About RNAs

Research Natural Areas (RNAs) are tracts of wildlands set aside for research, education, and conservation purposes. RNAs help protect biological diversity at genetic, species, and ecosystem scales. As ecosystems in relatively pristine condition, they are managed primarily for their natural ecological processes, and in some cases, to help protect rare or threatened species.  Natural areas range in size from tens of acres to several thousand acres.  Collectively, they represent a wide gradient of ecosystems found across the Pacific Northwest. RNAs are managed to maintain the natural features for which they were established. 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 similar 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.

NATIONAL RNA PROGRAM

The Research Natural Area designation is used by numerous federal land management agencies throughout the United States. The Forest Service initiated the system in 1927 with the establishment of the Santa Catalina RNA on the Coronado National Forest in Arizona. The system grew over the years with other agencies designating areas and in 1977 "A Directory of Research Natural Areas on Federal Lands of the United States" was published, which describes an established network of 389 areas encompassing over 4 million acres of federal lands in 46 states and one territory. Currently, there are over 500 established RNAs on Forest service land, including 80 in Oregon and Washington. There are another 53 FS RNAs currently being proposed through management plans across this region.

Although the RNA network has expanded significantly in recent decades, there are still many ecosystem types which are not yet represented. It has been especially challenging to secure RNA designations in the most productive forest and rangeland ecosystems where commodity use is high, and where recreation use has expanded and impacted more and more land. New areas, which are proposed to fulfill gaps in the RNA system, are evaluated through ongoing efforts with the agencies involved.

RELATED LAND CLASSIFICATIONS

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). Several Forest Service RNAs are located within Experimental Forests. There are also similar natural area designations on state and private lands in Washington and Oregon.

RESEARCH AND MONITORING

The RNA network represents a valuable ecological resource for scientists, managers and educators. Scientists from Forest Service Research Stations, BLM research units and a variety of academic institutions throughout the west have actively been conducting ecological research and monitoring studies on RNAs in the Pacific Northwest. These studies are making important contributions to understanding natural ecosystems in western landscapes. A listing of research and monitoring studies and related publications through 1986 can be found in Research Natural Areas in Oregon and Washington: Past and Current Research and related Literature, Pacific Northwest Research Station GTR PNW 197. A list from 1986 on may be obtained from the RNA Coordinators for the Forest Service and BLM.

The Forest Service and the BLM encourage scientific and educational use of RNAs. The process for requesting permission to use RNAs is described below (click "Research Use" link below).

RNA DATA MANAGEMENT

In Oregon and Washington the Forest Service and BLM work cooperatively with the Oregon State University Forest Science Databank in storing and tracking information on RNAs and other natural areas.