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US strategy for forest management adaptation to climate change: building a framework for decision making

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Abstract

Context

Recent policy changes in the USA direct agencies managing federal forests to analyze the potential effects of climate change on forest productivity, water resource protection, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and other values.

Aims

This paper describes methods developed to (1) assess current risks, vulnerabilities, and gaps in knowledge; (2) engage internal agency resources and external partners in the development of options and solutions; and (3) manage forest resources for resilience, not just in terms of natural ecosystems but in affected human communities as well.

Methods

We describe an approach designed to characterize certain climate change effects on forests, and estimate the effectiveness of response options ranging from resistance to a realignment of management objectives.

Results

Field testing on a 6,300 km2 area of conifer forest in the northwestern USA shows this decision model to be useful and cost-effective in identifying the highest sensitivities relating to vegetation management, biological diversity, water resources and forest transportation systems, and building consensus for adaptive strategies and actions.

Conclusions

Results suggest that this approach is an effective means for guiding management decisions to adapt to the effects of climate change, and provides an empirical basis for setting budgetary and management priorities.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Marc R. Magaud of the Embassy of France in the USA, Office of Environment and Sustainable Development, Washington, DC, and Jean-Luc Peyron of GIP-ECOFOR, Paris, for their assistance and support. Major funding for this research was provided by the U.S. Forest Service, Office of Research and Development, Pacific Northwest Research Station.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pinchot Institute, 1616 P Street NW, Washington, DC, 20036, USA

    V. Alaric Sample

  2. School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, PO Box 352100, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Jessica E. Halofsky

  3. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 400 N. 34th Street, Seattle, WA, 98103, USA

    David L. Peterson

Authors
  1. V. Alaric Sample
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  2. Jessica E. Halofsky
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  3. David L. Peterson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. Alaric Sample.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Marc Hanewinkel

Contributions of the co-authors

V. Alaric Sample: Wrote the paper to provide synthesis of multiple, related research projects within overarching context of revised US policies regarding adaptation to climate change; presented paper at the conference on Tackling Climate Change: The Contribution of Forest Science, Tours, France, May 21–25, 2012.

Jessica E. Halofsky: Lead scientist for research project on strategies for climate adaptive management of vegetation, wildlife, aquatic resources, hydrology, and transportation systems on Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park. Reviewer and contributing co-author of paper.

David L. Peterson: Lead scientist for research project on responding to climate change in National Forests, and development of a guidebook for developing adaptation options. Reviewer and contributing co-author of paper.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM Table 1

Current and expected vegetation sensitivities to climate change on the Olympic Peninsula, and associated adaptation strategies and actions for vegetation management at Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park. Sensitivities are based on projected climate change effects on the Olympic Peninsula, including decreased summer soil moisture levels, changing patterns of vegetation establishment, growth and mortality, shifting species distributions, shifting phenology, increased fire frequency, increased winter flood frequency and magnitude, and potential for increased insect outbreaks (DOCX 16 kb)

ESM Table 2

Projected climate change sensitivities, and associated adaptation strategies and actions for wildlife and habitat management at Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park. Sensitivities are based on projected climate change effects on the Olympic Peninsula, including changing habitat distribution and quality with changing vegetation patterns, shifts in geographic ranges of wildlife species, shifts in ranges of competitor, forage, prey, and symbiotic species (and biotic interactions), changing species phenology, increased fire frequency, potential for increased insect and disease outbreaks, changing hydrology, and reduced summer stream flows (DOCX 16 kb)

ESM Table 3

Current and expected sensitivities of fish to climate change on the Olympic Peninsula, and associated adaptation strategies and actions for fisheries and fish habitat management at Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park. Sensitivities are based on projected climate change effects on the Olympic Peninsula, including increased winter precipitation and runoff, more precipitation falling as rain rather than snow, increased storm intensity, greater winter and spring stream flows in some types of watersheds, increased flood frequency and magnitude in some types of watersheds, elevation shifts in transition (rain-on-snow) zones, reduced summer stream flows, and increased stream temperatures (DOCX 16 kb)

ESM Table 4

Projected climate change effects and adaptation options in the context of road management at Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park. Projected effects on physical watershed processes are based on projected climate change effects on Olympic Peninsula, including increased winter air temperatures/fluctuation above and below freezing; more precipitation falling as rain rather than snow; increased winter and spring stream flows in some types of watersheds; decreased summer stream flows in some types of watersheds; increased winter precipitation and runoff; increased storm intensity; increased flood frequency and magnitude in some types of watersheds; and elevation shifts in transition (rain on snow) zones (DOCX 17 kb)

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Sample, V.A., Halofsky, J.E. & Peterson, D.L. US strategy for forest management adaptation to climate change: building a framework for decision making. Annals of Forest Science 71, 125–130 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-013-0288-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-013-0288-6

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