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

在太平洋，树松鼠对管理森林和原始森林的反应有很大的差异。 北美西北部。然而，只要有大型的花旗松、云杉或其他针叶树， 障碍，和丰富的林下针叶树存在于管理的立场，这些猎物物种似乎是 树立政治意识一个关键的问题是如何提高栖息地在年轻的第二次增长的立场，以容纳猎物 物种和貂？采用一系列林分间伐强度的创新造林管理， 几十年来，施肥和绿树的保留已经产生了可能提供关键栖息地的林分 特征：大型活树和针叶林。对哺乳动物被捕食物种和 针叶林分结构将提供深入了解这些年轻的集中管理的林分的潜在用途， 与未砍伐的原始森林相比，貂。 该计划将提供有关利用创新管理的幼林的宝贵知识， 哺乳动物的主要猎物，是各种毛皮食肉动物，特别是貂。该项目 新的监测这些特殊的森林处理：间伐和重复施肥和绿化树 保留，在加拿大其他地方没有做过，也没有做过20年和30年的治疗后阶段， 分别BC捕兽者协会没有与林业进行太多有意义的对话， 不列颠哥伦比亚省森林部在为毛皮生产者管理森林方面。该项目提供了一个机会， 在现有最佳科学证据的基础上，就如何管理 为毛皮野生动物物种再生森林。貂和其他毛皮动物 社会经济和传统价值的主要组成部分，以第一民族和其他社区在许多 加拿大的部分地区。

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.