|
|
- Info
The Southern Appalachian assessment terrestrial technical report
| Author: |
Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere (SAMAB) |
| Date: |
1996 |
| Periodical: |
R8-TP29. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Region |
| Link: |
http://sunsite.utk.edu/samab/saa/reports/terrestrial/terrestrial.html
|
| Abstract: |
The Southern Appalachian ecosystem is widely recognized as one of the most diverse in a temperate region. The headwaters of nine major rivers lie within the boundaries of the Southern Appalachians, making it a source ofdrinking water for much of the Southeast.
The assessment area includes parts of the Appalachian Mountains and Shenandoah Valley extending southward from the Potomac River to northern Georgia and the northeastern corner of Alabama. It includes seven states, 135 counties, and covers approximately 37 million acres. The Southern Appalachians are one of the world\'s finest remaining ecological regions. Early in the 20th century, the Appalachian landscape and natural resources were being exploited; croplands, pastures, and hillsides were eroding; and timberlands were being cut with little thought for sustaining the resources. National forests and national parks were created to preserve and restore the natural resources in the region. The seven national forests in conjunction with three national parks, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail form the largest contiguous block of public landscape east of the Mississippi River.
This comprehensive, interagency assessment began in the summer of 1994 and was completed in March 1996. It was designed to collect and analyze ecological, social, and economic data. The information provided will facilitate an ecosystem based approach to management of the natural resources on publiclands within the assessment area.
Public participation has been, and will continue to be, an important part of the assessment. One of the first actions of the assessment was to conduct a series of town hall meetings at which the public gave suggestions on the major themes and questions to be addressed. These questions, embellished by additional concerns expressed by land managers and policy makers, form the structure for the assessment.
|
|
