Two important steps in wildlife management are: 1) gaining an understanding of existing and potential wildlife habitats and 2) developing a management scheme that places wildlife in an active position prior to interdisciplinary involvement. To attain these ends, Concepts from the California Fish and Wildlife Habitat Relationships Program were combined with a management indicator species approach to develop an evaluation method for wildlife habitats in Wet Timber Compartment, Inyo National Forest. Survey routes were delineated and habitat data collected to identify existing habitats and to predict potential habitats for nine management indicator species. These species were used as a barometer for assessing habitats of other species in Wet Timber Compartment. Three management strategies were developed for managing wildlife habitats. These were evaluated in terms of impacts on the management indicator species. The level which best managed all species collectively was recommended for implementation. Habitat improvement projects and resource coordination opportunities were identified to attain the recommended management level.
|
