Conservation Northwest

Homecoming for wildlife Dave Heflick Conservation associate, dheflick@conservationnw.org Restoring Forests Habitat homecoming A million dollar grant from the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP), complemented by a grant from Weyerhauser Family Foundation, is going a long way to creating synergy for cutting-edge restoration work on the Colville National Forest. The objectives of the new forest restoration projects include: reestablishing natural fire regimes and reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire; bringing back the large tree, multiple level structure and composition of oldgrowth stands; and improving fish and wildlife habitat and water quality. The Weyerhauser Family Foundation grant was secured last year to hire an emerging academic leader to help Spruce grouse. © Paul Bannick the Colville National Forest design and implement restoration projects. The goal of these projects was to reestablish landscape vegetation patterns and to bring best available science to upcoming restoration projects on the Colville National Forest. Keeping the Northwest wild That's where former Conservation Northwest staffer and PhD forester Derek Churchill came in. Derek's dissertation focused on ecological restoration, exploring how to restore landscape vegetation patterns that native species have evolved with over thousands of years. His technical assistance to Forest Service staff in planning and implementing projects will help ensure effective, cutting-edge and collaborative restoration work as part of CFLRP in northeast Washington. Why restore forests? Over the past century, managers of national forests have consistently suppressed natural fires, removed the biggest trees, and wrought other changes resulting in homogenous, even-aged stands. These often densely stocked stands are missing the large-tree component historically present in Northwest forests. Emerging consensus among forest scientists suggests this forest homogeneity threatens biodiversity. Same-same stands also contribute to larger more, intense wildfires than is naturally characteristic of these dry forest ecosystems. The lack of diversity also creates conditions favorable to large-scale insect attacks. To reverse these trends, upcoming CFLRP restoration projects on the Colville National Forest aim to restore diversity and get landscape vegetation patterns back to a more natural state. What it means for wildlife While more research is needed on how restoration of historic vegetation patterns benefits wildlife, many benefits are already recognized. Interspersing canopy openings with dense canopy Colville National Forest. © James Johnston cover increases the value of foraging and cover areas for many animals, including lynx, elk and pileated woodpeckers. Just like people, wildlife requires close proximity between the places where they live and places where they obtain food for their families. Old-growth dependent species will benefit from presence of large, old trees, their growth enhanced by thinning out some of the smaller, surrounding trees. More openings in the forest canopy in higher elevation forests increase foraging habitat for black and grizzly bears by stimulating the growth of huckle- and blueberries. There's more in store for northeast Washington forests. In addition to restoration of vegetation patterns, planned collaborative restoration projects on the Colville will also replace undersized culverts with bigger passages for water and fish. Old roads will be decommissioned to return them to their natural state. Other projects include reducing stream sedimentation and expanding security and hiding areas for terrestrial wildlife. While restoration work is complex and challenging, Conservation Northwest's deep engagement on the Colville National Forest greatly increases the odds that it will be done right. Fall 2013 15

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