The Pacific Northwest Research Station recently released three new issues of Science Findings:
Issue 46/Sept. 2002: When the Forest Burns: Making Sense of Fire History West of the Cascades
Issue 47/Oct. 2002: Postfire Logging: Is it Beneficial to a Forest?
Issue 48/ Nov. 2002: Volume, Value and Thinning: Logs for the Future
This update sponsored by the Regional Ecosystem Office. If you have any questions regarding this update, please contact Teresa Kubo, 503-808-2171 or kubo@or.blm.gov.
Survey
and Manage -- Details of the Survey and Manage settlement
between the administration and the American Forest Resource Council and
Douglas Timber Operators have been published in the Federal Register.
According to this notice, the BLM and the Forest Service will supplement
the 2000 FSEIS by considering an alternative that replaces the Survey and
Manage mitigation requirements with existing special status species
programs that would achieve the goals of the Northwest Forest Plan through
a more streamlined process. (Continued)
Aquatic Conservation Strategy SEIS - According to a notice of intent published in the Federal Register on November 25, 2002, the Forest Service and BLM will prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to clarify language in the aquatic conservation strategy provisions of the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan. Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received in writing by Dec. 26 at Comments, SEIS for Aquatic Conservation Strategy, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208 (to retrieve an electronic copy of the notice navigate to www.gpo.gov and search the Federal Register for page 70575 and 70576). (Continued)
2002 Proposed NFMA Planning Rule/Diversity Options Workshop - The Forest Service is proposing changes to the National Forest System Land and Resource Management Planning Rule adopted November 9, 2000. The proposed changes are a result of a review conducted by Forest Service personnel at the direction of the Office of the Secretary. According to the notice published in the Federal Register on December 6, 2002, the proposed rule is "intended to improve upon the 2000 rule by providing a planning process which is more readily understood, is within the agency's capability to implement, is within anticipated budgets and staffing levels, and recognizes the programmatic nature of planning." (Continued)
Focus on Monitoring
Implementation Monitoring
--
The Implementation Monitoring program was initiated in 1996 to
determine and document the level of compliance and progress across the
region in the application of the direction contained in the Northwest
Forest Plan Record of Decision and it’s corresponding Standards and
Guidelines.
-- The program has monitored 245 projects and 85 watersheds over a seven year period and has found 95% compliance with the NWFP Record of Decision direction and its corresponding Standards and Guidelines. (Continued)
Tribal Monitoring
--
On October 4, 2002 a letter recommending a tribal monitoring interview
agenda was transmitted from the USDA Forest Service, the BLM and the US
Department of Interior to Forest Service Supervisors, BLM District
Managers and Field Managers within the range of the NWFP. This letter
explains the goals and objectives of the Tribal Consultation Monitoring
Module, and seeks Forest level support in determining which tribes should
be interviewed in 2002.
(Continued)
Socio-Economic Monitoring -- The Social and Economic Effectiveness Monitoring team has been charged with evaluating how well social and economic goals of the NWFP are being met, and developing a long-term protocol for socioeconomic monitoring. As a part of this effort, the Pacific Northwest Research Station’s Human and Natural Resources Interactions Program hired Susan Charnley (email link) in August of 2002 as a Supervisory Research Social Scientist (click here to find out more information about Susan). She will spend the next two years working with Forest Service Region 6 to lead the Northwest Forest Plan’s Social and Economic Monitoring Module. (Continued)
Aquatic/Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Integration Workshop, November 18-19, 2002, Portland, Oregon
There will be a workshop on November 18-19, 2002 in Portland to discuss options for integrating Eastside (Pacfish/Infish Biological Opinion [PIBO]) and Westside (Aquatic/Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Plan [AREMP]) watershed monitoring efforts. The first day will be spent reviewing and discussing the results of this year’s field season. Data gathered through PIBO and AREMP will be analyzed to determine the statistical benefits/drawbacks of AREMP and PIBO. The second day will be spent trying to develop a framework for integrating these two monitoring approaches. For more information, contact Steve Lanigan at 503-808-2261
IRICC Roads Coverage Workshop, December 11, 2002 Vancouver, WA
The Interorganizational Resource Information Coordinating Council (IRICC) will be hosting a workshop to move forward on a strategy to develop a GIS dataset for roads covering all of Oregon and Washington (and possibly northern California). This dataset will include information on roads, culverts, stream crossings, and other variables critical to watershed analysis. The workshop will be held at the offices of the Washington Depart. of Transportation in Vancouver, Washington from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on December 11, 2002. For more information, contact Dale Guenther at 503-808-2188.
Biodiversity Monitoring Workshop, February 3-7, 2003, Location TBD
The Regional Ecosystem Office and the National Park Service will be hosting a workshop to develop a conceptual model for biodiversity monitoring for the Pacific Northwest Bio-Geographic Area. This meeting will be held February 3-7, 2003 (location TBD). For more information, contact Ken Mabery at 503-808-2170.
Innovations in Species Conservation, April 28-30, 2003, Portland, Oregon
A symposium entitled "Innovations in Species Conservation: Integrative Approaches to Address Rarity and Risk" is being held April 28-30 in Portland, Oregon. The objectives of this symposium will be to 1) learn about strategies for conserving species, including those poorly known or rare 2) discuss the ecological risks and uncertainties associated with various strategies, and 3) examine the social and legal contexts of conservation strategies. For more information, contact Dave Busch (503-808-2192) or visit http://outreach.cof.orst.edu/species/