It should be used in conjunction with other guidebooks such as those developed for forest development plans, biodiversity, managing identified wildlife, and range use. Riparian areas occur next to the banks of streams, lakes, and wetlands and include both the area dominated by continuous high moisture content and the adjacent upland vegetation that exerts an influence on it.
Riparian ecosystems contain many of the highest value non-timber resources in the natural forest.
The majority of fish food organisms come from overhanging vegetation and bordering trees while leaves and twigs that fall into streams are the primary nutrient source that drives aquatic ecosystems. Riparian areas frequently contain the highest number of plant and animals species found in forests, and provide critical habitats, home ranges, and travel corridors for wildlife. Biologically diverse, these areas maintain ecological linkages throughout the forest landscape, connecting hillsides to streams and upper headwaters to lower valley bottoms. There are no other landscape features within the natural forest that provide the natural linkages of riparian areas. Within the management zone constraints to forest practices are applied.