Areas that have not been exposed to great environmental changes and disturbances undergone by the region as a whole. In this FEIS, refugia include inventoried roadless areas that are relatively free from human-caused disruptions and disturbances when compared to roaded areas; refugia provide conditions suitable for survival of species that may be declining elsewhere.
Research Natural Areas (RNAs) are areas that contain important ecological and scientific values and are managed for minimum human disturbance. RNAs are primarily used for non-manipulative research and baseline data gathering on relatively unaltered community types. Since natural processes are allowed to dominate, RNAs also make excellent controls for similar communities that are being actively managed. In addition, RNAs provide an essential network of diverse habitat types that will be preserved in their natural state for future generations.
