T&E Species, Special Sites and HCVF!

Sarah CrowATFS Webinar SeriesMay 16, 2013

Important Resource Elements

• Threatened & Endangered Species (T&E)

• Rare Species• High Conservation Value Forests

(HCVF)• Special Sites

Common Steps

1. Learning the Concepts 2. Doing the Research3. Jotting It Down4. On the Ground5. Monitoring

Standard 5: Fish, Wildlife & Biodiversity

Forest management activities contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.

5.1 PM: Forest management activities must maintain or enhance habitat for threatened or endangered communities and species.

Standard 5: The Details

• 5.1.1. Forest owner must confer with natural resource agencies, state natural resource heritage programs or review other sources of information to determine occurrences of threatened and endangered species on the property and their habitat requirements.

• 5.1.2. Forest management activities must incorporate measures to protect identified threatened or endangered species.

Threatened & Endangered Species?

• Endangered: “Any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range”

• Threatened: “Plants and animals that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.”

Some definitions please?

• Endangered: At the brink of extinction now.

• Threatened: Likely to be at the brink in the near future.

Easier definitions please?

Doing the Research

• A Good Faith Effort• State Agencies & Programs • Your Forester

Great Landowner Tools• ATFS Online Woodland Owner

Resource• State Natural Resource Agency • State Natural Heritage Program• State Cooperative Extension• US Fish & Wildlife Service• NOAA Fisheries• State Wildlife Action Plans

Getting it on Paper!

• Recording the Resources Used• Who? Where? When?

• Management Plan • Mapping It

Thinking About Habitat• Vegetation Layers• Forest Types

Edges

• Age Classes• Water Features• Dead Wood

Management

Timing and technique

MappingTalk to your professionalsFollow-up

Monitoring

Photo: Kenneth M. Gale, Bugwood.org

Historical Archeological Cultural Geological Biological Ecological

Standard 7: Protect Special Sites

Standard 7: The Details

• PM 7.1: Forest management activities must maintain special sites.

• Indicator 7.1.1: Forest owners must make a reasonable effort to locate and protect special sites appropriate for the size of the forest and the scale and intensity of forest management activities.

Special Sites

Stand/Sub-Stand LevelNot on Every PropertyProperty Size Matters

Historical Archeological Cultural Geological Biological Ecological

Photo: Billy Humphries, Forest Resource Consultants, Inc., Bugwood.org

Some examples please?

Doing the Research

• Walk Your Woods!• State Historic/Cultural Preservation

Programs• National Register of Historic Places• Tribal Governments• State & Local Geological Societies

ATFS Woodland Owner Resource

William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org

Documentation, Protection & Monitoring

Standard 5: HCVF and Rare Species

PM 5.4. Forest management activities should maintain or enhance rare species and high conservation value forests.

Indicator 5.4.1. Appropriate to scale and intensity, management should incorporate measures to protect or mitigate impacts to rare species and HCVF

• Rare Species: A plant or animal community that is vulnerable to extinction or elimination.

But, wait, how are these different than T&E?

Some definitions please?

High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF): “Forests of outstanding and critical importance due to their environmental, social, biodiversity or landscape values.”

More definitions please?

• Globally, Nationally, Regionally Significant • Landscape Level • Multiple Attributes

Doing the Research

• No central clearinghouse • State Natural Heritage Programs• Similar to Special Sites Research

• ATFS Woodland Owner Resource

Documentation, Management, Monitoring • Recording the Resources Consulted

• Who? Where? When?

• Management Plan • Managing and Mapping, as appropriate• Monitoring

Let’s hit the Web!

• ATFS Woodland Owner Resource• http://www.treefarmsystem.org/

woodland-resources• Mylandplan.org • Comprehensive State Specific Listings

Questions?Ideas?Stories?

Thank You!

Sarah CrowCertification Manager202.463.2738scrow@forestfoundation.org