Journal Article

Use of Historical Logging Patterns to Identify Disproportionately Logged Ecosystems within Temperate Rainforests of Southeastern Alaska

ALBERT, DAVID M., SCHOEN, JOHN W.

2013

Overview

The forests of southeastern Alaska remain largely intact and contain a substantial proportion of Earth's remaining old-growth temperate rainforest. Nonetheless, industrial-scale logging has occurred since the 1950s within a relatively narrow range of forest types that has never been quantified at a regional scale. We analyzed historical patterns of logging from 1954 through 2004 and compared the relative rates of change among forest types, landform associations, and biogeographic provinces. We found a consistent pattern of disproportionate logging at multiple scales, including large-tree stands and landscapes with contiguous productive old-growth forests. The highest rates of change were among landform associations and biogeographic provinces that originally contained the largest concentrations of productive old growth (i.e., timber volume >46.6 m 3 /ha). Although only 11.9% of productive old-growth forests have been logged region wide, large-tree stands have been reduced by at least 28.1%, karst forests by 37%, and landscapes with the highest volume of contiguous old growth by 66.5%. Within some island biogeographic provinces, loss of rare forest types may place local viability of species dependent on old growth at risk of extirpation. Examination of historical patterns of change among ecological forest types can facilitate planning for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of forest resources. Los bosques del sureste de Alaska permanecen en su mayoría intactos y contienen una proporción sustancial de los bosques lluviosos templados maduros de la Tierra. Sin embargo la tala a escala industrial ha ocurrido desde los 1950s dentro de un rango relativamente estrecho de tipos de bosque que nunca se ha cuantificado en una escala regional. Analizamos los patrones históricos de tala de 1954 hasta 2004 y comparamos las tasas relativas de cambio entre tipos de bosque, asociaciones de formaciones terrestres y provincias biogeográficas. Encontramos un patrón consistente de tala desproporcionada en escalas múltiples, incluyendo grandes fragmentos y paisajes con bosques maduros productivos contiguos. Las tasas más altas de cambio estuvieron entre las asociaciones de formaciones terrestres y provincias biogeográficas que originalmente contenían la mayor concentración de bosque maduro productivo (p.ej.: volumen de madera >46.6 m3/ha). Aunque solo 11.9% de los bosques maduros productivos han sido talados a lo largo de la región, los fragmentos se han reducido al menos en 28.1%, bosques de karst en 37%, y paisajes con el volumen más alto de bosque maduro contiguo en 66.5%. Dentro de algunas provincias biogeográficas aisladas, la pérdida de tipos raros de bosque puede ubicar la viabilidad local de especies dependientes del bosque maduro en riesgo de extirpación. Examinar los patrones históricos de cambio entre tipos de bosque ecológicos puede facilitar la planeación para la conservación de la biodiversidad y el uso sustentable de los recursos forestales.

• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd,Wiley-Blackwell
• Subject: Alaska / Animal and plant ecology / Animal, plant and microbial ecology / Applied ecology / Biological and medical sciences / bosque maduro / cambio en cobertura de suelo / Conservation biology / Conservation of Natural Resources - methods / Conservation of Natural Resources - statistics & numerical data / Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife / Ecosystem / Forest conservation / Forest ecology / Forest ecosystems / Forest habitats / Forest resources / Forest stands / Forestry / Forestry - history / Forestry - statistics & numerical data / Forests / fragmentación / fragmentation / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / General aspects / General forest ecology / Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology / Geography / History, 20th Century / History, 21st Century / Karst / land-cover change / Logging / Logistic Models / Old growth / Old growth forests / old-growth forest / Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking / Rainforests / silvicultura / Species Specificity / Sustainable use / Synecology / Temperate rain forests / Terrestrial ecosystems / Timber industry / Trees