Chapter 14: Clarifying concepts

Abstract

There are some topics that continue to be raised by managers that were not sufficiently addressed in the first and second edition of U.S. Forest Service General Technical Report GTR 220 "An Ecosystem Management Strategy for Sierran Mixed-Conifer Forests." All of them concern issues about where and when GTR 220 concepts apply and how these concepts relate to current management practices. The first section discusses the appropriate ecological conditions where GTR 220 concepts might be applied. The second section attempts to clarify the types and potential wildlife uses of defect trees in an effort to make them more recognizable in the field. The third section defines and distinguishes canopy cover and closure, an important distinction because some current management practices are focused on canopy cover targets. Some aspects of GTR 220 conditions, particularly localized wildlife habitat, may be better assessed with canopy closure. The final section examines the link between heterogeneity and ecosystem resilience, a core concept behind GTR 220's emphasis on increasing variability in managed forests. General Technical Report 220 is a conceptual framework for managing forests and intentionally lacks the specificity that practitioners might sometimes want. We hope that clarifying the following concepts may help elucidate the GTR's intent without constraining management options.

Parent Publication

• Managing Sierra Nevada forests

Citation

North, M.; Stine, P. 2012. Chapter 14: Clarifying concepts. In: North, Malcolm, ed. 2012. Managing Sierra Nevada forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-237. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. pp. 149-164.