Commonly referred to as MIS

From the 1982 planning regulations 36 CFR 219.19(a)(1)- “… certain vertebrate and/or invertebrate species present in the area shall be identified and selected as management indicator species...”

Establish explicit Forest Plan objectives for wildlife and fish habitat …

Analyze the degree to which Forest plan alternatives meet those objectives …

Monitor the effect of Forest Plan implementation ...

Additionally, the regulations require that population trends of MIS will be monitored and “relationships to habitat changes determined.”

MIS and reasons for selection Plan direction and objectives for MIS and

associated habitats Trends in habitat for each MIS (acres and

percent of habitat quantity and quality) Trends in population for each MIS Interpretation of these trends in relation to

plan direction, goals and objectives (DFC) Documentation of data and references

1976 National Forest Management Act Provide diversity of plant and animal communities

1982 Planning Rule Fish and wildlife habitat shall be managed to

maintain viable populations of existing native and desired non-native vertebrate species in the planning area

2008 USDA Regulation 9500-4 A goal of the Department is to improve, where

needed, fish and wildlife habitats, and to ensure the presence of diverse, native and desired nonnative populations of wildlife, fish and plant species, while fully considering other Department missions, resources , and services.

“In order to insure [sic] that viable populations will be maintained, habitat must be provided to support, at least, a minimum number of reproductive individuals and that habitat must be well distributed so that those individuals can interact with others in the planning area.” 36 CFR 219.19

Wildlife viability requirements may be met by preserving habitat, where the Forest Service’s knowledge of the type of habitat that is necessary and the method for measuring it are “reasonably reliable and accurate.”

Ecosystem (Coarse Filter)Desired ConditionsObjectives & GuidelinesConservation Approaches

Species (Fine Filter)Identify species that need specific Plan

ComponentsFine Scale Conservation Measures (e.g. Standards for Snags)

Species Analysis

• ID groups/surrogates to focus analysis and management

• Group based on habitat use• Vegetation type• Structural stage

• Select one or more species per group as surrogate for others (focal species)

What is "Bayesian BeliefWhat is "Bayesian Belief

Network?"Network?"In short, a Bayesian Belief Network In short, a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) is simply a way of showing how (BBN) is simply a way of showing how things interact and cause specific things interact and cause specific outcomes. outcomes.

Current Northern GoshawkSustainability outcome

Departure

< -2-2 to -1-1 to 00 to 11 to 2>= 2

0 0 0

100 0 0

0.5 ± 0.29

% Shab >21" dbh

ZeroLowModerateHigh

0 0

100 0

Departure Summary

AboveMedianLowModerateHigh

60.040.0 0 0

2.6 ± 0.49

Habitat Index

lowmoderatehigh

011.089.0

1.89 ± 0.31

Watershed Index

LowModerateHighVHigh

05.505.5089.0

2.83 ± 0.5

Road density

LowModerateHigh

100 0 0

Sustainability Outcome

ABCDE

80.014.05.001.00 0

1.27 ± 0.6

Display key influences on wildlife populations

Integrate scientific data and expert knowledge

Use categorical and continuous variables Express predicted outcomes as likelihoods Help represent uncertainty Link to spatial data Easily updated

Hope to use the information that has been developed to date ...

May require identification of different or other species as MIS or focal species ...

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