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R
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| range |
Land on which the principle natural plant cover is composed of
native grasses, forbs, and shrubs that are valuable as
forage for livestock
and big game. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| range management |
The art and science of planning and directing range use intended
to yield the sustained maximum animal production and perpetuation of the
natural resources. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| range of variability (Also called
the historic range of variability or natural range of variation) |
The components of healthy
ecosystems fluctuate over time.
The range of sustainable conditions in an ecosystem is determined by time,
processes (such as fire), native species, and the land itself. For
instance, ecosystems that have a 10 year fire cycle have a narrower range or
variation that ecosystems with 200-300 year fire cycles. Past management
has placed some ecosystems outside their range of variability. Future
management should move such ecosystems back towards their natural, sustainable
range or variation. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| Ranger District |
The administrative sub-unit of a Nation Forest that is
supervised by a District Ranger who reports directly to the
Forest Supervisor. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| raptor |
A bird of prey, such as an eagle or hawk. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| RARE II |
Roadless Area Review and Evaluation. The national
inventory of roadless and undeveloped areas within the National Forests and
Grasslands. (FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| recharge |
The addition of water to ground water by natural or artificial
processes. (FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
Record of Decision
|
A document separate from, but associated with, an
environmental impact
statement that: states the management decision, states the reason
for that decision, identifies all alternatives including the
environmentally preferable and selected alternatives, and also states
whether all practicable measures to avoid environmental harm from the
selected alternative have been adopted, and if not, why not. (FEMAT,
IX-28) |
|
reforestation
|
The natural or artificial restocking of an area with forest trees; most
commonly used un reference to artificial stocking. (FEMAT,
IX-28) |
|
regeneration
|
The actual seedlings and saplings existing in a stand; or the act of
establishing young trees naturally or artificially. (FEMAT,
IX-28) |
|
Regional Forester
|
The Forest Service official responsible for administering
a single region. (SAT,
p. 516) |
|
release cutting
|
Removal of competing vegetation to allow desired tree species to grow.
(FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
removal cut
|
The removal of the last seed bearers or shelter trees after
regeneration is established. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
residual stand
|
The trees remaining standing after an event such as
selection cutting. (FEMAT,
IX-29) |
|
resilience
|
The ability of an ecosystem to maintain diversity, integrity, and
ecological processes following a disturbance.
(FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
Responsible official
|
The Forest Service employee who has been delegated the authority to
carry out a specific planning action. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
restoration (of ecosystems)
|
Actions taken to modify an ecosystem to achieve a desired healthy, and
functioning condition. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
re-vegetation
|
The re-establishment and development of plant cover by either natural
or artificial means, such as re-seeding. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
riparian area
|
A geographic area containing an aquatic ecosystem and adjacent
upland areas that directly affect it. This includes
floodplain, woodlands,
and all areas within a horizontal distance of approximately 100 feed
form the normal line of high water of a stream channel or from the
shoreline of a standing body of water. (FEMAT,
IX-30) |
|
riparian ecosystem
|
The ecosystems around or next to water areas that support unique
vegetation and animal communities as a result of the influence of
water. (FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
ROD
|
See Record of Decision. |
|
ROS
|
Recreation Opportunity Spectrum. The land classification system
that categorizes land by its setting and the probable recreation
experiences and activities it affords. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
rotation
|
The planned number of years between regeneration of a forest stand and
its final harvest (regeneration cut or harvest). A forest's are
at final harvest is referred to as rotation age. (FEMAT,
IX-30) |
|
roundwood
|
Timber and fuelwood prepared in the round state, such as house logs and
telephone poles. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
run-off
|
The portion of precipitation that flows over the land surface or in
open channels. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
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|
S
|
| sacrifice area/site |
In range management, a site allowed to be overgrazed to obtain
efficient overall use of the management area. In cultural resource
management, it may refer to a site intentionally sacrificed to extensive
public use in order to preserve the larger cultural area. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
| sanitation |
The removal of dead or damaged trees, or trees susceptible
to insect and disease attack such as intermediate and suppressed trees,
essentially to prevent the spread of pest or pathogens and to promote forest
health. (FEMAT,
IX-30) |
| sapling |
A loose term for a young tree no longer a seedling
but not yet a pole. It is generally a few feed high
and 2-4 inches diameter at breast height, typically growing vigorously and
without dead bark or more than an occasional dead branch. (FEMAT,
IX-30) |
| scoping |
A process defined, according to the provisions of
the National Environmental Policy Act, as an early and open process for
determining the scope of the issues to be addressed and for identifying the
significant issues related to a proposed action. (FSEIS
Nov. 2000, Vol. I p.481) |
| second growth |
Relatively young forests that have developed
following a disturbance (e.g., wholesale cutting, serious fire, or insect
attack) of the previous old-growth forest. (FEMAT,
IX-30) |
| seed tree
cutting method |
An even-aged reproductive cutting method in which
all mature timber from an area is harvested in one entry except for a small
number of trees left as a seed source for the harvested area. (FEMAT,
IX-31) |
|
selection cutting |
A method of uneven-aged management involving the
harvesting of single trees from stands (single-tree selection) or in groups
(group selection) without harvesting the entire stand at any one time. (FEMAT,
IX-31) |
| sensitive species |
Those species that: (1) have appeared in the
Federal Register as proposed for classification and are under consideration for
official listing as endangered or threatened species; (2) are on an official
state list; or, (3) are recognized by the implementing agencies as needing
special management to prevent their being planed on federal or state lists. (FEMAT,
IX-31) |
| seral
stages |
The series of relatively transitory planned
communities that developed during ecological succession from bare ground to the
climax stage. (FSEIS
Feb. 94, Glossary-15) |
| shelterwood |
a regeneration method under an even-aged
silvicultural system. A portion of the mature stand is retained as a
source of seed and/or protection during the period of regeneration. The
mature stand is removed in two or more cuttings. (FEMAT,
IX-32) |
|
silvicultural system |
A planned sequence of treatments or prescriptions
over the entire life of a forest stand needed to meet management objectives. (FSEIS
Feb. 94, Glossary-16) |
|
silviculture
|
The science and practice of controlling the establishment,
composition, and growth of the vegetation of forest stands. It
includes the control or production of stand structures such as snags,
and down logs, in addition to live vegetation. (FEMAT,
IX-32) |
|
single tree selection
|
See individual tree selection.
|
|
site preparation
|
Any action taken in conjunction with a reforest effort (natural or
artificial) to create an environment favorable for survival of suitable
trees during the first growing season. This environment can be
created by altering ground cover, soil or microstate conditions, using
biological, mechanical, or manual clearing, prescribed burns,
herbicides, or a combination of methods. (FEMAT,
IX-32) |
|
size class
|
One of the three intervals of tree stem diameters used to classify
timber in the Forest Plan data base. The size classes are:
Seedling/Sapling (less than 5 inches in diameter); Pole Timber (5 to 7
inches in diameter); Sawtimber (greater than 7 inches in diameter).
(FS People's Glossary
of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
skiddling
|
Hauling logs by sliding, not on wheels, from stump to a collection
point. (FS People's
Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
skyline logging
|
A logging system used to remove timber from steep slopes. Logs
are brought up-slope on a suspended cable, or skyline. Since the
weight of the log is completely on partially supported by the cable,
there is little disturbance to soil or other vegetation. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
slash
|
The residue left on the ground after timber cutting.
It includes unused logs, uprooted
stumps, broken or uprooted stems, branches, twigs, leaves, bark, and
chips. (SAT,
p. 518) |
|
slump
|
A landslide where the underlying rock masses tilt back as they slide
from a cliff or escarpment. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
small game
|
Birds and small animals normally hunted or trapped. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
snag
|
Any standing dead, partially dead, or defective (cull) tree at
least 10 inches in diameter at breast height and a least 6 feet tall.
A hard snag is composed primarily of sound wood, generally
merchantable. A soft snag is composed primarily of wood in
advanced stages of decay and deterioration, generally not merchantable.
(FEMAT,
IX-33) Snags are important as habitat for a variety of
wildlife species and their prey. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
soil compaction
|
An increase in bulk density (weight per unit volume) and a decrease in
soil porosity resulting from applied loads, vibration, or pressure. (FEMAT,
IX-33) |
|
soil productivity
|
Capacity or suitability of a soil, for establishment and growth of a
specified crop or plant species, primarily through nutrient
availability. (FEMAT,
IX-33) |
|
sound wood
|
Timber that is in solid, whole good condition. Sound wood is free
from damage, decay, or defects. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
special use permit
|
A permit issued to an individual or group by the USDA Forest Service
for use of National Forest land for a special purpose. Examples
might by a Boy Scout Jamboree or a mountain bike race. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
stand
|
An aggregation of trees occupying a specific area and sufficiently
uniform in composition, age, arrangement, and condition so that it is
distinguishable from the forest in adjoining areas. (FEMAT,
IX-34) |
|
standards and guidelines
|
The rules and limits governing actions, as well as the principles
specifying the environmental conditions or levels to be achieved and
maintained. (S&G Jan 2001,
p. 84) |
|
stewardship
|
Caring for the land and its resources to pass healthy ecosystems to
future generations. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
stocking level
|
The number of trees in an area as compared to the desirable number of
trees for best results, such as maximum wood production. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
stringer
|
A strip of vegetation different from surrounding vegetation, such as a
stinger of aspen in an area of spruce. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
structure
|
The various horizontal and vertical physical elements of the forest. (FEMAT,
IX-35) |
|
succession
|
A series of dynamic changes by which one group of organisms succeeds
another through stages leading to a potential natural community or
climax. An example is development of a series of plant
communities (called seral stages) following a
major disturbance. (FEMAT,
IX-35) |
|
successional stage
|
A stage or recognizable condition of a plant community that occurs
during its development from bare ground to climax. For example,
coniferous forests in the Blue Mountains progress through six
recognized stages: grass-forb,
shrub-seedling, pole-sapling,
young, mature,
old-growth. (See also
Seral.) (FEMAT,
IX-36) |
|
suitability
|
The appropriateness of certain resource management to an area of
land. Suitability can be determined by environmental and economic
analysis of management practices. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
surface resources
|
Renewable resources that are on the surface of the earth, such as
timber and forage, in contrast to ground water and minerals which are
located beneath the surface. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
sustainability
|
The ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes and
functions, biological diversity, and productivity over time. (Ecosystem
Analysis at the Watershed Scale v 2.2, p. 25) |
|
sustainable
|
The yield of a natural resource that can be produced continually at a
given intensity of management is said to be sustainable. (FS
People's Glossary of Eco Mgmt Terms) |
|
sustained yield
|
The yield that a forest can produce continuously at a given intensity
of management. (FEMAT,
IX-36) |
|
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Last updated
Monday, July 21, 2003
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