A land manager's guide to conserving habitat for forest birds in ...

Gray tree frog — Photo: Scott Gillingwater
The Value of Biodiversity
With more than six billion people living on this planet, it is no wonder that our
environment is rapidly changing and the world’s natural resources are under
enormous pressure. The human population currently consumes more than its
share of Earth’s natural resources per year, and humans have already cleared
nearly half of the world’s natural habitats for their use. An estimated one third
of what remains is set to disappear over the next few decades if current trends
continue. This not only compromises nature’s ability to provide us with an
abundant supply of clean air and water, and filter toxins from the environment,
but many of the world’s species are now vanishing at an unprecedented rate.
This loss of biodiversity is alarming considering our lives are dependent
upon an intricate relationship between multitudes of organisms working
together to achieve ecological balance and stability. Without biodiversity we
would have no oxygen to breathe, no clean water to drink, no fertile soil to grow
our crops, no food to eat, indeed no functioning biosphere. Many experts agree
that any human goal toward improving environmental sustainability must include
actions toward maintaining and protecting biodiversity.
Because our understanding of ecosystems remains incomplete, preserving
biodiversity allows us to keep our options alive. We cannot predict the
consequences of losing species, because all species in nature are connected.
When one species vanishes, others that rely on it are weakened and may
become threatened, which can in turn weaken more species. Apart from these
practical considerations, each species and ecosystem has its own natural,
intrinsic value and should be allowed to continue to exist because it exists today.
It has been suggested that birds are important indicators of biodiversity as
they are found almost everywhere on Earth, comprise over 10,000 species, and
occupy a diverse array of habitats. Not only are birds relatively easy to survey,
but they are sensitive to environmental change. Unfortunately, like other
wildlife, bird numbers have been declining worldwide due to habitat
destruction and fragmentation. Some estimate that one out of every eight bird
species today is globally threatened, and one-fifth of all bird species is at
some level of conservation concern. Most alarming is that even some of the
most common and widespread species are experiencing rapid declines. Loss
of habitat, agriculture, poor logging practices, and the spread of invasive
species are the top of the threat list followed by urban sprawl, hunting,
changes to natural fire regimes, and human-induced climate change.
When managing for biodiversity you manage for all living organisms in order
to conserve the full variety of life. Doing so requires that forest management be
anchored in the principles of ecology. Any forest management activity (timber
harvest, habitat development, re-vegetation, etc.) should occur within the limits
of natural disturbance patterns. Because our native species evolved under these
patterns, maintaining or mimicking them as closely as possible offers the best
protection against the loss of biodiversity. It is in our best interest to slow or
reverse the global loss of biodiversity. By taking an active role in properly
managing our remaining natural resources, you will take a small but positive step
towards protecting and sustaining biodiversity.
Fairy helmet mushroom — Photo: Robert McCaw
Forest wildflowers — Photo: Al Woodliffe
Southern flying squirrel —
Photo: Ken Elliott
Wood Thrush on nest —
Photo: OMNR
Introduction 7