Ecosystem Services as an All Lands Approach for Forest Management

A collaboration between the Deschutes National Forest and the USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr852.pdf

Dale Blahna, Robert Deal, Jeff Kline, Trista Patterson, Tom Spies

PNW Research Station

John Allen, Cindy Glick, Tom Mafera

Deschutes National Forest

Nikola Smith, Karen Bennett

USFS Region 6

Building a New Language for Management: An Ecosystem Services Framework

Project Goals

 Articulate the values that the forest provides to the public.

 Evaluate effects between management actions and the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services.

 Build ecosystem services-based partnerships to design and fund needed work on the ground.

 Create analytical tools that allow managers to assess project outcomes and tradeoffs in ecosystem services terms, i.e., across resource areas and over longer time scales.

Place-Based Approach

 1.6 million acres along the east side of the Cascade Range in Central Oregon  Diverse landscape, multiple climatic gradients  350 species of fish and wildlife, including the Northern Spotted Owl  History of fire suppression  One of the most heavily-used forests for recreation in the Pacific Northwest

Who benefits from Forest Service management actions?

Who shares common interests in ecosystem service provision?

The benefits of an ecosystem services approach to management

 An

integrated approach

- allows managers to assess the costs and benefits of projects across resource areas and beyond forest boundaries.  Creates

awareness

about the services provided by public lands and brings attention to under-valued projects.  Leverages

partnerships

needed on the ground. and funds to implement work

Ecosystem Services in the USFS Planning Rule

“

…..to guide the development, amendment, and revision of land management plans to maintain and restore National Forest System land and water ecosystems while providing for ecosystem services and multiple uses….

” Federal Register - April 9, 2012

From Theory to Practice – The Marsh Project

30,000 acre watershed just South of Crescent Lake in Central Oregon Focal point: Big Marsh (2,000 acres) one of the highest elevation wetland / marsh complexes in the continental United States Previously drained for cattle grazing. USFS and partners restored much of the hydrology and habitat.

Management Context

Fire Regime Condition Class 3

• • •

Dense lodgepole pine stands Mixed conifer has contiguous ladder fuels Reminiscent of conditions pre-Davis Fire (2003

)

State’s largest Oregon Spotted Frog habitat Habitat for two rare graminoids (

Scirpus subterminalis , Carex lasiocarpa)

Matsutake mushroom , big game and fish habitat Great grey and northern spotted owl Two Late Successional Reserves Oregon Cascades Recreation Area Important for late season water storage and flows to Little Deschutes River Limited motorized access, valued for dispersed recreation

Comparison of Targets with Ecosystem Services Accomplishments Resource/Activity

Fuel Treatment

Project

Fuel Reduction

Target/Metric

Acres

FY08 Accomplishment

25,000

Ecosystem Services Outcomes

    Forest resilience to disturbance, resulting in sustained vegetation cover that provides climate, water and erosion regulation Wildlife habitat Community safety Economic wellbeing (property protection)

The USDA “All Lands Approach”

"The Forest Service must not be viewed as an agency concerned only with the fate of our National Forests, but must instead be acknowledged for its work in protecting and maintaining all American forests , including state and private lands .”

- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

“Integrated Resource Restoration” Emphases - Stressors and resiliency of ecosystems - Engagement of diverse groups and individuals - Utilizing traditional and emerging markets to improve ecosystem functions

photo credits: Duncan Berry

Willamette National Forest Sweet Home Ranger District

Participatory Planning Approach

• Collaboratively evaluate the inherent capacity of the landscape to provide ecosystem services • Cascade Timber Consulting, South Santiam Watershed Council, City of Sweet Home, Linn County Parks, forest products industry, environmental organizations, universities, state and federal agencies • Understand changes to that capacity based on historic land uses and existing conditions • Cooperatively develop a restoration plan that is ecologically sustainable and economically viable

Articulating the Value of an Ecosystem Services Approach for Forest Management

Working with partners to increase capacity to define water quality and habitat benefits that result from upland forest management Stimulates market development and public / private partnerships Encourages collaborative approaches to landscape scale restoration

Implementing an All-Lands Ecosystem Services Framework

 An Ecosystem Services Framework can support a more integrated, landscape scale approach that sustains the multiple benefits forests provide.

 Increasing capacity to articulate connections between forests, ecosystem services and public benefits can stimulate market activity for restoration and encourage partnerships across ownerships.