Evidence is mounting that redwood forests, like many other ecosystems, cannot survive as small, isolated fragments in human-altered landscapes. Such fragments lose their diversity over time and, in the case of redwoods, may even lose the ability to grow new, giant trees.The Redwood Forest, written in support of Save-the-Redwood League's master plan, provides scientific guidance for saving the redwood forest by bringing together in a single volume the latest insights from conservation biology along with new information from data-gathering techniques such as GIS and remote sensing. It presents the most current findings on the geologic and cultural history, natural history, ecology, management, and conservation of the flora and fauna of the redwood ecosystem. Leading experts -- including Todd Dawson, Bill Libby, John Sawyer, Steve Sillett, Dale Thornburgh, Hartwell Welch, and many others -- offer a comprehensive account of the redwoods ecosystem, with specific chapters examining: the history of the redwood lineage, from the Triassic Period to the present, along with the recent history of redwoods conservation life history, architecture, genetics, environmental relations, and disturbance regimes of redwoods terrestrial flora and fauna, communities, and ecosystems aquatic ecosystems landscape-scale conservation planning management alternatives relating to forestry, restoration, and recreation.The Redwood Forest offers a case study for ecosystem-level conservation and gives conservation organizations the information, technical tools, and broad perspective they need to evaluate redwood sites and landscapes for conservation. It contains the latest information from ground-breaking research on such topics as redwood canopy communities, the role of fog in sustaining redwood forests, and the function of redwood burls. It also presents sobering lessons from current research on the effects of forestry activities on the sensitive faunas of redwood forests and streams.The key to perpetuating the redwood forest is understanding how it functions; this book represents an important step in establishing such an understanding. It presents a significant body of knowledge in a single volume, and will be a vital resource for conservation scientists, land use planners, policymakers, and anyone involved with conservation of redwoods and other forests.
Table of Figures List of Tables Boxes Appendices Foreword Preface
Chapter 1. More than Big Trees -The Value of Redwoods -Purpose and Scope of this Book
Chapter 2. History of Redwood and Redwood Forests -Before the Holocene -Transition to the Holocene -The Holocene -Since European Settlement -Today's Forest -The Redwood Preservation Movement
Chapter 4. Redwood Trees, Communities, and Ecosystems: A Closer Look -Life History -Environmental Relations -Genetics -Major Coexisting Tree Species -Disturbance Regimes -Ecological Roles of Fungi -Conclusions
Chapter 5. Terrestrial Fauna of Redwood Forests -Vertebrate Distributions -Faunal Description -Species Richness Patterns -Habitat Relationships -Invertebrates of the Redwoods And Other Northwest Forests -Forest Carnivores of the Redwoods Region -Marbled Murrelets in Redwoods -Conclusions
Chapter 6. Aquatic Ecosystems of the Redwood Region -Stream Ecosystem Processes in Pristine Watersheds -The Aquatic Biota -Changes in Stream Ecosystem Processes Resulting from Timber Harvesting and Related activities -Research Needs -Conclusions
Chapter 7. Conservation Planning in the Redwoods Region -Deciding What to Protect -Developing a Conservation Plan -Focal Area Identification and Assessment Model -Focal Area Selection and Monitoring -Conclusions Chapter 8. Managing Redwoods -Management of Redwood Parks -Silviculture in Redwoods: Incentives and Disincentives -Traditional Silvicultural Systems -The Current and Future Landscape -Future Silvicultural Management of Private Forestlands -Adaptive Management and Monitoring - Appendix 8.1: California Forest Management and Aquatic/Riparian Ecosystems in the Redwoods
Chapter 9. Lessons From The Redwoods
Glossary of Technical Terms Species List Literature Cited Index
