Issues in Ecology Number 6 Spring 2000 Applying Ecological Principles to Management of the U.S.National Forests by John Aber',Norman Christensen.Ivan Fernandez,Jerry Franklin,Lori Hidinger.Malcolm Hunter. James MacMahon.David Mladenoff,John Pastor.David Perry.Ron Slangen.Helga van Miegroet INTRODUCTION Today we are experiencing another period of shifting values as well as conflicting pr posals for maior changes in The U.S.National Forest System is a diverse and unique the management of the National Forest System.Some seg resource.encompassing approximately 192 million acres and ments of society propose to increase forest harvesting dra representing most of the continent's major forest types.The matically while others want to eliminate harvesting alto system itself is entirely a creation of twentieth century po gether (e.g..Oliver et al.1997.McKinney 1999).Policies litical and social forces.and society's expectations for it have regarding the role of natural disturbances such as fire are changed repeatedly over the century.As the values society also under review.Recently,the U.S.Forest Service began places on timber production.wilderness protection.recre reviewing its mission based on the recommendations of the ation,and cor servation of biological dive ersity have shifted. Committee of Scientists Report(199)commissioned by the so have the policy directives under which the system operates Secretary of Agriculture his committee of 13 academic The various legislative mandates under Mhich the Na and professionals concluded that ecological sustainability and with pubic ownership and ipation are key guiding principles esta the lirst po gemen an Dac drop.the forests them 0estabishnation The act gave chang ing hun on pu selves a dyr onst anging in respon e stress, climate y d spec th.po ange,and extended this b five thi door recreation.range and fodder.and watersheds (Wiersum ina howy the natural systems work and developing manage 1995).The National Forests Manage ent Act of 1976 in ment prescrintions consistent with that knowledge Wher tuspecified that this policy of multipleuse be incorporated political pressures are strong.however.it is all too easy for into a mandated planning process. land managers and decision makers to lose sight of the ex- and providing for well-regulated,high-quality streamflow. Private forest lands,western Washington state.Issues in Ecology Number 6 Spring 2000 2 by John Aber* , Norman Christensen, Ivan Fernandez, Jerry Franklin, Lori Hidinger, Malcolm Hunter, James MacMahon, David Mladenoff, John Pastor, David Perry, Ron Slangen, Helga van Miegroet Applying Ecological Principles to Management of the U.S. National Forests INTRODUCTION The U.S. National Forest System is a diverse and unique resource, encompassing approximately 192 million acres and representing most of the continent’s major forest types. The system itself is entirely a creation of twentieth century po￾litical and social forces, and society’s expectations for it have changed repeatedly over the century. As the values society places on timber production, wilderness protection, recre￾ation, and conservation of biological diversity have shifted, so have the policy directives under which the system operates. The various legislative mandates under which the Na￾tional Forest System has operated began with The Organic Administration Act of 1897 that established the first policy for national forest use and management. The act gave the President authority to establish national forests on public lands in order to improve and protect the forest within boundaries, or for the purpose of security, favorable condi￾tions of waterflows, and to furnish a continuous supply of timber for the use and necessities of citizens of the United States (Fedkiw 1999). The 1960 Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act extended this by specifying five things that were to be sustained on public landstimber, fish and wildlife, out￾door recreation, range and fodder, and watersheds (Wiersum 1995). The National Forests Management Act of 1976 in turn specified that this policy of multiple use be incorporated into a mandated planning process. Today we are experiencing another period of shifting values as well as conflicting proposals for major changes in the management of the National Forest System. Some seg￾ments of society propose to increase forest harvesting dra￾matically while others want to eliminate harvesting alto￾gether (e.g., Oliver et al. 1997, McKinney 1999). Policies regarding the role of natural disturbances such as fire are also under review. Recently, the U.S. Forest Service began reviewing its mission based on the recommendations of the Committee of Scientists Report (1999) commissioned by the Secretary of Agriculture. This committee of 13 academics and professionals concluded that ecological sustainability and pubic ownership and participation are key guiding principles for managing the National Forests. Behind this changing human backdrop, the forests them￾selves are also dynamic, constantly changing in response to stress, disturbance, and climate, yet always constrained by their underlying physical, chemical, and biological processes. The stresses on forested ecosystems and the plant and ani￾mal species they harbor are continually increasing because of human population growth, pollution, climate change, and other threats (Figure 1). The key to responsible forest management is understand￾ing how the natural systems work and developing manage￾ment prescriptions consistent with that knowledge. When political pressures are strong, however, it is all too easy for land managers and decision makers to lose sight of the ex￾Figure 1 - Continuous clearcutting of forests can create major environmental problems, such as in maintaining biological diversity and providing for well-regulated, high-quality streamflow. Private forest lands, western Washington state. Photo by Jerry Franklin. * Authors in alphabetical order.