The Adaptive Management program was created to provide science-based recommendations and technical information to assist the Forest Practices Board in determining if and when it is necessary or advisable to adjust rules and guidance for aquatic resources to achieve the resource goals and objectives of the Forests and Fish Report. The Forest Practices Board may also use this program to adjust other rules and guidance.
There are three desired outcomes:
- Certainty of change as needed to protect targeted resources;
- Predictability and stability of the process of change so that landowners, regulators and interested members of the public can anticipate and prepare for change;
- Application of quality controls to study design and execution and to the interpreted results.
The Forest Practices Adaptive Management Program is a multi-caucus program that includes representatives from state departments (including Fish and Wildlife, Ecology, and Natural Resources), federal agencies (particularly National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Environmental Protection Agency), forest landowners, county governments, the environmental community, and tribal governments. Representatives of these caucuses participate on two key Adaptive Management Program committees established by the Forest Practices Board: the Forests and Fish Policy Committee (Policy) and the Cooperative Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Committee (CMER).
The function of Policy is to develop solutions to issues that arise in the Forest Practices Program. These issues may be raised by science reports on rule or program effectiveness or policy questions on implementation of forest practices. Solutions may include the preparation of rule amendments and/or guidance recommendations. The purpose of CMER is to advance the science needed to support adaptive management.
In-depth information about the Adaptive Management program is available in the Forest Practices Board Manual Section 22 - Guidelines for Adaptive Management Program and Forest Practices Rules Chapter 222-12-045.