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Items starting with M

Macro Climate

The general large scale climate of a large area, as distinguished from the smaller scale micro climates within it.

Major watershed (sub-basins)

Fourth-level Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs), as defined by the U. S. Geologic Survey. Formerly known as cataloging units.

Manageable size

Geographic areas that the local official determines are of a shape and position within the landscape for reasonable achievement of the long-term conservation of roadless characteristics. For example, many long narrow strips or 'stringers' between two highly developed areas would usually not be considered manageable.

Management Action

Any activity undertaken as part of the administration of the National Forest.

Management Decision

A decision made by the BLM to manage public lands. Management decisions include both land use plan decisions and implementation decisions.

Management direction

A statement of multiple-use and other goals and objectives, the associated management prescriptions, and standards and guidelines for attaining them.

Management Indicator Species (MIS)

A wildlife species whose population will indicate the health of the ecosystem in which it lives and consequently, the effects of forest management activities to that ecosystem. MIS species are selected by land management agencies. (See "indicator species".)

Management prescription

Management practices and intensity (frequency and duration) selected and scheduled for application on a specific area to attain multiple-use and other goals and objectives.

Map unit

The individual parcels defined in the geographic information system (GIS) database. For reporting purposes, forests often group several map units into a single named inventoried roadless area.

Mass Movement (Wasting)

The down-slope movement of large masses of earth material by the force of gravity. Also called a landslide.