It is recognized that wildfire is the most serious threat to dense forest habitat that is needed for northern goshawk nesting and rearing areas (PFA's). In order to reduce this threat, while still meeting the management requirements for the northern goshawk, some thinning of small trees needs to occur. The thinning of small trees generally does not change the existing tree canopy densities except where small openings are created. This thinning is also needed to safely prescribe burn these habitats to reduce the accumulation of forest litter due to many years of fire suppression. Where large continuous canopies occur in young stands, small openings with light densities of trees are created. Thinning treatments are followed with prescribed fire.

Click here to read more about the Dense Canopy Model.

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