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SCIENCE Biodiversityand SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY SCIENCE BIODIVERSITYand SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY A FINDINGS REPORT OF THE National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry A Program Conducted by the National Council for Science and the Environment Improving the scientific basis for environmental decisionmaking NCSE The mission of the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry (NCSSF or Commission) is to improve the NCSSF operates under the scientific basis for developing, implementing, and evaluating sustainable auspices of the National forestry in the United States. Council for Science and The Commission is an independent, non-advocacy, multi-stakeholder the Environment (NCSE), body that plans and oversees the NCSSF program. It includes 16 leading a non-advocacy, not-for-profit scientists and forest management professionals from government, indus- organization dedicated to improving the scientific basis try, academia, and environmental organizations—all respected opinion for environmental decision leaders in diverse fields with broad perspectives. Members serve as making. individuals rather than as official representatives of their organizations. The Commission convenes at least twice a year to plan and oversee NCSE promotes interdiscipli- the program. Members’ names and affiliations are listed on page 2. nary research that connects The primary goal of the NCSSF program is to build a better scientific the life, physical, and social underpinning for assessing and improving sustainable forest management sciences and engineering. practices. The program strives to produce information and tools of the highest technical quality and greatest relevancy to improving forest Communication and outreach policy, management, and practice. are integral components of The initial five-year phase of the program focuses on the relationship these collaborative research between biodiversity and sustainable forest management. The program efforts that link scientific results to the needs of addresses information needs for managed forestlands, both industrial and decision makers. non-industrial, in the continental United States. Syntheses and surveys, research and assessments, tool development, and communication and outreach activities all contribute to the program’s goals. The Commission does not promote specific policy positions, promul- gate management practices, or endorse any particular sustainable forest management certification systems. However, the results of the NCSSF program provide a stronger scientific basis for evaluating forest practices and certification systems, comparing them more objectively, effectively assessing their progress, and developing more innovative approaches to forest management. Applications of the Commission’s work include: • informing forest management decisions, conservation plans, and governmental and private sector policies • providing a sound ecological framework for long term economic management of forests • refining and evaluating certification systems such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), American Tree Farm System (ATFS), Green Tag, and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). More information on the NCSSF program and results of specific projects are available on our web site at: www.ncssf.org. Sponsors of the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry SCIENCE BIODIVERSITYand SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY A FINDINGS REPORT OF THE National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry Washington, DC January 4, 2005 A Program Conducted by the National Council for Science and the Environment Improving the scientific basis for environmental decisionmaking When citing this report, please use the following reference: NCSSF, 2005. Science, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Forestry: A Findings Report of the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry (NCSSF), Washington, DC. COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP—2004 Hal Salwasser, PhD, Commission Chairman (2003-2005) V. Alaric Sample, PhD Dean, College of Forestry President Oregon State University Pinchot Institute for Conservation Greg Aplet, PhD To m Thompson Senior Forest Scientist Deputy Chief, National Forest System The Wilderness Society USDA Forest Service Ann Bartuska, PhD Scott Wallinger Deputy Chief, Research & Development Senior Vice President (Retired) USDA Forest Service Mead Westvaco, Forest Science Laboratory Joyce Berry, PhD Dean, College of Natural Resources J. Christopher Bernabo, PhD Colorado State University Director, NCSSF Program James Brown National Council for Science and the Environment Natural Resources Policy Director, Retired Aaron Lien Oregon Governor’s Office Program Coordinator, NCSSF Bruce J. Cabarle, PhD National Council for Science and the Environment Director, Global Forestry Programs World Wildlife Federation Former Commission Members Norm L. Christensen, PhD (chair 2002-2003) Charles H. Collins Professor of Ecology Managing Director Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University The Forestland Group, LLC. Nils Christoffersen 2001-2002 Deputy Director Wallace Covington, PhD Wallowa Resources Regents Professor of Forest Ecology John C. Gordon, PhD (chair 2001-2002) Northern Arizona University Pinchot Professor of Forestry (Emeritus) 2001-2003 Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Phil Janik Sharon Haines, PhD Chief Operating Officer (Retired) Manager of Sustainable Forestry USDA Forest Service International Paper 2001-2002 Alan A. Lucier, PhD Mark Schaefer, PhD Senior Vice President President and CEO National Council for Air and Stream Improvement NatureServe 2001-2003 David Perry, PhD Professor (Emeritus) Mark Schaffer, PhD Oregon State University Program Officer for the Environment Doris Duke Charitable Foundation H. Ronald Pulliam, PhD (Formerly Defenders of Wildlife) Regents Professor of Ecology 2001-2003 University of Georgia 2 Science, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Forestry CONTENTS OVERVIEW. 4 1 INTRODUCTION. 6 The Commission’s Role. 6 The NCSSF Program . 8 Report Purpose and Organization . 8 Defining Terms Used in the Report. 9 2 CONTEXT . 10 Advancing Science for Sustainable Forestry . 10 Forests in Context . 11 The Forest Continuum . 12 Changing Forest Ownerships . 13 Forestry and Sustainability . 13 Biodiversity Indicators . 14 3 FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS. 15 Area 1: The effectiveness of biodiversity conservation is largely determined by interactions between stand- and landscape-level patterns.. 16 Implications of Area 1 Findings for Sustainable Forestry. 20 Area 2: Sustaining disturbance dynamics within appropriate ranges sustains biodiversity and ecosystem services. 21 Implications of Area 2 Findings for Sustainable Forestry. 26 Area 3: Biodiversity indicators must be matched to land-use objectives. 28 Implications of Area 3 Findings for Sustainable Forestry. 32 Area 4: Sustainable forestry and biodiversity conservation require management that recognizes and adapts to new information, changing environments, and shifting social priorities . 34 Implications of Area 4 Findings for Sustainable Forestry. 40 4 WORK IN PROGRESS . 42 Adaptive Management of NCSSF . 42 Next Steps. 43 APPENDIX . 46 Table A-I: NCSSF Project Information (Codes as referred to in report) . 46 Table A-II: NCSSF Phase 1 Program Timeline . 49 REFERENCES . 50 Acknowledgments . 52 A Findings Report of the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry (NCSSF) 3 OVERVIEW The National Commission on and information, (2) polarization Area 1: The effectiveness of Science for Sustainable Forestry within the field, (3) misperceptions biodiversity conservation is largely (NCSSF or Commission) includes and lack of public awareness, and determined by interactions leading scientists and forest man- (4) lack of financial resources. The between stand- and landscape- agement professionals from gov- NCSSF program addresses the level patterns. ernment, industry, academia, and first three of these, which com- • Finding 1A. Biodiversity environmental organizations who prise more than three-fourths conservation requires knowl- collaboratively plan and oversee of the users’ identified barriers. edge and policies that cross the NCSSF program. This inde- The Commission has synthe- landscape levels. pendent, multi-stakeholder char- sized existing information into • Finding 1B. Stand-level acter enables the Commission to useable knowledge, sponsored diversity is heavily influenced serve as an “honest broker” who projects to fill key research gaps, by disturbance legacies. can address controversial issues developed tools for practical • Finding 1C. Biodiversity more objectively. The applications, and reached agree- correlates to spatial variability Commission has completed about ment on important issues related in forest management. half of its initial five-year program to biodiversity and sustainable • Finding 1D. Forest fragments to advance the science and practice forestry. The findings presented support reduced levels of of biodiversity conservation in here are based on the results of biodiversity. sustainable forestry. NCSSF-funded projects, the The Commission has found Commissioners’ expertise, and Implications: Landscape-level infor- that appropriate forest policies three years of dialogue among mation is necessary to the full use and practices can be beneficial to themselves, as well as discussions of science in conservation efforts biodiversity. While gaps in knowl- with a wide range of experts and everywhere. The problem with edge remain, the Commission’s stakeholders. The NCSSF find- a top-down, “how should the findings will help forestry practi- ings are an especially
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