Treesearch

Quantitative measures of the economic nonconsumptive values of observing wildlife in forest environments are not widely available. Six case studies of fish and wildlife amenity values are briefly described. The annual total consumers' surplus value of all six activities was twice the total out-of-pocket expenditures spent to visit the six sites involved. The rationale for additional extensive research and development on nonconsumptive economic values of fish and wildlife are outlined.

Managing and conserving uncommon mammals, such as fisher (Martes pennanti) and American marten (M. americana), depend upon a reliable mechanism to index their populations. In parts of their ranges where these species are not commercially harvested, baited track stations provide an alternative means to collect data on distribution and abundance. Although tracks of many species can be identified using unique qualitative traits, distinguishing tracks of these closely related, similar-sized mustelids requires a quantitative approach. We present a general method to collect mensurative data from...

Correlations between the home-range size of northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) and proportion of their range in old-growth forest have been reported, but there are few data on the relationship between their home-range size and prey. The primary prey of spotted owls are wood rats and northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus). Wood rats are larger and heavier than flying squirrels, and their population densities tend to be much greater than those of flying squirrels. We present data indicating that the home ranges of spotted owls are smaller where their diet consists...

Recreation managers have established more effective communication with dispersed recreation users of the Angeles National Forest in southern California, through the development and use of Challenge Cost-Share Partnerships with regional non-profit organizations. From 1988 to 1990, researchers conducted a series of surveys of recreation visitor populations in the heavily used dispersed recreation areas of San Gabriel Canyon, on the Mt. Baldy Ranger District. The findings revealed that most of these users only decided to come to the National Forest 24 hours or less before their arrival. This...

Because of three major wildland fires in the past 5 years along the Front Range of the Boulder County area in Colorado, current and potential residents should be told of steps that can reduce the risks of these fire hazards. The Wildfire Hazard Identification and Mitigation System (WHIMS) is used by the county and city to assist in the identification and mitigation of wildfire hazards in their wildland and urban interface areas. This system combines available expertise in forestry, wildfire behavior, hazard assessment, and fire suppression with a geographic information system (GIS). The...

Legislation was enacted by the California Legislature in 1992 after the East Bay firestorm on the Oakland/Berkeley border; it included roofing standards, brush clearance, and other safety requirements. Fire safety personnel and local government officials all participated in developing these measures and presenting them to the California Legislature.

From 1990 to 1992, the USDA Forest Service implemented a 3-year pilot test of CUSTOMER, a standardized nationwide recreation visitor survey. Intended as a partnership between the agency's Research and National Forest System branches, CUSTOMER has been a limited success to date. By the end of 1993, nearly 20,000 recreation visitors had been interviewed in more than 35 different sites, including 15,800 National Forest visitors from Alaska to Puerto Rico. Resulting data have not been fully analyzed to date nor been made available for recreation researchers, managers, or the general public....

With nearly 200 million acres of majestic mountains, deep rugged canyons, pristine high lakes, wild rivers, immense forests, and open meadows, the National Forest System provides the largest variety of outdoor recreation opportunities in the United States. Federal lands encompass a combined total of nearly one-third of this country.