Preface

This report was prepared by the Southwestern Forest Ecosystem Health Team. When first established, the team included representatives from the Rocky Mountain Forest Range and Experiment Station and each resource staff in the Southwestern Region. Participants either served as members of a core team or assisted with writing. An initial draft was completed in 1995 and reviewed. At the suggestion of various reviewers, we have significantly re-written and re-structured the original draft. We have also followed in part the guidelines of the National Framework for Ecological Assessments.

   In addition, the following individuals contributed sections of the report:
John Conner, Lincoln National Forest
Reggie Fletcher, Ecosystem Analysis and Planning
Wally Haussamen, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Janet Johnson, Tonto National Forest
Raymond Lee, Arizona Game and Fish Department
John Peterson, Santa Fe National Forest
Deborah Potter, Watershed and Air Management
Judith Propper, Recreation Management
George Robertson, Coconino National Forest
Jay Stephan, Recreation Management
Thomas Subirge, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Frank Wozniak, Recreation Management

We acknowledge Lane Eskew (Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station) and Mary Zabinski (Southwestern Region) for their roles as managing editors. Joyce Patterson assisted with preparation of figures. The team also recognizes the valuable comments and useful critiques provided by the following individuals: William Block, Brent Botts, Arthur Briggs, Sally Campbell, James Cooper, W. Wallace Covington, James Crawford, John Dale, Leon Fisher, Alan Harvey, Roy Jemison, Charles Lennahan, Gus McPherson, Keith Menasco, Will Moir, Richard Reitz, Mert Richards, John Schmid, Lamar Smith, Peter Stewart, Walter Stewart, Dan Winner, Michael Wagner, as well as several anonymous reviewers.

Support for this project was provided by the Southwestern Region and Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station (Ecology, Recovery, and Sustainability of Grassland and Riparian Ecosystems in the Southwest and Impact of Natural Ecological Disturbances on Western Conifers)

Although this report may be used as input in processes initiated under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and other applicable laws, it is not a decision document, does not allocate resources on public lands, and does not make recommendations to that effect. The information in this report is general in nature, rather than site-specific. The opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily represent the policy or position of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service.