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Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

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The application of prescriptions A, B, and C is essential to achieve recovery.Prescription D is recommended as a supplement to prescription A and couldspeed recovery of <strong>the</strong> species while providing benefits to o<strong>the</strong>r species.PRESCRIPTION A -CENTERMAINTAIN DISPERSAL HABITAT AND ACTIVITYManagement objectiveProvide habitat to support dispersing owls and maintain residual habitatareas that protect activity centers<strong>for</strong> pairs and territorial singles in <strong>the</strong>matrix. The o<strong>the</strong>r matrix prescriptions are supplemental to this minimumrequirement.Discussion. The minimum role of <strong>the</strong> matrix is to provide habitat conditionsadequate to assure at least short-term survival of a significant proportion ofdispersing owls (see sections II.A. and III.B.) To achieve species recovery, <strong>the</strong>matrix must play this role. The matrix also must protect a given number ofowl activity centers referred to as residual habitat areas. The size requirement<strong>for</strong> residual habitat areas is based on in<strong>for</strong>mation about home ranges usedduring <strong>the</strong> breeding season. These areas will not meet long-term needs of owls.However, <strong>the</strong>y will provide areas of high-quality habitat <strong>for</strong> dispersing owls,prevent <strong>the</strong> direct elimination of nesting areas, and provide cores of suitablehabitat to preserve future options <strong>for</strong> managing owls in <strong>the</strong> matrix. Given <strong>the</strong>recovery objective to reestablish owls throughout <strong>the</strong> landscape, providingresidual habitat areas is essential.Criterion <strong>for</strong> applying prescriptionManagement to achieve <strong>the</strong>se minimum matrix objectives will be practiced onfederal lands throughout <strong>the</strong> range of <strong>the</strong> owl where <strong>for</strong>ests are sufficientlyproductive to attain <strong>the</strong> conditions specified.Management guidelines<strong>for</strong> prescription AI .The number of residual habitat areas to be provided is based on densitiesof owl pairs observed in study areas. These target densities vary byprovince where appropriate (Table 3.2).Table 3.2. Density of residual habitat areasPhysiographic ProvinceAreasPer TownshipOlympic Peninsula 4Western Washington Cascades 6Eastern Washington Cascades 6Western Oregon Cascades 8Eastern Oregon Cascades 6Oregon Coast RangeKlamath (Oregon and Cali<strong>for</strong>nia)810Cali<strong>for</strong>nia Coast RangeCali<strong>for</strong>nia Cascades106120

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