For over a decade, the U.S. Forest Service has been developing a plan to manage the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in North Carolina for the next 20 years. On Friday, that final plan was released to some controversy. The initial plan was released in January 2022 and opened to the public to share their comments, concerns and objections.
The suggestion was that the more than 14,000 objections would be taken into consideration as the Forest Service developed its final plan. Among those objections were concerns that the plan did not take into consideration the long term protection for specific wildlife and forested areas, particularly area of old-growth forest and opened them up to logging.
Many of the complaints expressed by the numerous objectors included a focus on economic concerns, particularly commercial logging. The plan would allow for logging in a broad area of the forests, including old growth areas, which they contend should have been protected.
James Melonas, forest supervisor for the National Forests of North Carolina, and one of the authors of the plan, said the challenge has been balancing the many concerns with the multiple uses and purposes of the forests, including preservation, tourism and economic interests.
