Principle – Yield and Quality of Forest Goods are Sustainable

Criterion- Incidence of disturbance and stress

Indicator – Area and severity of disease infestation.

Box B: Definition:

Forests are dynamic ecosystems in constant transition. Some changes are caused by natural mechanisms such insect activity. Healthy, managed forests will contribute to maintaining a viable global and local forest environment and contribute to commodity production. The incidence of disturbance influences such as insect infestation and outbreaks, are a measure of the health and stability of forests. Thus, measures of the area and severity of insect attack are indicators of the ability of forests to contribute to sustainability, both of ecologically and in meeting the needs of people.

Box D: Applicability to Different Landowners:

N/A

Box E: Overlap:

CCFM 2.1.2: Area and severity of insect attack

CCFM 2.1.3: Area and severity of fire damage.

CCFM 2.1.7: Area and severity of occurrence of exotic species detrimental to forest conditions.

Notes: The incidence of disease occurrence applies to the site, especially when outbreaks occur. The tree killing that takes place can have very significant impacts on localized sites. Examples are with infections of root disease such as Armillaria mellia, that kill large numbers of trees and significantly alter local conditions.

Notes: The incidence of insect outbreaks is strictly a diagnostic indicator. Generally, in the Boise Management Unit, when outbreaks occur, the insects are responding to factors that have applied stress to the trees, such as high stand density, conditions that contribute to dry sites, catastrophic damage and drought. The principal defoliators, the western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis, and the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata, respond to site, stand, and environmental factors conditions that stress trees. When drought occurs, these insects respond to the changes that result in the trees as they react to the dryer conditions, and populations often increase (Stocheck, 1981??, and WSBW compendium). Many bark beetles behave in a similar fashion, responding to high stand density and drought, by killing large numbers of trees. Others beetles respond to catastrophy such as windthrow, by building up large populations in the down trees. They will then emerge and kill standing green trees. As soon as the drought subsides, stands are thinned out, or the storm damaged trees are utilized, the outbreaks generally subside and populations exist only at very low levels (Furniss and Carolyn).

Box I: Underlying Concepts:

Forests dominate the world’s terrestrial biosphere. They cover 21% of the continental area, and account for 76% of terrestrial biomass and 37% of bioproductivity (CCFM p. 25).

Disturbances and stress strongly influence the health, vitality and productivity of forests, being fundamental to the maintenance and enhancement of forest ecosystems. Maintaining ecosystem integrity and forest health is essential for the sustainable management and conservation of our forests (CCFM p. 26).

Box J: Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable Management:

By knowing something about the incidence and extent of I&D populations, we can gain an understanding about forest conditions. This relates to sustainability. Insects and diseases are agents of change. They are primarily responding to stress in the woods. Thus, if we find high incidence and severity of bugs and cruds, we can know that in the short term (the term important in supplying commodities for man) the forests are not in a sustainable conditions. Ecologically, this might be exactly what is needed to help restore ecosystem integrity. Kill lots of trees in over stocked stands, contribute to fuel loading, contribute to the recycling of nutrients. Check more from Furniss and Carolyn, other texts. (WORK NEEDED)

Measuring the disturbance and stress caused by insects and diseases provides a basis for sustainable forest management. For example, improving decision making and sound policy decisions require knowledge of the effects of disturbance and stress on forest condition and productivity, the ability to forecast disturbances, and greater predictive powers (CCFM p. 26).

Box K: Measurement Methods:

N/A

Box L: Data Required:

Survey reports, data, maps, GIS systems make it all easier.

Box M: Data Used for the North American Test :

BNF Forest Health Protection data base. FHM program.

Box N: Example Results:

N/A

Box O: Assessing the Practicality:

Easy to track over time, already being done. Reports are being prepared.

Annual survey summary reports, FHM reports.

Box P: Assessing the Information Value:

Useful to help in planning, especially for salvage.

Box Q: Overall assessment:

Combined with U1

Box R: Did you rewrite or revise to a new indicator. If so what?

N/A

Box S: References: