• 



Endangered Species Act (ESA): The Act that required consultation with the Fish and 

 WildUfe Service (Interior) if practices on National Forest System lands may impact a 

 threatened or endangered species (plant or animal). Direction is found in FSM 2670. 



Forest Health: A condition for forest ecosystems that sustains their complexity while 

 providing for human needs. In terms of ecological integrity, a healthy forest is one that 

 maintains all of its natural functions. In relation to management objectives, forest health 

 represents a condition which meets current and prospective future management objec- 

 tives. (After O'Laughlin et al. 1993, Monnig and Byler 1992) 



Habitat Type: A collection of land areas potentially capable of producing similar plant 

 communities at climax, generally named for the predicted climax community type. (After 

 Pfisteretal. 1977) 



Hydrology: A science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water, 

 specifically the study of water on the surface of land, in the soil and underlying rocks, 

 and in the atmosphere, with respect to evaporation and precipitation. (After Webster 

 1963 In: Schwarz et al. 1976) 



Noxious Weed: Plants that conflict with, interfere with,or otherwise restrict land man- 

 agement are commonly referred to as weeds. A plant that has been clssified as a weed 

 attains "noxious" status by an act of State legislation. 



Open road: A road that is open year-round with no restrictions. 



Riparian area: Green zones associated with lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, potholes, 

 springs, bogs, fens, wet meadows, and ephemeral, intermittent, or perennial streams. The 

 riparian/wetland zone occurs between the upland or terrestrial zone and the aquatic or 

 deep water zone. 



Salvage Cutting: The removal of dead trees or trees being damaged or killed by injuri- 

 ous agents other than competition, to recover value that would otherwise be lost. (Silvi- 

 culture Working Group 1993) 



Scariflcation: A deliberate, moderate disturbance of soil to remove or mix surface duff 

 with less than 1" of surface mineral soil. Scarification provides bare mineral soils for 

 trees that need it to regenerate. It also promotes oxidation of organic matter and speeds 

 its breakdown into nutrients to enrich soil. 



Sensitive species: A U.S. Forest Service designation for plant or animal species that are 

 vulnerable to declines in population or habitat capability which could be accelerated by 

 land management activities. 



Shelterwood: A method of regenerating an even-aged stand in which a new age class 

 develops beneath the partially-shaded environment provided by the residual trees. 



55 



