Abstract
Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in southeastern British Columbia feed mainly on arboreal lichens in winter. Some modified forestry practices that have been used or proposed for caribou ranges are reviewed. Partial cutting results in the retention of some forage lichens. Partial cutting and small patch harvesting may improve lichen growth on the remaining trees. Retention of advanced regeneration and some residual trees may improve lichen growth in the remaining stand. Extension of the rotation age increases the amount of harvestable forest useful to caribou at any one time. Progressive cutting minimizes road access to caribou ranges, and may be combined with partial cutting. Most forestry practices intended to maintain lichen production will result in increased human activity in caribou ranges, unless road access is controlled. The management strategy selected depends on site conditions and on the relative importance assigned to the impact of habitat alteration and human activity on caribou.
Highlights
In British Columbia, there are broad geographic areas in which certain forage types predominate in the winter diet of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou)
In caribou ranges that are managed for lichen production, it will probably be necessary to defer some harvesting past the time that is optimum for timber production
There are no easy solutions to the problem of extracting timber from caribou ranges while maintaining caribou populations, at least where arboreal lichens are judged essential
Summary
In British Columbia, there are broad geographic areas in which certain forage types predominate in the winter diet of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). The special logging practices are assessed for their impact on arboreal lichen production and other aspects of caribou habitat, and their forest management implications. Arboreal lichens from adjacent stands of mature timber colonise the regenerating trees, but do not become abundant for at least 100 years, and often longer
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