MAXAGEMEXT PLANS THE NATIONAL FOEESTS 7 



those of an administrative unit such as a ranger district, although the 

 execution of the provisions of the plan may sometimes be simplified 

 if this is the case. A working circle may be located in two or more 

 forests, although this interposes obvious administrative difficulties 

 and requires that one or the other forest staff be made responsible 

 for general oversight over the progress of the plan and for keeping 

 the necessary records. 



It is desirable but not always practicable to establish the perma- 

 nent boundaries at the start. We are now in the first stages of 

 systematic management in the national forests, and our present 

 understanding and knowledge of the many and complex factors 

 involved is not always a sufficient basis for permanent delineation. 

 It will undoubtedly be necessary to make many adjustments in 

 boundaries as we get more information as to our resources and 

 better crystallize our ideas on management. There will be a tendency 

 to reduce the size of management units, both working circles and 

 compartments, as management becomes more intensive, because of 

 better transportation facilities, better markets, and closer utilization. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE WORKING CIRCLE 



For ease in visualizing and analyzing the problem, for clearness 

 and definiteness in describing the forest growing stock, and for con- 

 venience in allocating operations and in keeping records of action 

 taken, working circles are subdivided into blocks, compartments, and 

 subcompartments. The division into compartments is best made on 

 the ground at the time of the timber survey, so that all field data can 

 be taken and assembled by compartments. Some compartments may 

 be divided into subcompartments in the field at the same time. The 

 process of setting out subcompartments, however, is a progressive 

 one and will continue throughout the course of management. The 

 formation of blocks can perhaps be decided upon better after the 

 plan of management has been at least roughly shaped up. 



THE BLOCK 



The simplest procedure is to divide a worldng circle area directly 

 into compartments and subcompartments. There crops up, however, 

 in some cases the need for a unit intermediate in size, between a com- 

 partment and a working circle, a unit that will make possible a clearer 

 statement of the policy to be followed in handling the resources in 

 the woods and in keeping the records in the office. In Forest Service 

 practice this unit is the block. 



The block is a large division of a working circle, usually with 

 topographic boundaries, consisting of a group of compartments or 

 an undivided area distinguished from other areas by a marked dif- 

 ference in timber-sale policy, utilization or transportation possi- 

 bilities, silvicultural treatment, or otherwise. If two or more non- 

 contiguous areas make up a worldng circle, each of these areas needs 

 a name for convenience of reference and would be called a block. A 

 block might also consist of a large sale area, either existing or pro- 

 posed, covering several compartments; or it might be a remote part 

 of a working circle which is not to be utilized for many years and 

 which is not in immediate need of subdivision; or it might consist 



