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<br />While the Sangre de Cristo WSA has good <br />capacity to provide for unconfined outdoor <br />recreation opportunities, it is recognized that <br />this capacity is available in the surrounding <br />area. Approximately 248,733 acres of <br />semiprimitive nonmotorized and 537,092 acres of <br />semiprimitive motorized recreation opportunity <br />classes exist on the Pike and San Isabel <br />National Forests outside of wilderness and <br />wilderness study areas. <br /> <br />d. Ability of biotic species ~o compete with <br />people and projects. <br /> <br />No threatened or endangered plant species are <br />known to exist in the WSA. However, the alpine <br />ecosystems are fragile. Management practices <br />can protect the plant communities against <br />unacceptable impacts with or without wilderness <br />designation. <br /> <br />e. The need to provide sanctuary for species that <br />have demonstrated an inability to survive in <br />less primitive surroundings. <br /> <br />No species has been identified that require a <br />wilderness environment for survival. Primitive <br />and low use surroundings, however, can add a <br />level of security for 'several species. Elk <br />calving and wintering or greenback cutthroat <br />trout management will depend on managed public <br />use. Formal wilderness designation is not <br />essential to maintaining a primitve or <br />semi-primitive setting. <br /> <br />f. Provide for preservation of unique landform <br />types and ecosystems. <br /> <br />There are no unique landforms or ecosystems in <br />the Sangre de Cristo WSA that are not currently <br />represented in other wilderness areas. Table J <br />shows a comparison of representative ecosystems <br />and landforms available in the vicinity. <br /> <br />99 <br /> <br />C!C27,8 <br />