Trade-offs between wood production and forest grouse habitats in two regions with distinctive landscapes

Helena Haakana,Tuula Packalen,Esa Huhta,Hannu Hirvelä

doi:10.1186/s40663-020-00227-2

Abstract

BackgroundForest management affects the viability of forest grouse populations, causing alterations to habitat quality. At the regional level, common targets for wood harvesting and safeguarding of specific habitats are negotiated between various stakeholders. Analysing potential trade-offs between forest grouse habitats and wood production in the region could support resource-smart decision making.MethodsIn this paper, we compiled trade-off curves represented as production possibility frontiers demonstrating the relationship between forest grouse habitat area and wood removal, using a Finnish forestry dynamics model and the Finnish Multi-Source National Forest Inventory. For the modelling of forest grouse habitats, a landscape-level occurrence model based on nationwide wildlife triangle census data was used. Five alternative forest scenarios in terms of wood removal were compiled for two study areas in Finland representing two different landscape structures.Results and conclusionsResults showed that impacts on forest grouse habitats were case-specific. In the southern study area, increasing the roundwood harvesting rate affected grouse habitats more strongly as forests were already fragmented for other land uses and became more spruce-dominated over time. If the maximum sustainable removal rate was implemented, predicted grouse habitat area was 55% less than in a no-removal scenario. In the eastern study area, a more heavily forested region, the decrease was far lower at 22%. Scenario results were also compared to levels of recorded (business as usual) wood removal and that envisaged by valid regional forestry programmes, and their sustainability in terms of grouse habitat area was discussed. The production possibility frontiers calculated in this study support the evaluation of the loss of suitable habitat caused by different wood harvesting rates, or vice versa, the economic cost of increasing habitat areas.

Highlights

The need to replace fossil-based materials and energy has triggered increasing demand for renewable resources (McCormick and Kautto 2013)
Scenario results were compared to levels of recorded wood removal and that envisaged by valid regional forestry programmes, and their sustainability in terms of grouse habitat area was discussed
The estimated area of forestry land in North Karelia was 1.57 million ha and the total volume of growing stock was 167.7 million m3 at the beginning of the simulation period (2005), of which 97% was available for wood production

Summary

Introduction

The need to replace fossil-based materials and energy has triggered increasing demand for renewable resources (McCormick and Kautto 2013). In Finland, the National Forest Strategy (2015) aims to increase annual roundwood removals by 2025 to meet the needs of a growing bioeconomy (The Finnish Bioeconomy Strategy 2014). Agriculture in combination with infrastructure and modern forestry have significantly altered landscape composition and configuration of boreal forests, changing the dynamics and structures of these forest landscapes. Species vary in their sensitivity to human-induced changes to their habitats, and species that suffer the most from habitat (2020) 7:21 shifts are either habitat or resource specialists with poor dispersal ability, or species affected by transformed inter-specific interactions in these communities (Angelstam 1992; Andrén 1995; Moilanen and Hanski 1995). Analysing potential trade-offs between forest grouse habitats and wood production in the region could support resource-smart decision making

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion