A Treasured Asset: 14,000-Acres of Forest in Colorado Springs

摘要

The forests of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., are no less an asset to be managed than any facility or infrastructure on the campus. One may not think of a forest as an asset that needs to be managed. We think of making sure the facilities for which we are responsible are kept in the best working order. We think of programs that forecast maintenance needs far into the future. When will the roof need to be replaced? When will the HVAC systems require an upgrade or replacement? What items belong on the list of preventive maintenance actions that need to be done on a weekly or monthly basis? The International Organization for Standardization defines asset management as the "coordinated activity of an organization to realize value from assets." Assets, in turn, are defined as "an item, thing, or entity that has a potential or actual value to an organization."