Synopsis (pg. iii)
The Northern Goshawk/Southwestern Forest Management Review Team analyzed the scientific basis of the interim management guidelines resulting from the Management Recommendations for the northern goshawk in the southwestern United States (Reynolds et. al., 1992) developed by the Northern Goshawk Scientific Committee of the U. S. Forest Service. The Review Team evaluated regional Forest Service policy implementing the interim guidelines and field application of those guidelines.
Two issues emerged: management to create northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) habitats and benefit goshawk populations, and management of southwestern forests, especially ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa).
The scientific basis for Management Recommendations, and the recommendations themselves are sound. Implementation of these recommendations should benefit the northern goshawk and many other animal and plant species. This implementation will change the structure of the forest and the relative abundance of many plant and animal species.
Visits into the field and discussions with forest managers did not reveal any consensus upon how to apply interim guidelines. Some managers are thought to emphasize minimal, not maximal, retention of old large ponderosa pines. Use of the guidelines appears varied because of different interpretations. Implementation and training for the guidelines has focused on the Kaibab National Forest in Arizona. Due to its diverse nature and structure the Kaibab is quite different from other forests in the southwest, blanket application of guidelines based on the Kaibab National Forest on other forests would be inappropriate.
Review of the northern goshawk biology and habitat use by the Northern Goshawk Scientific Committee were excellent. No evidence was presented to indicate that northern goshawk populations were declining, threatened or endangered in the southwest or anywhere within its range. No evidence was presented that indicated long-term decline in goshawk breeding populations.
The Management Recommendations and interim policies are designed to manage a variety of plant and animal species. Management for a goshawk food web is an important step towards ecosystem management, as well as keeping goshawks from becoming threatened or endangered. National forests should be managed for a diversity of species and habitat types with retention of large areas, at least at the watershed level, characterized by large, old trees.