation Tactics Connect tactic to individual objectives

47 Step 4.2: Tactic Recommendations Scroll through forest types/ mgmt topics Recommend? Yes/No

48 Step 4.2: Tactic Recommendations

49 To-do list for next week: Go back and complete Step 3 as needed Complete Step 4: Identifying Adaptation Actions Complete the Homework section after Step 4 These course materials may be helpful: Adaptation Strategies and Approaches Adaptation Demonstrations Come to Session 5 (Fri, Feb 17) ready to discuss your approaches and actions! Thanks everyone! Troubleshooting? Stay on the line.

50 Questions / Comments? Troubleshooting? Stay on the line Next session: Thurs, Feb 11 th 2pm ET / 1pm CT Thanks everyone!

51 Step 4: IDENTIFY adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation. Example Jerktail Mountain Woodland Adaptation Actions Time Drawbacks & Practicability Recomme Approach Tactic Frames Benefits Barriers of Tactic nd Tactic? 2.1. Maintain Selective Every Providing timber This area has low High Yes or improve thinning (economic accessibility for the ability of years benefit). logging operations. forests to Increases light on Topography limits resist pests & the ground to where logging can pathogens. promote an occur Maintain herbaceous Opens up the stand and restore layer. for adverse human diversity of Helps reduce the use. native risk of Too much light can species. pest/pathogen shock some of the 5.3. Retain outbreaks by timber and cause biological reducing density. epicormic sprouting

52 Adaptation Strategies and Approaches CONCEPT Option Strategy Approach Tactic ACTION

53 Adaptation Strategies and Approaches CONCEPT Resistance Facilitate community adjustments through species transitions Identify and move species to sites that are likely to provide future habitat Use volunteer labor to remove barberry and poison ivy from the forest understory and edges ACTION

54 Adaptation Strategies and Approaches CONCEPT Transition Facilitate community adjustments through species transitions Establish or encourage new mixes of native species Increase hardwood component within mixedwood stands for long-term conversion ACTION