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Problem
There is a lack of means to integrate knowledge of ecological processes, management practices, and their interactions with landscape patterns.
Research
Evenden, Angela G.: Moeur, Melinda: Shelly, J. Stephen: 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.
Cooperative
Zuuring, Hans R.: Chew, Jimmie D.: Jones, J. Greg. 2000. Sequential use of
simulation and optimization in analysis and planning. In: Smith, Helen Y., ed.
Proc. RMRS-P-17. The Bitterroot Ecosystem Management Research Project: What We
Have Learned-Symposium Proceedings; 1999 May 18-20; Missoula, MT. Fort Collins,
CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research
Station: 97-103.
Attainment
Forested landscapes include not only upland forests, but also associated riparian
and aquatic systems; these different components influence each other and must be
evaluated and managed as a whole. Vegetation development is driven by natural
disturbance (fire, insects, and disease) and management practices (e.g.. fire
suppression, thinning). After disturbance, vegetation responds in the context of
the landscape setting (landform, existing vegetation). Because forest planning is
increasingly performed at the landscape scale, forest managers need information
and tools to evaluate potential outcomes among sets of management alternatives for
forested landscapes. New support from Fire Plan research funds significantly
advanced progress of this work in 2001.
Development work continued on SIMPPLLE, a rule-based modeling system designed to
integrate knowledge about disturbance processes such as insects, diseases, and
fire at various landscape scales, widely used in Region One and many other places
in the U.S. as a forest planning tool. SIMPPLLE quantifies the concept of range
of variability and produces probability maps of vegetation conditions and
disturbances processes for both current management direction and historic
conditions. A number of workshops and training sessions were held to assist
Forests in fine-tuning the system and assisting with simulations. Documentation
for SIMPPLLE and examples of its use can be viewed in HTML format on this website.
The notion that the best management of riparian zones is to protect them from
disturbance has been challenged. New work is evaluating how disturbance regimes
(or their interruption) influence stream characteristics and ultimately, habitat
of inland native fishes. Integrating upland and riparian vegetation
characteristics, woody debris distribution, and stream features, ultimately
provides Forests with information to appropriately manage riparian areas.
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