The USDA Forest Service will host a series of public meetings across northern California, Oregon and Washington to discuss the proposed amendments to the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP).
The meetings will allow the public to learn about and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) released in November 2024, according to a release from the USDA Forest Service.
"The public meetings will provide information on the proposed amendment, which aims to address wildfire resilience, economic opportunities, improved forest stewardship, adapting to a changing climate, and tribal inclusion," the release states.
Topics of discussion will include an introduction to the Northwest Forest Plan, an overview of the proposed amendment to land management plans, key details about the proposed action and alternatives outlined in the DEIS, and information on how to engage during the 120-day public comment period.
Sessions will be hosted by the local Forests and members of the NWFP team will be onsite to answer questions. These meetings represent a crucial opportunity for the public to engage with the Forest Service and contribute their perspectives to shaping the future of forest management across the Northwest Forest Plan area.
The meetings will be held at various locations, including Corvallis, Springfield and Roseburg, throughout January and February 2025.
Details and updates regarding the schedule and locations can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/home/?cid=fseprd1172301.
“Much has changed in society and science since the Northwest Forest Plan was created nearly 30 years ago,” the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Regional Forester Jacque Buchanan said. “We’re amending the plan to address today’s challenges in ways that honor the plan’s original goals, while adapting to changing conditions and enhancing wildfire resilience.”
The public comment period for the DEIS will remain open until March 17, 2025. The Forest Service is encouraging interested parties to attend these meetings to learn more about the proposed amendment and to provide input during this time.
Comments can be submitted at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=64745. The Forest Service will review and incorporate feedback to develop a final environmental impact statement, anticipated later in 2025.
To view the DEIS and learn more about the proposed amendment, visit the Project Page.
For more information, visit:
- Northwest Forest Plan Federal Advisory Committee: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r6/nwfpfac
- Northwest Forest Plan: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r6/reo/
- Pacific Northwest Region: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r6
For more information about the USDA Forest Service, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov.
For additional news about National Forests in the Pacific Northwest, visit the agency's news page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/r6/news-events.
REGIONAL MEETINGS
Umpqua National Forest
6 p.m. Jan. 27
Roseburg Public Library
Ford Rood
1409 NE Diamond Lake Blvd.
Roseburg
Siuslaw National Forest
5:30 p.m. Feb. 11
Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor’s Office
320 SW Jefferson Way
Corvallis, OR 97331
Willamette National Forest
5:30 p.m. Feb. 12
Willamette National Forest Supervisor’s Office
3106 Pierce Parkway
Springfield