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A
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| abiotic
|
a) Referring to the absents of living organisms (FSEIS
Feb. 94, Glossary-1) b)
Non-living. Climate is an abiotic component of ecosystems. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| adaptive management
|
a) The process of implementing policy decisions as scientifically
driven management experiments that test predictions and assumptions in
management plans, and using the resulting information to improve the
plans. (FEMAT, IX-1)
b) A continuing process of action-based planning, monitoring, researching,
evaluating, and adjusting with the objectives of improving implementation
and achieving the goals of the selected alternative. (FSEIS
Feb. 94, Glossary-1)
c)
A type of natural resource management that implies making decisions as
part of an on-going process. Monitoring the results of actions will
provide a flow of information that may indicate the need to change a
course of action. Scientific findings and the needs of society may
also indicate the need to adapt resource management to new information.
(FS People's Glossary of
Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| aerial logging
|
Removing logs from a timber harvest area by
helicopter. Fewer roads are required, so the impact
to the area is minimized. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| affected environment
|
The natural environment that exists at the present time in
an area being analyzed (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| age class
|
a) A management classification using the age of a
stand of trees.
(FEMAT, IX-1)
b)
An are grouping of trees according to an interval of years, usually 20
years. A single age class would have trees that are within 20 years
of the same are such as 1-20 years or 21-40 years. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| airshed
|
A geographic area that shares the same air mass due to topography,
meteorology, and climate. (FEMAT, IX-2) |
| allotment (range allotment)
|
The area designated for use by a prescribed period of time, Though
an entire Ranger District may be divided into allotments, all land will
not be grazed, because other uses, such as recreation of tree plantings,
may be more important at a given time. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| anadromous fish
|
Fish that are born and rear in freshwater, move to the ocean to grow and
mature, and return to freshwater to reproduce. Salmon, steelhead,
and shad are examples. (FEMAT,
IX-2) |
| aspect
|
The direction a slope faces with respect to the cardinal compass points. (FEMAT,
IX-2) A hillside facing east has an eastern
aspect
|
| ASQ (allowable sale quantity)
|
The gross amount of timber volume, including salvage, that may be
sold annually from a specified area over a stated period in accordance
with management plans of the Forest Service or Bureau of Land
Management. Formerly referred to as "allowable cut." (FEMAT,
IX-2) |
| aquifer
|
A body of rock that is saturated with water or transmits water. When
people drill wells, they tap water contained within an aquifer. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| AUM (animal unit month)
|
The amount of forage necessary for the sustenance of one cow or its
equivalent for 1 month. (FEMAT,
IX-2) |
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B
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bark beetle
|
An insect that bores through the bark on forest trees to eat the inner
bark and lay its eggs. Bark beetles are important killers of
forest trees. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
basal area
|
The area of the cross section of a tree stem including the bark, near
its base, generally at breast height, or 4.5 feet above the ground. (FEMAT,
IX-3). Basal area is a way to measure how
much of a site is occupied by trees. The term basal area is often
used to describe the collective basal area of trees per acre. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
big game
|
Large mammals that are hunted by humans. Big game include elk,
black tailed deer, and black bear. (FEMAT,
IX-3) |
|
biological control
|
The use of natural means to control unwanted pests. Examples
include introduction of naturally occurring predators such as wasps, or
hormones that inhibit the reproduction of pests. Biological
controls can sometimes be alternatives to mechanical or chemical means.
(FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| biological diversity |
The variety of life forms and processes, including
a complexity of species, communities, gene pools, and ecological functions. (FEMAT,
IX-3) |
| biomass |
The total quantity (at any given time) of living
organisms of one or more species per unit of space (species biomass), or of all
the species in a biotic community (community biomass). (FEMAT,
IX-4) |
| biome |
The complex of living communities maintained by the climate of a region and
characterized by a distinctive type of vegetation. Examples of biomes in
North America include the tundra, desert, prairie, and the western coniferous
forests. (FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| biota |
The plant and animal life of a particular region.
(FS People's Glossary of Eco
Mgmt Terms) |
| biotic |
Living. Green plants and soil microorganisms are biotic components of
ecosystems. (FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| BMP (best management practices) |
Methods, measures, or practices designed to prevent or reduce water pollution.
Not limited to structural and nonstructural controls, and procedures for
operations and maintenance. Usually, BMPs are applied as a system of
practices rather than a single practice. (FEMAT, IX-3) |
| board foot |
Lumber or timber measurement term. The amount of wood
contained in an unfinished board 1 inch thick, 12 inches long, and 12 inches
wide. (FEMAT, IX-4) |
| broadcast burn |
allowing a prescribed fire to burn over a
designated area within well-defined boundaries for reduction of fuel hazard or
as a silvicultural treatment, or both. (SAT,
p. 500) |
| browse |
Twigs, leaves and young shoots of trees and shrubs that animals eat.
Browse is often used to refer to the shrubs eaten by big game, such as elk and
deer. (FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| buffer |
a) Used in the context of marbled murrelet
standards and guidelines, a forested area located adjacent to suitable (nesting)
marbled murrelet habitat that reduces dangers of having sharply contrasting
edges or clearcuts next to such habitat. Dangers include risk of wind
damage to nest trees and young, increased predation, and loss of forest interior
conditions. (FEMAT,
IX-4) b) A land area the is designated to block or absorb unwanted impacts to the
area beyond the buffer. Buffer strips along a trail could block views
that may be undesirable. Buffers may be set aside next to wildlife
habits to reduce abrupt change to the habitat. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
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C
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cable logging
|
Logging that involves the transport of logs from stump to collection
points by means of suspended steel cables. Cable logging reduces
the need for construction of logging roads. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| canopy |
A layer of foliage in a forest
stand. This most often refers to
the uppermost layer of foliage, but it can be used to describe lower layers in a
multistoried stand. (FEMAT,
IX-4) |
| cavity |
A hole in a tree often used by wildlife species, usually birds, for nesting
roosting, and reproduction. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| chemical control |
The use of pesticides and herbicides to control pests and undesirable plant
species. (FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| clear cut |
A harvest in which all or most all of the trees are removed in one cutting.
(FEMAT, IX-5) |
| climax |
The culmination stage in plant succession for a given site
where the vegetation has reached a highly stable condition. (FEMAT,
IX-5) |
| coarse filter management |
Land management that addresses the needs of all associated species,
communities, environments and ecological processes in a land area. (see
fine filter management.) (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| collector roads |
These roads serve small land areas and are usually connected to a Forest
System Road, a county road, or a state highway. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| composition |
What an
ecosystem is composed of. Composition could include water,
minerals, trees, snags, wildlife, soil, microorganisms, and certain plant
species. (FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| conifer |
A tree belonging to the order Gymnospermae, comprising a wide range of trees
that are mostly evergrees. Conifers bear cones (hence, confierous) and
needle-shaped or scalelike leaves. (FEMAT, IX-7) |
| connectivity (of habitats) |
a) A measure of the extent to which conditions
among late-successional and old-growth forest areas provide habitat for
breeding, feeding, dispersal, and movement of late-successional old-growth
associated wildlife and fish species. Also See
Late-Successional/Old-Growth
Forest. (FEMAT,
IX-7) b) The linkage of similar but separated vegetation stands by patches,
corridors, or "stepping stones" of like vegetation. This term
can also refer to the degree to which similar habitats are linked. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
consumptive use
|
Use of resources that reduces the supply, such as logging and mining.
(FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
contour
|
A line drawn on a map connecting points of the same elevation. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
corridor
|
a) A defined tract of land, usually linear, through
witch a species must travel to reach habitat suitable for reproduction
and other life-sustaining needs. (FEMAT, IX-7)
b)
Elements of the landscape that connect similar areas, Streamside vegetation
may create a corridor of willows and hardwoods between meadows where
wildlife feed. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
cover
|
Vegetation used by wildlife protection from predators, or to
mitigate weather conditions, or to reproduce. May also refer to
the protection of the soil and the shading provided to herbs and
forbs
by vegetation. (FEMAT, IX-8) |
|
cover forage ratio
|
The ratio of hiding cover to foraging areas for wildlife species.
(FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
cover type (forest cover type)
|
Stands of a particular vegetation type that are composed of similar
species. The aspen cover type contains plants distinct from the pinyon-juniper cover type.
(FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
created opening
|
An opening in the forest cover created by the application of even-aged
silvicultural practices.
(FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
critical habitat
|
Under the Endangered Species Act, critical Habitat is defined as
(1) the specific areas within the geographic area occupied by a
federally listed species on which are found physical and biological
features essential to the conservation of the species, and that may
require special management considerations or protection; and (2)
specific areas outside the geographic area occupied by a listed
species, when it is determined that such areas are essential for the
conservation of the species. (FEMAT, IX-8) |
|
crown |
The upper part of a tree or other woody plant that carries the main
system of branches and the foliage. (FEMAT,
IX-8) |
|
crown height
|
The distance from the ground to the base of the crown of a tree.
(FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
cultural resources
|
Any definite location of past human activity identifiable through field
survey, historical documentation, or oral evidence. This includes
archaeological or architectural sites, structures, or places and places
of traditional cultural or religious importance to specific groups
whether or not represented by physical remains. (FEMAT,
IX-8) |
|
cumulative effects
|
Impacts of the environment resulting from the incremental effects of
the action when added to effects of past, present, and reasonable
foreseeable future actions regardless of the agency (federal or
nonfederal) or person undertaking such other actions. Cumulative
effects can result from individually minor, but collectively
significant, actions taking place over a period of time. (FEMAT,
IX-8) |
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D
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| dbh |
See diameter at breast height. |
| decision criteria |
The rules and standards used to evaluate alternatives to a proposed action
on National Forest land. Decision criteria are designed to help a decision makers
identify a preferred choice from the array of alternatives. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| decking area |
A site where logs are collected after they are cut and before they are taken
to the landing area where they are loaded for transport. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) |
The draft statement of environmental effects that
is required for major federal action under Section 102 of the National
Environment Policy Act, and released to
the public and other agencies for comment and review. (FEMAT, IX-10) |
|
desired future condition
|
An explicit description of the physical and biological characteristics
of aquatic and riparian environments believed necessary to meet fish,
aquatic ecosystem, and riparian ecosystem objectives. (FEMAT,
IX-9) |
|
developed recreation
|
a) A site developed with permanent facilities designed to accommodate
recreation use. (FEMAT,
IX-9) b) Recreation that requires facilities that, in turn,
result in concentrated use of the area. For examples skiing
requires ski lifts, parking lots, buildings, and roads.
Campgrounds require roads, picnic tables, and toilet facilities. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| diameter at
breast height |
The diameter of a tree 4 and 1/2 feet above the ground on the uphill side of
a tree. (FEMAT, IX-9) |
|
dispersed recreation
|
Outdoor recreation in which visitors are diffused over relatively large
areas. Where facilities or developments are provided, they are
primarily for access and protection of the environment rather than
comfort or convenience of the user. (FEMAT,
IX-10) |
|
disturbance
|
A force that causes significant change in structure and/or composition
through natural events such as fire, flood, wind, or earthquake,
mortality caused by insect or disease outbreaks, pr by human-caused
events, e.g., the harvest of forest products. (FEMAT,
IX-10) |
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Last updated
Monday, July 21, 2003
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