The U.S. Forest Service has scheduled six district public meetings as part of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests management plan revision.
This is the first set of public meetings that the Forest Service will conduct under the first phase of plan revision. The meetings will provide an overview of the planning process, as well as an opportunity for sharing information about these two national forests.
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9 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 5 – Asheville; N.C. Arboretum (100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way)
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Oct. 5 meeting agenda HERE.
The U.S. Forest Service is in the process of revising the management plan for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. Collaboration with the public is a vital part of the process. When completed, the plan will guide management of the two national forests for approximately 15 years. Help plan the forests’ future.
If there’s a chance to comment, here are points you can make at Forest Service Plan Revision Public Meetings:
- Tell the Forest Service about special areas you have personal knowledge of, or experience with, that you’d like to see better protection for
- Tell the FS about areas where you see ongoing problems that need correcting, better enforcement, etc.
You might also make some of the following points for inclusion into the new plan:
- Increase wilderness areas in Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests.
- Increase recreational opportunities such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding trails
- Decommission non-essential forest roads
- Repair essential roads that are causing sedimentation and erosion
- Increase annual funding for Non-Native Invasive Plant and Insect Pest control
- Increase steep slope protections
- Focus commercial timbering on areas that need restoration and are in the early to mid-successional stage.
- Remove old growth stands and stands approaching old growth conditions from timber rotations
- Avoid timber projects in North Carolina Significant Natural Heritage Areas
- Establish the Pisgah District as a National Recreation Area
- Establish the Grandfather National Scenic Area within the Grandfather District
- Facilitate engagement of citizen scientist and volunteer help in NF projects
Click HERE for more information.