A SYSTEMATIC PROCESS FOR SELECTING REPRESENTATIVE RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS

Prioritizing sites as potential research natural areas (RNAs) to repre sent a. set of target vegetation types can be a complex planning probl em in which competing objectives, such as suitability and efficiency m ust be satisfied simultaneously. The current U.S. Forest Service manua l contains guidelines on the desired qualities of RNAs but provides li ttle in the way of a structured methodology for selection. We propose an explicit and repeatable generic process for selecting target vegeta tion types and potential RNAs to represent them. The process is based on a systematic description of vegetation and environmental variation in an ecoregion, analysis of patterns of vegetation and land ownership and management, and optimization of site selection based on both vege tation and environmental criteria. Detailed ground survey and administ rative review as currently practiced are integrated into the process. An application to site RNAs representing four forest types on Los Padr es National Forest on the central coast of California demonstrates key aspects of the process. This reserve selection process could also be readily adapted to similar regional conservation planning programs.