The US Forest Service proposed management plan has been delayed due to objections and to review those concerns. The plan, that was worked on for more than a decade, for the Pisgah and Nantahala forests, has now been called unsustainable by the Forest Service chief. According to Carolina Public Press, “The objection phase is the final step of the planning revision process, which has invigorated debate about the best way to manage Western North Carolina’s million acres of national forest. The closing act of the plan revision, however, may not resolve long-standing grievances with public forest management, ranging from the protection of old-growth forests to serving the economic needs of rural counties. The Forest Service released the long-awaited proposed management plan and an environmental impact statement in January. A 60-day objection period began Jan. 21 and generated thousands of comments from individuals and organizations. A review of the objections was scheduled to be completed June 21 but has been extended.”
Beginning in 2013, the revision of the forest plan was intended to take three to five years. The extended objection period will likely push the signing of the final plan into late 2022 or early 2023. For additional details click here.
