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?