Underestimating risks to the northern spotted owl in fire-prone forests: response to Hanson et al

Abstract

The development of conservation plans for Northern Spotted Owls (NSO) (Strix occidentalis caurina) in disturbance-prone landscapes requires evaluation of multiple threats and careful consideration of the consequences of management actions intended to reduce risk. Hanson et al. (2009) used downwardly revised estimates of recent old-forest losses to high-severity wildfire to argue that the recent NSO recovery plan (USDI 2008) overestimates fire risk to the NSO in dry, fire-prone forests. We believe their analysis is erroneous and deficient and does not support their conclusions. Furthermore, they show a bias against active management by ignoring recent science and risk factors in dry forests that do not support their opinions.

Citation

Spies, Thomas A.; Miller, Jay D.; Buchanan, Joseph B.; Lehmkuhl, John F.; Franklin, Jerry F.; Healey, Sean P.; Hessburg, Paul F.; Safford, Hugh D.; Cohen, Warren B.; Kennedy, Rebecca S.H.; Knapp, Eric E.; Agee, James K.; Moeur, Melinda. 2010. Underestimating risks to the northern spotted owl in fire-prone forests: response to Hanson et al. Conservation Biology. 24(1): 330-333.