Science Application & Integration

USDA Forest Service Research Natural Areas (RNAs)

Co-managed by the Rocky Mountain Research Station and the National Forest System: Northern Region (R-1), Rocky Mountain Region (R-2), Southwestern Region (R-3), and Intermountain Region (R-4)

MONTANA | IDAHO | NEVADA | UTAH | WYOMING | COLORADO | ARIZONA | NEW MEXICO | NEBRASKA | SOUTH DAKOTA | NORTH DAKOTA

More Information:

• RNA Study Plan Preparation Outline
• Research Natural Area (RNA) Research Request Form

Allowable activities on Research Natural Areas

To receive approval, any activity within an RNA can not compromise the values for which it was established, existing studies, or monitoring already in place. Access to RNAs is restricted to those engaged in the following activities:

• Scientific research study and collection of data to be used for hypothesis testing or comparative purposes requires Station Director approval before any research is conducted. To seek approval, the Principal Investigator must fill out the attached Research Natural Area (RNA) Research Request Form and provide a study plan that meets the guidelines in the RNA Study Plan Preparation Outline. The research proposal is subject to the Rocky Mountain Research Station Quality Assurance Process. Results of scientific studies must be subject to objective and ethically sound peer review prior to publication or other dissemination.
  
  
• Passive observation and monitoring to collect descriptive data that will not result in scientific hypothesis testing or comparative conclusions do not require Station Director approval but require the attached Research Natural Area (RNA) Research Request Form and are subject to the Principal Investigator requirements listed below, including the sharing of data, and sending the attached Research Natural Area (RNA) Research Request Form to Rocky Mountain Research Station RNA Liaison in order to document RNA use.

• Educational use is only subject to District Ranger approval and sending the attached Research Natural Area (RNA) Research Request Form to the Rocky Mountain Research Station RNA Liaison in order to document RNA use.

RNA Research Process

Those wishing to visit an RNA for educational, monitoring, or research purposes need to provide information and obtain signatures as part of the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) approval process. Approvals for Congressionally Designated Areas are at the discretion of the appropriate Regional Forester. As in any peer review process, study plan proposals that do not receive approval may respond to reviewer(s) comments and/or be revised and resubmitted.

All Research Station communications regarding proposed research studies, observation, monitoring or educational activities on RNAs should be routed through to the appropriate Rocky Mountain Research Station RNA Liaison or the appropriate Regional RNA Coordinator of the RNA should it lie within a Congressionally Designated Area.

By signing the Research Natural Area (RNA) Research Request Form, the Principal Investigator conducting research or monitoring on the RNA agrees to the following:

1. Obtain permission to access the RNA from the Forest Service District Ranger, determine whether a Special Use Permit is required, and notify the District Ranger’s Office of each access to the RNA. The District Ranger can tell you whether the RNA is in a Congressionally designated area such as Wilderness, National Primitive Areas, National Recreation Areas, National Scenic-Research Areas, National Scenic Trails, or National Historic Trails.

2. Send the District Ranger approved Research Natural Area (RNA) Research Request Form to the appropriate RMRS Liason (listed under Contact Information by State) . If the RNA lies within a Congressionally Designated Area, send the proposal to the appropriate National Forest System Regional RNA Coordinator.

3. Not engage in any activities in the RNA beyond the scope of those specificed in the RNA research request form or study plan (if required).

4. Provide copies of all data, reports and publications from this research including theses, disserations, articles, monographs, and so forth to the RMRS Regional Liaison, the National Forest System Regional Coordinator, and the National Forest Supervisor.

5. Send a final report on the results of the research project to the RMRS Regional Liaison no later than one year following completion of research, if such information has not been completely covered in 4 above.

6. If removing flora or fauna, (1) obtain appropriate permits from State and Federal agencies; (2) carefully control species collection, especially those that are endangered, threatened, or rare; and (3) deposit voucher samples of plants in a herbarium.

7. Leave the site in a pristine condition when research is concluded. This precludes leaving any monumentation, tree tags, markers, apparatus, etc.

Contact Information by State for obtaining information on RNAs

NORTHERN REGION (R-1)
Montana, North Dakota, Northern Idaho, Northwestern South Dakota

• ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION RNA LIAISON (Research proposal point-of-contact and data repository): 

• NORTHERN REGION RNA COORDINATOR (For Congressionally designated areas, research point-of-contact and data repository):

• ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION RNA LIAISON (Research proposal point-of-contact and data repository): 

• ROCKY MOUNTIAN REGION RNA COORDINATOR (For Congressionally designated areas, research point-of-contact and data repository):

• ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION RNA LIAISON (Research proposal point-of-contact and data repository): 

• SOUTHWESTERN REGION RNA COORDINATOR (For Congressionally designated areas, research point-of-contact and data repository):

• ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION RNA LIAISON (Research proposal point-of-contact and data repository): 

• INTERMOUNTAIN REGION RNA COORDINATOR (For Congressionally designated areas, research point-of-contact and data repository):

Bibliography

(Rocky Mountain Research Station publications may be requested from: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/publications/order.shtml)

• Anon. 1992. Preparing for the Future – Forest Service Research Natural Areas. Publication FS-503, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office. 20 p.
• Chadde, Steve W.; Kimball, Shannon F.; Evenden, Angela G. 1996. Research Natural Areas of the Northern Region: Status & Needs Assessment. Natural Areas Program Unpublished Report, Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Region/Intermountain Station. 179 p.
• Evenden, Angela G.; Moeur, Melinda; Shelly, J. Steven; Kimball, Shannon F.; Wellner, Charles A. 2001. Research Natural Areas on National Forest System Lands in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Western Wyoming: A Guidebook for Scientists, Managers, and Educators. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-69, Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 84 p.
• Peterson, Roger S.; Rasmussen, Eric. 1986. Research Natural Areas in New Mexico. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-136, Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 58 p.
• Rominger, James M; Paulik, Laurie A. 1983. A Floristic Inventory of the Plant Communities of the San Francisco Peak Research Natural Area. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-96, Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 18 p.
• Rust, Steven K. 2000. Representativeness Assessment of Research Natural Areas on National Forest System Lands in Idaho. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-45, Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 129 p.
• Ryan, Michael G.; Joyce, Linda A; Andrews, Tom; Jones, Kate. 1994. Research Natural Areas in Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Parts of Wyoming. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-251, Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 57 p.