Glossary
allowable sale quantity (ASQ). The quantity of timber that may be sold from the area of suitable land covered by the Forest Plan for a time period specified by the Forest Plan. This quantity is usually expressed on an annual basis as the ``average annual allowable sale quantity.'' (36 CFR 219.3)
biodiversity. The variety of life in an area, including the variety of gene pools, species, plant and animal communities, ecosystems, and the processes through which individual organisms interact with one another and their environments.
board foot (BF). A unit of timber measurement equaling the amount of wood contained in an unfinished board 1 inch thick, 12 inches long, and 12 inches wide.
canopy. The more or less continuous cover of branches and foliage formed collectively by the crowns of adjacent trees and other woody growth.
canopy cover. The percent of a fixed area covered by the crown of an individual plant species or delimited by the vertical projection of its outermost perimeter; small openings in the crown are included. Used to express the relative importance of individual species within a vegetation community or to express the canopy cover of woody species. Canopy cover may be used as a measure of land cover change or trend and is often used for wildlife habitat evaluations. (IRIG)
clearcutting. Clearcutting is the harvesting in one cut of all trees on an area for the purpose of creating a new, even-aged stand. The area harvested may be a patch, stand, or strip large enough to be mapped or recorded as a separate age class in planning for sustained yield under area regulation. Regeneration is obtained through natural seeding, through sprouting of trees that were in or under the cut stand, or through planting or direct seeding.
cove hardwood (CVHW). A forest type consisting of yellow poplar (45 percent), red oak (20%), white oak (20%), other hardwood (10%), and white pine (5%). Cove hardwoods are found on the Chattahoochee National Forest on moist fertile soils occupying northern and eastern slopes.
early successional species. Those plant or animal species characteristic of early forest successional stages.
endangered species. Any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, other than members of the class Insecta that have been determined by the Secretary to constitute a pest whose protection under the provisions of this (Endangered Species Act of 1973) act would present an overwhelming and overriding risk to humans. It must be designated in the Federal Register by the appropriate Secretary.
Endangered Species Act of 1973. An act to provide a means whereby ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species, and to take such steps as may be appropriate to achieve the purposes of the (relevant) treaties and conventions. (FEIS)
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is a disclosure document revealing the environmental effects of a proposed action which is required for major Federal actions under Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act and released to the public and other agencies for comment and review. Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is the final version of the statement disclosing environmental effects required for major Federal actions under Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act. (FEIS)
ephemeral stream. A stream or portion of a stream that flows only in direct response to precipitation. The stream channel is above the water table at all times. (Ray Albright - NFs in Ala.)
erosion. The processes whereby earthy or rocky material is worn away, loosened, dissolved, and removed from any part of the earth`s surface, usually by water or wind.
Forest Supervisor. The official responsible for administering the National Forest System lands in a Forest Service administrative unit, which may consist of two or more national forests or all the forests within a State, who reports to the Regional Forester.
fuels management. The planned treatment of fuels to achieve or maintain desired fuels conditions.
game species. Any species of wildlife or fish for which seasons and bag limits have been prescribed and which are normally harvested by hunters, trappers, and fishermen under State or Federal laws, codes, and regulations. (FEIS)
Geographic Information System (GIS). An information processing technology to input, store, manipulate, analyze, and display spatial resource data to support the decision-making processes of an organization. Generally, an electronic medium for processing map information, typically used with manual processes to effect specific decisions about land base and its resources.
habitat. The native environment of an animal or plant.
late-successional species. Those plant or animal species characteristic of late forest successional stages.
management indicator species (MIS). Any species, group of species, or species habitat element selected to focus management attention for the purpose of resource production, population recovery, maintenance of population viability, or ecosystem diversity. (FSM 2605).
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. An act to declare a national policy that will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between humankind and the environment, to promote efforts that will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of humanity, to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the nation, and to establish a Council of Environmental Quality. (FEIS)
national forest land - Federal land that has been legally designated as national forests or purchase units, and other land under the administration of the Forest Service, including experimental areas and Bankhead-Jones Title III land. (FIR)
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). A plan developed to meet the requirements of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, as amended, that guides all natural resource management activities and establishes management standards and guidelines for the National Forest System lands of a given national forest.
National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 1976. Act passed as an amendment to the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act, requiring the preparation of Regional Guides and Forest Plans and the preparation of regulations to guide them.
National Forest System. All national forest lands reserved or withdrawn from public domain of the United States; all national forest lands acquired through purchase, exchange, donation, or other means; National Grasslands and land utilization projects administered under Title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (50 Stat. 525, 7 U.S.C. 1010Â1012), and other lands, waters, or interests that are administered by the Forest Service or are designated for administration through the Forest Service as a part of the system. (16 U.S.C. 1608)
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Rivers with outstanding scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values designated by Congress under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of October 2, 1968 for preservation of their free-flowing condition.
National Wilderness Preservation System. All lands covered by the Wilderness Act and subsequent wilderness designations, irrespective of the department or agency having jurisdiction
nonforest land. Lands that never have had or that are incapable of having 10 percent or more of the area occupied by forest trees; or lands previously having such cover and currently developed for nonforest use. (FSH 2409.13-05)
off-road vehicle (ORV). Any motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross county travel on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain; except that term excludes (A) any registered motorboat, (B) any fire, military, emergency or law enforcement vehicle when used for emergency purposes, and any combat or combat support vehicle\when used for national defence purposes, and (C) any vehicle whose use is expressly authorized by the respective agency head under a permit, lease, license, or contract. (FSM 2355)
old growth.Terrestrial ecosystems characterized by vegetation and associated animals requiring the oldest and most mature successional stages. Old-growth forests contain trees normally beyond the age of optimum maturity for economic timber harvest. (FSM 2605)
old-growth forest. Ecosystems distinguished by old trees and related structural attributes. Specific attributes vary according to forest type, climate, site conditions, and disturbance regime.
old-growth stands. Ecosystems distinguished by old trees and related structural attributes. Old growth encompasses the later stages of stand development which typically differ from earlier stages in a variety of characteristics that may include tree size, accumulations of large dead woody material, number of canopy layers, species composition, and ecosystem function. The age at which old growth develops and the specific structural attributes that characterize old growth will vary widely according to forest type, climate, site conditions and disturbance regime. (IRIG)
perennial stream. Stream that flows at least 90 percent of the time, based on long-term flow data and has the following characteristics: (1) water flows continuously over the ground surface, not disappearing periodically into the channel bottom deposits of rock, gravel, or sand (this does not include flowing through debris dams of logs or leaves); (2) stream channel bottom is usually free of nonaquatic-type vegetation such as grasses and weeds; (3) aquatic insects or fish are present. A stream that flows at least 90 percent of the time is not classified as a perennial stream if this constancy of flow is due to increased water yield from timber harvest and if the stream returns to intermittent flows 1 to 5 years after the timber harvest.
perennial stream. Stream that continuously flows throughout the year (at least 905 of the time) in a well-defined channel. (Ray Albright - NFs in Ala.)
perennial streams. Permanently inundated surface stream courses. Surface water flows throughout the year except in years of infrequent drought. (FSM 2526)
PETS. An acronym for proposed, endangered, threatened, or sensitive plant or animal species for listing pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.
primary trout stream. Primary trout stream are those streams that contains naturally-reproducing populations of brook, rainbow, and/or brown trout.
proclamation boundary. The boundary contained within the Presidential proclamation that established the national forest.
shelterwood. A method of regenerating an even-aged stand in which a new age class develops beneath the partially shaped microenvironment provided by the residual trees. The sequence of treatments can include three distinct types of cuttings: (1) an optional preparatory harvest to enhance conditions for seed production; (2) an establishment harvest to prepare the seed bed and to create a new age class; and 3) a removal harvest to release established regeneration from competition with the overwood. Harvesting may be done uniformly throughout the stand (uniform shelterwood), in groups or patches (group shelterwood), or in strips (strip shelterwood). (SAF)
region. For regional planning purposes, the standard administrative region of the Forest Service administered by the responsible official for preparing a regional plan; the area to be covered by a regional plan.
Region 8. The states that make up the Southern region of the USDA Forest Service.
Regional Forester. The official responsible for administering a single region. (FEIS)
Regional Land and Resource Management Plan. The plan developed to meet the requirements of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, as amended, that guides all natural resource management activities and establishes management standards and guidelines for the National Forest System lands of a given region. It also disaggregates the RPA objectives assigned to the region to the forests within that region.
road - primitive. Roads constructed with no regard for grade control or designed drainage, sometimes by merely repeated driving over an area. These roads are single lane, usually with native surfacing and sometimes passable with four-wheel drive vehicles only, especially in wet weather.
road - public. Roads across national forest land which were in place as public ways when these lands were acquired. These roads may or may not be a part of the forest, State, or county system, and may or may not be maintained by any of these agencies.
road density. A measure of the total length of road in any given unit of area (e.g.: 4 miles/square mile.)
salvage. The harvesting of trees that are dead, dying, or deteriorating (e.g.: because overmature or materially damaged by fire, wind, insects, fungi, or other injurious agencies) before their timber becomes worthless.
salvage cutting. The removal of dead trees or trees being damaged or killed by injurious agents other than competition, to recover value that would otherwise be lost. (SAF)
(total) salvage sale. A timber sale for which an important reason for entry includes removal of diseased, infested, dead, damaged, or down timber. It also includes associated green trees for ecosystem improvement or rehabilitation. The sale should include an identifiable salvage component of trees which are dead, damaged, diseased, insect infested, windthrown, or imminently susceptible to insect attack because of drought-related stress. Further, the sale may include trees lacking the characteristics of a healthy and viable ecosystem. (FSM 2435)
salvage of dead stands. Removal of all dead trees in a stand. This does not include removal of tree posing a safety hazard or the removal of trees to halt the spread of injurious agents.
sediment. Generally refers to the total sediment load which is composed of suspended and bed material transported by a stream. Suspended load includes small-sized material easily carried in the water current. Bed load includes large-sized material that rolls or slides along the channel bottom. (Ray Albright - NFs in Ala.)
sediment. Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported, or has been moved from its site of origin by air, water, gravity, or ice.
sensitive species. Those species that (1) have appeared in the Federal Register as proposals for classification and are under consideration for official listing as endangered or threatened species, (2) are on an official State list, or (3) are recognized by the Regional Forester to need special management to prevent the need for their placement on Federal or State lists.
sensitive species. Those plant and animal species identified by a Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern, as evidenced by: (FSM 2670)
a. Significant current or predicted downward trends in population numbers or density.
b. Significant current or predicted downward trends in habitat capability that would reduce a species' existing distribution.
snag. A dead or partially dead (more than 50 percent) hardwood or pine tree which is used by many bird species for perching, feeding, or nesting.
thinning. (SEE BELOW) A cut made to harvest excess or unwanted trees in an immature stand. This cutting reduces the stand to a recommended stocking level and is made primarily to accelerate or maintain the rate of diameter increment and secondarily to improve the average form of the trees that remain and harvest usable fiber. The harvest of excess trees should remove existing and predicted mortality in addition to improving the growing conditions for the remaining stems.
thinning. A cutting made to reduce stand density of trees primarily to improve growth, enhance forest health, or to recover potential mortality. (SAF)
crown thinning (thinning from above, high thinning). The removal of trees from the dominant and codominant crown classes in even-aged stands, or in even-aged groups within uneven-aged stands, in order to favor the best trees of those same crown classes. (SAF)
free thinning. The removal of trees in even-aged, two-aged, or uneven-aged stands to control stand spacing and favor desired trees using a combination of thinning criteria without regard to crown position. (SAF)
low thinning. The removal of trees from the lower crown classes to favor those in the upper crown classes. (SAF)
mechanical thinning (geometric thinning). The thinning of trees in either even-aged or two-aged stands, or in even-aged groups within uneven-aged stands, in the dominant crown class in order to favor the lower crown class. (SAF)
thinning interval. The period of time between successive thinning entries, usually used in connection with even-aged stands. See also cutting cycle.
threatened and endangered species. See threatened species, endangered species.
threatened species. Any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range and that has been designated in the Federal Register by the Secretary of Interior as a threatened species.
uneven-aged management .The application of a combination of actions needed to simultaneously maintain continuous high-forest cover, recurring regeneration of desirable species, and the orderly growth and development of trees through a range of diameter or age classes to provide a sustained yield of forest products. Cutting is usually regulated by specifying the number or proportion of trees of particular sizes to retain within each area, thereby maintaining a planned distribution of size classes. Cutting methods that develop and maintain uneven-aged stands are single-tree selection and group selection. (36 CFR 219.3)
uneven-aged silviculture . The combination of actions that result in the creation of forests in which trees of several or many ages may grow together. Managed uneven-aged forests may take several forms depending on the particular cutting methods used. In some cases, the forest is essentially similar throughout, with individual trees of many ages and sizes growing in close association. In other cases, small groups of trees of similar age may be intermingled with similar groups of different ages; although the groups are even-aged, they are not recorded separately. Finally, an uneven-aged forest may contain two or three distinct age classes on the same area, creating a storied forest. Under uneven-aged silviculture, regeneration is obtained several or many times during the period required to grow an individual tree to maturity. Single-tree selection cutting, and other forms of partial cutting are used to harvest trees, obtain regeneration, and provide appropriate intermediate culture. Cutting is usually regulated by specifying the number or proportion of trees of particular sizes to retain within each area, thereby maintaining a planned distribution of size classes. Scheduling by area harvest is often used as well. (FEIS)
viable population. A population which has adequate numbers and dispersion of reproductive individuals to ensure the continued existence of the species population on the planning area. (FSM 1905)
viable population. Population of plants or animals that has the estimated numbers and distribution of reproductive individuals to ensure its continued existence is well distributed in the planning area.
viewshed. The total landscape seen or potentially seen from all or a logical part of a travel route, use area, or water body.
watershed. The total area above a given point on a stream that contributes water to the flow at that point.
Weeks Act. The Weeks Act of 1911 (as amended) authorized the acquisition of lands on the watershed of navigable streams for the purposes of conserving their navigability or for the purpose of timber.
wild and scenic river. A river or section of river designated as such by congressional action under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of October 2, 1968, as supplemented and amended, or those sections of a river designated as wild, scenic, or recreational by an act of the legislature of the state or states through which it flows.
wilderness. All national forest lands included in the National Wilderness Preservation System; an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by humans, where humans are visitors who do not remain.
wilderness, existing. Those areas already designated as wilderness by Congress. There are two such areas on the forests ¾ the Cohutta Wilderness Area and Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area.
wilderness, proposed. Those areas recommended for wilderness by the Forest Service as a result of the RARE II study, but which have yet to be acted on by Congress.
Wilderness Act of 1964. PL 88-577. This act gave Congress authority to designate certain areas of public land as wilderness. It established the National Wilderness Preservation System to secure for present and future generations of the American people the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.
wilderness study area (WSA). One of the areas selected by the Chief of the Forest Service from an inventory of unroaded and undeveloped National Forest System lands as having apparent high qualities for wilderness. They will be studied to determine whether they should be recommended for addition to the National Wilderness Preservation System.
wildland fire. Any fire on wildlands other than one intentionally set for management purposes and confined to a predetermined area.