Forestry Plan Revisions
Here is a current schedule of National Forests updating their plans:
Individual links are to Forest Service websites.
- On July 8 Carson National Forest It has completed its objection review and issued its final revised Forest Plan FEIS and final ROD. According to a news release, “Carson worked closely with the Cibola and Santa Fe National Forests to develop consistent planning units for traditional uses, including pasture, firewood and aquiceus, to better meet tribal needs, community land grants and livelihoods.” established rural communities” (Why not other coherent planning units to meet the needs of others?)
- On July 15, the Cibola National Forest Completed the objection review and issued the final revised forest plan, FEIS and final ROD. According to this article, “It includes everything from how thin forests need to be and the balance of different tree types to how to reduce fuel loads in areas where the forest meets the home. They also talk about climate change and how it has changed the nature of the forest from fire and wind events to floods and insect attacks. They also talk about grazing. They address issues and habitats of endangered species and preservation of historic and culturally sensitive areas.
- On July 8 Tonto National Forest In March, it restarted the 60-day objection period for the revised forestry plan due to an erroneous website included in the original Federal Register notice. “The document focuses on wildfire, recreation, use of volunteers and other issues that may impact policy,” said Kenna Belsky of Tonto Forest.
- June 14, the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests According to this article, the opposition period for their revised forest plan, which will last until August 15, has started.
Make another plan
- The Pew Charitable Trusts released reports on biodiversity, carbon storage, and climate change resilience for 17 national forests as critical conservation areas. Northwest Forest Plan. These “High Ecological Value Areas” are currently unprotected areas that contain the highest 10% of ecologically valuable land in the forest. This analysis was previously described for the Ashley National Forest here. NFP forests have not yet begun review, but a bioregional review is planned for 2020.
- On July 13, the Bitterroot National Forest The Forest Plan Amendment expands the scope beyond elk management to include old growth, dense woody debris and mushrooms. According to the letter (linked to this article), “A comprehensive plan review for the Bitterroot National Forest has not yet begun, and is likely to be a years-long process.” In the meantime, we can address some of the long-standing problematic language regarding snags and hardwood debris and update the current Bitterroot Forest Plan using the best available science to improve old-growth forest data. This includes changing the definition of old growth, which was the subject of a recent court decision Friends of Clearwater v Probert Adjacent to the Nez Perce-Claire Waters National Forest, described here.
- On June 18, the BLM and the Forest Service signed an intergovernmental cooperative agreement with five Native American tribes to “coordinate(e) on land use planning and implementation, and to develop long-term resource management and programmatic goals.” of Bears Ears National Monument. Pursuant to this article, the five tribes plan to submit a land management plan for Bear Ears to the BLM. It could take up to 18 months for the agency to finish incorporating the tribes’ recommendations into its own plan. (Bear ears have been discussed a few times on this blog.)
- of The least conflict solar setting project It’s a voluntary, collaborative effort that brings stakeholders together to identify areas in the Columbia Plateau region where participants are “less likely to oppose solar energy development.” Although federal lands are mentioned, they don’t seem to be paying attention, but this could provide valuable information and possibly a model for federal land planning efforts.
- In February, the Biden administration launched a new Interagency Working Group on Amending Hardrock Mining LawsRegulations and licensing policies in the United States, which is ongoing. One of its “fundamental principles”: “Mining, like other uses of public lands, should be governed by federal comprehensive land use assessment and planning.”
