Mesocarnivores as Focal Species for the Restoration of Post-Logging Second Growth in the Northern Redwoods

The management of second growth forests to accelerate the restoration of late-successional and old growth characteristics will be one of the greatest challenges for conservation in the redwood region over the next century. In the redwood region, the largest complex of protected areas exists in the north, however >50 percent of these forest reserves are composed of logged, degraded second growth forests. Strategic restoration actions have the potential to accelerate the restoration of old growth forest characteristics and the old growth forest species assemblage that requires these features. Restoration actions in degraded aquatic habitats over the last two decades have been guided by the needs of several salmonid species. Currently there are no guidelines for how to strategically restore second growth forests based on the needs of old growth dependent wildlife species. We developed a focal species approach to provide restoration guidelines based on the spatial and compositional needs of the Humboldt marten (Martes americana humboldtensis), a mesocarnivore sensitive to the loss and modification of old growth forest conditions. In addition, two marten predators – the fisher (Martes pennanti) and bobcat (Lynx rufus) – were selected because they likely expanded their range or abundance, respectively, following the extensive logging of the 1900s. Successful restoration of the old growth forest mesocarnivore assemblage in the redwood region will require an increase in the amount and connectivity of old forest conditions and reduction of road densities which should result in the expansion of the remnant Humboldt marten population and decreases in the range and abundance of the fisher and bobcat.