ecological restoration for 406 silviculture. harvestregenerate tend

Ecological RestorationEcological Restoration

FOR 406 Silviculture

HarveHarvestst

RegeneraRegeneratete

TendTend

HarveHarvestst

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What is a “natural” ecosystem?

• Native (indigenous) species interact in a self-sustaining manner

• Species persist through natural recruitment rather than managed reproduction

• Population dynamics are regulated internally• Disturbance regimes function within their pre-

disruption range of variability• Trophic dynamics are sustainable over time• Usually equated with some pre-existing

condition; e.g., “pre-European settlement”

Attainable?

Porcupine Mountains State ParkPorcupine Mountains State Park

Sleeping Bear Dunes National LakeshoreSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

What is an “unnatural” ecosystem?

• High proportion of nonnative (exotic) species• Exhibits wide swings in population dynamics,

thereby requiring continual management actions

• Dominated by disturbance regimes far different than those present before degradation

• Difficult or impossible to restore to natural conditions

What is a “degraded” ecosystem?

• Somewhere in between natural and unnatural conditions

• Potentially restorable to a more natural condition

Natural ecosystems

Unnatural ecosystems

Degraded ecosystems

Res

tora

tion

“Historical ecology”

• The desired future condition is a past condition

• How far past is past?• The goal should be to achieve a

historical range of variability• Therefore, not only species and

structures must be restored, but also processes

“Historical ecology”

How can pre-existing conditions be defined?

• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems

Toumey WoodsToumey Woods

Newton WoodsNewton Woods

Estivant PinesEstivant Pines

How can pre-existing conditions be defined?

• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems

• Matching species with habitat

Deep Shade Partial Intermittent Full sun shade shade sun

Tolerant Moderately Moderately Intolerant tolerant intolerant

Shade tolerance

How can pre-existing conditions be defined?

• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems

• Matching species with habitat • General Land Office (GLO) survey records

15

6 5 4 3 2 1 7 8 9 10 11

18 17 16 15 14 13

19 20 21 22 23 24

30 29 28 27 26 25

31 32 33 34 35 36

One township

One section12

S 16

S 22

S 15

S 21

Historic forest composition changes at a location in Cheboygan County Michigan

(Data from Palik & Pregitzer 1992)

Species group ca. 1850s 1992 . . . . . % of total trees . . . . . Pine 21 7 Hemlock 44 -- Beech 22 <1 Maple 5 11 Paper birch 4 6 Aspen 1 67 Red oaks 2 8

How can pre-existing conditions be defined?

• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems

• Matching species with habitat • General Land Office (GLO) survey records• Written descriptions by early settlers &

scientists; native oral traditions

J.W. Wing, 1839

How can pre-existing conditions be defined?

• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems

• Matching species with habitat • General Land Office (GLO) survey records• Written descriptions by early settlers &

scientists; native oral traditions • Old photographs & maps

State Archivesof Michigan

MSU Archives & Historical Collections

MSU Archives & Historical Collections

MSU Archives & Historical Collections

MAC Exp. Sta. Bulletin 162 (1898)

How can pre-existing conditions be defined?

• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems

• Matching species with habitat • General Land Office (GLO) survey records• Written descriptions by early settlers &

scientists; native oral traditions • Old photographs & maps• Micro-fossil (pollen) record

Pollen diagram from a bog in Lapeer County

How can pre-existing conditions be defined?

• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems

• Matching species with habitat• General Land Office (GLO) survey records• Written descriptions by early settlers &

scientists; native oral traditions • Old photographs & maps• Micro-fossil (pollen) record• Dendrochronology

Rin

g w

idth

(m

m)

Year

226 years of radial growth in a northern white cedar swamp near Escanaba

~1890--tree120 years old

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Area of Michigan occupied by savanna communities circa 1800 (data from MNFI)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Lakeplainopenings

Oak barrens Pine-oakbarrens

Bur oaksavanna

Inland oakopenings

Tho

usan

ds o

f acr

es

~2.2 million acres

Area of Michigan occupied by savanna communities today

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Lakeplainopenings

Oak barrens Pine-oakbarrens

Bur oaksavanna

Inland oakopenings

Tho

usan

ds o

f acr

es

+1 thousand acres?

X X

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Use of herbicides in restoration

Post-emergents (selective placement):

• Foliar spray• Stump application• Bark application

Pre-emergents:• Spot seeding or

plantings• Large-area seeding

(broadcast)

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The enemy!

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Begin the restoration, and they will come…

Light the fire, and they will come…Light the fire, and they will come…

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Restoration Time FrameFullyrestored

Degraded0 ?Years

Natural Ecosystem

1050100

• Agency, corporate, or unit budgets• Government or foundation grants• Private or corporate contributions• Fund-raising events, auctions, or

merchandise sales• Entrance fees or donations• All of the above

No mon, no fun…

Since1902