Managing for featured, threatened, endangered, and sensitive species and unique habitats for ecosystem sustainability.

Abstract

The traditional approach to wildlife management has focused on single species—historically game species and more recently threatened and endangered species. Several newer approaches to managing for multiple species and biological diversity include managing coarse filters, ecological indicator species, indicator guilds, and use of species-habitat matrices. These and other modeling approaches each have strong points as well as weak points, which include conflicts among objectives for species with disparate needs. We present three case examples of integrating management for single species with management for multiple species and ecosystems. These examples are: managing elk habitat in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon; managing for sustainable native fish faunas in eastern Oregon and Washington; and managing plant and animal species closely associated with old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest. Each case illustrates a unique set of considerations and ecological conditions. Successful integration of species and ecosystem management depends on clearly defining objectives at several scales of time and space, and not violating the three most basic principles of ecosystem management: maintaining or restoring biodiversity, maintaining long-term site productivity, and maintaining sustainable use of renewable resources.

Citation

Marcot, Bruce G.; Wisdom, Michael J.; Li, Hiram W.; Castillo, Gonzalo C. 1994. Managing for featured, threatened, endangered, and sensitive species and unique habitats for ecosystem sustainability. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-329. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 39 p. (Everett, Richard L., assessment team leader; Eastside forest ecosystem health assessment; Hessburg, Paul F., science team leader and tech. ed., Volume III: assessment.)