(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Tongass National Forest is looking for feedback on its main guiding document, the Tongass National Forest Land & Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), on the heels of the Plan’s five year anniversary.

The Tongass National Forest provides a broad range of benefits society receives from the Forest, from recreation opportunities to salmon to wood products. In order to ensure that today’s activities on the forest do not impact these benefits over the long run, managers follow the guidance of the Forest Plan, most recently approved in 2008. Now, the Forest is looking for feedback from the public on whether the Plan is working as promised, or whether some changes are needed.

In addition to looking for stakeholder and general public comments, the Tongass will lead a review of the Forest Plan’s “conservation strategy,” the system of old growth reserves and management standards that protects fish and wildlife across the forest. The review will also include a 5-year monitoring and evaluation report and an information needs assessment.

The public comment period is open between January and March 31, 2013. The Tongass will solicit comments through public and stakeholders meetings, government-to-government consultation with Southeast Alaska tribes, and written comments.

In February, public meetings will be held in Petersburg, Sitka, Craig, Ketchikan, and Juneau. These meetings will include a brief review of the Forest Plan and monitoring activities, and will provide time for discussion and comment.

Comments can be submitted online at www.tnf-5yearreview.com or by mail to:

Tongass National Forest
TNF 5-Year Review
648 Mission Street/
Ketchikan, Alaska 99901-6591.

On the Web:

Information about the 5-year Tongass Plan review www.fs.usda.gov/main/Tongass/landmanagement/planning 

To receive updates and notifications regarding this project, join the Tongass National Forest 5 Year Review Mailing List by clicking the link on the project website above. 

Source of News: 

U.S. Forest Service
www.fs.usda.gov

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Ketchikan, Alaska

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