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Tools for Research and Management

US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
By Mike Figgs

Forest Service Research Station publications have been a consistent source of important natural resource information for many years.  Some of the classics sitting on my bookshelf include management of western non-game birds, status and management of neotropical migratory birds, a technical conservation assessment of flammulated and boreal owls, management of aspen, and numerous publications on bark beetles, mistletoe and other forest pathogens, and wildfire mitigation. The publications based upon Forest Service research have been helpful  over the years in developing local environmental policy.

The Rocky Mountain Research Station is headquartered in Fort Collins and includes approximately a dozen other sites in the 13 state region. In the past it was necessary to be on a mailing list and review new publications in a newsletter format to stay abreast of new research and publications. With the development of the world wide web, keeping up with new research has been simplified. The Research Station web site is at http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/main/research.html.  A publications button takes the viewer to the page with a listing of publications available both in hard copy and for download.

A sampling of recent publications from the Rocky Mountain Research Station includes the following:

RMRS-GTR-17 Vascular plant species of the Pawnee National Grassland.

RMRS-GTR-22 The northern goshawk in Utah: habitat assessment and management recommendations.

RMRS-GTR-38 Historic avalanches in the Northern Front Range and Central and Northern mountains of Colorado.

RMRS-RP-5  Fuel Reduction in Residential and Scenic Forests: a Comparison of three Treatments in a Western Montana Ponderosa Pine Stand.

RMRS-RP-11 Responses of cavity-nesting birds to stand-replacement fire and salvage logging in ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forests of southwestern Idaho.

The goal of the research is to develop scientific information and technology to improve management, protection, and use of the forests and rangelands. Research is designed to meet the needs of National Forest managers, Federal and State agencies, public and private organizations, academic institutions, industry, and individuals. Studies are intended to accelerate solutions to problems involving ecosystems, range, forests, water, recreation, fire, resource inventory, land reclamation, community sustainability, forest engineering technology, multiple use economics, wildlife and fish habitat, and forest insects and diseases.

Some of the information provided may be a bit too technical for the novice, but seasoned naturalists should be able to understand and get the point of the information.  If you want to be on top of the latest natural resource research, this is a good place to start.