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
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ABOUT RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS (RNAS)
The Forest Service designates and manages a network of special areas
on National Forests that are permanently protected and maintained in
natural conditions, for the purposes of conserving biological
diversity, conducting non-manipulative research and monitoring, and
fostering education. Included in this network are:
- High quality examples of widespread ecosystems
- Unique ecosystems or ecological features
- Rare or sensitive species of plants and animals and their habitat
These RNAs help protect biological diversity at the genetic, species,
ecosystem and landscape scales.
RNAs that are representative of common ecosystems in natural condition
serve as baseline or reference areas. To help answer resource
management questions, the baseline areas of RNAs can be compared with
similar ecosystems undergoing silvicultural or other land management
prescriptions. In this way, RNAs make an important contribution to
ecosystem management.
RNAs are managed to maintain the natural features for which they were
established, and to maintain natural processes. Because of the
emphasis on natural conditions, they are excellent areas for
studying ecosystems or their component parts and for monitoring succession and other long-term ecological change. Non-manipulative research and monitoring activities are encouraged in RNAs and can be compared with manipulative studies conducted in other areas.
RNAs serve as sites for low-impact educational activities. These
areas are available for educational use by university and school
groups, native plant societies, and other organizations interested in
pursuing natural history and educational field trips.
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A NATIONWIDE SYSTEM
The Research Natural Area designation is employed by a number of federal land management agencies including the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and National Park Service. Of all the federal land management agencies, the Forest Service has been the most active in designating RNAs in recent years. The Forest Service RNA system was initiated in 1927 with the establishment of the Santa Catalina RNA on the Coronado National Forest in Arizona. In 1977, "A Directory of Research Natural Areas on Federal Lands of the United States" was published and describes an established network of 389 areas encompassing over 4 million acres of federal lands in 46 states and one territory. At this time, 122 of these RNAs were on National Forest System land. Today, the network of Forest Service RNAs has grown to over 430 areas and 500,000 acres.
The RNA system is envisioned to preserve a representative array of all significant natural ecosystems and their inherent processes as baseline areas. Although the RNA system has expanded significantly in recent decades, there are still many ecosystem types which are not represented. It has been especially challenging to secure RNA designations in the most productive forest and rangeland ecosystems where commodity uses have been concentrated. New areas which are proposed to fulfill gaps in the RNA system are evaluated through ongoing National Forest and National Grassland Land Management Planning efforts.
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RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN, INTERMOUNTAIN, SOUTHWESTERN, AND GREAT PLAINS STATES
The majority of Forest Service RNAs are concentrated in the western states with over half of the established RNAs occurring within four Forest Services Regions (Northern Region, Intermountain Region, Rocky Mountain Region and Southwestern Region) and the Rocky Mountain Research Station. Established and proposed RNAs in this area range from 32 acres to 24,400 acres. Following is a summary of RNA status for each of the four USFS Regions and 11 western states:
Click to view map of Forest Service Regional Boundaries with respect to state boundaries.
| Region |
Established
RNAs |
Proposed
RNAs |
Acreage of
Established RNAs |
| Northern Region (R1) |
101 |
26 |
117,121 |
| Intermountain Region (R4) |
107 |
140,780 |
5 |
| Rocky Mountain Region (R2) |
36 |
30 |
113,457 |
| Southwestern Region (R3) |
18 |
0 |
17,873 |
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and by state
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| State |
Established
RNAs |
Proposed
RNAS |
Acreage of
Established RNAs |
| Arizona |
14 |
0 |
15,301 |
| Colorado |
33 |
19 |
121,736 |
| Idaho |
113 |
12 |
127,531 |
| Montana |
62 |
10 |
72,197 |
| North Dakota |
3 |
11 |
808 |
| Nebraska |
1 |
3 |
700 |
| New Mexico |
4 |
0 |
2,572 |
| Nevada |
9 |
3 |
22,317 |
| South Dakota |
1 |
4 |
1,190 |
| Utah |
28 |
2 |
34,000 |
| Wyoming |
5 |
7 |
23,155 |
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| Totals |
273 |
71 |
421,507 |
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Responsibility for management of RNAs is shared between the National
Forest System (Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4) and Forest Service Research
(Rocky Mountain Research Station). The Regional Forester, with
concurrence of the Research Station Director, has the authority to
establish RNAs. In consultation with Forest Supervisors and District
Rangers, the Station Director approves research and monitoring
activities and management plans for RNAs. However, if the RNA is
located within a Congressionally designated Wilderness or National
Recreation Area, the Regional Forester approves these activities. The
National Forest where the RNA is located has direct responsibility for
day-to-day administration and management of the RNA. Management area
direction for RNAs is contained within individual National Forest Land
Resource Management Plans.
Research Natural Areas are one type of designation aimed at featuring and protecting natural ecosystems. Other types of federal land designations include Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers, Biosphere Reserves, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and Special Interest Areas (e.g. botanical).