Wildlife, including mollusks, arthropods, amphibians, reptiles, fish, mammals and birds, depend on the composition and structure of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) features of their environment. These features - plants, shrubs, trees, rocks, cliffs, water, shade - form the habitat critical for wildlife.
A functional forest has the ability to sustain communities of invertebrates and vertebrates allowing them to persist over time. Alterations of forest structures can impair some species for a short-term as when mowing of grass may negatively affect some reptiles until such time when the grass grows back; or long-term, the loss of structural nesting habitat in old-growth forest may take centuries to recruit leading to chronic declines in a population. Additionally, many taxa of invertebrates and vertebrates share habitats by partitioning these components either spatially, seasonally or both. In other words, functional habitat provides the necessities for survival over time and space.
Many of the habitat attributes found in forests are the result of disturbance events such as insects, disease, fire, wind, slides, snow and lightening. These disturbance events are crucial for creating important habitat features such as trunk hollows, broken tops, and nest cavities required by some species.
Developing the ability to recognize these unique habitat elements is key when designing management options. In some situations, best practice is to retain these features when already present in the forest.
Landowners and agencies implementing treatments to reduce fuel loads in forest stands need to acknowledge and mitigate potential impacts on wildlife and their habitats and on sensitive plant species. Designing prescriptions to balance wildlife, forest health and fire hazard is an essential role of any management. Incorporating habitat and species considerations is important not only for forest management plans, but also for Community Wildfire Protection Plans, fuels treatments, and other management activities. Successfully balancing wildlife and sensitive plant habitat needs while maintaining or improving forest health and reducing fire hazard is key to effective forest management.
For an overview of wildlife habitat components and how to maintain or enhance habitat for different species, refer to Forest Stewardship Series 8 - Forest Wildlife (ANR Publication 8238).
Other Resources:
California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR) is an information system containing life history, geographic range, habitat relationships, and management information on the wildlife species known to occur in the state. CWHR products are available to anyone interested in understanding, conserving, and managing California's wildlife. Species lists, life histories, geographic range information and habitat classification are available online.
CAL FIRE produces periodic California's Forests and Rangelands Assessments which include chapters on the status and trends of California's wildlife. (2017 Assessment)
Forestland Steward Summer 2010 Newsletter on Balancing Wildlife Needs with Fuels Management - a Conundrum
The Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project contains archived information on the California Spotted Owl and Pacific Fisher.