Ad valorem - Taxes imposed on forest lands in lieu of property taxes. These taxes are imposed at a rate separate from property taxes.
Allowable Sale Quantity (ASQ) - On a National Forest, the quantity of timber that may be sold from a designated area covered by the forest plan for a specified period of time.
Alternative - In an EIS, one of a number of possible options for responding to the purpose and need for action.
Background - The distant part of a landscape; the seen or viewed area located approximately three miles to infinity from the viewer.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) - Practices designed to prevent or reduce water pollution, including sedimentation.
Board foot (bf) - A unit of wood 12" x 12" x 1".
Candidate species - Plant and animal species that may be proposed for listing as endangered or threatened in the future, in the opinion of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The USFWS recently revised its list of candidate species (February 28, 1996 Federal Register); under their new system, only those species for which they have enough information to support a listing proposal will be called candidates.
Canopy - In a forest, the branches from the uppermost layer of trees; in a shrub or grassland, the uppermost layer of shrubs; in a riparian area, the layers of vegetation that project over the stream.
Canopy closure - The amount of ground surface shaded by tree canopies as seen from above. Used to describe how open or dense a stand of trees is, often expressed in 10 percent increments.
Ceded lands - Lands that tribes ceded to the United States by treaty in exchange for reservation of specific land and resource rights, annuities, and other promises in the treaties.
Compaction - Making soil hard and dense, decreasing its ability to support vegetation because the soil can hold less water and air and because roots have trouble penetrating the soil.
Connectivity - The arrangement of habitats that allows organisms and ecological processes to move across the landscape; patches of similar habitats are either close together or linked by corridors of appropriate vegetation. The opposite of fragmentation.
Cover - (1) Trees, shrubs, rocks, or other landscape features that allow an animal to partly or fully conceal itself. (2) The area of ground covered by plants of one or more species.
Cultural Resources - Prehistoric and historic elements qualifying for protection under the National Historic Preservation Act and other associated acts and regulations. The two types of cultural resources are:
Prehistoric Cultural Resources: Elements of archaeological significance.
Historic Cultural Resources: Elements associated with the European and/or Latin influence.
Cumulative effects - Impacts on the environment that result from the incremental impact of an action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. Cumulative effects can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time. (40 CFR 1508.7)
Density (stand) - The number of trees growing in a given area, usually expressed in terms of trees per acre.
Developed recreation - Recreation that requires facilities that in turn result in concentrated use of an area; for example, a campground.
Direct effects - Impacts on the environment that are caused by an action and occur at the same time and place.
Dispersed recreation - Recreation that does not occur in a developed recreation sites; for example, hunting or backpacking.
Eastside screens (aka Regional Forester's Interim Direction Establishing Riparian, Ecosystem and Wildlife Standards for Timber Sales) - Originally signed in 1994, amended in 1995. The objective of this direction was to provide an approach for maintaining future planning options concerning wildlife habitat associated with late and old structural stages, fish habitat, and old forest abundance. The direction was intentionally restrictive, reflecting a conservative interpretation of riparian, wildlife, and ecosystem needs for the short-term. The direction applies to timber sales. The Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project may supercede the Eastside Screens.
Ecosystem - A complete, interacting system of living organisms and the land and water that make up their environment; the home places of all living things, including humans.
Endangered species - A plant or animal species listed under the Endangered Species Act that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Endangered Species Act (ESA) - An act, passed by Congress in 1973, that directed all Federal departments and agencies to seek to conserve endangered and threatened species and that actions authorized, funded, or carried out by them are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any threatened or endangered species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat. The act also mandates conferencing with the appropriate agencies.
Endemic species - Plants or animals that occur naturally in a certain region and whose distribution is relatively limited to a particular locality. "Endemism" is the occurrence of endemic species in an area.
Environment - The combination of external physical, biological, social, and cultural conditions affecting the growth and development of organisms and the nature of an individual or community.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) - A statement of environmental effects of a proposed action and alternatives to it. A Draft EIS is released to the public and other agencies for review and comment. A Final EIS is issued after consideration of public comments. A Record of Decision (ROD) is based on the information and analysis in the Final EIS. (40 CFR 1508.11)
Foreground - That portion of viewed area from immediately adjacent to the viewing position to about one-half mile from the observer's position; individual branches of trees are discernible.
Forest Plan (Land and Resource Management Plan) - A document that guides natural resource management and establishes standards and guidelines for a National Forest; required by the National Forest Management Act.
Fragmentation (habitat) - The breakup of a large land area (such as a forest) into smaller patches isolated by areas converted to a different land type. The opposite of connectivity.
GIS (Geographic Information System) - An information processing technology to input, store, manipulate, analyze, and display data; a system of computer maps with corresponding site-specific information that can be combined electronically to provide reports and maps.
Habitat - A place that provides seasonal or year-round food, water, shelter, and other environmental conditions for an organism, community, or population of plants or animals.
Indicator species - A species that is presumed to be sensitive to habitat changes; population changes of indicator species are believed to best indicate the effects of land management activities.
Indirect effects - Impacts on the environment that are caused by an action and are later in time or farther removed in distance, but are still reasonably foreseeable.
INFISH - Interim Inland Native Fish Strategy for the Intermountain, Northern, and Pacific Northwest Regions (Forest Service). A strategy intended to provide interim direction to protect habitat and populations of resident fish outside of anadromous fish habitat in eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, Idaho, western Montana, and portions of Nevada.
Inholdings - Small parcels of land surrounded by larger parcels of land of different ownership. This causes a checkerboard pattern of federal and private land ownerships.
Interdisciplinary Team (ID Team) - A team of people that collectively represent several disciplines and whose duty it is to coordinate and integrate the planning process.
Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project (ICBEMP) - A process currently being developed on a multi-agency basis to coordinate management of the interior Columbia Basin ecosystem.
Intermittent stream - A stream that flows only at certain times of the year when it receives water from other streams or from surface sources such as melting snow.
Irretrievable - A category of impacts that applies to losses of production or commitment of renewable resources. For example, while a linear piece of land is being used as a road, some or all of the timber production there is "irretrievably lost". If the road was rehabilitated after use and soil compaction was reduced, timber production could resume; therefore, the loss of timber production during the time the road was in use is irretrievable but not irreversible, because it is possible for timber production to resume if the piece of land is no longer needed as a road.
Irreversible - A category of impacts that applies to non-renewable resources, such as minerals and archaeological sites. Losses of these resources cannot be reversed. Irreversible effects can also refer to effects of actions on resources that can be renewed only after a very long period of time, such as the loss of soil productivity.
Issue - A matter of controversy, dispute, or general concern over resource management activities or land uses. To be considered a "significant" or "key" EIS issue, it must be well defined, relevant to the proposed action, and within the ability of the agency to address through alternative management strategies.
Late and Old Structure (LOS) - Late and old structure forested stands. See Late Successional and Old Structured.
Late successional - Forest late seral stages wherein understory trees begin to occupy codominant and eventually dominant positions in the canopy, and understory species can be found in all canopy layers. Overstory tree vigor begins to decline. Most standing dead and down material is small to medium sized, but some mature and recently overmature overstory trees have recently died and are developing as snags. Specific definitions are dependent on current and potential vegetation composition and arrangements.
Listed Species - A wildlife or plant species listed under the authorization of the Endangered Species Act as threatened or endangered.
Long-Term Sustained Yield (LTSY) - The long-term ability of the land to sustain harvest under a specified level of management investment and multiple-use objectives.
Management direction - A statement of goals and objectives, management prescriptions, and associated standards and guidelines for attaining them.
Management Indicator Species (MIS) - Vertebrate species whose population changes are believed to best serve as an index of a biological community's response to the effects of land management activities or which are important for fishing, hunting, and trapping.
Merchantable timber - Timber that can be bought and sold.
Middleground - The visible terrain beyond the foreground from about one-half to approximately three miles from the observer's position; individual trees are visible but do not stand out distinctly from the landscape.
Migration corridor - The habitat pathway an animal uses to move from one place to another.
Mitigation - Measures designed to counteract environmental impacts or to make impacts less severe. (50 CFR 1508.20)
Mixed stand - A stand consisting of two or more tree species.
Modification - A visual quality objective in which management activities may visually dominate the original characteristic landscape, but resulting visual characteristics must resemble natural occurrences within the surrounding area when viewed from the foreground and middleground. An altered landscape with low level scenic integrity.
Multiple use management - The management of public lands and their various resource values so they are used in a combination that best meets the present and future needs of the public.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - An act, passed by Congress in 1969, that declared a national policy to encourage productive harmony between humans and their environment to promote efforts that will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and the biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of humans. Also to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the nation and to establish a Council on Environmental Quality. This act requires the preparation of environmental impact statements for Federal actions that are determined to be of major significance. (See 40 CFR [Code of Federal Regulations] 1500-1508 for implementing regulations. See also FSH [Forest Service Handbook] 1909.15, the Environmental Policy and Procedures Handbook.)
National Forest Management Act (NFMA) - An act, passed by Congress in 1976, that amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act that requires the preparation of Forest plans, Regional guides, and regulations to guide that development. (See 36 CFR 219 for implementing regulations.)
Northwest Forest Plan (Management of Habitat for Late-Successional and Old-Growth Forest Related Species Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl) - pertains to the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision signed in 1994 that contains management direction, standards and guidelines and land allocations to provide for ecosystem management utilizing the best science available. Objectives were to provide for long-term health of the federal forests, a steady supply of timber and non-timber resources that can be sustained over the long-term without degrading the health of the forest or other environmental resources.
No Action Alternative - The most likely condition expected to exist in the future if current management direction were to continue unchanged.
Old Growth allocation - Management area or allocation in the Forest Plans intended to provide habitat for old growth associated species or to provide aesthetic values for the enjoyment of human visitors.
Old structure - A forest stand with moderate to high canopy closure; a multilayered, multispecies canopy dominated by large overstory trees; high incidence of large trees, some with broken tops and other indications of old decaying wood (decadence), numerous large snags; and heavy accumulations of downed wood. For ponderosa pine stands, old structure may be indicated by large diameter trees, with incidences of snags and old decaying wood. Canopy densities may actually be low with less trees per acre present than other plant associations.
Overstory - The upper canopy layer.
Partial Retention - A visual quality objective in which management activities are to remain visually subordinate to the natural landscape. A slightly altered landscape with moderate level scenic integrity.
Perennial - A plant that lives for three or more years.
Perennial stream - A stream that flows water year round.
Preferred alternative - The alternative identified in a draft environmental impact statement which has been initially selected by the agency as the most acceptable resolution to the problems identified in the purpose and need.
Proposed action - A proposal made by the Forest Service to authorize, recommend, or implement an action on National Forest System lands to meet a specific purpose and need.
Record of Decision (ROD) - A document, based on information disclosed in a final environmental impact statement, that identifies the alternative chosen, mitigation and monitoring measures to be implemented, and other information relative to the decision. (40 CFR 1505.2)
Retention - A visual quality objective which provides for management activities that are not visually evident to the causal observer. A natural appearing landscape with a high level of scenic integrity.
Riparian area - An area with distinctive soil and vegetation between a stream or other body of water and the adjacent upland; includes wetlands and those portions of floodplains and valley bottoms that support riparian vegetation.
Scenic Integrity Objectives - A set of prescriptions established by the Forest Service for the management of the National Forest landscape. There are three levels applied to the proposed land exchange. These are: High level scenery (or Retention) where scenery is nearly intact, Moderate level scenery (or Partial Retention) where scenery is slightly altered, and Low level scenery (or Modification) where scenery is altered.
Scoping - The early stages of preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement used to solicit public opinion, receive comments and suggestions, and determine the issues to be considered in the development and analysis of a range of alternatives. Scoping may involve public meetings, telephone conversations, mailings, letters, and other contacts.
Sensitive species - Species identified by a Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern either (a) because of significant current or predicted downward trends in population numbers or density, or (b) because of significant current or predicted downward trends in habitat capability that would reduce a species' existing distribution.
Seral Stage - A stage in the progression of an ecosystem from initial development to maturity; an age, structure, and development classification for a biological community.
Silviculture - The practice of manipulating the establishment, composition, structure, growth, and rate of succession of forests to accomplish specific objectives.
Special status species - Refers to federally listed threatened or endangered species, federal candidate species, species recognized as requiring special protection by state agencies and species managed as sensitive species by the Forest Service.
Species - A population or series of populations of organisms that can interbreed and reproduce freely with each other but not with members of other species.
Stand - A group of trees in a specific area that are sufficiently alike in composition, age, arrangement, and condition to be distinguishable from the forest in adjoining areas.
Subsistence - Customary and traditional uses of wild renewable resources (plants and animals) for food, shelter, fuel, clothing, tools, etc.
Subwatershed - An area mostly bounded by ridges or other similar topographic features contributing water, organic matter, dissolved nutrients, and sediments to a lake or stream.
Succession - A series of dynamic changes by which one group of organisms succeeds another through stages leading to potential natural community or climax. An example is the development of series of plant communities (called seral stages) following a major disturbance.
Suitable Land (for timber production) - That portion of tentatively suitable land that will be managed for scheduled commercial harvest.
Tentatively Suitable Land (for timber production) - Land tentatively identified for timber production that is forested, capable of producing industrial woods (lands sustaining growth rates greater than 20 cu. ft per acre per year) and (1) has not been withdrawn by Congress; (2) can withstand timber harvest activities without irreversible damage to soils, productivity, and watersheds; and (3) can be restocked with trees within 5 years of cutting.
Thermal cover - Cover used by animals to protect them against weather.
Threatened species - Species listed under the Endangered Species Act that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
Tribe - Term used to designate a federally recognized group of American Indians and their governing body. Tribes may be comprised of more than one band.
Topoedaphic - of or relating to the soil, more specifically the more upper surface layers.
Uneven-aged management - Method of forest management in which trees of different species in a given stand are maintained at many ages and sizes to permit continuous natural regeneration. Selective cutting is one example of an uneven-aged management method.
Uneven-aged stand - A stand of trees in which there are considerable differences in the ages of individual trees.
Visual Quality Objective - Management standards reflecting five degrees of acceptable alteration of the natural landscape based on a landscape's diversity of natural features and the public's concern for scenic quality.
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