transported to the consumer, and the greatest 

 "needs" occur near the major centers of popu- 

 lation. The major recreational activities on 

 forest-range lands have little in common with 

 those normally available nationally. The terres- 

 trial ecosystems of forest-range for example, 

 offer little opportunity for water-related activi- 

 ties such as boating, water-skiing, or swim- 

 ming. Also, most of the forest-range is distant 

 from the major population centers. The demand 

 for the type of recreation available on forest- 

 range varies by the nature of the recreation 

 and the resources. 



Wildlife 



The Nation's forest-ranges are habitat for 

 more than five million big-game animals and 

 countless numbers of other animals (fig 35). 

 Included are songbirds, upland game birds, 

 reptiles, and waterfowl, as well as a myriad of 

 lesser animals. Wildlife resources provide recre- 

 ational opportunities and income for a broad 

 spectrum of our population. 



Important elements of the wildlife resource 

 are those species which are rare and endan- 

 gered. There is a high demand for the preser- 

 vation of these species. 



Manipulation of vegetation through such 

 practices as timber harvesting, livestock graz- 

 ing, type conversion, selective plant control, 

 and introduction of new species can greatly in- 



FlGURE 35. — Mule deer find suitable habitat on high- 

 elevation forest-range (Photo by Danny On). 



fluence habitat quality and, consequently, wild- 

 life populations. 



The needs for wildlife fluctuate with trends 

 in hunting and fishing and with nonconsump- 

 tive uses of wildlife, such as bird watching or 

 nature photography. Bird watching and nature 

 photography, while generally not reported in 

 wildlife-use statistics, constitute an important 

 part of the use of the forest-range. They will 

 become increasingly important in the future 

 but will not account for a large percent of total 

 use. Overall, the demand upon the forest-range 

 for wildlife values is expected to increase. 



Quality of Air 



Physical properties of air — temperature, 

 water density, and movement — affect the 

 growth and development of plant and animal 

 life. They limit man's use of the land. Chemical 

 constituents — oxygen, carbon dioxide, and in- 

 creasingly, pollutants — directly affect mankind. 



Forest-range is a source of unpolluted air 

 and has an immense capacity for receiving and 

 disposing of pollutants from urban and indus- 

 trial areas. However, range management prac- 

 tices can reduce air quality by increasing the 

 amount of particulate matter. This commonly 

 occurs when winds blow dust from areas 

 cleared of vegetal cover or when range fires 

 occur. The growing concern of the Nation over 

 air pollution can only result in a growing de- 

 mand for management of forest-range to im- 

 prove air quality. 



Soil Stability 



Soil stability, which is simply keeping soil in 

 place, helps preserve productivity and prevents 

 downslope damage. Proper management of the 

 vegetative cover is a paramount rule in main- 

 taining soil stability. The impact of grazing 

 animals under poor management, or of man in 

 some high density recreation areas within a 

 forest-range, often breaks the vegetation cover 

 to set the stage for erosion with resultant 

 lowered soil stability. Once the original level 

 of soil stability is lowered, productivity is 

 lowered. Sites may be so modified that original 

 plant communities no longer can exist. Some 

 of these may have had peculiar or intrinsic 

 values that are irreplaceable once lost. 



As an output from the forest-range, soil sta- 

 bility is an asset of national importance to be 

 maintained in order to support our future 

 growth and culture. 



Soil Quality 



Soil quality as used in this study relates to 

 fertility, structure, and drainage. It is impor- 

 tant to environmental quality in terms of main- 

 taining or enhancing the productivity of a 

 given site. It is closely related to soil stability 

 and can, therefore, be materially affected by the 

 level of management. Compaction of the soil or 



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