Primary Funder: University of Vermont Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative (FEMC)
Funding Amount: $25,000, RGS match, $12,500
Project Title: Building an Adaptive Management Framework for the Green Mountain National Forest Early Successional Habitat Creation Project
Location: Green Mountain National Forest, Manchester District, Southern Vermont
Innovation:
GMNF initiated an early successional habitat creation project in 2020 covering 15,000 acres of timber harvest treatments implemented over 15-years to increase the acreage of regenerating age class (0 to 9 years old) forest. The main objective is to improve habitat for neotropical migrant birds and other early successional-dependent wildlife species. The decision-making tool developed through this project addresses this gap in long term forest ecosystem monitoring that can integrate multiple different taxa and scales. We are expanding upon an existing monitoring framework that uses autonomous monitoring units and automated open-source data processing and analysis tools as a long term ecosystem monitoring tool for adaptive management decision-making with the overall aim to 1) further understand multi-species response to forest change, and 2) support long term comprehensive multi-species monitoring needs.
Impact:
- Build automated models for site colonization, site extinction, and site persistence probabilities for priority wildlife species (identified in the ESHC project and prioritized in Vermont state forest management objectives) across forest treatment (clearcut with reserves, shelterwood, group selection, patch cuts, control), habitat type (upland/lowland), landscape condition, and elevation.
- Develop a customized open-source spatial decision tool that enables GMNF to better match forest management outcomes to their management objectives.
- Customize currently existing AMMonitor approach and decision tool to smaller state-, town-, or privately-owned forests, with user-friendly interactions.
