The Lake Tahoe Region's diverse and unique plant communities provide a variety of environmental and ecological functions and values including water quality, wildlife habitat, soil stabilization, and nutrient cycling. Plant communities also contribute to the Region's recreation experience, scenic quality, air quality, and facilitate noise control. Past logging practices, development and recreation impacts, as well as climate change, among other threats, pose a threat to the integrity of the Region’s vegetation communities and plant species. Regional control on develop prevent degradation of sensitive communities, and EIP program partners are actively working to restore forest health and protect sensitive species.