Use of Historical Logging Patterns to Identify Disproportionately Logged Ecosystems within Temperate Rainforests of Southeastern Alaska

Abstract

The forests of southeastern Alaska remain largely intact and contain a substantial proportion of Earth's remaining old-growth temperate rainforest. Nonetheless, industrial-scale logging has occurred since the 1950s within a relatively narrow range of forest types that has never been quantified at a regional scale. We analyzed historical patterns of logging from 1954 through 2004 and compared the relative rates of change among forest types, landform associations, and biogeographic provinces. We found a consistent pattern of disproportionate logging at multiple scales, including large-tree stands and landscapes with contiguous productive old-growth forests. The highest rates of change were among landform associations and biogeographic provinces that originally contained the largest concentrations of productive old growth (i.e., timber volume >46.6 m³/ha). Although only 11.9% of productive old-growth forests have been logged region wide, large-tree stands have been reduced by at least 28.1%, karst forests by 37%, and landscapes with the highest volume of contiguous old growth by 66.5%. Within some island biogeographic provinces, loss of rare forest types may place local viability of species dependent on old growth at risk of extirpation. Examination of historical patterns of change among ecological forest types can facilitate planning for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of forest resources.

Climate Change Sensitivity Index for Pacific Salmon Habitat in Southeast Alaska

“…Thus far, simulation studies suggest low-elevation floodplain and wetland connectivity restoration efforts to slow increased flow rates and improve summer water storage are the most effective climate change mitigation strategies in population viability models for Washington State [15]. These ecosystem engineering techniques could be further tested in historically impacted watersheds in southeast Alaska [57].…”

Climate change implications in the northern coastal temperate rainforest of North America

“…Harvesting of wood fiber and fuel is seen as less sensitive to projected climatic changes than the existing constraints on logging in the region (Albert and Schoen 2013;Beier 2011). However, the climate-driven decline of Alaska yellow-cedar across the region has resulted in localized but geographically widespread areas (2, 4, and 5) of high-value salvage logs that may be processed locally into high value wood products (Beier et al 2008a).…”

Living on the edge: Exploring the role of coastal refugia in the Alexander Archipelago of Alaska

“…Together with Haida Gwaii to the south, these archipelagos support a significant portion of the remaining coastal temperate rainforest worldwide (DellaSala et al, 2011;Ecotrust & Conservation International, 1992). Most of the islands within this archipelago are managed by the Tongass National Forest (6.9 million ha; United States Geological Survey, 2010) and have been heavily modified by industrial timber harvests and associated fragmentation (e.g., roads) over the past 60 years (Albert & Schoen, 2013;List, 2000;Schoen & Dovichin, 2007). The rugged and ice-laden Coast and Wrangell-St. Elias mountain ranges that border the adjacent mainland to the east and north have acted as barriers to dispersal that filtered the movement of species into and out of the region (Cook & MacDonald, 2013).…”