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and National Recreation Areas created by Congress in response 

 to public demands are significant examples of this prerogative 



in action. 



However, in many cases, the bill would only fix into law 

 existing management direction as described in forest plans. 

 The desire to have the special management designations may be 

 addressing the concern that management direction contained in 

 forest plans can be modified in the future. Although we 

 understand this concern, we believe that flexibility and the 

 ability to respond to changing public needs and demands 

 provided for by the forest planning process is important . A 

 basic tenet of the National Forest Management Act is to endorse 

 the concept of professional resource management, with 

 provisions for a high level of public involvement in developing 

 and revising plans. 



We believe that the forest planning process can be responsive 

 to both the public's interest in protecting special areas and 

 the need for flexibility to respond to changed conditions. As 

 you are well aware, a major fire season, insect infestation, or 

 climatic event such as drought or blowdown can dramatically 

 change assumptions and conditions that were the basis for 

 earlier decisions. 



The knowledge, information, and technology available to 

 managers are also dynamic. Research findings often change 

 basic assumptions about what is the "best" way to manage. The 



