Written with the assumption that ecosystems were healthy. Written knowing that some ecosystems are unhealthy and altered by years of human use. Some of these changes were desired by society, but have nonetheless created long-term challenges. Other events, such as climate cycles, exotic weed expansion, and management of non-Federal lands, influence how these Federal lands are managed. Their cumulative effects are more fully considered.
Emphasis is on commodity production with mitigation for other resource values.
Activities are planned without much consideration of historic ranges of variability or disturbance regimes. Managers consider what vegetative patterns, structure, and composition are desirable to carry into the future. Natural resources in excess of these needs are available for commodity production. Traditional approaches, such as clearcutting, are used to optimize timber yield on lands available for timber production. Timber harvest volumes come from all size classes.