Watershed Approach to Forest Conservation

by

The Center for Watershed Protection

www.cwp.org

www.stormwatercenter.net

Slideshow Content

Why is forest conservation important? Selecting, evaluating and prioritizing sites

for conservation Summary

Forests can:– Reduce stormwater

runoff– Provide wildlife habitat

and migratory corridors– Improve air quality– Reduce urban heat

island effect

Fragmentation reduces interior habitat

Why is Forest Conservation Important?

Table 2. Hydrologic and Water Quality Benefits of Trees

BenefitPer Tree Annual Quantification

of BenefitSource and Description

Rainfall Interception 500 - 760 gallons of water Annual rainfall interception by a large deciduous front yard tree (CUFR, 2001)

Evapotranspiration 100 gallons of water Transpiration rate of poplar trees for one growing season (EPA, 1998)

Nitrogen Uptake 0.05 pounds nitrogen Based on daily rate of nitrogen uptake by poplar trees (Licht, 1990)

NOx (from air) 1 lbs per year Component of acid rain and nutrient runoff (CUFR, 2001)

O3 (Ozone) 4 lbs per year Ground level ozone hazardous to human health (CUFR, 2001)

Particulates 3 lbs per year Pollutants are linked to respiratory problems (asthma and diseases) (CUFR, 2001)

CO2 48 lbs per year Increase is root cause in climate change (CUFR, 2001)

Carbon 13 lbs per year Carbon sequestration by tree incorporation (Coder, 1996)

Temperature reduction

Reduction of 3 to 8 degrees Celsius (multiple trees)

Multiple benefits for health, reduce energy costs, stream temp (CUFR, 2001)

Table 2-1. Declining Bird Species from Priority Habitats in Virginia and the Eastern US

Primary Breeding Habitat Location of Population ConcernSpecies

(Common Name)

Riparian (Streamside) Woodlands

VA and Eastern U.S Black-billed cuckoo

Virginia Yellow warbler

Eastern U.S Belted kingfisher

Mid-Atlantic Coastal PlainAcadian flycatcher

Prothonotory warbler

Interior Forest - Sensitive to Fragmentation

VA and Eastern US Wood Thrush

Virginia Kentucky warbler

Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain Worm-eating warbler

Deciduous/Coniferous Forest (DCF)

VA and Eastern U.S. Eastern wood pewee

Eastern U.S.

Grey catbird

Red-headed woodpecker

Downy woodpecker

Natural Field Habitat

VA and Eastern U.S Eastern kingbird

Eastern U.S.

Common yellowthroat

Indigo bunting

Northern bobwhite

Savannah sparrow

Eastern meadowlark

Wetlands

VA and Eastern U.S Red-winged blackbird

Eastern U.S. Green heron

Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain Black duck

Source: BBS (USGS, 2000) and Priority Management Species for the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain (Pashley et al., 2000)

 

Table 7

  

Examples of Species Sensitive to Fragmentation

Selecting and Evaluating Forest Conservation Sites

Step 1. Desktop Analysis Step 2. Field Assessment Step 3. Prioritization

Step 1. Desktop AnalysisReview Inventories:•US Fish and Wildlife•NWI•Natural Heritage Program•State resource agencies•Local planning office•County inventories•Historic site registries•Breeding bird surveys•Studies by universities or otherinstitutions

Obtain Mapping:•Wetlands•Forest•Aerials•RTE Species•Land Ownership/Parcels