A Long Time Coming: Forest Service Begins Update of the Northwest Forest Plan
Written by Alexi Lovechio on September 21, 2023
Recently, the Forest Service convened its first Northwest Forest Plan Area Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) meeting in Portland, OR. The FAC was established to provide the Forest Service with recommendations for updates to the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP). The committee’s recommendations will become the basis for the first significant updates to the NWFP in nearly three decades.
The Advisory Committee Charter provides an overall framework for the committee's functions and lays out a 2-year timeline. The Forest Service is particularly interested in obtaining Committee feedback on how to protect and promote mature and old-growth forest conditions while ensuring national forests are resilient to high-severity wildfire, insects and disease, and other types of disturbances that are being exacerbated by the climate crisis. This is also an opportunity for the Forest Service to engage with Tribal communities that were largely excluded from the original plan.
The Committee is composed of 21 members with diverse backgrounds and expertise representing tribes, scientists, conservationists, the forest products industry, wildlife advocates, and outdoor recreation groups.
You Have A Say
The Committee will meet every 2 months for multiple days in cities throughout the Pacific Northwest. All meetings are open to the public and members of the public are encouraged to provide written comments or in-person oral comments. More information on how to submit comments can be found here.
The Northwest Forest Plan
The NWFP continues to be the largest, truly science-based forest and ecosystem management plan in the country. The plan covers 17 national forests totaling 19 million acres across western Washington, Oregon, and northern California.
The NWFP designated large areas on public lands into semi-protected reserves. It also connected these reserves through streamside corridors. Some of our nation’s oldest and largest trees are located within the plan. The NWFP ensured that forward looking management would help preserve the integrity of the remaining Pacific Northwest’s ancient forest ecosystem. The plan does not protect all of the forests though. It leaves many areas open as a sacrifice zone known as “matrix” which focuses on timber extraction.
Why the Update is Needed
Climate change was hardly mentioned in 1994 when the original plan was being formulated, and a lot has changed in the last 30 years. An amendment is an opportunity to update the Plan’s approach to forest conservation, resiliency, and management. Tribes and Tribal members in the region were not involved in the original development of the plan, and the amendment process should be an avenue to ensure strong Tribal engagement. In 1994 we did not know nearly as much about climate change and the impacts it would have on wildfire severity, water quality, and wildlife habitat as we do today. Our environment has changed, new scientific data has emerged, and outdoor recreation has increased.
The NWFP is one of the most important tools we have for preserving old-growth habitats and maintaining and improving water quality. The plan has maintained the health of the region’s streams and waterways and has conserved a large portion of our remaining mature and old-growth forests. These are critical tools in combatting the effects of climate change.
The updated plan will shape the future of land management in the region for years to come. It is time for an updated plan to reflect the current issues our forests face in the era of climate change. The committee is an important part of ensuring the updated plan will prioritize protecting mature and old-growth forests, restore our fire dependent forests, and support tribal rights and cultural practices.
To stay engaged on all things Northwest Forest Plan, email Alexi@kswild.org for more information.