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AN ECOSYSTEM VIEW OF NATURAL RESOURCES ... 

 THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF THE PARTS 



About 60 percent of the region is forested land. Following decades of sup- 

 pressed natural fire, many forested ecosystems--their age, density, and species 

 composition— have reached a mature stage where insect infestation and catas- 

 trophic fire are the next likely events. Tmiber harvest offers a controllable 

 alternative to this succession while providing a source of needed wood prod- 

 ucts. Where appropriate, harvesting can improve the long term health and pro- 

 ductivity of the forest, simultaneously contributing to other multiple-uses and 

 forest values. 



In 1992, the region produced 344 million board feet of timber from 69,098 

 acres of national forest. Of the total harvested acres, 90 percent were cut using 

 selection harvest methods. Clearcutting produced the rest of the volume. 

 Higher market values contributed to a rise in 1992 timber revenues to $24.2 

 million. Simultaneously, costs fell $600,000 from the previous year. Perhaps 

 more importantly, the gap between revenues and costs dropped more than $6 

 million, to $464,000. 



Timber 



Timber Sales Offered 



(MMBF) 



I S Year Trend 

 5 Year Average 



About 38 percent of the lands in the region are classified as suitable and avail- 

 able for livestock grazing. Today as never before, rangeland ecosystems fea- 

 ture a broad spectrum of resource uses and values. Rangeland management 

 provides a balanced focus on soil and water quality, biological diversity, aes- 

 thetics, recreation, cultural resources, noxious weeds, and riparian and upland 

 habitat for many species of game and non-game fish and wildlife. 



Partnerships, many modeled after the Colorado Cattlemen's Association Forest 

 Service Liaison Cotrunittee, seek to constructively resolve conflicts and 

 improve multiple-use management goals in rangeland ecosystems. The 

 Colorado Woolgrowers and several Wyoming agencies are among those cur- 

 rently developing cooperative resource management partnerships with the 

 Forest Service. 



® 



Range 

 Grazing 



(MAUM's) 



I SYeu- Trend 

 5 Year Average 



