Before any of the activities covered by the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) begin, such as road construction and timber harvest, a botanist must survey the area to determine if there are sensitive plants present. If sensitive plants are identified in the area, various protective measures may be put in place depending on the species present. Some examples are:

Avoidance/Minimization - Avoid or minimize disturbance near and within the buffer area surrounding the rare plant. Several variations exist.

Retention Zones - Complete retention of all vegetation that exists within a distinct area to reduce impacts to the habitat of the rare or endangered plant species. Often used in combination with Avoidance.

Retention Trees - Trees may be retained when appropriate because of the existence of rare or endangered plants within the immediate area or existing within the canopy.

Herbicide Avoidance - Herbicides are not sprayed within an area marked to indicate the presence of any rare or endangered plant species.

Monitoring - Rare or endangered plants and habitats are monitored to help better understand that plant's ecological needs.