Biodiversity and other species

Much research has been conducted in recent years on various aspects of biodiversity and many taxa associated with old forests within the area of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP). Challenges remain in maintaining old-forest biodiversity because of imbalances in seral stages, increases in fire severity, climate change influence on forest conditions, and lack of a biodiversity and effectiveness monitoring program. Solutions may include restoring early seral vegetation and a full range of environmental conditions, connecting old-forest reserves through matrix lands and across elevations, continuing species studies, and balancing fuels management with reestablishment of natural disturbances.