476
fined at first, became more refined as we proceeded
and directed the outcome of the final product.
Between the spring and fall of 1994, a number
of meetings were held among the assessment organizers. For the Forest Service, the assessment began with a meeting organized by the Regional Office and involved forest planners, research, and
Regional Office staffs. This meeting introduced the
concept of a regional assessment for the area and
identified the broad objectives and expectations of
the project. At that time, little or no coordination
existed between the various forest planning efforts.
A dominant consideration was to assure consistent
development of basic data.
In April 1994, the annual SAMAB planning
meeting was devoted largely to discussion of the
regional assessment, issues to address, and commitments needed. Although various proposals for
regional assessments had been discussed before,
this meeting officially kicked off the interagency
assessment. By the summer of 1994, planning was
well underway. As a means of gaining public comment and support, a series of town hall meetings
was conducted. The meetings were located in
Roanoke, Virginia, Asheville, North Carolina, and
Gainesville, Georgia, during July and August. As
a result of these discussions, issues and priorities
were modified and the assessment area was expanded. The annual fall conference for SAMAB
draws a technically oriented audience. Technical
papers are presented and scientific issues are discussed. The 1994 fall conference had a special session that explained plans for the assessment, discussed scientific issues, and honed and polished
assessment issues.
Nationwide, a number of regional assessments
were already underway. They differed widely in
approach, scale, subject, agency involvement, and
location. In an effort to learn from what had already
been accomplished and bring some order to the various data collection and analysis projects, the Environmental Protection Agency held a meeting in
Atlanta to review ongoing assessments. This meeting provided an exchange of ideas and approaches.
32.3.1 Assessment Questions
As a result of all these meetings, a broad framework of issues was developed, initial guidelines
were formulated for public involvement, and communication links were established with the key representatives of the various agencies. The issues
were expressed in the form of questions, and these
questions were organized into a charter. The charter was originally intended for Forest Service use,
Southern Appalachian Case Study
but it was also helpful in explaining and gaining
acceptance of the other agency participants.
In framing the questions, a logical approach to
the assessment emerged. The assessment consisted
of four major topics: aquatic; atmospheric; terrestrial; and social, cultural, and economic. These
questions were used to guide the content and direction of the analyses. The key topics that guided
the assessment project were the following:
Atmospheric analysis: The major atmospheric issues addressed air pollutants and exposure, concentrations of particulate matter, visibility and how
it is affected by air pollution, effects on aquatic resources by acid deposition, and the impact of
ground-level ozone on forests.
Terrestrial analysis: The terrestrial analysis included plant and animal resources and forest health
for plants and animals. The assessment evaluated
what plant and animal resources occur within the
region and their habitat associations; the status,
trends, and distribution of species and habitats in
the region; and the habitat conditions important for
maintaining the desired population levels and those
needed to recover populations at risk.
Forest health area: The forest health assessment
addressed occurring changes in forest vegetation or
soil productivity, the potential effects of the presence or absence of fire on forest health, how forest health is affected by native or exotic pests, and
how current management practices are affecting the
health and integrity of forest vegetation.
Aquatic analysis: The aquatic analysis focused
on the status and trends in water quality, aquatic
habitat, and aquatic species; the management factors important in maintaining aquatic habitat and
water quality; the extent and composition of riparian areas; the laws, policies, and programs for protection of aquatic resources and their effectiveness;
how people affect aquatic resources; and the current supplies and trends in water use.
Social, cultural, and economic resources analysis: This analysis addressed several components:
1. The human dimension questions related to how
the social pattern of the region had changed over
the last two decades and how this change was
reflected in natural resources management; how
management decisions affected the economic
condition of local communities and people outside the region; people's attitudes and values regarding natural resources; the important economic trends with respect to tourism and
extractive and other resource-dependent industries; and why and how private and nonindustrial landowners manage land.
fined at first, became more refined as we proceeded
and directed the outcome of the final product.
Between the spring and fall of 1994, a number
of meetings were held among the assessment organizers. For the Forest Service, the assessment began with a meeting organized by the Regional Office and involved forest planners, research, and
Regional Office staffs. This meeting introduced the
concept of a regional assessment for the area and
identified the broad objectives and expectations of
the project. At that time, little or no coordination
existed between the various forest planning efforts.
A dominant consideration was to assure consistent
development of basic data.
In April 1994, the annual SAMAB planning
meeting was devoted largely to discussion of the
regional assessment, issues to address, and commitments needed. Although various proposals for
regional assessments had been discussed before,
this meeting officially kicked off the interagency
assessment. By the summer of 1994, planning was
well underway. As a means of gaining public comment and support, a series of town hall meetings
was conducted. The meetings were located in
Roanoke, Virginia, Asheville, North Carolina, and
Gainesville, Georgia, during July and August. As
a result of these discussions, issues and priorities
were modified and the assessment area was expanded. The annual fall conference for SAMAB
draws a technically oriented audience. Technical
papers are presented and scientific issues are discussed. The 1994 fall conference had a special session that explained plans for the assessment, discussed scientific issues, and honed and polished
assessment issues.
Nationwide, a number of regional assessments
were already underway. They differed widely in
approach, scale, subject, agency involvement, and
location. In an effort to learn from what had already
been accomplished and bring some order to the various data collection and analysis projects, the Environmental Protection Agency held a meeting in
Atlanta to review ongoing assessments. This meeting provided an exchange of ideas and approaches.
32.3.1 Assessment Questions
As a result of all these meetings, a broad framework of issues was developed, initial guidelines
were formulated for public involvement, and communication links were established with the key representatives of the various agencies. The issues
were expressed in the form of questions, and these
questions were organized into a charter. The charter was originally intended for Forest Service use,
Southern Appalachian Case Study
but it was also helpful in explaining and gaining
acceptance of the other agency participants.
In framing the questions, a logical approach to
the assessment emerged. The assessment consisted
of four major topics: aquatic; atmospheric; terrestrial; and social, cultural, and economic. These
questions were used to guide the content and direction of the analyses. The key topics that guided
the assessment project were the following:
Atmospheric analysis: The major atmospheric issues addressed air pollutants and exposure, concentrations of particulate matter, visibility and how
it is affected by air pollution, effects on aquatic resources by acid deposition, and the impact of
ground-level ozone on forests.
Terrestrial analysis: The terrestrial analysis included plant and animal resources and forest health
for plants and animals. The assessment evaluated
what plant and animal resources occur within the
region and their habitat associations; the status,
trends, and distribution of species and habitats in
the region; and the habitat conditions important for
maintaining the desired population levels and those
needed to recover populations at risk.
Forest health area: The forest health assessment
addressed occurring changes in forest vegetation or
soil productivity, the potential effects of the presence or absence of fire on forest health, how forest health is affected by native or exotic pests, and
how current management practices are affecting the
health and integrity of forest vegetation.
Aquatic analysis: The aquatic analysis focused
on the status and trends in water quality, aquatic
habitat, and aquatic species; the management factors important in maintaining aquatic habitat and
water quality; the extent and composition of riparian areas; the laws, policies, and programs for protection of aquatic resources and their effectiveness;
how people affect aquatic resources; and the current supplies and trends in water use.
Social, cultural, and economic resources analysis: This analysis addressed several components:
1. The human dimension questions related to how
the social pattern of the region had changed over
the last two decades and how this change was
reflected in natural resources management; how
management decisions affected the economic
condition of local communities and people outside the region; people's attitudes and values regarding natural resources; the important economic trends with respect to tourism and
extractive and other resource-dependent industries; and why and how private and nonindustrial landowners manage land.