ABSTRACT 



The Forest Service is faced with a need for specification of the 

 goals that guide National Forest management. Without clear goals, 

 management action cannot be properly judged as to adequacy of per- 

 formance. The needed specification cannot readily be found in For- 

 est Service publications or management statements. This apparent 

 absence of goals stems in part from a lack of focus on the role of 

 goals in decisionmaking, and from the wording of the legislation. 



Contrary to widely held belief, this study finds that the legisla- 

 tion, though often broadly stated, does provide the necessary guide- 

 lines to develop a fairly clear mandate to guide Forest Service activi- 

 ties. When viewed as an integrated and evolving set of laws, the legis- 

 lation establishes the goal: Maximize the sum of the weighted values 

 of the National Forest resources. Subject to specified constraints, 

 this means that all the resources of the forest are to be managed in a 

 manner that maximizes their aggregated value, as opposed to maxi- 

 mizing the value of any one resource in isolation. The weights to be 

 applied are not specified. A descriptive decisionmaking model that 

 can guide the agency toward greater fulfillment of its management 

 objectives is presented. 



Establishment of priorities without clear reference to the over- 

 riding goal has led to agency practice that is subject to criticism. 

 Recent agency actions, however, show indications of awareness of 

 the proper direction to be followed. In the areas of budgetmaking 

 and public involvement, serious problems must be solved. Strength- 

 ening the ability to demonstrate the consequences of alternative 

 actions will be an essential step toward solutions and will help to 

 establish goal-oriented decisionmaking. 



