Wildlife Habitat Management and Changing Forest Practices in the Northeast

Abstract Increasingly intensive management of northeastern industrial forestlands will substantially affect wildlife habitat. Opportunities for increasing wildlife habitat values on the best forest sites may be impractical because high timber management costs preclude loss of wood products to favor wildlife. Wildlife habitat can be enhanced on low-quality timber sites, but inherent site productivity will limit gains. The most practical opportunity for increasing wildlife habitat values usually is on intermediate-quality sites. Increased habitat value can be accomplished by coordinating timber and wildlife-habitat management goals. Gains in wildlife habitat value must be quantified to help offset losses in timber values. Citation: Northern Journal of Applied Forestry, April 1984. NJ 1:12-14.