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<br />Management Situation by Revision Topic <br /> <br />to be carefully assessed, and it means resource needs and human needs have to be sensitively <br />addressed. <br /> <br />B. Rea5Dn5 for Inclu5ion a5 a Revi5ion Topic and Type5 of Deci5ion5 Needed <br /> <br />The existing Forest Plan reflects an effort to comply with the many laws and regulations that <br />covered the issues of that time. However, because some standards or guidelines were so broad or <br />unspecific about an action, there was no way to measure compliance. Developing specific <br />methods for the management of biodiversity and the monitoring of management activities will <br />improve the Forest Plan. <br /> <br />The Forest Plan has insufficient direction for today's concern for ecosystem management. The <br />Plan does not focus on the 'whole' of an ecosystem; it focuses on the 'parts' ofthe ecosystem. <br />While those' parts' (I.e., diversity standards for the entire Forest) were the focuses of that time, <br />they may be expanded now to include additional' parts' (I.e., diversity standards for the Forest at <br />the landscape, community, and species levels). Expanding to the different levels may help to see <br />the whole ecosystem picture. The Forest Plan tended to take a smaller scale view instead of the <br />larger (landscape) view of the Forest. It was also rare that past actions, or the historical 'part' of <br />impacts were included in cumulative effects analysis. The Forest Plan attempted to provide <br />direction for some components of biodiversity (composition, structure, and function), but focused <br />mainly on those that were economically important. <br /> <br />The Forest Service's management philosophy has changed to one of managing multiple uses <br />within the context of a broad assessment of all resource, social, and economic values known as <br />ecosystem management This approach to management can better adapt to growing national <br />concerns related to biodiversity, old-growth forests, riparian areas, TES species, and . livestock <br />grazing. <br /> <br />The water quality facet is generated by an increasing need to continue to apply Best <br />Management Practices to control non point pollution according to State water-quality <br />requirements. Aspen is a growing issue on the Forest due to its advanced age and a need to <br />perpetuate it for its' scenic and wildlife values. Wildlife and fisheries habitat will depend on the <br />outcome of ecosystem management. <br /> <br />C. Current Situation and Pa5t Trend5 <br /> <br />Some people believe biodiversity can be maintained forever in its present condition, or perhaps <br />even returned to the condition it was before settlement. This belief does not account for the <br />natural changes that continue to occur in an ecosystem. There were changes initiated by Native <br />Americans longer than a century ago, besides those initiated by settlement in the 19th century. Is <br />one acceptable and the other not? It is important to look at the Forest from a historical <br />perspective to help in making informed decisions about resource commitments for the future. To <br />assist in this understanding, the Forest undertook a repeat photography effort to document. <br />changes that occurred to some of .the Forest's ecosystems. Repeat photography is the practice of <br />returning to a location previously photographed and taking photos again so other changes may <br />also be noted. The narratives with the photos describe some of the changes. <br /> <br />\ <br /> <br />111-8 <br /> <br />" " ~ .. . ... <br />l. ~f ..::... l. :... -4 <br />