topics 2011 forest planning rule huron-manistee nf lawsuit landscape-scale conservation

Topics

• 2011 Forest Planning Rule

• Huron-Manistee NF Lawsuit

• Landscape-scale Conservation

2011 Forest Planning Rule

• Public comment period ended May 16

• Agency now revising the draft

• Expect final rule late in 2011

• As mentioned last year, proposes lots of collaboration and landscape-level planning

Broad-scale Monitoring

• Managed at Regional level:

Doug Chaltry

• For monitoring questions best answered at a scale broader than the unit– Detecting changes in conditions related to

wide-ranging or migratory species – Measuring stressors such as climate change

Broad-scale Monitoring (cont.)

• Takes into account:

– Drivers and stressors affecting large ecosystems

– Multiple land ownerships– Existing national and regional inventory,

monitoring, and research programs – Information from other branches of Agency and

governmental and nongovernmental partners– Opportunities for multi-party monitoring with

other FS units, Federal, State or local government agencies, scientists, members of the public, and federally recognized Indian Tribes

Huron-Manistee NF Lawsuit

• Lawsuit challenging the Huron-Manistee Forest Plan

• Called the “Meister Case” after the plaintiff

• Much misinformation floating around

Huron-Manistee NF Lawsuit (cont.)

• The H-M is revising the Forest Plan EIS to analyze the proposed alternative – Prohibits firearm hunting and snowmobiles

within Wilderness and semi-primitive, non-motorized management areas

• This does NOT set a precedent for other Forests, even if the H-M makes changes

• The Forest Service is NOT banning, or considering banning, hunting on National Forests

Huron-Manistee NF Lawsuit (cont.)

• Areas where these restrictions are being considered comprise <7% of the Forest

• Indian Treaty rights and Michigan deed restrictions will not be violated

• Analysis of the proposed alternative is underway; there's no way to know what the result will be

• Court ordered analysis, not specific decision

Landscape-scale Conservation

• Region 9 Planning, Appeals, & Litigation program has expanded to include Landscape Scale Conservation

• New Assistant Director: Pam Dryer – Leading Landscape Scale Conservation

efforts– She will be working closely with State &

Private Forestry and the States.

Thanks

Questions?