Managing wildlife habitat in red pine and white pine forests of central Ontario

Abstract

About 80% of the forest-dwelling wildlife found in central Ontario use forest associations containing red pine or white pine. Providing habitat for this diversity of species requires management of pine forests at three levels. Nests of sensitive species and other critical habitats require site-specific protection afforded by guidelines that modify timber management practices. Generic stand-level prescriptions are required to ensure the provision of cavity trees, down woody debris, mast, and supercanopy trees. Forest-level planning must address the supply of pine associations across the landscape, consider the spatial configuration of pine patches, and strive to provide a complete representation of age classes. Key words: red pine, white pine, wildlife habitat, critical habitats, cavity trees, down woody debris, mast, supercanopy trees, landscape diversity