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Items starting with R

RAC

Resource Advisory Council

Range

Land on which the principle natural plant cover is composed of native grasses, forbs, and shrubs that are valuable as forage for livestock and big game.

Range Management

The art and science of planning and directing range use intended to yield the sustained maximum animal production and perpetuation of the natural resources.

Range Variability

Also called the historic range of variability or natural range of variation. The components of healthy ecosystems fluctuate over time. The range of sustainable conditions in an ecosystem is determined by time, processes (such as fire), native species, and the land itself. For instance, ecosystems that have a 10 year fire cycle have a narrower range of variation than ecosystems with 200-300 year fire cycle. Past management has placed some ecosystems outside their range of variability. Future management should move such ecosystems back toward their natural, sustainable range of variation.

Ranger District

The administrative sub-unit of a National Forest that is supervised by a District Ranger who reports directly to the Forest Supervisor.

Raptor

A bird of prey, such as a eagle or hawk.

Re-vegetation

The re-establishment and development of a plant cover by either natural or artificial means, such as re-seeding.

Recharge

The addition of water to ground water by natural or artificial processes.

Record of Decision (ROD)

An official document in which a deciding official states the alternative that will be implemented from a prepared EIS.

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)

The land classification system that categorizes land by its setting and the probable recreation experiences and activities it affords.