Ecological Management of Redwoods

The October 2009 issue of National Geographic featured a fantastic article (not to mention photos) about the present state of forestry in Northern California in the United States with a focus on redwood management. The article details a team's trek through the redwood forests in California to examine not only their ecological condition, but also to interview the range of stakeholders in redwood management in the region, including local communities, environmentalists, and loggers. 


While national and state forest reserves secure (relatively) small patches of old growth, healthy redwood forest ecosystems, a significant portion of the existing - though not always old growth - redwoods are in private hands, often those of large logging interests. The ecological and social benefits of healthy redwood ecosystems are not contained, though, only within the boundaries of the forest reserves. The entire forest landscape must be managed well in order to maintain and increase redwood forests, as well as to sustain social and economic connections to these forests. Often, poor management decisions have been taken, especially on the side of the biggest loggers, when the divides between the various stakeholders at the table have been substantial.   


Surprisingly, the article gives hope with its positive view about these stakeholders being able to work together toward ecologically and socially sustainable forestry of redwoods. Most notably, several loggers are featured discussing the adoption of less intense, "ecological" approaches to forestry wherein thriving forest ecosystems are built then selectively logged so that important ecosystem functions are maintained. This is beneficial not only to the vulnerable wildlife depending on privately (logger) owned redwood forests, including the northern spotted owl Strix occidentalis caurina and the marbled murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus, but also produces better timber yield in the long run. 


In a context where environmentalists and commercial loggers have long clashed over redwood management, broader understanding between these groups bodes well for balanced management approaches that can meet a range of needs. If logging can be carried out in a way that is minimally harmful to ecosystems and wildlife in redwood forests while social and economic needs are met, then it seems a good compromise will obtain. We will have to wait and see the results of these approaches.  Nonetheless, the political challenges that have hurt the effort toward redwood conservation for so long seem to be softening, which is itself a reason to look up.


http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/10/redwood-management/fay-text