AN ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF THE REGIONAL FOREST RESOURCES: RANGE SECTOR (MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, ECOLOGY, DYNAMICS, SYSTEM)

The range portion of the regional Forest Service system is analyzed with a system dynamics simulation model. The model provides a framework for understanding the biological, human and financial dynamics of the Forest Management systems.;Chapter 2 describes the study characteristics and the details of the range management system in terms of range development sector, Forest Service decision making sector, budget sector, and cattle industry sector. It also reviews the literature on range management, range ecology, and system analysis in ecology.;Chapter 3 describes the system dynamics methodology and the development of a system dynamics model to examine alternative future time histories of the range sector of the Southern region (Region 8). The model formulation is presented in four major sectors: FS decision making sector; range development sector; budget sector; and cattle industry sector.;Chapter 4 considers some aspects of the validation process as an example of how confidence may be gained in the inference of the model. Issues of validating FMSR8 model and the structural assumptions of the model are reviewed. In performance validation, so as to illustrate the model's reasonableness, the FMSR8 model is tested under such extreme conditions as an extended drought, overgrazing, no budget for the range forage improvement, and no more fences built/no more water resources developed.;Chapter 1 defines the research objectives as the development of an analytic model for the range portion of the regional Forest Service system and the demonstration of how the model can be used to evaluate range policies. The research procedure and expected results are presented.;In Chapter 5, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis of the model is presented. Then an exploration of some policy alternatives for improvement of range management within Region 8 is made.;Chapter 6 summarizes conclusions and recommendations for policy changes. And it discusses use of the RMSR8 model in a complete Forest System model and recommends to disaggregate Region 8 into two for future work: Mountain area and Coastal Plain area.