Alternative

Under the National Environmental Policy Act, a comprehensive management strategy. When a federal agency is considering an action, the agency must develop and analyze a range of alternatives. The alternatives must show a reasonable range of actions, including a "no action" alternative.

A mix of management prescriptions applied to specific land areas to achieve a set of goals and objectives. Each alternative represents a different way of achieving a set of similar management objectives. Sometimes the term "action alternative" is used when it is desirable to recognize that there is a "no action" alternative under which the proposed activity would not take place.