Forest management practices in the Pacific Northwest have recently come under intense scrutiny and changing attitudes. In an effort to improve management of the plant and animal diversity of these forests, an ecosystem-based plan known as FEMAT (Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team) was developed. The plan analyses the effect of nine management options on lichen species by placing the species into functional groups. The preferred option requires that lichen diversity be maintained, and recommends management guidelines to reach this goal. Some of these guidelines include: 1) the retention and buffering of key populations of rare species, 2) the limited use of piling and slash burning after harvesting, 3) no herbicide use, and 4) the retention of trees containing high lichen and moss biomass. Extensive surveys for rare lichen species are needed to locate high priority sites for appropriate management. The retention of mature green trees on ridgelines is recommended to optimise lichen dispersal and fog interception. To moderate climatic conditions, 15% of the trees in each cutting unit will be retained in 0.2 to 1 ha clumps over several harvest rotations. Hardwoods will be encouraged in addition to conifer regeneration.