Forest Service Management Plans
New forest management plans are out for 5 of our Southern Appalachian National Forests. Because the Forest Service ignored both scientific evidence and the fact that the majority of citizens requested less logging, more protection of forests, and better wildlife management, the management plans have been appealed. The Forest Service has 180 days to respond to our appeal. We haven't heard anything yet, but we're told that we'll have a response from the Forest Service around August. Check back here for updates!
Background
In 2004 we saw the release of new Land Use Management Plans for Southern Appalachian National Forests in Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. These management plans are crucial because they dictate how our public forests are managed for the next 10-20 years. In effect, forest management plans zone our National Forests for a range of uses, from timber harvesting to watershed protection to recreation of various kinds. This process is also the time when the U.S. Forest Service can recommend certain areas of a forest for high-level legislative protection, such as Wilderness and National Scenic and Recreation Areas. SAFC provided leadership and coordination for this major effort by bringing together scientific, policy, and legal expertise to coordinate the citizen comments, regional responses, and legal appeals to the release of massive draft and final forest management plans.
Our Focus
Priority areas that warrant special protection in our region’s forest management plans include old-growth forests, wilderness study areas, roadless areas, critical watersheds, and critical wildlife and biodiversity habitats, totaling over 870,000 acres. The public’s participation in the revision of forest management plans is crucial and will have much to do with the amount of protection our forests receive. Without our input, these pristine areas will be opened up to harmful and inappropriate projects focused on resource extraction. These special areas will then lose the characteristics they need in order to be permanently protected. With our input, these special areas hold a much higher chance of receiving the protection they deserve. Our national forests belong to every American--every citizen has a say in how these lands are safeguarded. Unfortunately, most citizens know very little about this process or the importance of their input. During the revision process, SAFC plays a key role in mobilizing citizens to ensure their participation and representation in the management of our public forests because the results of these management plans will have a long term impact on the economic viability and quality of life of our communities.
During our work on the management plan revisions for Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, SAFC and our Member Groups mobilized over 13,624 comments for increased forest protections. We also achieved 56,099 acres of new wilderness recommendations and 774,000 acres in high level protection prescriptions . Designation of these recommendations as wilderness will represent a 20% increase of wilderness region-wide. This is below the level of wilderness recommendation that we hoped to achieve, but still a significant addition to the region. Wilderness recommendations would without doubt be much lower without SAFC's work within the planning process. Unfortunately, the Forest Service drastically reduced the level of wilderness recommendations that were identified in earlier stages of the revision process. It has been disappointing to see how drastically the Bush Administration altered the agenda of the final Land Use Management Plans that were released this year. When the final plans were released, SAFC and our Member Groups reviewed and formally rejected the new plans on the basis that the Forest Service ignored both scientific evidence and the fact that the majority of citizens requested less logging, more protection of forests, and better wildlife management.
The Appeals
In April of 2004, SAFC filed a legal appeal along with the Southern Environmental Law Center and WildLaw on behalf of SAFC member groups in each of the five states. The Coalition’s administrative appeal is the most comprehensive ever filed against the US Forest Service. They have 160 days to respond and if at that time no changes are made, or negotiations initiated, then the Coalition can take legal action. Our detailed analysis and appeals of the management plans are being used by conservation groups across the country. Next up… North Carolina and the George Washington National Forest in Virginia will be conducting the revision of their forest management plans. Stay tuned…..
Please stay involved….
Our Coalition’s work to improve the management plans has gotten even more important. In January of 2005, the Forest Service implemented new regulations covering planning and management for all National Forests under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). The new rules change how all 191 million acres of public land will be managed and will have major implications for all national forest which will be revised under the new regulations. These new rules rollback environmental study requirements and wildlife protection, and curtail public participation in forest planning decisions. We expect that under these changes, the U.S. Forest Service will dramatically increase the already-rising number of logging and road-building projects (40% increase in 2004) in Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests unless we organize public participation and the conservation community in a strategic protection campaign for our forests.
Read what citizens want changed
Read a summary of legal problems with the Final Plans
Below are the appeals for each forest. (large documents)
Problems with management plans
2. Roadless areas left unprotected,
3. Streams, lakes, and rivers inadequately protected,
4. Old Growth open to logging,
5. Monitoring program meaningless,
6. Increased logging, and
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SOUTHERN
APPALACHIAN FOREST COALITION
46 Haywood Street, Suite 323, Asheville, NC 28801 1-888-8FOREST • 828-252-9223 • Fax 828-252-9074 • safc@safc.org  |
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