Forest Service News Release
Contact: Kristen Carver
Update: Release of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment to the Northwest Forest Plan
VALLEJO, CA (Aug. 28, 2024) — The USDA Forest Service is informing partners, collaborators and the public that the release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the amendment to the Northwest Forest Plan, initially anticipated at the end of August, is now expected in October.
When released, the draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register, which will start a 90-day public comment period allowing all interested parties to provide input on the proposed amendment.
The USDA Forest Service is amending the Northwest Forest Plan to address changed conditions with a focus on five key areas: wildfire resilience, climate change adaptation, tribal inclusion, sustainable communities, and conservation of old growth ecosystems and related biodiversity. The Forest Service is committed to preserving the elements of the plan that are working well while incorporating the latest science to help forests adapt to social, economic, cultural and ecological changes.
The Northwest Forest Plan covers 24.5 million acres of federally managed lands in California, Oregon and Washington. It was established in 1994 to address threats to threatened and endangered species while also contributing to social and economic sustainability in the region. After nearly 30 years, the Northwest Forest Plan needs to be updated to accommodate changed ecological and social conditions.
Of note, forests in California included in the Northwest Forest Plan are:
1. Klamath National Forest and Butte Valley National Grassland
2. Lassen National Forest
3. Mendocino National Forest
4. Modoc National Forest
5. Six Rivers National Forest
6. Shasta-Trinity National Forest
For more information visit the Northwest Forest Plan webpage at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r6/
The mission of the USDA Forest Service — to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of National Forest System land, provides stewardship assistance to non-federal forest landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.