In conjunction with partners from US Forest Service and University of Wisconsin-Madison, GLIFWC has been awarded nearly $690,000 for waabizheshiwag, or American marten, stewardship in Wisconsin and the surrounding Ceded Territories. The National Fish and Wildlife Federation apportioned the funds through the America Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (formerly known as America the Beautiful Challenge Grant). While waabizheshiwag are present in Wisconsin, their population numbers are low enough that they are both a tribally and state endangered species. Martens rely on complex, ecologically mature, or “messy” forests, and deep snow cover.
Habitat fragmentation and climate change (decreases in annual snow volume) pose threats to the Wisconsin waabizheshi population. Since wildlife biologists cannot increase the amount of snow cover, it is important to focus on providing the right habitat to establish stable marten populations. The recent award will provide funding for project partners to conduct additional research to better understand marten habitat preferences and where that habitat exists on the landscape. By incorporating both new and existing information researchers will develop detailed stewardship actions or practices that can be used to enhance and connect existing marten habitat. These actions or practices will be descriptive and easy to follow for any land manager but particularly those who steward lands for diverse uses including timber harvest. These practices will not only benefit marten populations but other beings that rely on large tracts of complex old forests. —A. Carl