56 



elsewhere. Research Natural Area desi^ation, so sparingly applied in the recent 

 past, should be widely applied to maintain these areas. 



(2) Stick to science. Insist that whatever is done be proven in experimental trials. 

 The federal government should identify a class of mildly degraded lands that, 

 through scientifically credible restoration actions (e.g. prescribed burning), can be 

 restored relatively easily to high-quahty, low-risk conditions. Recently, salvage log- 



g'ng has received considerable attention as a possible tool in the restoration of 

 astside ecosystems. However, salvage, while an efifective means of removing wood 

 from a forest ecosystem, has not been proven to be an efifective tool in rehabilitation 

 or reforestation work. 



(3) Invest in information. As mentioned, the apolication of disturbance informa- 

 tion to management is in its infancy. There is stul much to be learned about the 

 way ecosystems function before we can efifectively manage them for the full range 

 of biodiversity. The failure of regeneration efforts speaks volumes to our poor under- 

 standing of forest ecosystems, even when the objective is simply timber production. 

 To begin to manage forest ecosystems, even when the objective is simply timber pro- 

 duction. To begin to manage forest ecosystems, we must learn much more about the 

 behavior of tiiose systems. 



Information gathering provides a tremendous opportimity for investing in the fu- 

 ture of Pacific Northwest public lands. Forest Service Research, particularly the 

 Forest Inventory and Analysis program, currentlv monitors the condition of U.S. for- 

 est resources, but its focus is dominantly on timber. Congress should encourage FIA 

 to expand its inventory in scope and intensity to help address our most pressing re- 

 source management questions. In the near future, there may be an opportunity for 

 Forest Service Research to work with the Secretary of the Interior's proposed Bio- 

 logical Survey to provide a coordinated national inventory of biological diversity. 



(4) Proceed witn caution. Managers must avoid demonstrating the arrogance that 

 has gotten us in the current situation. Admit that we do not currently know every- 

 thing we need to know to rehabiUtate damaged ecosystems. Reasonable approaches 

 must be developed with patience, based on the best available science, and should 

 be site-specific in appUcation. Physical environments, species availability, and natu- 

 ral disturbance regimes differ tremendously from place to place. A management pre- 

 scription that restores native vegetation in one place cannot be expected necessarily 

 to work elsewhere. We must avoid the temptation to implement blanket prescrip- 

 tions. Congress should encourage federal land managers to engage the scientific 

 community and each local community to develop suitable prescriptions for local ap- 

 plications. 



The currently degraded state of biodiversity in the Pacific Northwest is a national 

 tragedy, but it also presents an opportunity to invest in buildine a healthy future 

 for these vital ecosystems. By directing funding to inventory ana research and en- 

 couraging the integration of research and management. Congress can aid in the re- 

 habiUtation of the public lands of the Pacific Northwest. 



Mr. Vento. Dr. Aplet, I have looked at your statement. It is an 

 excellent statement, and I think it is very helpful. It will be in the 

 record. I am going to have to stop you at this point simply because 

 I fear that we won't get the other two witnesses in for a few words 

 here before the bells ring. Perhaps we will even have time for ques- 

 tioning when we get done. But I did read the statement. It is an 

 excellent statement. 



Let me now introduce Mr. Desmond, so he has a chance to say 

 a few words. 



STATEMENT OF MARTIN JACK DESMOND 



Mr. Desmond. Chairman Vento, Congressman DeFazio, we are 

 pleased to be able to testify here at this hearing today — maybe. 



Mr. Vento. No, no. You have got five minutes. You see, we have 

 10 minutes. I have to leave for a vote at quarter after, so let me 

 give you five and then the other witness five, and I guess we will 

 nave to leave it at that and submit our questions in writing. 



Mr. Desmond. Okay. I feel Hke the little guy looking up at these 

 big looming Federal agencies. What I would like to do briefly in my 

 testimony is perhaps offer up one small element towards resolution 



