by André Sanchez, Community Engagement and Policy Manager
As folks might remember, CalWild has been sharing with our community about the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) Amendment process that the U.S. Forest Service (FS) is working on. The NWFP was established in 1994 to address threats to threatened and endangered species while also contributing to social and economic sustainability in the region.
The NWFP, which covers 24.5 million acres of federally managed lands in California, Oregon, and Washington, is slated for an update after 30 years via a public planning process. This is an opportunity to accommodate changes in ecological and social conditions and also to address key issues around wildfire management and climate change impacts.
As of this writing, the NWFP Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is expected in November 2024. Once the DEIS is published in the Federal Register, this prompts a 90-day public comment period. This will provide an opportunity for all interested parties to shape the future of forest management in the Pacific Northwest, including the millions of acres that are within Northwest California via the Klamath, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Shasta-Trinity, and Six Rivers National Forests. These national forests contain most of California’s remaining “old-growth” trees, which are facing pressure from both intense wildfires and climate change impacts. We look forward to working with everyone as we advocate to protect these special places and forests.
