Twenty-four million acres. Seventeen national forests. Three states – California, Oregon and Washington.
The U.S. Forest Service recently released the draft environmental impact statement for its Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), originally adopted in 1994, to amend and update the landscape-scale management direction and guidance for the above-mentioned acreage, that includes range for Rocky Mountain, Roosevelt and tule elk. The new plan has four main objectives:
- improve resistance and resilience to wildfire where needed across the NWFP area
- support adaptation to and mitigation of climate change in the NWFP area
- address management needs of mature and old-growth forests with related ecosystem improvement
- contribute predictable supplies of timber and nontimber products to support economic sustainability in communities affected by forest management in the NWFP area
Public seminars are scheduled for November 20 and December 5. Topics include an introduction to the plan, overview of the amendment effort, background on the “need for change” and how to stay engaged during the 120-day comment period, which closes at 11:59:59 (Eastern Standard Time) on March 17, 2025.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation urges its members and all who may be interested to become educated on the issue. Click here to submit a comment.
(Photo credit: U.S. Forest Service)