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FOREST SERVICE ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTATION
Author
Dyess, Judith
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2018
Body

The USDA Forest Service recognizes the need for flexibility to adapt grazing management on rangelands due to weather, disturbance such as wildfire, ecological dynamics, response and variability.� The Forest Service is required to conduct analysis per the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the authorization of grazing on National Forest System lands.� Guidance for conducting this analysis is found in the Grazing Permit Administration Handbook (FSH2209.13_90).� NEPA requires analyzing and disclosing environmental effects, and taking public comment.� National direction incorporates integrating adaptive management into the proposed action.� For adaptive management to be successfully analyzed a description of the likely adaptive management practices needs to depicted.� This provides the responsible official the ability to facilitate changes in management that are needed to meet resource management objectives and/or improve resource conditions.� Adaptive management is a system of management practices based on clearly identified intended outcomes and monitoring to determine if management actions are meeting those outcomes; and, if not, to facilitate management changes that will best ensure that those outcomes are met or re-evaluated.� Adaptive management stems from the recognition that knowledge about natural resource systems is sometimes uncertain.� Management flexibility is required to respond to unpredictable ecosystem drivers and stressors, such as drought, flooding and fire events.� Adaptations may also provide for minor modifications that are needed due to changed conditions or new information.� Implementation and effectiveness monitoring are essential components to successful adaptive management. �Monitoring and collaboration with stakeholders and permittees provides an ongoing feedback loop for the need to maintain or change management on the ground.� The Southwestern Region of the Forest Service has supplemented national direction emphasizing collaborative development of proposed actions which articulate the associated adaptive management and monitoring necessary to manage authorized grazing towards the achievement of resource objectives and desired conditions.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Reno, NV
Collection
SRM Annual Meeting Abstracts