Forests of Recognized Importance

Forests of Recognized Importance represent significant large landscape areas of exceptional ecological, social, cultural or biological values.

Forests of Recognized Importance may include landscapes with exceptionally high concentrations of one or more of the following:

• protected, rare, sensitive or representative forest ecosystems such as riparian areas and wetland biotopes
• areas containing endemic species and critical habitats of multiple threatened or endangered plant and animal species, as identified under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or other recognized listings
• recognized large ‐ scale cultural or archeological sites including sites of human habitation, cities, burial grounds and in situ artifacts
• areas containing identified and protected water resources upon which large metropolitan populations are dependent
• areas containing identified unique or geologic features including geysers, waterfalls, lava beds, caves or craters