Tongass National Forest

The Forest Plan requires a review of the analysis assumptions used in the Plan at least every five years, unless major changes in any assumptions or outputs are evident earlier. Some of this information can be gathered in conjunction with ongoing Forest Plan monitoring. The Forest Plan also requires the FORPLAN model using updated information to be rerun every 5 years

The 1997 Forest Plan used the best model available at the time. The FORPLAN model may not be adequate for the integrated modeling most likely needed to address the complexities associated with Forest Planning today and into the future. The Forest Service Inventory and Monitoring Institute (IMI) located in Fort Collins Colorado is currently assessing the FORPLAN model and related computer data used in the Forest Plan. This evaluation will determine the potential utility of the current model or help determine what other models are available for Forest Plan modeling on the Tongass. A model called SPECTRUM appears to be favored for Forest Planning on other National Forests and it will be evaluated for future use on the Tongass. As ongoing project planning is done, updated information on the suitable and available lands included in the timber base are generated. This logging system and transportation analysis information (LSTA) includes logging system feasibility, timber harvest economics, road development needs, resource considerations for a given area, et al. To best support FORPLAN, SPECTRUM, or other ASQ simulation model, LSTA information should be generated on all timber lands in the suitable and available base that have not already had such. This new information could then be integrated with all current LSTA information to generate a Forest-wide LSTA database.

The Forest and Region needs to continue to work with IMI in the testing of the Tongass FORPLAN files and to evaluate if it can be used for the 5 year re-run of the model, or if another model needs to be fitted for this effort.

Assign a small team to develop a strategy for development of a Forest-wide LSTA. The strategy needs to include how best to incorporate existing LSTA information with new information to be generated. It is likely that a high proportion of this work will require the use of contracted services.

• Regional Planner
• Forest Planner
• Forest Management Staff Officer
• Logging Systems Specialists
• Transportation Planner
• Regional Economist

• Develop strategy to get LSTA completed.
• FORPLAN with IMI is an ongoing process