Draft Land Management Components

Desired Conditions for All Vegetation Types

1. Ecosystems maintain all of their essential components (plant density, species composition, structure, coarse woody debris, and snags), processes (disturbance and regeneration), and functions (nutrient cycling, water infiltration, and carbon sequestration). Overall plant composition similarity to site potential (FSH 2090.11) averages greater than 66 percent, but can vary considerably at the fine- and mid-scales owing to a diversity of seral conditions.

   • Ecosystems contain a mosaic of diverse native plants (composition and genetic diversity) with vegetative structural diversity that encourages vigor, connectivity, and persistence at a variety of scales across the landscape, reflecting their natural disturbance regimes.

   • Native plant communities dominate the landscape, while invasive species are nonexistent or low in abundance (less than 5 percent) and do not disrupt ecological functioning.

   • Natural ecological cycles (energy, hydrologic, nutrient, etc.) facilitate the shifting of plant communities, structure, and ages over time due to natural ecological processes (such as climate fluctuations and fire) affecting site conditions.

   • Native insects and diseases affect forest communities within their range of natural variability. Nonnative insects and diseases are nonexistent or low in abundance (less than 5 percent) and do not disrupt ecological functioning.

   • Vegetation cover and litter are distributed across the soil surface in adequate amounts to limit erosion and contribute to soil deposition and development. Soil cover and herbaceous vegetation protect soil, facilitate moisture infiltration, and contribute to plant and animal diversity and ecosystem function.

2. Ecosystems are resilient or adaptive to the frequency, extent, and severity of disturbances, such as fire in fire-adapted systems, flooding in riparian systems, insects, pathogens, and climate variability.

   • The composition, structure, and function of vegetation conditions are resilient to the frequency, extent, and severity of disturbances, and to climate variability.

   • Vegetation communities reflect their natural physical, chemical, and biophysical processes with carefully managed human influence.

   • Non-climate ecosystem stressors (air and water pollution, high road densities, water depletions, etc.) do not negate the resilience and resistance of an ecosystem’s ability to adapt to a changing climate.

   • Natural disturbance regimes, including fire, function in their natural ecological role. Uncharacteristic fire (frequency and severity outside historical range for associated vegetation type) is less than 10 percent or absent on the landscape.

   • Native insects and diseases affect forest communities within their range of natural variability. Nonnative insects and diseases are nonexistent or low in abundance (less than 5 percent) and do not disrupt ecological functioning.

   • Landscape vegetation structure and patterns create a mosaic that disrupts large continuous areas of uncharacteristic high-severity fire effects.

   • Healthy, resilient vegetation contribute to the forest’s ability to store carbon and function as a sustainable carbon sink.

3. The ecological attributes and processes that provide habitat for native animal and plant life and/or historic and cultural values are fully functioning.

   • A diversity of vegetation exists with a mosaic of cover types and stand structures forming a healthy, resilient landscape that provide for genetic exchange, daily and seasonal movements of animals, including inter-specific interaction at all trophic levels (producer-consumer and predator-prey interactions) across multiple spatial scales, and consistent with existing landforms and topography.

   • Vegetation provides a sustainable supply of forest and botanical products, such as timber products, firewood, piñon nuts, and forage, consistent with desired conditions for other resources.

All Vegetation Types Objectives

(Objectives for all vegetation types are based on previous Lincoln National Forest accomplishments, anticipated need, and estimated future accomplishment based on capacity).

1. Over a 10-year period, complete at least the following treatments to move vegetation resources toward desired conditions.

   • Mixed conifer with aspen: mechanically treat 1,000-3,000 acres along with prescribed fire or naturally ignited wildfire on 40,000 acres

   • Mixed conifer with frequent fire: mechanically treat 6,000-8,000 acres along with prescribed fire or naturally ignited wildfire on 40,000 acres

   • Ponderosa pine forest: mechanically treat 2,000-3,000 acres along with prescribed fire and naturally ignited wildfire on 40,000 acres

   • Piñon-juniper woodland: mechanically treat 1,000-3,000 acres along with prescribed fire and naturally ignited wildfire on 40,000 acres

   • Piñon-juniper grassland: mechanically treat 1,000-2,500 acres along with prescribed fire and naturally ignited wildfire on 20,000 acres

   • Piñon-juniper evergreen shrub: prescribed fire and naturally ignited wildfire on 20,000 acres

2. Over a 10-year period, complete 400 to 1,000 acres of combined vegetation treatments (such as restoration) non-forested areas that are highly departed from historical conditions to move vegetation toward desired conditions. Treatments may include mechanical treatments, prescribed fire or naturally ignited wildfires, seeding, or other techniques still to be determined by best available science depending on the specific ecological response unit.

All Vegetation Types Guidelines

Next Station: At-risk Species

For more information on the project or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Diane Prather at (575-649-9405) or diane.prather@usda.gov.