1. (1) The department shall promote biodiversity by taking a coarse filter approach thereby favoring an appropriate mix of stand structures and compositions on state lands. The department shall base appropriate stand structures and compositions on ecological characteristics such as:

   1. (a) land type;
   2. (b) climatic section;
   3. (c) habitat type;
   4. (d) disturbance regime; and
   5. (e) unique and rare habitats.

2. (2) For coarse filter applications, the department shall describe forests and stands using these characteristics:

   1. (a) forest composition;
   2. (b) age class distributions;
   3. (c) cover type; and
   4. (d) stand structure.

Authorizing statute(s): 77-1-202, 77-1-209, 77-5-201, 77-5-204, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 77-5-116, 77-5-204, 77-5-206, 77-5-207, MCA

History: NEW, 2003 MAR p. 397, Eff. 3/14/03; AMD, 2020 MAR p. 2239, Eff. 12/12/20.