current and potential forage production, related grazing capac- 

 ities, and effectiveness of range improvement practices. 

 9. For forest range vegetation, developing improved measurement 

 techniques and inventory procedures — 'rapid, accurate, and read- 

 ily adaptable for administrative as well as research use in meas- 

 uring plant and soil responses to grazing, fire, logging, and other 

 disturbance factors. 



Wildlife and Fish Habitat. — The use of the wildlife and fish re- 

 sources of the Nation is being continually increased by a growing 

 army of hunters and fishermen. Serious conflicts have developed be- 

 tween wildlife habitat needs on one side and augmented requirements 

 for production of water, timber, and forage for livestock on the other. 

 The research planned will determine the food and cover requirements 

 of various wildlife species. It will point out the way the forest and 

 related range lands could be managed and improved to better meet 

 the increased requirements for forest resources while supporting maxi- 

 mum game and fish populations. 



The proposed research will : 



1. Determine the wildlife populations that can be supported by the 

 various vegetation types ; develop practices that improve wildlife 

 destribution and allow more uniform and efficient utilization of 

 available forage and cover. 



2. Develop methods for improving depleted and naturally un- 

 productive big-game habitats by seeding and planting browse, 

 controlling undesirable vegetation, manipulating desirable plant 

 cover, or other measures to alter or regulate environment. 



3. Work out ways to improve wildlife habitat through modified 

 timber cutting and stand improvement practices so that wildlife 

 production will be encouraged, while watershed values are main- 

 tained or enhanced. 



4. Devise techniques of seeding and planting to create improved 

 habitat for small upland game in forest openings and perma- 

 nently cleared powerline and pipeline rights-of-way, particularly 

 in the eastern forests. 



5. For various types of range, determine the nature and degree 

 of animal competition for forage, and suitable management prac- 

 tices to harmonize use by livestock and wildlife, especially by big 

 game. 



6. Accelerate work on problems of improving game fish habitat 

 and food supplies by regulating shade and water temperatures 

 through management of streamside vegetation, by stabilization 

 of channels, and other measures. 



Forest Recreation. — Research on forest recreation problems is basic 

 to the development of sound administrative policies and the formula- 

 tion of programs to meet skyrocketing future recreational needs on 

 public forests and private forest lands. The research planned gives 

 emphasis to National Forest problems, but the problems of other 

 forests will not be neglected. Hence, research results are expected 

 to have broad application to both public and private forest lands. 



Examples of the research proposed are : 



1. Determining the most efficient physical layouts for forest camp- 

 grounds and other recreational installations to provide for opti- 



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