Defining fire and wilderness objectives: Applying limits of acceptable change

David N. Cole

Treesearch

Defining fire and wilderness objectives: Applying limits of acceptable change

Informally Refereed

Authors:

David N. Cole

Year:

1995

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Brown, J. K.; Mutch, R. W.; Spoon, C. W.; Wakimoto, R. H., tech. coords. Proceedings: Symposium on Fire in Wilderness and Park Management: Missoula, MT, March 30-April 1, 1993. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-320. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 42-47

Download (PDF 41 KB)

Download (PDF 41 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/23916.pdf

Abstract

The Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) planning process was developed to help define objectives for recreation management in wilderness. This process can be applied to fire in wilderness if its conceptual foundation is broadened. LAC would lead decision makers to identify a compromise between the goal of allowing fire to play its natural role in wilderness and various constraints, such as threats to life and property. Fires would be allowed to burn as prescribed natural fires as long as preestablished criteria related to these constraints were not exceeded.

Keywords

Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC), planning, fire, recreation management, wilderness

Citation

Cole, David N. 1995. Defining fire and wilderness objectives: Applying limits of acceptable change. In: Brown, J. K.; Mutch, R. W.; Spoon, C. W.; Wakimoto, R. H., tech. coords. Proceedings: Symposium on Fire in Wilderness and Park Management: Missoula, MT, March 30-April 1, 1993. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-320. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 42-47