Landscape-level effects of intensive forest management on biodiversity: Integrating monitoring with retrospective and projective landscape analyses

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Managed forests are an important contributor to both economic and non-timber values, but The ecological contribution of managed, including planted, forests to biodiversity objectives at the landscape scale needs to be better understood. Given the long history of forest management by J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI), with plantation establishment dating back to 1957, the company places a high priority on addressing this issue. This proposal was generated in collaboration with the JDI Forest Research Advisory Committee (FRAC), made up of company forest managers and researchers. Involvement of company managers in all phases of the study will ensure prompt incorporation of learning and knowledge into management. This landscape-level CRD project will: 1) use LiDAR point cloud statistics combined with other forest and site data to identify habitat for priority wildlife species across forest landscapes; 2) project forest and wildlife habitat under planned management and natural disturbance scenarios to determine changes in composition and structure over time; 3) compare current and projected Black Brook District (intensively managed) with areas with less intensive management and protected areas; 4) assess effects of management intensity on water quality and aquatic habitat; 5) monitor selected taxa in various habitat types in both Black Brook and less intensively managed (Crown) forest and reserves; and 6) conduct spatial analyses of effects of current and planned management scenarios on amount and structure of habitat. Taxa to be emphasized in the studies include specific bird species of concern, bryophytes and beetle species associated with old forest conditions, habitats identified with listed species of concern, and deer populations that support recreational hunting opportunities. Metrics of forest composition and structure (e.g., species composition, density, age-class distribution, downed and standing deadwood, large trees) and of water quality, aquatic habitat, and fish community will be evaluated at present and projected for future conditions, and compared between intensively managed and less intensively and unmanaged or reserve landscapes. Research results will be applicable in future to many areas in Canada.