The National Forest Management Act of 1976 directs the development, amendment, and revision of land management plans to provide for the multiple use and sustained yield of the products and services on Forest Service lands, including outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, wildlife and fish, and wilderness (16 U.S.C. 1604(e)). The 2012 planning rule guides this planning using a collaborative and science-based approach to promote the economic, social, and ecological sustainability of national forests and grasslands and other administrative units of the National Forest System. For more detailed information see the 2012 Planning Rule.
Need for Change
The 1986 Gila National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1986 forest plan) has been the primary document guiding forest management toward the agency’s mission to provide for healthy, resilient ecosystems and watersheds that meet the diverse needs of the American people for nearly 40 years. The time since the 1986 forest plan was approved have yielded new scientific information and understanding, changes in the ecological, social, cultural, and economic environment, and a shift in management emphasis from outputs to outcomes. A complete revision of the original plan is needed to address these changes and meet the legal requirements of the National Forest Management Act and the 2012 Planning Rule.
In preparation for plan revision, Gila National Forest leadership, staff, and a diverse stakeholder group identified what was working, ongoing challenges that could be better addressed, and new challenges that needed to be addressed. This preparatory work is documented in the Gila National Forest’s 2017 Final Assessment Report, which served as the basis for identifying 54 individual needs for change in management direction (see also Need for Change). The need for change addressing risks to sustainability including plan-wide, ecological, and social, cultural, and economic changes are summarized in the Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume 1 on pages 6-9.
Objections Filed
A notice of the opportunity to object was posted in the Silver City Daily Press on July 30, 2024, initiating a 60-day opportunity to object to the revised forest plan and the Regional Forester’s list of species of conservation concern for the Gila National Forest. Eligible objections are available for review below. The filing period ended on September 30, 2024. The Forest Service received 15 unique eligible letters from individuals and organizations.
