Public Meeting for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (NFGT) Forest Plan (FP) Revision

U.S. Forest Service (FS), begins a four-year process to revise the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (NFGT) Forest Plan (FP). The revised FP will occur in three phases and include an assessment of existing information; revision of the FP; and monitoring that ensures the FP is implemented and does what it says it will do. The FP must use the best scientific information and contain desired conditions (a snapshot of what the forest will look like in the future with FP implementation); objectives that provide measurable progress using a reasonable budget; standards/guidelines to constrain projects or activities; suitability of lands for multiple use activities (wildlife, range, water, timber, and recreation); and goals which provide broad statements of intent.

Some of the issues to bring-up at public meetings include:

1. Special Management Areas – Add additional scenic or special management areas along Henry Lake/Double Lake Branches, East Fork of the San Jacinto River, and blackland prairies/savannahs in Sam Houston NF and Piney Creek in the Davy Crockett NF.

2. Red-cockaded Woodpecker Management – Continued expansion of the population along with corridors to connect and allow for migration.

3. Reduction in Oil/Gas Development – Reduce the amount and impacts of oil/gas development in the NFGT.

4. Climate Change Management – Adapt to climate change via protection of core areas, corridors, and buffers that allow plants and animals to migrate.

5. Trail Corridor Protection – All trails need a corridor which protects each trail and its scenery.

6. Prescribed Burning – We need to protect the use of prescribed fire as a management tool which protects RCWs and other wildlife and helps restore forest ecosystems.

7. Snags (standing dead trees)/Downed Trees – These important forest features are biological legacies that help restore forest ecosystems and should be maintained.

8. Solitude, Quiet, and Natural Sounds – We must protect and enhance these important forest conditions.

9. Urban Effects – Our NFs/NGs are surrounded by urbanized areas. We need collaborative measures methods that protect our NFs/NGs from these impacts.

10. Non-Native Species – Feral hogs, Chinese Tallows, and other non-native species compete with native wildlife and plants and must be controlled.

Whether you can or cannot attend the public meetings, please use one or more of the 10 issues mentioned above to write a personal letter or email to the U.S. Forest Service which expresses your support for better protection of the NFGT. Send your letter or email to: Mr. Robert Potts, NFGT, 2221 North Raguet, Lufkin, Texas 75904 or robertpotts@fs.fed.us.