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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 National Council on Science for the Environment “NCSE” www.ncssf.org The Commission Science 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 F Stakeholder 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 Former members: Chip Collins - TFG, Wally Covington - NAU, Phil Janik - USFS, Mark Schaefer - NatureServe, Mark Schaffer - DoW NCSSF Mission Provide Solutions for Sustainable Forestry “To improve the scientific basis for the development, implementation and evaluation of sustainable forestry practices in the United States.” How NCSSF Works Linking Science to Practice User 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 NCSSF Program Evolution 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 NCSSF Deliberations Synthesize into Findings and Implications for Users NCSSF 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, nonindustrial forests (C) Monitoring protocols (C) Global wood market effects on forests (C) First Findings Report FIRST FINDINGS REPORT Purpose: 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 NCSSF Findings Significance and Value for Users and Producers 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 Draft Report - Peer Review 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 Sustainable 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 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 Biodiversity Biodiversity The 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 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 nonhuman life on Earth NCSSF Findings Multi-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 Scale Biodiversity 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 Disturbance Disturbance 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) 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 Indicators Match 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 Management Adaptive 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 – 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 Sustainability Forest Values to be Sustained Problems to be Solved Evaluation “Audit” Indicators ADAPTATION Plan: Assessment, Strategies Monitoring & Research Actions Work in Progress NCSSF Ongoing Work 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 2005 New Work Emphasis 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 NCSSF Measures of Success 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 Questions or Comments?