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Team 21 Adaptive Management Work Group 

Seeking public input on an age-based monitoring question:

 The Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region amended land management plans for the Fremont-Winema, Deschutes, Ochoco, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, and Malheur National Forests in January 2021 to enable land managers to more effectively restore forestlands in eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. This amendment included an adaptive management component with two monitoring questions for assessing effectiveness of this new management direction: 

1. Are large trees increasing in number while setting species composition on a trajectory appropriate to the ecological setting? (Required)
2. Is the density, quality, and distribution of snags improving across the landscape? (Optional)

In addition, the amendment states: “An age-related monitoring question is highly recommended. This question should be informed by the scientific community and the Regional Adaptive Management Workgroup.”  The Forest Service is inviting input from the scientific community and public at large regarding an appropriate age-based monitoring question via the form below. Proposed age-based monitoring questions should be:

• Relevant for assessing trends in the prevalence of old trees
• Regularly and reliably measurable at the broad scale (across all six national forests)
• Technologically feasible and cost-effective

The Forest Service values public participation. Communications from the public regarding this project, including commenters' names and contact information, will become part of the public record. Comments, including anonymous comments, will be accepted at any time.