Improving Range & Forest Sites
by Manipulation

STATUS: Undesirable trees, brush, and weeds infest thousands of acres in our
District, disrupting the natural ecology and decreasing productivity. Excessive
erosion is degrading many sites. Lack of fire has disrupted the natural ecology
by allowing litter build-up, planned decadence, and undesirable brush and
tree encroachment.

POLICY: With increasing need for more forage,we believe tree, weed and brush
control, logging, seeding, erosion control, and burning are important
management tools to restore or improve our range and forest lands.
Considerations will be made for bird and wildlife needs in implementing
these practices. These practices should be directed by those who are familiar
with their application and understand their impact. Where implementation of
these practices are hampered, we will seek to promote an understanding of
their benefits.

IMPLEMENTATION: First, we need to become as knowledgeable as we can
about these practices and their effect upon the land. We must encourage land
management agencies and the Game and Fish Department to set high priorities
on and budget for these practices. While the NRCS already has a collection of
publications, we request them to set up a library on these subjects. We request
NRCS technicians to be thoroughly familiar with the various management
practices and local conditions. We have a strong education program directed
at both adults and youth that we will utilize in helping people become
knowledgeable about the benefits ofthese practices. We also plan to get young
people involved in the application ofthese practices through the schools, 4-H,
Scouts, YCC, and other groups. They might provide labor or participate as
observers. They may become involved with the implementation of these practices
on outdoor classroom sites or environmental study areas. We may also solicit
the participation of university students, offering them the opportunity to gain
valuable, practical experience.