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a " FGFWFC in Schmalzer of al. 1994►. Every effort will be Made to avoid gopher tortoise burrows during implementation of the recommended mechanical restoration activities. 5.3 Sebastian HGP Florida Scrub -Jay Habitat Restoration and Management Program (HCP Management Program) The HCP Management Program identifies specific management activities to be undertaken by the Applicant to proceed towards achievement of the stated biological goals and objectives of this HCP. The HCP Management Program consists of two phases. Phase One represents the restoration of poor quality scrub -jay habitat conditions using mechanical treatment and prescribed fire management strategies. Phase Two consists of long-term management practices that focus on maintenance of optimal Florida scrub -jay habitat conditions through the use of periodic prescribed fire. Prior to the extensive habitat fragmentation which now characterizes much of the present-day landscape and functions as fire barriers, fires were ignited by lightning primarily during the late spring and summer months and burned large expanses across the landscape (Robbins and Myers 1992). The frequent lightning fires resulted in an open landscape with few forests; conditions which were historically represented in the scrub landscape at each of the Sebastian HCP Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas. As scrub requires fire to maintain its characteristic: low, open habitat structure; scrub restoration and management strategies must also depend ora fire as the primary management tool to perpetuate native scrub habitat conditions (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984, 1991; Schaub el al. 1992; Breininger (it al. 1995, 1998a; Duncun et at 1995; Breininger and Oddy 1998; Breininger 1999). As presented above, the long -tern exclusion of fire from scrub communities results in a habitat that essentially becomes difficult to burn (Schmalzer et at 1994, 1999) and/or control without prior mechanical treatment of the dense canopy stratum (Breininger et al. 1996b). Therefore, the use of aggressive management actions, such as mechanical thinning of the pine canopy by logging activities using timber sales, will be employed to expedite the restoration of optimal Florida scrub -jay habitat conditions within the Sebastian HCP Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas. Timber management (sales) as a scrub -jay habitat restoration strategy involves the reduction of tree densities to levels that are favorable for the Florida scrUll-jay, e.g. an average of 1 to 2 pines per acre (Breininger Pers comm.), ire the few areas of the Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas where large diameterscrub oaks occur, the timber contractor will be directed to also cut these trees. Smaller diameter pines left by the logging operation can be reduced by increasing fire frequencies in these areas (Breininger pers. comm.). The arse of increased fire frequencies during the restoration burning period also has the positive effect of initiating the restoration of openings in the scrub and reducing shrub height (Breininger or al. 1996b). Restoration of open spaces in the scrub habitat can also be ,-achieved by allowing downed trees to burn (Broininger et at 1996b). This use of this habitat manac,fernent technique may be 78