Proposed Agenda
Collaborator Meeting on the Terrestrial Landscape Assessment for the
RIBS Project (SWCC CFLRP Landscape)
Meeting Purpose: The purpose of this meeting is two-fold: 1) to provide an opportunity for
those who have expressed an interest in learning more about the terrestrial ecological
sustainability approach included in the 2012 Forest Planning Rule and to be used for the RIBS
project terrestrial landscape assessment, and 2) to discuss and examine the available
information on landscape pattern in mixed severity fire landscapes for use in identifying
reference conditions for the RIBS project.
Specific agenda items:
1) Description of the conservation strategy used to address ecological sustainability in the
2012 Forest Rule
a. Describe the focus on ecosystem diversity and the role of the species
assessment. Discuss its application in the landscape assessment.
2) Delineation of planning landscapes for the RIBS project
a. Present maps showing the different planning landscapes that are being used in
the RIBS project.
3) Ecosystem diversity framework and classification
a. Describe the ecological sites identified for ecosystem diversity and the state
and transition models that characterize disturbance processes.
4) Reference conditions for the ecosystem diversity framework
a. Describe the reference conditions developed for the ecosystem diversity
framework, and the literature and data sources used to characterize the
reference conditions. Solicit any additional information of data sources on
reference conditions.
5) Planned historical analysis and cumulative effects determination
a. Describe how SIMPPLLE will be used to quantify historical variability, and the
comparisons to be used to conduct the cumulative effects analysis.
6) Species assessment to be conducted including species to evaluate and evaluation
methods
a. Identify the species selected to be included in the species assessment, reasons
for their selection, and how the species assessment will be conducted to
estimate historical and current habitat quality for each species
7) Landscape pattern assessment of the RIBS landscape and methods for its evaluation
(including a more in-depth discussion on mixed-severity disturbance)
a. Discuss landscape pattern for mixed severity fire regimes and available
literature applicable to the northern Rockies.
b. Discuss scales for use in characterizing disturbance processes
c. Seek input on best methods to use in describing and quantifying landscape
patterns In the SWCC
Expected Outcome: Collaborators will gain a common understanding of the landscape
assessment goals and methodology and have an opportunity to provide expert opinion and
input to the scientific baseline information, as appropriate.