SCIENCESCIENCEBIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY andand

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRYSUSTAINABLE FORESTRY

A Findings Report of the

NATIONAL COMMISSION on SCIENCE for SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY

NCSSFNCSSFJanuary 22, 2005January 22, 2005

NCSSF MissionNCSSF MissionProvide Solutions for Sustainable Provide Solutions for Sustainable

ForestryForestry

““To improve the scientific basis for the To improve the scientific basis for the

development,development, implementationimplementation andand

evaluationevaluation of sustainable forestry of sustainable forestry

practices in the United States.”practices in the United States.”

NATIONAL COMMISSION on SCIENCE NATIONAL COMMISSION on SCIENCE for SUSTAINABLE FORESTRYfor SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY

A Program Conducted by theNational Council on Science for the Environment “NCSE”

www.ncssf.orgwww.ncssf.org

How NCSSF WorksHow NCSSF Works

From: Doing Research To: Delivering Results

Synthesis Project Results Provide Useful Information and Identify Gaps

Research Project Results Develop New Knowledge and Applications

Tool Development Projects Pilot Demonstrations

Project Results and Synthesize into Findings NCSSF Deliberations and Implications for Users

NCSSF Program EvolutionNCSSF Program Evolution

BiodiversityBiodiversity

BiodiversityBiodiversityThe variety and abundance of all life forms in

a place … and

the processes,

functions and

structures that

sustain variety

and allow it to

adapt to change

First Findings ReportFirst Findings Report

Sustainable ForestrySustainable Forestry

The suite of forest policies, plans and practices that seek to

sustain a specified

array of forest

benefits in a

particular place, i.e.,

conditions, values,

functions, uses,

products, &

services.

““First Rule of Sustainable Forestry”First Rule of Sustainable Forestry”

Keep forestlands in forest uses for forest

values

1865-1920: forests converted at rate of

13,000 ac/day

2000: “open spaces” being converted at rate

of 4,000 ac/day

NCSSF FindingsNCSSF Findings

Biodiversity at multiple scales – from site

to watershed to landscape

Disturbance dynamics shape diversity – in

the past and in the future

Indicators make sustainable forestry

practicable

Adaptive management is key to success

ScaleScale

DisturbanceDisturbance

Future Range of Variation (FRV)Future Range of Variation (FRV)

Legacy effects are lasting

Climate change is continual

More people with changing resource

demands, values, risk tolerance

Invasive species create new challenges

New technologies, “toys,” knowledge

IndicatorsIndicators

Adaptive ManagementAdaptive Management

Linking Values to SustainabilityLinking Values to Sustainability

Forest Values to be SustainedForest Values to be SustainedProblems to be SolvedProblems to be Solved

IndicatorsIndicators

Plan: Plan: Assessment, StrategiesAssessment, Strategies

ActionsActions

Monitoring & ResearchMonitoring & Research

EvaluationEvaluation““Audit”Audit”

ADAPTATIONADAPTATION

Why is NCSSF Different?Why is NCSSF Different? Links practitioners and

scientists from design to implementation

Focus on the product and application!

Integrates ecological and social sciences

Builds a scientific base for natural resource professionals and education

Academia Building a scientific base for natural

resource professionals Results will infuse curricula (e.g., NTFP) Social scientists at the table – building more

theory around public participation Reinforces interdisciplinary research,

management and science

What People say about NCSSF What People say about NCSSF and its Findingsand its Findings

What People say about NCSSF What People say about NCSSF and its Findingsand its Findings

Government Links practitioners and scientists from

design to implementation Focus on the product – building in the “hand

off” from the beginning Integrates ecological and social sciences Moves from “biodiversity rhetoric” to a

science base for integration with sustainability

Industry Focus on biodiversity is on-target Conclusions on scale, disturbance and

indicators are on-target Provides a basis for prioritizing landscapes

to achieve biodiversity conservation Surfaces the critical threat of forest

conversion to non-forest use Variability is good!

What People say about NCSSF What People say about NCSSF and its Findingsand its Findings

Work in ProgressWork in Progress

NCSSF 2005 New WorkNCSSF 2005 New WorkEmphasis on Delivering Results:

Design “hand off” process for 2006 Applications workshops for users Illustrated implementation guide

book Applications of ecosystem

functions scorecard SFM certification “outcomes

assessment” protocol (FSC/SFI) HRV update to FRV approach Adaptive mgmt. implementation Economics of SFM practices

Increased awareness & understanding of SFM and biodiversity by policy makers, managers, practitioners and researchers

High quality research results published widely in peer reviewed journals

Communication of usable information to foresters and stakeholders

Application of NCSSF knowledge & tools to SFM policies, management and practices

NCSSF Measures of SuccessNCSSF Measures of Success

Biodiversity Through Forest Biodiversity Through Forest ManagementManagement

The CommissionThe CommissionScience CapabilitiesScience Capabilities

Ann Bartuska - USFS Joyce Berry - CSU Norm Christensen** - Duke John Gordon* - Yale Al Lucier- NCASI David Perry - OSU/UHI Ron Pulliam - UGA Hal Salwasser*** - OSU

Stakeholder NeedsStakeholder Needs

Greg Aplet - Wilderness Soc. Jim Brown – ODF/OR GNRO Bruce Cabarle - WWF Nils Christoffersen - WR Sharon Haines - IP Al Sample - Pinchot Inst. Tom Thompson – USFS Scott Wallinger - MWV

* Chair 2000-2001; ** Chair 2002-2003; *** Chair 2003-2005

F

Former members: Chip Collins - TFG, Wally Covington - NAU, Phil Janik - USFS, Mark Schaefer - NatureServe, Mark Schaffer - DoW

Jerry Rose – NASF

Joel Holtrop – USFS

Ajit Kirshnaswamy – NNFP

Si Balch – New England FF

Paul Trianosky – S.E. TNC

James Agee – U. Wash.

John Helms – U.C. Berkeley

Draft Report - Peer ReviewDraft Report - Peer Review

Linking Science to PracticeLinking Science to PracticeUser Needs Survey, Projects and WorkshopsUser Needs Survey, Projects and Workshops

Survey of practitioners, managers & policymakers

Eastern and Western interactive workshops

Identify gaps & prioritize user needs

Adapt NCSSF program to address key needs

Synthesize and translate science into usable tools and information – handoff to users

NCSSF Projects – 2001-2004NCSSF Projects – 2001-2004 Fundamentals

State-of-science review (R) User needs, product utility (W) Biodiversity in forest planning (S) Biodiversity indicators (A) Ecosystem function indicators (A) Conservation theories and field

validation (B) Relative risk assessment (B) Conservation at multiple scales (A) Forest purposes in context (C)

Historical Influences Native American land uses (B) European settlement land uses (B) 20th century forest management (A) Non-native invasive species (A) Non-wood forest products (A) Management and ownership (B)

Managing for Resilience and Productivity Public values and attitudes (C) Biodiversity and wood-production forestry (C) Fire, forest “health,” biodiversity (S,C) Hydrology, water, biodiversity (A) Managing non-native invasive species (C) Old growth forest diversity (C) Risk management (B) Ecological restoration (A,C) Fragmentation effects (A) Decision support systems (A,C) Conservation incentives for private, non-

industrial forests (C) Monitoring protocols (C) Global wood market effects on forests (C)