Actions that restrict forest management practices or contribute to the decline in abundance, distribution, or health of forests or woodlands, and availability, quality, and quantity of forest products would result in adverse impacts. Conversely, actions that enhance management, improve health, and protect and restore forests and woodlands in the Planning Area provide beneficial impacts.

Direct impacts to forests, woodlands, and forest products result from management actions that affect forest structure, species composition/diversity, vigor, health, vegetative community type, or other forest/woodland characteristics. Management actions that limit timber availability and restrict timber extraction methods directly affect forest products. Indirect impacts to forests, woodlands, and forest products include any change in forest and woodland characteristics due to natural forces (e.g., insect and disease, fire and drought conditions), management actions from other resources, or failure to implement management actions.

In addition to human activities, natural processes could produce beneficial or adverse impacts to forest and woodland communities. In an old growth forest, natural regeneration restores genetic diversity, sustained yield, and uneven-aged stands that provide economic benefits such as continuous production, insect and disease control, soil and water conservation, and the elimination of planting costs. Alternatively, natural regeneration can introduce conifers into aspen stands, thereby reducing the size of, or out-competing the aspen stands. Aspen stands create natural fuel breaks and provide other benefits such as scenic qualities and habitat for wildlife. Refer to Map 29 for forest and woodland resources.