A new management plan is being developed for the White Mountain National Forest, which will set management direction on the Forest for 10-15 years. It doesn't sound exciting, but it's the best opportunity for identifying potential Wilderness, and gives the state's congressional delegation the incentive to pass new wilderness legislation.

Opportunity for Wilderness
On the surface, few things sound less exciting than getting involved in forest planning, the periodic process by which the U.S. Forest Service sets the management direction for our National Forests for 10 to 15 year periods.

But few things are more important for Wilderness advocates than the planning process. First, it provides an outstanding opportunity to identify potential new Wilderness areas. Second, it gives us both the opportunity and the tools to work with the Forest Service to help make sure that these lands are managed in a way that protects their Wilderness values until the Congress can act to designate them. Finally, wilderness recommendations contained in the new forest plan give the Congressional Delegation the incentive to pass new wilderness legislation. That process is now underway on the White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire.

National Forest Management Planning
Each of the 155 National Forests in the United States is required to have a forest plan. These plans provide the framework by which the U.S. Forest Service manages the forests for a range of issues, including recreation, wildlife habitat, timber harvesting and special management areas such as Wilderness.

Under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), each forest is required to revise its plans every 10 to 15 years. The revision process allows the Forest to incorporate into its management scheme new scientific knowledge, to incorporate new public expectations for forest resources, to reflect new national policies and to provide a collective vision for our forests.

Public Involvement is Critical
The White Mountain National Forest is involved in the process now, and forest planners expect to release a new draft plan by late 2003 or early 2004.

Public comment is a critical component of Forest Plan revisions. Through both public meetings and written comment periods, the citizens have the opportunity to express views on current management and their vision for future management. Public involvement also helps planners identify important issues that plans should address.

Get Involved
To get involved with the Forest Planning Revision process for the White Mountain National Forest, contact Heather Dowey in our Northeast office by email at heather_dowey@tws.org or at 617-350-8866.