A
cooperative project
of the
USDA Forest Service
Northern Region,
Rocky Mountain Region,
Southwestern Region,
Intermountain Region,
Rocky Mountain Research Station,
and the
Montana Natural Heritage Program
|
|
The Forest Service Research Natural Area (RNA) network protects some
of the finest examples of natural ecosystems for the purposes of
scientific study and education and for maintenance of biological
diversity. National Forests and Grasslands in eleven western states
manage an exceptional suite of 273 established and 71 proposed
Research Natural Areas. These areas represent a wide variety of
habitats and ecosystems along elevational gradients from alpine to
lowlands; and biogeographic gradients ranging from coniferous forests
of the Northern Rockies to semiarid deserts of the southwest and
prairie ecosystems of the plains. Detailed information about the
Forest Service RNA Program is available in the section about RNAs.
|
RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS DATABASE AND MAPS
Information about all of the 318 established and proposed RNAs is available in a searchable format. Use the Search RNAs By menu in the upper left-hand corner to locate RNAs by name, National Forest or Grassland, Forest Service Region, Bailey's Ecological Subregion - Section, state, or county. Additionally, geographic searches can be filtered by elevation and size. Alternatively navigate to individual
state pages–Montana,
Idaho,
Nevada,
Utah,
Wyoming,
Colorado,
Arizona,
New Mexico,
Nebraska,
South Dakota
and
North Dakota–which lists of Forest Service RNAs that occur in that state. From there, individual RNA guidebook pages containing descriptive information on location, site characteristics, plant communities and RNA establishment date can be accessed.
|
USING RNAS
Use of these areas for research and other scientific study and educational activities is encouraged. Scientists, land
managers and educators who are interested in using RNAs are asked to please visit the
Rocky Mountain Station Research Natural Area
web site for information on how to apply for research permission on an RNA.
|
RNA OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities exsist for individuals and organizations to participate in the Forest
Service RNA Program.
|
ABOUT THIS SITE
This site has been developed cooperatively between the USDA Forest
Service Northern Region, Intermountain Region, Rocky Mountain Region,
Southwestern Region, Rocky Mountain Research Station and the Montana
Natural Heritage Program.
|
|
