Tongass National Forest

The effect on the ASQ of the marten and goshawk standards and guidelines appear not to have been taken into consideration at the same level as other ASQ reductions. Specifically, the standards and guidelines were not modeled in FORPLAN or other similar model. It was thought that application of the standards and guidelines would result in structure left in harvest units that would contribute to large tree structure and diversity in future second growth forest. The standards and guidelines primarily apply to specific VCUs where more timber harvest has occurred in the past. It was thought that the total acres reserved in harvest units where the standards and guidelines are applied would not have a significant effect on the ASQ. The Forest Plan Monitoring Plan includes monitoring of marten habitat. It appears that this effort may not be consistently applied.

Related to this issue is the concern that the standards and guidelines may not be applied consistently across the Forest, and in some cases may not be applied consistent with the intent of the standards and guidelines. Somewhat related to this concern is the effect application of the standards and guidelines are having on harvest operability and basic economics of given harvest units. (See Concern regarding potential inconsistent application of marten and goshawk standards and guidelines. [04-3]) It is the combination of how much suitable and available timber is being, or projected to be, left in harvest units with the amount of suitable and available timber that is made uneconomical to harvest in lower market conditions, and how much suitable and available timber in harvest units is converted from normal operability to difficult operability lands.

To determine potential affects on the ASQ, harvest units that have been harvested with the marten and goshawk standards and guidelines applied, need to be analyzed. Additionally, harvest units that have been prescribed with the standards and guidelines should be included in the analysis. Such information as total acres reserved, how individual trees were retained (including their relative location/distribution), what other resource needs required retention of individual trees or groups of trees or buffers, how the retention strategy to meet the standards and guidelines were derived or calculated needs to be identified and analyzed. Additional information for analysis could include how much suitable available acres of old growth are included in the area (from each project EIS included in the analysis) in which the standards and guidelines are to be applied through time. With this information an analysis could be done to determine potential affects on the ASQ, or at least put the information into perspective relative to the ASQ. When we run FORPLAN, SPECTRUM, or other suitable model to test the ASQ questions, the information from the above analyses would likely be able to strategically contribute to that effort. Similarly, the Summer 2004 literature search and corresponding interviews conducted by PNW related to marten and goshawk standards and guidelines and habitat needs, can be integrated. (See also concern related to marten and goshawk habitat structural requirements in the standards and guidelines and their consistency with current science. [04-9])

To promote efficiency, the analysis described above should also include other reserves being left in clearcut harvest areas by category. (See concern related to the cost and operability of non-clearcut harvest prescriptions. [04-42]) A primary objective associated with this analysis would be to provide quantification of such reserves and to provide a baseline for establishment of reserve tracking procedures and policies.

Convene a team to identify and analyze total acres reserved, how individual trees were retained (including their relative location/distribution), what other resource needs required retention of individual trees or groups of trees or buffers, and how the retention strategies were derived and calculated. Additional information for analysis shall include how much suitable available acres of old growth are included in the area (from each project EIS included in the analysis) in which the standards and guidelines are to be applied through time.

• Logging Systems Specialist
• Timber Planning Specialist
• GIS Analyst
• Wildlife Biologist

• Study Plan (includes checkpoints)
• Report of findings