Biodiversity in the Forests of Maine: Guidelines for Land Management Authors: Gro Flatebo, Ash Cove Consulting Carol R. Foss, Consulting Biologist Steven K. Pelletier, Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. ISBN: 0-9673707-0-1 UMCE Bulletin #7147 Editor: Published and distributed in Catherine A. Elliott, furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the University of Maine University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Land Grant Cooperative Extension University of the state of Maine and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Cooperative Extension and other agencies of the U.S.D.A. provide Illustrator: equal opportunities in programs and employment. Andrea Sulzer 1999 Biodiversity in the Forests of Maine: Guidelines for Land Management 1 Table of Contents Overview Land-Use Issues Introduction . 5 Public Access and Roads . 125 The Maine Forest Biodiversity Project . 7 Conversion to Non-Forest Use . 131 Managed Forests and Biodiversity . 9 Key Concepts . 13 Appendices Site-Specific Considerations Appendix A Agencies and organizations in Maine that offer landowner information or assistance . 137 Introduction . 15 Appendix B Stand Characteristics Relative abundance and distribution of tree species in Maine . 141 Vertical Structure and Crown Closure . 17 Appendix C Native Tree Species Composition . 23 Birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that use downed woody material, snags, Downed Woody Material, Snags, and cavity trees in Maine . 143 and Cavity Trees . 27 Appendix D Mast . 33 Snag requirements of primary cavity Forest Soils, Forest Floor, excavators in Maine . 146 and Site Productivity . 37 Appendix E Special Habitats and Ecosystems . 45 Trees and shrubs that bear nuts, fruits, and berries in Maine . 147 Riparian and Stream Ecosystems . 47 Appendix F Vernal Pools . 57 Nutritional value of selected hard mast . 149 Beaver-Influenced Ecosystems . 61 Appendix G Amphibians and reptiles of vernal Woodland Seeps and Springs . 65 pools in Maine . 150 Nesting Areas for Colonial Wading Birds . 67 Appendix H Deer Wintering Areas . 71 Pathological and maximum ages of late-successional forest trees in Maine . 151 Nest Sites for Woodland Raptors . 75 Appendix I Old-Growth and Primary Forests . 79 Rare animal species of Maine forests . 152 Rare Plant or Animal Sites . 83 Appendix J Rare plant species of Maine forests . 157 Rare Natural Communities . 87 Appendix K Rare forest-community types in Maine . 160 Landscape-Level Considerations Appendix L Forested natural communities in Maine . 163 Appendix M Introduction . 91 Changes in age-class and size-class composition of forestland in Maine, Managing at the Landscape Level: How to Begin . 93 pre-settlement to present . 164 Forest Management Issues Appendix N Distribution of Native Forest Communities . 97 Important avian predators of spruce budworm . 165 Age Structure of the Landscape . 101 Appendix O Habitat Patch Size . 107 Changes in area and proportion of forest types in Maine, 1982 to 1995 . 166 Habitat Connectivity . 113 Appendix P Disease Agents, Insect Pests, and Weeds . 119 Literature cited in appendices . 167 2 Biodiversity in the Forests of Maine: Guidelines for Land Management Acknowledgements There are two groups of people whose Several additional people provided comment contributions to this manual were vital and on specific sections of the manual or provided invaluable. The members of the Working Forest data — Brad Allen, Aram Calhoun, Charles Committee, listed on the next page, persevered Cogbill, Mark McCollough, Kim Morrison, and through many long, difficult discussions to Mark Stadler. I am sure that there were others come to agreement about the subject matter who were consulted throughout this process, for the manual, and the initial definition, goal, by the authors or by committee members. All and importance to biodiversity statements. The of your contributions are greatly appreciated and authors took on the daunting task of filling in have contributed to the quality of the manual. the details, including recommended practices. Meeting with a committee to hear comment Through all four drafts, Tracey Nelson on and criticism of one’s writing is never easy, incorporated changes in the text, and managed but the authors took it all in good humor. The to maintain her sense of humor. Andrea Working Forest Committee continued their Sulzer’s expert rendering with pen and ink work through two more drafts, working added greatly to the manual. Melanie Spencer towards agreement whenever possible, agreeing contributed her editing expertise and shepherded to disagree when necessary, and taking on the the manual through the publication process. ultimate responsibility for the content of the Beth Goodnight’s layout design transformed manual. The result, this manual, is a testament the manual from dense text to readability. to the dedication, expertise, and tenacity of the Brenda Chandler provided a very thorough committee and the authors. It was a privilege copy editing of the final proof, courtesy of to work with them. Baskahegan Company. To each of these folks go much appreciation and thanks. Philip Gerard, director of the Maine Forest Biodiversity Project, served as facilitator for the The Maine Forest Biodiversity Project and the many committee meetings, as well as provided University of Maine Cooperative Extension thoughtful comment and suggested rewriting supported the development and production for each draft of the manual. His good humor of this manual. We are grateful to the Maine and gentle manner were greatly appreciated. Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Ben and Jerry’s Former project director Leslie Hudson Foundation, the Surdna Foundation, the facilitated the early stages of this effort. Kendall Foundation, the Cabot Foundation, and the Davis Foundation for their generous financial support. Catherine A. Elliott, Editor Biodiversity in the Forests of Maine: Guidelines for Land Management 3 Members of the Working Forest Committee of the Maine Forest Biodiversity Project: Linda Alverson, Ken Elowe, Forest Resource Consultant Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Si Balch, Mead Paper Philip Gerard, Maine Forest Biodiversity Project Bob Barr, Georgia Pacific/The Timber Company Carl Haag, Plum Creek Maine Timberlands, L.L.C. Ernest Bowling, Bowater/Great Northern Paper, Inc. Malcolm Hunter, University of Maine Barrie Brusila, Mid-Maine Forestry, SWOAM Bill Krohn, Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Rob Bryan, Research Unit Maine Audubon Society Mitch Lansky, Barry Burgason, Maine Low-Impact Forestry Project Huber Resources Coporation Joachim Maier, Andy Cutko, Consulting Forester Maine Natural Areas Program Wayne Millen, Phillip deMaynadier, White Mountains National Forest Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Dave Publicover, Appalachian Mountain Club Gary Donovan, Champion International Corporation Bob Seymour, University of Maine Catherine A. Elliott, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Steve Young, Fraser Papers Inc. 4 Biodiversity in the Forests of Maine: Guidelines for Land Management Overview: Introduction THE EFFECTS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT practices on both site-specific and landscape- By Catherine A. Elliott, Gro Flatebo, level characteristics influence biological diversity Carol R. Foss, and Philip Gerard in Maine’s managed forest. This manual provides descriptions of those characteristics and recommends voluntary forestry practices that can help maintain forest biodiversity in landowner advice or assistance related to forest Maine. The recommendations apply to private biodiversity is included in Appendix A. and public forestlands that are actively managed to produce timber and other forest Each chapter is organized using these headings: products. The suggested practices are intended • Definition: A concise description of the to maintain current biodiversity, but they characteristic being addressed. can also be used to enhance components • Importance to Biodiversity: A statement of biodiversity that have become locally or of how the characteristic supports regionally uncommon. These recommendations biodiversity. contribute to the growing body of knowledge about managing forest resources but are not • Goal: The desired outcome of the recommended practices. intended to be considered a comprehensive guide to forest management. Best Management • Background and Rationale: A summary Practices (BMPs) for erosion control and of available information about the protection of water quality, silvicultural characteristic, outlining reasons for guidelines, species-specific habitat management concern, relevance of the topic to forest management and biodiversity practices, and techniques for addressing conservation, and justification for the aesthetics, recreational, and non-timber recommended actions. income-producing activities are addressed in other publications. • Considerations: Factors that may influence implementation of the By focusing on the potential influences of recommended practices. forest management on biological diversity this • Recommended Practices: Specific publication complements and expands on actions that landowners can implement “A Forester’s Guide to Managing Wildlife to maintain biodiversity while conducting Habitats in Maine” (Elliott 1988), while adding forest management. Look for the R a set of broad, landscape-level considerations symbol to find pages where Recommended Practices are listed. and recommendations that have been absent from most previously published guidelines. • Cross References: A list of other chapters