Selecting a focal species under the 2012 Planning Rule? A new focal species toolkit streamlines the process

The USDA Forest Service is required to develop "land management plans," which serve as roadmaps for maintaining the health and productivity of national forests and grasslands. These plans are designed to support ecological integrity, or an ecosystem's ability to withstand environmental disturbance. One way that national forests and grasslands, or "planning units", measure ecological integrity is by looking at the way that focal species respond to the effects of management activities and environmental changes. Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread. Read the Science You Can Use and access related content on Treesearch.