United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Region Appendix G - Ecosystems and Species Diversity Report Prepared for Land Management Plan Revision December 2012 The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Land Management Plan Revision Environmental Impact Statement Table of Contents G.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ G-1 G.1.1 Viability Evaluation Process ............................................................................................................... G-2 G.1.2 Forestwide Ecological System Sustainability ..................................................................................... G-2 G.1.3 Ecological System Sustainability Characteristics ............................................................................... G-5 Relative Abundance ......................................................................................................................................... G-5 Non-native Invasive Species ............................................................................................................................ G-5 Structure (old-growth forest) ........................................................................................................................... G-6 Structure and Tree Age Diversity .................................................................................................................... G-6 Fire Regime...................................................................................................................................................... G-7 Remoteness (road and trail density) ................................................................................................................. G-7 G.2 Ecological Systems .................................................................................................................................... G-7 G.2.1 Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland ...................................................................................... G-7 Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Ecological System Characteristics ............................................ G-7 Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Desired Ecological Condition ................................................... G-8 Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Management Strategy ............................................................... G-9 Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Key Ecological Attributes ......................................................... G-9 G.2.2 Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland ........................................................................................ G-10 Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Ecological System Characteristics .............................................. G-10 Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Desired Ecological Condition ..................................................... G-11 Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Management Strategy .................................................................. G-11 Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Key Ecological Attributes ........................................................... G-11 G.2.3 Loblolly Forest .................................................................................................................................. G-12 Loblolly Forest Ecological System Characteristics ....................................................................................... G-12 Loblolly Forest Desired Ecological Condition............................................................................................... G-12 Loblolly Forest Management Strategy ........................................................................................................... G-13 Loblolly Forest Key Ecological Attributes .................................................................................................... G-13 G.2.4 Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods .......................................................................................... G-14 Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Ecological System Characteristics ............................................... G-14 Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Desired Ecological Condition....................................................... G-14 Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Management Strategy ................................................................... G-14 Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Key Ecological Attributes ............................................................ G-14 G.2.5 Slash Pine Forest ............................................................................................................................... G-15 Slash Pine Forest Ecological System Characteristics .................................................................................... G-15 Slash Pine Forest Desired Ecological Condition............................................................................................ G-15 Slash Pine Forest Management Strategy ........................................................................................................ G-16 Slash Pine Forest Key Ecological Attributes ................................................................................................. G-16 G.2.6 Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest ........................................................................................... G-17 Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Ecological System Characteristics ................................................. G-17 Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Desired Ecological Condition ........................................................ G-17 Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Management Strategy .................................................................... G-17 Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Key Ecological Attributes .............................................................. G-18 G.2.7 Southern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest ........................................................................................... G-18 Southern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Ecological System Characteristics ................................................. G-18 Southern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Desired Ecological Condition ........................................................ G-19 Southern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Management Strategy .................................................................... G-19 Southern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Key Ecological Attributes .............................................................. G-19 G.2.8 Southern Loess Bluff Forest ............................................................................................................. G-20 Southern Loess Bluff Forest Ecological System Characteristics ................................................................... G-20 Southern Loess Bluff Forest Desired Ecological Condition .......................................................................... G-21 Southern Loess Bluff Forest Management Strategy ...................................................................................... G-21 Southern Loess Bluff Forest Key Ecological Attributes ................................................................................ G-22 G.2.9 Southern Mesic Slope Forest ............................................................................................................ G-22 Southern Mesic Slope Forest Ecological System Characteristics .................................................................. G-22 National Forests in Mississippi G-i Appendix G - Ecosystems and Species Diversity Report Southern Mesic Slope Forest Desired Ecological Condition ......................................................................... G-22 Southern Mesic Slope Forest Management Strategy ..................................................................................... G-23 Southern Mesic Slope Forest Key Ecological Attributes ............................................................................... G-23 G.2.10 Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest .................................................................................................... G-23 Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Ecological System Characteristics .......................................................... G-23 Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Desired Ecological Condition ................................................................. G-24 Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Management Strategy .............................................................................