Analysis of innovative silvicultural practices to enhance the mammalian prey base for marten in managed forests

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There is much variability in responses of tree squirrels to managed and old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest of North America. However, wherever large live Douglas-fir, spruce, or other coniferous trees, snags, and abundant understory conifers are present within managed stands, these prey species seem to be maintained. A crucial question is how to enhance habitat in young second-growth stands to accommodate prey species and marten? Innovative silvicultural management using a range of stand thinning intensities, repeated fertilization, and green-tree retention over several decades has yielded stands that may provide key habitat features: large live trees and coniferous understory. An analysis of datasets on mammalian prey species and coniferous stand structure will provide insight into potential use of these young intensively managed stands by marten compared with uncut old-growth forest. This program will provide valuable knowledge on the use of innovatively managed young forests by the principal mammalian prey species of a variety of fur-bearing carnivores, particularly marten. The project is novel in that monitoring of these particular forest treatments: thinning and repeated fertilization and green-tree retention, have not been done elsewhere in Canada, nor for the post-treatment periods of 20 and 30 years, respectively. The BC Trappers' Association has not had much meaningful dialogue with the forest industry nor BC Ministry of Forests in terms of managing forests for furbearers. This project provides an opportunity to initiate discussions and policy changes based on the best available scientific evidence on how to manage regenerating forests for fur-bearing wildlife species. Marten and other fur-bearing species continue to be principal components of socioeconomic and traditional value to First Nations and other communities in many parts of Canada.