Climate Adaptation and Carbon Sequestration

Photographer: Mary O'Brien (#1-2) and Marc Coles-Ritchie (#3)

GOALS

Conservation Alternative Goals (FW-CLIMATE-GL): 01

1. MLNF management that is informed by science-based sensitivity to limits of MLNF species, ecosystems, and water is driven by climate change – specifically rising air, soil, and water temperatures -- combined with frequent drought, soil aridification, earlier snowmelt, increased probability of wildfire, and increasingly favorable conditions for invasive species, forest pests, and fires.

Proposed Management Plan (Management Plan, Vol. 1) Goals (FW-CLIMATE-GL): 01

1. MLNF management that is informed by science-based sensitivity to limits of MLNF species, ecosystems, and water is driven by climate change – specifically rising air, soil, and water temperatures -- combined with frequent drought, soil aridification, earlier snowmelt, increased probability of wildfire, and increasingly favorable conditions for invasive species, forest pests, and fires.

DESIRED CONDITIONS

Conservation Alternative Desired Conditions (FW-CLIMATE-DC): 01-04

1. Forest uses and practices are being modified in response to climate change.

   
   

2. Natural processes that create and maintain ecosystem conditions maximally resilient to the effects of climate change are supported.

   
   

3. Ecosystems and species are supported so that they can respond naturally to climate change.

   
   

4. Forecasts of changing climate, vegetation, and wildlife populations are informing project planning.

Proposed Management Plan (Management Plan, Vol. 1) Desired Conditions (FW-CLIMATE-DC): 01

1. Carbon storage and sequestration potential is sustained by biologically-diverse and resilient forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands that are adapted to natural disturbance processes and climate change.

OBJECTIVES

Conservation Alternative Objectives (FW-CLIMATE-OB): 01-02

1. Within one year of plan implementation, identify the MLNF biological and hydrological elements and processes most vulnerable to increased heat, decreased water availability, and/or increased fire, with annual updates in light of new information.

   
   

2. Within one year of plan implementation, estimate observed and predicted vegetation production reduction on MLNF using standard models (e.g., Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI; Evaporative Demand Drought Index, EDDI).

STANDARDS

Conservation Alternative Standards (FW-CLIMATE-ST): 01-05

1. All analyses for proposed MLNF projects shall discuss the projected impact of climate change (incl. drought, increased heat, and/or declining water availability) on the resources affected by the activity or project.

   
   

2. Drought impact mitigation strategies are specified in all relevant permits, uses, and contracts and are implemented when drought triggers (FW-CLIMATE-ST 03[sic 04]) have been exceeded. Relevant permits (and livestock Annual Operating Instructions), uses, and contracts that must have drought impact mitigation strategies include, but are not limited to:

   02.1 livestock grazing

   02.2 food gathering

   02.3 seed and other vegetation collection

   02.4 fuel wood cutting

   02.5 recreational fire and firearms use

   
   

3. Mitigation strategies with the potential to impact traditional Tribal activities, whether subsistence or ceremonial, may be different than specified in other relevant permits, uses, and contracts, and shall be determined in collaboration and consultation with Tribes, with a shared goal of minimal to no impact on cultural continuity.

   
   

4. When, on March 15 of each year, the Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI, which estimates atmospheric demand on available soil moisture), indicates moderate drought (D02) in its 3- month index, specified mitigation measures (FW-CL-ST 02) will be triggered. A mid-July review may reduce or expand the measures.

   
   

5. Permits, uses, and contracts shall be temporarily paused or cancelled during threshold drought conditions if:

05.1 drought mitigation measures are not in place;

05.2 drought mitigation measures are not followed; or

05.3 threshold resource conditions triggering non-use are exceeded 

GUIDELINES

Conservation Alternative Guidelines (FW-CLIMATE-GD): 01

1. MLNF continually reduces generation of greenhouse gases and increases carbon storage.

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ABOUT THIS COMPARISON

All text in this chart is copied and pasted from the Conservation Alternative, the proposed Management Plan, and the DEIS except for any text in brackets and in italics font.

YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED TEXT

Provisions for management in light of Climate that were submitted in the Conservation Alternative. 

Yellow-masked text: Conservation Alternative provisions that are particularly important, but since the Conservation Alternative was not included in the DEIS, they have not been offered to the public as options for their comment. 

BLUE HIGHLIGHTED TEXT

Provisions for management in light of Climate in the Forest’s proposed Management Plan (which is Alternative B in the DEIS)

Blue-masked text: Forest Plan provisions that differ in important ways with the Conservation Alternative.