Forest Adaptation

www.forestadaptation.org

Maria Janowiak, [email protected]

ADAPTING FORESTS TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Approaches for Action

http://www.forestadaptation.org/

http://www.forestadaptation.org/

mailto:[email protected]

How do we respond?

Responding to Climate Change

Manager’s Guide

If you want a single “answer” for how to respond to climate

change, it’s:

“It depends”

It depends on where you are working and what you’re trying

to achieve.

Desired ConditionsNatural

Forest Dynamics

Wildlife Habitat

Past Management History

Invasives

Timber Sale

RevenueDisturbanc

e:Past + FutureRecreatio

n

Forest Health

And more!!Climat

e Chang

e

Plan & Project Requirements

6 Ecoregional Projects 246 Million Acres

14 National Forests75+ Partners

(Federal, State, Tribal, Private)

Northwoods64 million acresMinnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan

Central Hardwoods42 million acresMissouri,Illinois, Indiana

Central Appalachians28 million acresOhio, West Virginia, Maryland

New England52 million acresNew York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island

Mid-Atlantic60 million acresPennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York

UrbanChicago

forestadaptation.org

Climate-Informed Conservation & Management

Climate Change Response Framework

Forest Adaptation Resources

Designed for a variety of land owners with diverse goals and objectives

Tailored to eastern forest types; update coming soon

Does not make recommendations

Menu of adaptation strategies and approaches for forest ecosystems

New online tool! adaptationworkbook.org

Forest Adaptation ResourcesAdaptation Workbook

Process for integrating climate change into management & conservation projects

Designed for a variety of natural resource managers (public, private, tribal, NGO, …

Tailored to eastern forest types

Print/excel/word versions NEW online version!

www.forestadaptation.org/far ; Contact [email protected] to use online tool

http://www.forestadaptation.org/far

mailto:[email protected]

Adaptation Workbook Process

Swanston and Janowiak 2012; www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/40543


Click ‘Demonstration Projects’

100+PROJECT

S UNDERW

AY

Adaptation Demonstrations(real-world examples)

Caroline Lake Preserve

Owned by The Nature Conservancy About 1,000 acres of forest Acquired from industrial ownership in 1997 Working forest to demonstrate sustainable forestry practices

1 2

34

5 Step 1: DEFINE area of interest, management goals and objectives, and time frames.

Conservation Goals & Objectives:

Maintain/restore forests that were historically characteristic of the area

Mid-to-late successional structure

Natural disturbances Under-represented speciesNorthern Hardwoods (643

acres)Lowland Conifer (259 acres)Lowland Hardwoods (78 acres)Shoreline Buffer (<5 acres)Upland Conifer (<5 acres)

1

2

34

5 Step 2: ASSESS climate change impacts and vulnerabilities for the area of interest.

Altered precipitation & drier summers Property is at headwaters of Bad

River and contains numerous wetlands– very vulnerable to hydrologic changeProjected declines in many

common northern species Property contains many species expected to decline

Site has high species diversity compared to nearby forests

1

2

34

5 Step 3: EVALUATE management objectives given projected impacts and vulnerabilities.

Challenges Under-represented species may not do better in future: yellow birch, hemlock

Lowland conifer/hardwood forests are not managed• Declining boreal conifers • Potential EAB in ash swamps

Deer herbivory could increase

Proportion of Stand Composed of Species Projected to Decrease

1

2

34


Challenges Opportunities Some species (white pine and red oak) may fare same or better in future

Small- or medium-sized disturbances increase structure

Unique site and location may offer opportunities for refugia

Under-represented species may not do better in future: yellow birch, hemlock

Lowland conifer/hardwood forests are not managed• Declining boreal conifers • Potential EAB in ash swamps

Deer herbivory could increase

1

2

34

5 Step 4: IDENTIFY and adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation.

Evaluating Current Management Actions

Practice Current Purpose

Adaptation Co-Benefits

Favor under-represented species

Species/structural diversity; habitats

Hedge against decline of one species; opportunity to favor future-adapted species

Encourage large woody debris

Structural diversity; habitats; nutrients

Create moister and cooler conditions on forest floor

Mimic natural disturbances

Species/structural diversity; accelerate succession

Makes it easier to take advantage of natural disturbances

1

2

34


Northern Hardwoods – Easy Changes

Forest Current Action Adaptation ActionNorthern Hardwoods

Use single-tree or group selection methods to maintain species composition/diversity and increase structural diversity

Same, plus: Use large group selection or

shelterwood harvests to increase northern red oak

Promote white pine, black cherry, yellow birch, and other desirable species that are less likely to decline

Shoreline Buffer

No harvest reserve area

Where opportunities exist, promote white pine or other long-lived conifer component for diversity/shoreline shading

1

2

34


Northern Hardwoods – Bigger Change

Forest Current Action

Adaptation Action

Lowland Hardwoods

No harvest reserve area

No harvest reserve area, BUT: If regeneration is inadequate or

emerald ash borer mortality appears likely, consider introduction of plantings of swamp white oak, bur oak, etc.

1

2

34

5 Step 5: MONITOR and evaluate effectiveness of implemented actions.

Climate-informed Forest InventoryTraditional Metrics New Risk

Metrics Total Stocking Tree Species Diversity

• Richness• Evenness

Large Coarse Woody Debris

Regeneration• Saplings • Seedlings

Risk of Decline• Trees • Saplings • Seedlings

Adaptation Demonstrations



Atlas TimberlandsWhat does it take to do a timber harvest given shorter winter seasons?




Cold Hollow to Canada Build on existing

conservation work of private landowners

Improve songbird habitat




Providence WaterIs regeneration failure and opportunity to test new species and genotypes?




Hudson to HousatonicHow to we engage rural-urban landowners in climate-informed stewardship?

Uncertainty is guaranteed.Management will be most effective if it integrates uncertainty, rather than pushing against it.

There is not a shiny new tool for climate change.Rather, we have the same old tools but will need to use them in new ways.

Final thoughts

Next time you’re in the woods

Take a look around & think about:

What’s important here?How might it change?

What am I already doing to help?

What else can I do to help?www.forestadaptation.org

Chequamegon-Nicolet NF: Aspen

1 2

34


Management Goals & Objectives Early-successional habitat Scenic Integrity

Impacts: Potentially drier growing season conditions

1

2

34

5 Step 2: ASSESS climate change impacts and vulnerabilities for the area of interest.

Challenges Aspen in long-term Few tree species Productivity issues Hazel competition Windthrow

1

2

34


Opportunities Site suitable for pine in future?

1

2

34


Overall Approach: Enhance future options within existing management trajectory Aspen will regenerate now, but is likely to fare

poorly over the long term. Maintain plans for clearcut for aspen regeneration Additional actions to promote diversity and provide

future options: plant red oak and white pine Pro-active on invasives and disturbance planning

Post clearcut stocking* Survival of planted trees* Species composition for

trees* and seedlings/saplings Intensified inventory (?) *existing monitoring item

1

2

34


Chequamegon-Nicolet Aspen: Status

• Stands are marked• Winter harvest –this

winter• Then: underplant

native future-adapted species

Atlas Timberlands

Management Goals Sustainable forestry Conservation

1 2

34


Current Management with Adaptation Benefits Follow BMPs for water quality

Increase coarse woody material

Increase tree species diversity

Increase forest structural diversity

Ensure adequate seedling regeneration

Control invasives Minimize roads & trails

Challenge: Shorter and more variable winter

1

2

34

5 Step 2: ASSESS climate change impactsStep 3: EVALUATE management objectives

Potential Barriers: More planning Higher cost Will it even work??

Adaptation Tactic: Summer harvest

1

2

34


Spring/Early Summer 2014• Timber marking• Road layout• Pre-sale road work• Temporary bridge

installation

Currently being harvested (weather permitting!)

1

2

34


Rutting from a bad woods road (past management)

1

2

34


Environment

Forest Adaptation