221 



The data provided through the Southern Appalachian Assessment 

 will unquestionably aid in the revision of existing forest plans, 

 thereby maintaining the decisionmaking process at the forest level, 

 and that is indeed appropriate. 



Data contained within the assessments include the abundance, 

 spatial distribution and trends of forest types, various wildlife spe- 

 cies, and indeed the capabilities of various sites to produce target 

 resources, be those resources commodity or noncommodity. 



Extensive public participation was built into the Southern Appa- 

 lachian Assessment process. Informational meetings were held to 

 solicit public input, and at some points it almost led to an informa- 

 tional overload with those publics who were not familiar with the 

 agency's way of doing things. Preliminary data was reviewed by 

 professionals who have demonstrated expertise in various fields, 

 and indeed this external review increased the accuracy and the 

 utility of the data contained within the assessment. 



The Forest Service very early on recognized that only 17 percent 

 of the forest land base within the Southern Appalachian Assess- 

 ment area was on National Forests and therefore they recognized 

 the need to provide and collate the appropriate data for all owner- 

 ships. 



As resource professionals it is important to understand what re- 

 sources exist on adjacent ownerships, what management activities 

 are taking place on adjacent ownerships, and how best to ensure 

 that Forest Service land management decisions are best com- 

 plementary to those decisions that are impacting adjacent lands, 

 particularly private lands. 



Regarding the future management direction of the National For- 

 est within the Southern Appalachian Assessment area, it is clear 

 that the Southern Appalachian Assessment in general is not a deci- 

 sionmaking process. 



If I may, there is one exception that does concern the Ruffed 

 Grouse Society, that being that through the Southern Appalachian 

 Assessment the Forest Service identified and mapped 753,000 acres 

 of potential roadless areas. This total includes 13 percent of the 

 Forest Service land base where it is currently appropriate to man- 

 age habitat for those species that require young forest habitat such 

 as ruffed grouse and a whole host of others. 



To their credit, the Forest Service has at various times stated 

 that these potential roadless areas are not off limits to manage- 

 ment activities. However, the agency has been reluctant to enter 

 these areas due to concerns over potential conflict with certain 

 publics. This reluctance has effectively rendered this limited por- 

 tion of the Southern Appalachian Assessment as a de facto deci- 

 sionmaking process. 



In summary, the Southern Appalachian Assessment is indeed a 

 most worthwhile initiative. It will provide resource professionals 

 with the opportunity to make management decisions on a relatively 

 broad landscape, and if used appropriately will greatly aid in the 

 planned revisions of existing forest plans without providing specific 

 direction. 



Thank you. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. [Presiding.] Thank you. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Loesel is recognized. 



25-618 96-8 



