FOREST PROGRAM
Strategic Priorities

Annual Review of ONRC Research

Conference Reports

ONRC Research
Whitepapers
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004

External Research
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004

ONRC Research 2003

Title:
Using Volume to Reduce Type II Errors in Classifying Northern Spotted Owl Habitat on the Olympic Experimental State Forest

Principal investigator(s); affiliations(s):
Dr. Chadwick Oliver, Yale University
Mr. Jason Cross, University of Washington

Award:
$33,430

Project description:
Creating and maintaining (northern spotted) owl habitat is the central management objective of Washington Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) as it applies to the Olympic Experimental State Forest (OESF). Old forest habitat has both live-tree and dead-tree components; defined in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC 222-16-085). With respect to the live-tree component, there are five measurable criteria – all of which must be satisfied to qualify as old forest habitat. Potential for Type II errors increases with the number of parameters (i.e. measurable criteria) in the definition; which leads to inefficiencies in managing for multiple objectives and more fundamental conflicts between specific management objectives, such as habitat restoration (and maintenance) and the DNR’s fiduciary responsibility to the Trust. This research will examine whether using two measurable criteria to define old forest habitat – standing volume and density – can sufficiently guarantee the live-tree and dead-tree structures sought in WAC 222-16-085.

Project deliverable(s):
Project is open.

Identifying Northern Spotted Owl Habitat in the Olympic Experimental State Forest: Applying Fuzzy Set Theory to Reduce Type II Errors. – Final Report 2006