THE CROWN OF THE CONTINENT ECOSYSTEM HIGH FIVE WORKING GROUP Progress Update and Path Forward

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1 THE CROWN OF THE CONTINENT ECOSYSTEM HIGH FIVE WORKING GROUP Progress Update and Path Forward WBEF Science and Management Conference Jasper, AB September 21, 2017 Melissa Jenkins, U.S. Co-Chair, USFS Flathead NF Brad Jones, Canadian Co-Chair, Alberta Environment and Parks

2 60 % of area is in public lands No know extinctions since Lewis and Clark

3 CCE is Administratively Complex Jurisdictions First Nations & Tribal Lands National Parks US Bureau of Land Management Municipal Government Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Federal Plum Creek (Weyerhaeuser) Private Land Private Conservation Provincially Protected State Trust US Fish & Wildlife US Forest Service

4 CROWN OF THE CONTINENT Whitebark and Limber Pine Range Limber Whitebark Whitebark Limber Map courtesy of Shannon Blackadder, CMP, with WBEF data

5 CROWN OF THE CONTINENT Whitebark Pine: 29,824 km 2 41% of CCE Limber Pine 15,017 km 2 20% of CCE Map courtesy of Shannon Blackadder, CMP, with WBEF data

6 5NP HEALTH STATUS AND TRENDS IN THE CROWN Canada and Glacier NP (Smith et al. 2013) Blister Rust infection levels ~80% for limber and whitebark Infection levels increased twice as fast in limber vs whitebark over the last decade Bob Marshall Wilderness (Keane 2015) Trend % decline in live trees 90% decrease in live but unhealthy trees 137% increase in number of dead trees British Columbia (Moody and Murray 2015) CCE WBP most unhealthy of all regions in BC with less than 10% of the trees healthy.

7 Climactic Shifts in the Crown to Date Temperature The Crown is getting warmer, on average ( degrees F) Number of hot days (+90 F) has tripled in the last century; from 5 to 15, on avg., per year Number of extremely cold days (<0 F) has decreased: from 30-44, on avg., days per year, to 14 Last three years have been the warmest on record across U.S. Precipitation Shallower snowpack: 15-30% decrease since 1950 Winter precipitation arriving more often as rain instead of snow Potential for winter precipitation to increase Potential to increase the frequency and/or severity of drought cycles during summer months Slide courtesy of Anne Carlson, The Wilderness Society

8 WE NEED THE NEEDLES: Coordinating Action to Conserve 5-Needle Pine Forests in the Crown of the Continent

9 CHALLENGES FOR ACCELERATING THE PACE AND SCALE OF RESTORATION MULTI-STAKEHOLDER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION Jurisdictional complexity and lack of formal means for coordination Establish a Crown-Wide High Five Working Group Need for increased public awareness of the severity of the problem Need to prioritize restoration investments in high priority areas across the Crown Develop and implement a Crown-Wide Communications Strategy; Consider a citizen science initiative Develop and implement a Crown-Wide Restoration Strategy and Action Plan Uncertainty about how climate change will affect restoration effectiveness Lack of consistent guidance about restoration in Wilderness/Highly Protected areas Continued loss of 5NP to development Work with scientists to develop a Best Practices Guide to the Management of Fire in Five- Needle Pine Forests Work with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute on decision framework to identify triggers/thresholds for action Develop a Crown-wide Mitigation Strategy and Best Management Practices to avoid loss of individuals and stands

10 First Meeting of the CCE Hi5 WG Sept 2016

11 CCE High-Five Working Group Leadership Team 2 Co-chairs, Canada and U.S. 2 Associate Chairs, Canada and U.S. 1 Member of the Crown Managers Partnership (CMP)- liaison between the Hi5 WG and CMP 6 Subcommittee Leads

12 CCE High-Five Working Group Subcommittees Loss Mitigation Inventory and Monitoring Restoration Strategy and Action Plan Protected Area Restoration Strategy Fire Management Communications Strategy

13 CCE Hi5 Working Group Leadership Members U.S. Co-Chair: Melissa Jenkins, Flathead NF Canada Co-Chair: Brad Jones, Alberta Environment and Parks U.S. Associate Co-Chair: Dawn LaFleur, Glacier NP Canada Associate Co-Chair: Randy Moody, WPEF of Canada Crown Managers Partnership Liaison: Linh Hoang, USFS Region 1 Loss Mitigation Subcommittee: Randy Moody, WPEF of Canada Inventory and Monitoring Subcommittee: Greg DeNitto, Forest Pathologist, US FS Regions 1and 4 Restoration Strategy and Action Plan Subcommittee: Robert Sissions, Waterton Lakes NP and Michael Murray, BC FS Protected Area Restoration Strategy Subcommittee: Anne Carlson, The Wilderness Society Fire Management Subcommittee: Bob Keane, USFS, RMRS Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory Communications Strategy Subcommittee: Megan Evans, Alberta Environment and Parks

14 Year 1 CCE Hi5 Working Group Accomplishments and Progress

15 Leadership Team Accomplishments Finalized charter and mission statement Evaluated and dropped concept of MOU Conducted annual spring conference call Planning of annual fall meeting in coordination with Whitebark Pine National Summit Outreach to increase interest and membership We are always recruiting! Established Hi5 WG page on CMP website:

16 Inventory and Monitoring Subcommittee Progress Create a CCE-wide inventory and monitoring database. Where is it and what condition is it in? PROGRESS UPDATE: Developed predictive distribution modeling for whitebark pine and limber pine for the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. September 2017, developed a white paper to guide the Hi5 Working Group in creating a common database.

17 Fine scale predictive model Based on point data from multiple jurisdictions Available on ScienceBase.gov Search for Crown Managers Partnership: Transboundary Conservation Initiative or talog/item/51102e04e4b048b5c ead853b Credit: Shannon Blackadder, CMP

18 Fine scale predictive model Based on point data from multiple jurisdictions Available on ScienceBase.gov Search for Crown Managers Partnership: Transboundary Conservation Initiative or talog/item/51102e04e4b048b5c ead853b Credit: Shannon Blackadder, CMP

19 Protected Area Restoration Subcommittee Progress Develop recommendations to guide approaches for whitebark & limber pine restoration in highly protected areas Work with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute decision framework to identify triggers/thresholds for action Emphasize transparency and uncertainty of science during decision making PROGRESS UPDATE: Once the restoration strategy identifies what activities are proposed in wilderness areas, they will start the process Rust killed stand-bob Marshall

20 Fire Management Subcommittee Progress Develop recommendations to guide pro-active fire management in whitebark and limber pine forests. PROGRESS UPDATE: In June 2017, finalized peer reviewed document Guidelines and Best Practices for Managing Fire in Whitebark Pine Stands in the Crown of the Continent, a fire management strategy for facilitating the restoration of whitebark pine on subalpine landscapes of the CCE.

21 Best Mgt Practices for Managing Wildfire in the CCE

22 Best Management Fire Practices by Stand Condition Summary of what to do before, during and after wildfire by site type/stand condition: Site type Landscape or Stand condition Best fire management practices Possible prescribed burning actions before fire Possible companion mechanical restoration actions before fire Possible restoration actions after wildfire or treatment Other Concerns (Notes) SERAL BURNED PS, WFU None None PLANT, MON RR,PT EARLY PS, WFU None SFT, DAY PLANT, MON RR,PT MID PS, WFU PFLI THIN, FA PLANT, MON FR,RR,PT,PILE LATE WFU PFMI, PFLI, PFHI THIN, FA, SEL, NO PLANT, MON FR,RR, PT,PILE FIR WFU PFHI, PFMI NO, SEL PLANT, MON FR,RR, PT,PILE MORT PS, FS, WFU PFLI, PFMI SEL, NO, THIN, SFT, DAY, FA PLANT, MON FR,RR, PT,PILE TREAT FS, WFU None None MON CLIMAX ALL PS, WFU None SFT, DAY PLANT, MON RR, PT

23 Communication Strategy Subcommittee Progress Develop a multi-faceted communications strategy to raise awareness and support for whitebark and limber pine restoration and conservation PROGRESS UPDATE: A framework for the strategy has been developed and needs populating

24 Loss Mitigation Subcommittee Progress Develop a mitigation strategy and best management practices to avoid loss of whitebark and limber pine or habitat degradation Focus on commercial/ industrial activity Apply to conservation and management planning

25 Loss Mitigation Subcommittee Progress PROGRESS UPDATE: In July 2017, the subcommittee completed a draft Beneficial Management Practices for Whitebark and Limber Pine document. Document is currently in review and comments are welcome and appreciated Short, less-technical overview pamphlet to be developed

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27 Restoration Strategy Subcommittee Progress Develop (and implement) a Crown-wide restoration strategy and action plan. Prioritize areas for conservation and restoration Link to Loss Mitigation Subcommittee Incorporate clear guidelines for restoration Link to Fire and Wilderness Restoration subcommittees Identify mechanisms for sharing resources identify opportunities for new funding Ensure the strategy fits into broader scale restoration priorities beyond the Crown

28 Restoration Strategy Subcommittee Progress PROGRESS UPDATE: Information needs assessment completed; low turn out Draft summary pending Assessment is starting point for subcommittee Convene a workshop to begin planning for and developing a Crown-wide Restoration Strategy and Action Plan at the upcoming High Five Working Group meeting in Missoula, November 6 th and 8 th

29 What s next? Our 2 nd annual meeting is in Missoula Nov 6 th and 8 th. Join us to learn and help meet more High Five milestones!

30 Thank you to all of the CCE High Five Working Group members for your contributions to our progress! Special thanks to Regan Nelson, Crown Conservation Initiative, for her significant and continued support of our efforts!