Cost-efficient forest management for safeguarding Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) habitats in Central Finland

Protection of vulnerable species often creates conflicts between land use and conservation management. Particularly challenging is the case of Siberian flying squirrel (SFS; Pteromys volans). SFS favours mature forest habitats, which are often the target for logging, and therefore its protection cau...

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Published inScandinavian journal of forest research Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 197 - 207
Main Authors Ahtikoski, Anssi, Nikula, Ari, Nivala, Vesa, Haikarainen, Soili, Juutinen, Artti
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oslo Taylor & Francis 19.05.2023
Taylor & Francis LLC
Subjects
Connectivity
conservation
Cost analysis
cost-effectiveness
Deforestation
Forest management
Forests
Geographic information systems
Habitat improvement
Habitats
Land conservation
Land use
Land use management
Logging
Nesting
Protected species
Pteromys volans
Remote sensing
Siberian flying squirrel
simulation
Squirrels
Stand structure
Threatened species
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Summary:Protection of vulnerable species often creates conflicts between land use and conservation management. Particularly challenging is the case of Siberian flying squirrel (SFS; Pteromys volans). SFS favours mature forest habitats, which are often the target for logging, and therefore its protection causes opportunity costs. In our analysis a regional case study was applied as a platform to create alternative forest management scenarios. These scenarios aimed to maintain and improve SFS habitats with varying magnitudes, from no action in SFS habitat improvement to increasing the amount of suitable habitat for SFS. Stand projections for each forest management scenario were modelled with the Motti stand simulator, and the simulated stand structures were further analyzed using specific indexes with Geographic Information System (GIS) methodologies and tools to predict potential nesting and feeding habitats and connectivity for SFS. Connectivity between habitats was assessed with a Least Cost Path analysis. The results showed that some forest management scenarios were more cost-efficient than others in maintaining habitat suitability and connectivity for SFS. Further, with adjusted cutting removals (due to restrictions other than SFS habitat related, mainly recreation) an additional hectare suitable for SFS habitat was considerably more cost-efficient than without the adjustment.
ISSN:0282-7581
1651-1891
DOI:10.1080/02827581.2023.2208875