Science Synthesis to support Forest Plan Revision in the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascades

Jonathan Long and Carl SkinnerWith Contributions from the Science Synthesis TeamUSDA FS Pacific Southwest Research Station

Social EcologicalIntegration

OutlineFocal Question: Socioecological

Resilience and Stressors Integrative Approaches in the

Synthesis1. Integrating social and ecologicaI

considerations2. Restoring reference disturbance regimes

and heterogeneity at multiple scales3. Applying strategic treatment at landscape

scale with adaptive management

Overarching Question “Based on recent scientific

advances, what management strategies are likely to promote resilience of socioecological systems and sustain values-at-risk in the synthesis area over the short and long term given expected stressors?”

Resilience of Socioecological Systems

Broadly considers systems in an integrated fashion

Connects to “ecological integrity” and “social and economic sustainability” in the Forest Planning Rule

Social Processes

and Componen

ts

Ecological Processes

and Componen

ts

Integration

Socioecological System

Stressors

Interfaces with Forest Planning Rule

• “Opportunities for landscape scale restoration”• Analyzing larger areas and changes over

longer time periods• “Emphasis on wildland

fire and opportunities to restore fire adapted ecosystems”• Consider the large

landscape scales at which fire operates

Stressors are Creating Novel ConditionsExamples

Changing climate Fire deficit and fuel

build-up Air pollution Diseases (e.g.,

chytrid) Invasive species

Novel conditions Need forward-thinking

reference conditions Evaluate synergistic

effects

Nitrogen deposition

Changes in fire regime (blue is less frequent

fire)

Integrative Approaches in the Synthesis

1.Integrating consideration of social and ecological systems

2.Restoring disturbance regimes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

3.Promoting large-scale adaptive management

Social Processes

and Componen

ts

Ecological Processes

and Componen

ts

Integration

1) Integrating social and ecologicaI considerations

A. Build upon existing community capacity by incorporating traditional and local ecological knowledge and facilitating social learning

B. Reduce vulnerabilities to major disruptions

C. Identify important socioecological values and promote community well-being

1A) Build upon existing community capacity to promote resilience

Important concepts and approaches Community well-

being Sense of place All lands approach Collaboration Traditional and local

ecological knowledge Social learning

1B) Reduce vulnerabilities to major disruptions

Uncharacteristically large, severe, and dangerous wildfires Short and long-term social, economic,

and ecological impacts

Hazardous wildfire conditions threaten community well-

being

Large patches of high-severity wildfire threaten ecological

values

1C) Identify important socioecological values Wide range of

ecosystem services and other social and economic benefits Biodiversity and

habitat Favorable water flows Forest products,

traditional cultural resources and associated livelihoods and infrastructure

Index of wildland fire

threat to forests

important to surface drinking

water Integrated, applied socioecological

research

1C) Consider opportunities to promote community well-being

Consider impacts on local communities and economies in treatment design

Pursue opportunities to facilitate joint benefits for social and ecological systems

2) Restoring reference disturbance regimes and heterogeneity

A. Applying fire in concert with silvicultural treatments to reestablish fire regimes and heterogeneity at multiple scales

B. Designing treatments based upon reference disturbance regimes and ecological trajectories

Terrestrial Systems and

Aquatic Systems

2A) Applying fire with silvicultural treatments to restore process and

heterogeneity Considering reference fire regime and other ecological and social factors at multiple scales

Fire regime

Topography

Fine-scale patchiness

2B) Designing treatments based upon reference fire regimes and ecological trajectoriesForested

riparian areasWildlife core

areasPost-fire

landscapesIdentify areas that may benefit from treatment to reduce potential impacts from uncharacteristically severe wildfires but need more research especially on long-term effects

Hat Creek within the Reading Fire (2012)

2C) Consider conditions across forest types

Important habitat and biodiversity values

Altered fire regime and changing climate increases in

uncharacteristically severe wildfire

shifting precipitation

Upper montane red fir forest with repeated fires

3) Applying strategic treatment with adaptive management

A. Use large-scale experimental areas

B. Evaluate active management for riparian and wildlife zones

C. Apply phased approach to treatment

D. Address research gaps

Riparian area in Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest

3A) Large scale experimental areas

Most existing experimental areas are too small to evaluate dynamics of wildlife with large home ranges

Larger areas such as the owl demographic study areas offer an opportunity to conduct adaptive management projects designed to address research gaps

3B) Evaluate Management to Sustain Wildlife at Landscape

Scales

Landscape Resting siteHome Range

TreatmentWildfire

3C) Apply phased strategic approach to treatment at landscape scale

1. Strategic defensive fuels reduction2. Reclamation treatments in a fraction

of the landscape Need to evaluate that fraction using models in an adaptive management framework

3. Maintenance and rotation throughout the landscape in conjunction with managed wildfire and with adaptation to all wildfires

3D) Example of Research Gaps: Evaluate Impacts of Wildfires

• Social and ecological values• Watersheds

and streams• Soci0economi

c values• Wildlife

• Long-term and re-burn effects Chips Fire (2012)

reburned study areas of the Storrie Fire (2000)

Science Synthesis Integration

Questions and Discussion