Revisions to the Northwest Forest Plan are in the works. The groundbreaking 1994 management plan limited logging on old-growth forests and put in place environmental protections for wildlife like the northern spotted owl.
Timber interests and environmental groups appear to be gearing up for a multi-year fight over how federal forestlands are managed in Washington, Oregon and Northern California.
The Northwest Forest Plan was unique in establishing an ecosystem-wide science-based approach to protecting wildlife on 26 federal forests. But scientific understanding has advanced in the past 20 years says the Forest Service’s Glen Sachet.
Glen Sachet: “There are other things like climate change that have come about as a big concern that were not addressed in the Northwest Forest Plan.”
Sachet says the Forest Service first needs to decide whether to update the plan as a whole, or take on each forest separately.
Scheduled Forest Service Listening Sessions:
Portland: Tuesday, March 17, 5:30-8:30pm, Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, 8235 Northeast Airport Way
Seattle: Wednesday, March 18, 5:30-8:30pm, The Conference Center at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 17801 International Blvd.
Redding: Wednesday, March 25, 5:30-8:30pm, Red Lion Hotel, 1830 Hilltop Drive