Public Inputs on Preliminary Question TERRA-1201

assessment of sustainability of our forests

Southern Forest Resource Assessment

Below is the original wording of one of the preliminary questions and public suggestions or concerns submitted about it--for details see our Public Input or Methods pages

"What is the history, status, and likely future of terrestrial wildlife habitat types in the South?"

What are the effects of forest management activities on hard mast production, and how do those effects impact wildlife? What animals, plants and organisms depend on mature forests? What are the effects on threatened and endangered species?
What food sources are available in pine plantations? What management techniques change the food sources available? How does herbicide spraying affect available food, water and existing wildlife? How does close spacing of trees affect the availability of food? To what degree is hard mast being lost and what are the consequences of this loss?
Forest Service contracts in the Suches Forest in NW Georgia have called for the clearing of a small parcel of land which contains a rare concentration of Yellow and Pink Lady Slippers.
The Assessment should exercise caution in speculating the "likely future" of wildlife habitat types. Past trends are not necessarily good indicators of the future. Policies on industry lands, for example, have undergone many changes only recently regarding management intensity, use of Streamside Management Zones and other BMPs, reduction in harvest area size, clearcutting timber stands adjacent to other recently clearcut stands, resulting in higher habitat diversity rates. These and other considerations define a future path for the Southern forests much different than the past. These changes often result in positive reaction in wildlife populations, stemming from improved habitat and habitat diversity.
The Assessment should recognize human influence on ecosystems of the southern forests beginning prior to European settlement. Modern archeological evidence suggests native Americans shaped the southern forest ecosystems to a significant extent using their own methods of "forest management," primarily through extensive use of fire.
What have been the effects of historic land use (logging, fire, and conversion to urban and agricultural uses? On wildlife populations and habitat? How might wildlife populations and habitat be effected long term by current harvesting trends? How are habitats for rare, threatened, and endangered species being effected?
The management history of southern forests should be carefully documented in the study including discussion of the use of fire, logging and other human impacts. This history should be correlated with the development of wildlife populations and their habitats during the same period of time, and should be an integral part of making any determination of sustainability of forest ecosystems.
Our forests already suffer from actions--clearcutting being just one example--which are: reducing the diversity of the natural forests; depleting and restructuring the forest inventory at such a rate as to radically alter the process of coexistence among the varied plant and animal species within the forest ecosystem.
Wildlife is usually thought of as game species, with some emphasis on federal endangered species but only because the Endangered Species Act (ESA) forces action. There is little emphasis on other non-game species. We have several disappearing plant communities but you would think we have only one in the South by all the attention given o the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem. American Beech - Southern Magnolia and similar hardwood dominated plant communities, which have many associated herbeceous species, will have fewer species and less diversity in the forest and more monocultures with massive type conversion occurring in entire NF's like Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF).
The FS does not allow for enough snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris in SHNF, especially large diameter specimen of these important structural features. As a result reintroduction of Louisiana Black Bear and protection and restoration of cavity nesters is hindered or stopped.
The timber companies are starting to regularly put bottomland hardwoods on 40 year rotations. This means there will be little if any acorn crop to feed squirrels and other wildlife. Bottomlands are now starting to be intensively managed just like pine plantations and will suffer the same degradation in biodiversity.
The study must gather site-specific information about how intensive clearcutting and resulting pine plantations are impacting specific watersheds as well as impacting plant, animal, and human communities.
Is current forest management contributing to the extinction of species?
Some high priority areas of information needed by monitoring include: Population numbers (density and size)--presence/absence across landscape, demographic characteristics, genetic diversity and population structure, Standardized habitat classifications (including microhabitat structure).
Develop and improve basic life history knowledge and demographic information related to habitat. Identify problematic invasive species (both flora and fauna) and assess damage and map distribution (gather information on invasives' life history and affected habitats). Examine relationships and synergistic effects of infectious diseases, UV-B, climate change and contaminants on herpetofauna.
Identify critical habitats and habitat requirements for herp species.
Conduct trend analysis and PVA's for different habitat types.
A growing body of ecologists warns that logging over broad landscapes poses serious ecological risks that can be very costly to reverse.
First identify the habitat required for each of the plants and animals including man which have occupied the study area across time to the present and which ones are no longer here and answer the question, why.
I urge the Forest Service and other to take a long look at the region's natural history. The history will show a much wider diversity of trees, plants, birds, fish and other animals in the region. But the constant development over the past two centuries has dwindled the region's resources and biodiversity.
What incentives exist to protect endangered species? Will an agency be assessing the effectiveness of preservation of such species on private lands?
In relation to their ecological sustainability, what are the history, status and potential future of terrestrial wildlife habitats.
Areas have already been established by both public and private institutions as well as individuals in making sure wildlife habitat is provided. It is very important that such areas, in place today, are included into the formula in determining the future of the South's ecosystems.
(This question should read) What is the history, status, and what do historical trends indicate for the future of terrestrial wildlife habitat types in the South?
The American chestnut met its demise in the Southern Appalachians in the 1930's. The oaks and hickories which occupied a small portion of the canopy but which were smoldering as sprouts in the understory took over much of the chestnut's former territory. It needs to be recognized that oaks and hickories have taken the place of chestnuts in providing foods that is vital for many game and non-game species. Pine plantations combined with herbiciding and/or fire prevents oaks and hickories from existing in the overstory. The mast component in pine or mixed stands is being eliminated.
In every local ecosystem around the world, microorganisms, higher plants, invertebrates and vertebrates coexist with labyrinthine interdependence, partners in creating and sustaining the physical environment of atmospheric gases and soil composition and chemicals. Individual ecosystems work as integrated wholes, not as species in the company of but isolated from other species. Science can not tell us which species we can "afford" to lose--which of our vanishing species are crucial to the survival of the forest ecosystem.
As the assessment investigates "historic" conditions, it will be important to avoid point-in-time estimates of vegetative conditions and instead concentrate on the range of natural variability.
What future habitat changes will occur as a result of changes in plant (tree) species distribution and frequency caused by clear-cutting and conversion to monoculture plantations or species of higher economic value? Project these changes into the future with increased consumption under various consumption (demand) scenarios.
Future habitat changes that will occur as a result of changes in plant species distribution and frequency, particularly with regard to tree species, attendant to clearcutting and conversion to monoculture plantations.
Significant attention must be given to the impact of intensive timber management or harvest regimes on endangered species. (i.e. how will the rapid loss of diverse forests impact the survival potential of these species).
Effects on wildlife, both endangered species and species assemblages in southern forests.
The study must examine whether the current level of demand, as well as projections of future demand, will impair the ecological integrity of the southern region and its habitats, such as native forest and aquatic ecosystems.
How have the forests recovered in those areas deforested in the 1800's? What was the species diversity of flora and fauna then compared to the diversity in the "recovered" forests?
What aquatic flora and fauna exist in this region now? Compare the current occurance of RTE aquatic flora and fauna to the know past occurrences. Which species populations can be or have been effected or extirpated due to increased siltation, oxygen content or other variable that can be altered by logging activities?
What are the ecosystem size requirements of the RTE species in the region? Are these size requirements being met or is clearcutting and agriculture putting these ecosystems size requirements in jeopardy? Using various cutting and land conversion predictions (i.e.. No change, 50% increase, 100% increase), determine if or when habitats of required sizes will not longer exist.
The temporal scale of the ""history"" being considered should be clearly stated and should the time scale of the projections. This will allow for the clarification of the limits of the conclusions which can be drawn from this data.
Major threats are: modern commercial forest management practices, urban/suburban sprawl, game management practices, conversion to agriculture & ranching, and invasive exotics. Terrestrial wildlife habitat types suffer and have suffered tremendously since European colonization, with some habitats completely wiped out (canebrakes in bottomlands, pristine bottomlands with towering trees and open forest floor, and vast Longleaf Pine forests).
Given the continuing trend toward monoculture forests in the South (loblolly pines, etc.), the likely future of terrestrial wildlife habitat types is dim, indeed. Southern forests should be managed for diversity of tree and shrub species, with a preponderance of the forests left largely alone in order to attain old-growth status.
The projected future for all of our forest habitats will depend on our intelligent integration of truly sustainable practices in our forestry and all other industries. The Fragmentation of habitat due to encroachment from population expansion and the unsustainable use of our forest using outdated forestry practices is the greatest threat to the biotic diversity and integrity in the South. We see the problem with the narrow concept: either the environment or the job market will suffer. In order to have the best possible society we need to see them as one and the same. Healthy environment is the only way to have healthy economy.
I see the best way to ensure healthy genetic exchange is to create core wilderness areas surrounded with graded buffer zones (graded least intensive use to most as you move away from the cores). Along with substantial cores, we need then to create corridors based on ecological not political boundaries.
How has the introduction of exotic species effected the landscape and tesrrestial systems?
Preservation of species diversity is of increasing importance the more the Southeast becomes built up. Forest preservation as habitat for endangered, rare and threatened species is a key issue that your study should address.
Excess clearing of these forests allow the forest cycle to start at the basics, or a pine monoculture phase, which will result in decreased biodiversity.
What future habitat changes will occur as a result of changes in plant (tree) species distribution and frequency caused by clearcutting and conversion to monoculture plantations or species of higher economic value. Project these changes into the future with increased consumption under various consumption (demand) scenarios. What is the cumulative effect of shortened rotations and increased clearcutting to feed growing demands for paper and chip board on species of plants and animals that depend on mature forested habitats?
How have all forms of impact shaped terrestrial ecosystems in the South?
We need to impose a moratorium on all uses of public land in Georgia, except low-impact recreation. The main issue here is the loss of biodiversity. When old-growth forest is cut, even if it is replanted, longleaf pines and hardwoods are replaced by slash pine plantations, which support as little diversity of animals and understory plants as a field of cabbages. As a result, we are rapidly losing endangered species of plants and animals.
As more forests are sacrificed to chip mills and clear cuts, biological communities have become increasingly fragmented. A region-wide management plan that recognizes habitat value and the need for buffers and corridors connecting them should be a priority.
Next to real estate development there can be no greater destructive activity on our forests than large free standing chip mills which clear cut large "sourcing areas" of 50-100 miles radius which are then often turned into pine plantations. The effects on biodiversity are devastating. Chip mills are examples of the "cut and run" philosophy long associated with the timber industry in America.
We live during a time of one of the greatest extinctions of geologic history so any needless destruction of biologic diversity should be considered unacceptable.
Native southern hardwood forests get replaced by monoculture pine plantations, destroying biological diversity.
The local biological diversity is destroyed and is far from returning.
Please quantify the value of non-commercial tree, plant, wildlife, fungal life, insect life and other components of intact forest ecosystems. Please quantify the value of intact native forest ecosystems in preventing flooding, providing clean water, ground water recharge, clean air, wildlife habitat, fisheries, climate amelioration, prevention of desertification, and provision of hunting, recreation, and aesthetic relief from civilization overload.
What has been the trend of neotropical songbird losses in the last 1000 years and what are projections into the future? What incentives, programs educational resources, and laws would be needed to halt fragmentation induced species loss? What are the implications of fragmentation trends to Threatened and Endangered and sensitive species?
The temporal scale of the "history" being considered should be clearly stated and should the time scale of the projections. This will allow for the clarification of the limits of the conclusions which can be drawn from this
Bleak. Major threats are: modern commercial forest management practices, urban/suburban sprawl, game management practices, conversion to agriculture & ranching, and invasive exotics. Terrestrial wildlife habitat types suffer and have suffered tremendously since European colonization, with some habitats completely wiped out (canebrakes in bottomlands, pristine bottomlands with towering trees and open forest floor, and vast Longleaf Pine forests.
Given the continuing trend toward monocultural forests in the South (loblolly pines, etc.), the likely future of terrestrial wildlife habitat types is dim indeed. Southern forests should be managed for diversity of tree and shrub species, with a preponderance of the forests left largely alone in order to attain old-growth status.
The projected future for all of our forest habitats will depend on our intelligent integration of truly sustainable practices in our forestry and all other industries. The Fragmentation of habitat due to encroachment from population expansion and the unsustainable use of our forest using outdated forestry practices (veiled with thinly disquised rhetorical semantics -such as even age management and managing for edge habitat)is the greatest threat to the biotic diversity and integrity in the South. We continue often to see the problem with the narrow concept:either the environment or the job market will suffer. In order to have the best possible society we need to see them as one and the same. Healty environment is the only way to have a healthy economy.
What is the whole effect of the shorter growth time before harvest and clear-cutting on mature forest dependent species? What will the effect of loss of private forest have on the small amount of public forest land? What methods encourages private owners to manage their forest long term and for greater
How can an historically complete biological diversity survive the destruction of logging, grazing and ORV uses?
Use historic data as much as possible to tease out how we got to where we are - fire loss, urbanization, etc.
Document the increase/decrease of hardwood forests over the last 10 years and impact on wildlife.
What timeframe (history) is being addressed in this study? 10,000 years? 100 years? 50 years?
The assessment team needs to document what is happening on the ground at this point in time.
What is the age distribution of forest?
What era/time period will be sustained?
Under status, look at recovery programs ongoing RCW, Gopher tortoise. Look at how managed forests play a role in recovery effort.
History � extensive; status � poor to fair; future � bleak. Due to new age timber management.
Will past and future agrarian practices be considered in the assessment?
What timeframe will be used as data baseline? Pre-human data would show ``original'' forest types.
It is important to develop an understanding of how our current forest landscape got to be the way it is - e.g., fire management, select cuts, clear cuts, reforestation, etc. Given study timeframes, consider using wildlife communities rather than individual species as the basis for analysis.
Can you identify potential at-risk communities/species regardless of t/e species listing?
How have all forms of impact shaped terrestrial ecosystems in the South?
What types of habitats do threatened and endangered species need?
What is happening to lands that aren�t being managed for fear (real or perceived) of taking an endangered species?
Forest management on federal forestlands is compromising biodiversity.
Can the assessment team address the biodiversity differences between pine plantations and native forests?
How has the increase or decrease of timber harvest on state and federal lands affected biodiversity on these lands?
Need to replant clearcuts in the same fashion that bottomland hardwood forests are being replanted, with a lot of diversity.
Examine decline and diversity of plant and animal life.
Study should document improvement diversity of animal life with active forest management.
In studying diversity, there should be accepted standard for measurement.
They are in the process of and starting to totally destroy ecosystems in the area � large timber companies and private landowners.
Forest health is a big concern. A recent USGS/Biological Resources Division report said that over 50% of U.S. ecosystems (or ecosystem types - commenter was unsure) are in trouble. What can be done to reverse this, especially relative to forest ecosystems (aquatic and terrestrial).
What are the impacts of declining biodiversity in the South and their cause?
Evaluate relationships between forest age and biodiversity
A continued rate of decline in biodiversity, compounded annually, devastating unless managed better.
Consider the implementation of some type of wildlife subsidy to encourage landowners with small acreages to maintain for high biodiversity.
What type of management can a small tract landowner do on his property for biodiversity that is economically feasible?
Recognizing the linkage and positive impacts for habitat diversity.
Address biodiversity in as rich and thorough a way as possible.
Look at effects of large monotypic stands on biodiversity of species (landscape level).
Look at diversity of habitat quality in managed and unmanaged forestry as it relates to land-use history.
Further decline in biodiversity is inevitable in the current political/economic regime.
Future generations will see reduced biodiversity of all native habitats
What is the minimum threshhold of sustainable habitat for plants and animals?
Look at need for wildlife corridors between large tracts of habitat.
Concerned that co-op efforts underway to help with wildlife habitat� Gopher Tortoise, RCW, are documented.
What is wildlife habitat? Define. How will wildlife habitat be categorized?
Assessment addresses habitat type. Will it also address communities and associations? How will these be defined? What of indicator species?
Can examples be cited of past timber removals and how long it took for the forest to recover adequately to support wildlife?
Oaks and hickories have largely replaced chestnuts. What are we doing to preserve and enhance those hard-mast producing tree species that are so important to wildlife. Given the length of time it takes many hard-mast producing trees to reach maturity (40-60 years for many), some current forest management practices (e.g., short rotations for chip mills, hardwood conversion to pine) are decidedly counterproductive from a wildlife standpoint.
Consider management objectives of special interest groups such as hunting clubs that focus on wildlife.
Are we gaining more game species (e.g., deer, hog, bear) with our timber harvesting practices? Are they native or non-native?
What are the effects of herbicide spray on wildlife in terms of stress and long-term health?
The term �terrestrial wildlife habitat types� bothers me in that it implies an excluding of wetland types. This I believe is a mistake � inclusion or at least a blurring of the lines must be done during this assessment. Historically, most of the valued or assessable Southern forests have been cut or depleted. Of the ancient forest that is left, I hope we have enough for a specimen renewal. The quantities and in some cases the quality of our ecosystems are gone forever, so we should preserve or restore a working specimen of each ecosystem community. This will mean that we shall need new laws and rules for preserving these specimen communities and their possible usage.

Question as revised in response to these comments
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modified: 1-MAR-2000
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