Silvicultural Practices and Management of Habitat for Bats

The twenty-first century has seen a shift in the philosophy and practice of forestry. Historic assumptions that prevailed as recently as three decades ago have been chalJenged in light of new-concepts and practices, developed through advances in research and lessons from practical experience. The goals of forcst management today encompass a wider array of resources than in the past, and managers are using a wider range of tools and techniques to provide them. For example, consider the evolution in wildlife management. The old prevailing wisdom held mal good forest management, which was focused on timber objectives. was also good wildlife management (Bissonette 1986). This reflected the perceived benefits of using c1earcutting to har· vest stands, and the resulting response of plant species that provided soft mast and browse for deer (Odocoileus Yirgillianus) and wild turkey (Me-leagris gallopaYo). Thcsc game species were of special interesl 10 state wildlife management agencies and to outdoor enthusiasts who enjoyed hunting. Today, in general, it is understood that a particular forest management strategy is desirable or undesirable for wildlife, depending on how the habitat for the wildlife species or community of interest is affected (Bissonette 1986; Hunter 1990). Thus, if a harvest creates early successional conditions, it will favor wildlife species thai use early suc-cessional h:lbitat, but will not favor species that depend on older forests. The practice of silviculture has evolved as well. Three decades ago, it was socially acceptable and a mailer of public policy to maximize timber production through intensive forestry that involved c1earclilting fol. lowed by the planting of fast-growing trees (Behan 1990; Kessler et al. 1992; Swanson and Franklin 1992). As a result, silviculture came to be associated primarily with intensive forestry for timber production, especially by the public. That view is too narrow by toJay's standards, where demands of society for forest resources go beyond timber production. Contemporary forest management goals include health, diversity, productivity , and sustainability of ecosyst'ems and the diverse elemenlS they contain; those goals arc achieved through silviculture. This view has conceptual advanlages beyond those of multiple use, especially if those multiple uses are in conflict The value that a given society holds for forests and foreslry depends 7