Conserving Forest Biodiversity

by Lindenmayer, David B.

• ISBN13: 9781559639354
• ISBN10: 1559639350
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-07-01
• Publisher: Island Pr

Summary

While most efforts at biodiversity conservation have focused primarily on protected areas and reserves, the unprotected lands surrounding those areathe "matrix"are equally important to preserving global biodiversity and maintaining forest health. In Conserving Forest Biodiversity, leading forest scientists David B. Lindenmayer and Jerry F. Franklin argue that the conservation of forest biodiversity requires a comprehensive and multiscaled approach that includes both reserve and nonreserve areas. They lay the foundations for such a strategy, bringing together the latest scientific information on landscape ecology, forestry, conservation biology, and related disciplines as they examine:the importance of the matrix in key areas of ecology such as metapopulation dynamics, habitat fragmentation, and landscape connectivitygeneral principles for matrix managementusing natural disturbance regimes to guide human disturbancelandscape-level and stand-level elements of matrix management the role of adaptive management and monitoringsocial dimensions and tensions in implementing matrix-based forest managementIn addition, they present five case studies that illustrate aspects and elements of applied matrix management in forests. The case studies cover a wide variety of conservation planning and management issues from North America, South America, and Australia, ranging from relatively intact forest ecosystems to an intensively managed plantation.Conserving Forest Biodiversitypresents strategies for enhancing matrix management that can play a vital role in the development of more effective approaches to maintaining forest biodiversity. It examines the key issues and gives practical guidelines for sustained forest management, highlighting the critical role of the matrix for scientists, managers, decisionmakers, and other stakeholders involved in efforts to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem processes in forest landscapes.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
Introduction	1	(2)
PART I---PRINCIPLES FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN THE MATRIX	3	(70)
Critical Roles for the Matrix	5	(12)
Defining Biodiversity and Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management	6	(1)
Defining the Matrix from a Conservation Biology and Landscape Ecology Perspective	6	(1)
Critical Roles for the Matrix	7	(8)
Limitations of a Reserve-Only Conservation Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation	15	(2)
The Matrix and Major Themes in Landscape Ecology and Conservation Biology	17	(24)
Models of Landscape Cover	18	(4)
The Corridor-Patch-Matrix Model	18	(1)
The Landscape Continuum Model	18	(3)
Congruence between the Corridor-Patch-Matrix and Landscape Continuum Models	21	(1)
Limitations in the Application of the Land the Landscape Models	21	(1)
Landscape Models and the Terminology Used in This Book	22	(1)
The Matrix and Major Themes in Conservation Biology	22	(17)
Island Biogeography	22	(2)
Nested Subset Theory	24	(1)
Habitat Loss, Habitat Fragmentation, and Landscape Composition	25	(6)
Metapopulation Dynamics	31	(3)
Connectivity and Corridors	34	(1)
Extinction Proneness	35	(1)
Reserve Selection	36	(1)
Edge Effects	36	(3)
The Matrix and the Importance of Habitat	39	(1)
Conclusion	39	(2)
Objectives and Principles for Developing Comprehensive Plans for Forest Biodiversity Conservation	41	(14)
The Primary Objective: Maintenance of Suitable Habitat for a Range of Spatial Scales	42	(1)
Principles for Maintaining Suitable Habitat at Multiple Spatial Scales	43	(8)
The Indicator Species Concept	51	(2)
Other Principles	53	(2)
Using Information about Natural Forests, Landscapes, and Disturbance Regimes	55	(18)
Natural Disturbances in Forests	56	(4)
Natural Disturbance as a Guide for Biodiversity Conservation	60	(2)
Natural Disturbance as a Guide for Forest Management at the Landscape Level	62	(2)
Natural Disturbance as a Guide for Forest Management at the Stand Level	64	(4)
Lessons for Forest Ecosystem Restoration from Intense Stand-Replacing Disturbances	68	(1)
The Lack of Congruence between Natural and Human Disturbances	69	(1)
Historic or Natural Range of Variability	70	(3)
PART II---BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACROSS MULTIPLE SPATIAL SCALES	73	(134)
Importance and Limitations of Large Ecological Reserves	75	(20)
The Importance of Large Ecological Reserves	75	(1)
Large Ecological Reserves and Restricted Communities	76	(1)
Large Ecological Reserves and Human Disturbance	76	(3)
The Design of Reserve Systems	79	(5)
Management within Reserves	84	(1)
Reserve Selection and Design in the Real World	85	(1)
Limitations of a Reserve-Only Conservation Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation	86	(8)
Matrix Management Versus Reserves	94	(1)
Landscape-Level Considerations within the Matrix: Protected Habitat at the Patch Level	95	(34)
A Checklist for Forest Biodiversity Conservation	96	(1)
Approaches to Landscape Management	97	(1)
The Role of Midspatial-Scale Protected Habitats within the Matrix	98	(1)
Protecting and Sustaining Aquatic Ecosystems	99	(13)
Stream and River Networks	100	(10)
Lakes, Ponds, and Wetlands	110	(2)
Wildlife Corridors	112	(4)
Corridor Width	113	(1)
Corridor Densities	114	(1)
Objectives of Establishing Wildlife Corridors	115	(1)
Alternatives to Wildlife Corridors	115	(1)
Other Important and Unique Areas	116	(12)
Specialized Habitats	116	(6)
Biological Hotspots	122	(1)
Remnant Patches of Late-Successional or Old-Growth Forest	123	(2)
Disturbance Refugia	125	(1)
Cultural Sites	125	(1)
Protecting and Managing Sensitive Areas, Special Habitats, and Disturbance Refugia in the Matrix	126	(2)
Conclusion	128	(1)
Landscape-Level Considerations: Goals for Structures and Habitats, Transport Systems, and Distribution of Harvest Units in Space and Time	129	(34)
Landscape-Level Goals for Structures and Habitat Conditions	130	(2)
Specified Minimum Levels of Structures	130	(1)
Landscape-Level Thresholds Associated with Cumulative Watershed Impacts	131	(1)
Transportation Network and Logging Systems	132	(8)
Impacts of Roads on Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biota	134	(2)
Impacts of Roads on Aquatic Ecosystems and Biota	136	(1)
Modifying Road Networks to Reduce Impacts on Biodiversity	137	(3)
The Arrangement of Management Activities in Space and Time	140	(18)
Natural Models of Disturbance	141	(2)
Traditional Forest Management Models	143	(3)
Key Variables in Designing Management Strategies	146	(2)
Rotation Period	148	(3)
Concentrating or Dispersing Management Activities in Time and Space	151	(2)
Examples of Conservation-Based Approaches	153	(4)
Timber Harvesting Modeled on Chronic Disturbance (Gap-Type) Regimes	157	(1)
Conclusion	158	(2)
Other Landscape-Level Considerations	159	(1)
Integrating Matrix Management Strategies at the Landscape Level	160	(1)
Final Comments	160	(3)
Matrix Management in the Harvested Stand	163	(34)
Stand Management and Biodiversity Conservation Goals	164	(1)
Management Approaches for Enriching Managed Stands	165	(1)
Structural Retention at the Time of Regeneration Harvest	166	(16)
Structural Retention-What to Retain? How Much to Retain? What Spatial Pattern to Retain?	167	(11)
The Variable Retention Harvest System	178	(4)
Managing Stands for Biodiversity	182	(10)
Stand Management Techniques for Enhancing Structural Complexity	182	(8)
The Biodiversity Pathways Concept	190	(2)
Long Rotations and Cutting Cycles	192	(2)
Opportunities for Stand Development with Long Rotations	193	(1)
Limitations of Long Rotations at the Stand Level	193	(1)
Use of Multiple Rotations	194	(1)
Selection Harvest Practices	194	(3)
Revisiting a Multiscaled Approach to Forest Biodiversity Conservation	197	(4)
Matrix Management in Plantation Landscapes	201	(6)
Landscape-Level Matrix Management in Plantations	202	(1)
Stand-Level Matrix Management in Plantations	202	(2)
Long-Established and Newly Established Plantations	204	(3)
PART III---CASE STUDIES IN DEVELOPING MULTISCALED PLANS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION	207	(50)
Case Study 1: Northern, California, and Mexican Spotted Owls	209	(8)
Key Points	209	(1)
Northern Spotted Owl	210	(3)
California Spotted Owl	213	(1)
Mexican Spotted Owl	214	(3)
Case Study 2: Leadbeater's Possum and Biodiversity Conservation in Mountain Ash Forests	217	(12)
Key Points	217	(2)
Background on Mountain Ash Forests and Leadbeater's Possum	219	(1)
Impacts of Clearcutting in Mountain Ash Forests	219	(2)
Strategies for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Mountain Ash Forests	221	(3)
The Need for a Risk-Spreading Strategy	224	(1)
Alternative Silvicultural Systems in Mountain Ash Forests	225	(1)
Monitoring as Part of Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management in Mountain Ash Forests	226	(3)
Case Study 3: The Tumut Fragmentation Experiment	229	(8)
Key Points	229	(1)
Background to the Tumut Fragmentation Experiment	230	(5)
The Nanangroe Experiment	235	(1)
Conclusion	236	(1)
Case Study 4: The Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project	237	(6)
Key Points	237	(1)
Project Background	238	(1)
The Matrix and Responses of Selected Groups in the Project	239	(1)
The Matrix and Edge Effects	240	(1)
Conclusion	241	(2)
Case Study 5: The Rio Condor Project	243	(14)
Key Points	243	(1)
Physical and Biological Features of Rio Condor	244	(1)
Climate	245	(1)
Vegetation	245	(3)
Biodiversity	248	(1)
Human Influences	249	(1)
Objectives of the Management Program	249	(1)
Stewardship Principles	249	(2)
Key Elements of the Rio Condor Management Plan	251	(3)
Adaptive Management	254	(1)
Evolution of the Rio Condor Project	255	(2)
PART IV---ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT AND THE HUMAN ASPECTS OF MATRIX MANAGEMENT	257	(44)
Adaptive Management and Long-Term Monitoring	259	(14)
Adaptive Management: Gathering and New Knowledge to Managing Forest Landscapes for Biodiversity	260	(5)
A Formalized Approach to Adaptive Management	261	(1)
Adaptive Management and Stand- and Landscape-Level Studies	262	(1)
Adaptive Management and Lack of Certainty	263	(1)
Adaptive Management and the Precautionary Approach to Forest Management	264	(1)
Long-Term Monitoring: A Fundamental Part of Responsible Adaptive Management Programs	265	(8)
Design of Monitoring Programs	266	(7)
Knowledge Gaps in Forest and Biodiversity Management: Areas for Future Research	273	(8)
Topics for Future Ecological Study	273	(4)
Methods and Approaches for Future Ecological Research	277	(2)
Other Areas for Research: The Adoption of New Knowledge	279	(2)
Social and Other Dimensions Associated with Matrix Management	281	(16)
Allocation Versus Integration as a Basis for Resolving Conflicts in Forest Use	282	(3)
The Role of Globalization, Markets, and Certification	285	(3)
Revised Timber Yields and Greater Flexibility in Resource Allocation	288	(3)
Changing Roles and Challenges for Stakeholders in Forest Policy Development	291	(6)
Future Directions	297	(4)
Literature Cited	301	(42)
About the Authors	343	(2)
Index	345