New CSP research identifies locations in the GMUG National Forests that represent landscapes with the highest ecological value, serving as a guide for management planning by the U.S. Forest Service.
New CSP research identifies locations in the GMUG National Forests that represent landscapes with the highest ecological value, serving as a guide for management planning by the U.S. Forest Service. This work draws upon a suite of seven key ecological and environmental indicators representing the capacity of landscapes within the GMUG national forests to help mitigate the impacts of climate change (e.g., through carbon storage and provisioning of climatically stable future habitats) and to stem the loss of biodiversity (e.g., through supporting imperiled species and facilitating ecological connectivity). By combining these indicators into a single coherent measure of ecological value, we identified 52 High Ecological Value Areas (HEVAs), continuous areas within the national forests where the combined estimate of ecological value was in the top 10%. These areas represent key targets for conservation-focused management to help ensure the long-term ecological sustainability of the forests and the persistence of diverse species and ecosystems. Ideally, these 52 HEVAs can serve as a starting point for planning and stakeholder engagement as part of the Forest Service’s Land and Resource Management Plan revision process for these forests.
[The Report] | [The Press Release]
