Evidence-Based Forest News

Northwest Forest Plan Embraces Community Engagement šŸŒ²

Donā€™t just scrollā€”save the owls and the trees.

Mount Hood, Oregon.
Image courtesy of Joris Beugels.

Northwest Forest Plan Update: Have Your Say šŸŒ²

The U.S. Forest Service is officially sliding into your inbox (metaphorically) to ask for public input on a glow-up of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP)ā€”the OG framework managing 24.5 million acres of pristine federal land across Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. Yep, weā€™re talking about the plan thatā€™s been balancing tree-huggers and log-lovers since 1994. šŸ¦‰ (Shoutout to the northern spotted owl, the planā€™s poster species!)

This isnā€™t just your average update, though. A 120-day public comment period has kicked off, with a shiny new draft environmental impact statement leading the charge. Whatā€™s on the menu? Updates tackling todayā€™s heavy hitters like climate change, wildfire resilience, and tribal collaboration. Sounds ambitious, right? But hereā€™s the catch: public input in forest planning has always been a bit of a mixed bag.


A Quick History Lesson šŸŒ³šŸ“œ

Back in the disco era, public outcry over shady logging practices and environmental wreckage forced Congress to pass the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) in 1976. This law required the Forest Service to pretendā€”I mean, commitā€”to listening to public feedback. Critics, though, have long accused the system of being more ā€œsuggestion box at workā€ than actual decision-making. Sure, you can comment, but thereā€™s no guarantee your ideas wonā€™t end up in a bureaucratic black hole. (Looking at you, unsolved grievances of the ā€™80s and ā€™90s.)


Why This Update Matters šŸŒ”ļøšŸ”„šŸŒ

The new NWFP proposal aims to break free from that cycle of frustration. Major focus areas include:

Wildfire Risk Reduction ā€“ Because smoky skies and evacuation orders are not the vibe.

Climate Change Adaptation ā€“ Time to future-proof these forests against melting glaciers and extreme weather.

Tribal Partnerships ā€“ Amplifying Indigenous voices and honoring stewardship traditions.

Timber Stability ā€“ Making logging less of a feud and more of a sustainable practice.

Will this rewrite finally bridge the gap between policy talk and real change? Or are we in for another round of ā€œthanks for your input, but weā€™ll stick to our scriptā€?


Donā€™t Ghost the Forestsā€”Have Your Say! šŸ’¬šŸŒ²

This is your shot to help shape the future of the NWFP and the 17 national forests, six national parks, and countless dreamy vistas it governs. šŸžļø Head over to fs.usda.gov/goto/r6/nwfp and drop your two cents. Who knows? Maybe this time, theyā€™ll listen. šŸ¤ž


Sources šŸ“š

Agroecological Principles in Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/4/v9122e/v9122e10.htm .

Kohn, Michael. Forest Service Begins Comment Period for Northwest Forest Plan Amendment. The Bend Bulletin, 15 Nov. 2024. https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/forest-service-begins-comment-period-for-northwest-forest-plan-amendment/article_c9e689fe-a382-11ef-ac48-ab4d53e89d76.html .

Urness, Zach. U.S. Forest Service Proposes Updates to Northwest Forest Plan. Statesman Journal, 15 Nov. 2024. https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2024/11/15/us-forest-service-northwest-forest-plan-updates-proposals/76336800007/ .


Edited by Chris Harris