Photo: Marbled Murrelet by Peter LaTourrette

The Challenge
 

A national treasure, the old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest not only provide habitat for the endangered Marbled Murrelet and Spotted Owl, they also provide clean drinking water, a vast carbon store, and habitat for other wildlife.  These pristine forests and their inhabitants, however, have been threatened with timber harvest, agricultural development, and residential development.  The Marbled Murrelet, a small, solitary seabird faces additional risks from gill net fishing and pollution from oil spills.

ABC Conservation Framework   Efforts to save this species comes under Safeguarding the Rarest within ABC's Conservation Framework

Safeguarding the Rarest View Washington, Oregon in a larger map

Primary Birds Impacted
 

Spotted Owl by Chris Warren	Marbled Murrelet and Northern Spotted Owl

Solutions
 

• Reverse the rapid decline in Marbled Murrelet and Spotted Owl populations by permanently protecting large blocks of mature and old-growth forest in the Pacific Northwest
  
  
• Create incentives for private landowners to protect old growth forests
  
  
• Implement progressive forest management reforms to restore additional owl habitat

ABC Results
 

	In response to ABC pressures and a conservationist lawsuit, the Obama Administration agreed to withdraw a controversial logging plan that would have tripled the logging in old-growth forests in Oregon and resulted in the loss of 3.9 million acres of habitat for the Marbled Murrelet and the Spotted Owl, as well as impacting threatened wild salmon stocks.
	A new Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan requires additional high-quality owl habitat be conserved thanks to effective policy efforts by ABC.
	The draft Critical Habitat designation for the Northern Spotted Owl includes a major increase in acreage compared to previous proposals.

What Next?
 

	Work with partner bird conservation organizations to advocate revising the draft critical habitat proposal to bring about additional habitat protection.
	Work with the administration and federal agencies to develop a responsible research protocol for active forest management in Northern Spotted Owl habitat.
	Work with the Fish and Wildlife Service on the proposed experimental removal of Barred Owls which can outcompete Spotted Owls in some areas.

Help Protect Old Forest Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl!