Forest Service Planning Rule Released
On Monday, May 16th, the American Horse Council (AHC) submitted comments on the Forest Service’s proposed planning rule. The Forest Service planning rule will be used to guide individual forests in setting policies over the next 15 to 20 years. The Forest Service planning rule will impact users of the National Forests including equestrians.
Background
The last Forest Service planning rule dates from 1982. The National Forest planning rule provides the overarching framework used by individual forests to develop land management plans. The planning rule will impact all aspects of the National Forests, including recreation, wildlife and fish, wilderness, grazing rights, and timber, energy, and mineral production.
The recreational community, including the American Horse Council, had urged the Forest Service to make sure recreation was adequately addressed in the new planning rule to reflect the reality that it is a major use of our nation’s National Forests.
Proposed Rule
The proposed rule would create a three-part process: assessment, plan revision or amendment, and monitoring, for drafting individual forest plans. It would increase the role of public involvement in the planning process and would provide numerous opportunities for public participation and input. Additionally, the proposed rule would require that individual plans contain certain content and address certain issues.
Required content includes a directive that plans maintain or restore ecosystem and watershed health and resilience; protect key ecosystem elements; and provide for plant and animal diversity. A plan would also be required to protect cultural and historic resources and specially designated areas, such as wilderness areas and wild and scenic rivers. Additionally, plans would have to take into consideration the full range of multiple uses of a plan area, including outdoor recreation, wildlife and fish, grazing, timber, energy, minerals, wilderness, ecosystem services, etc. Most importantly for equestrians, plans would be required to provide for sustainable recreation.
Lastly, the proposed rule would create a pre-decisional administrative review process to provide individuals and groups with an opportunity to resolve issues before final approval of a plan, plan amendment or plan revision.
AHC Comments
In its comments to the Forest Service the AHC continued to stress the importance of recreation, and particularly equine recreation, in the National Forest System (NFS). The AHC also made several specific recommendations.
The AHC recommended adding a requirement that the Forest Service reach out to national organizations when any new forest plan revision or amendment is undertaken to help make certain all stakeholders including equestrians are involved in the process.
The AHC requested the Forest Service consider including the four goals identified in the Forest Service’s own “A Framework for Sustainable Recreation” in the planning rule to make certain all individual forest rules meet the agencies goals to:
- Provide a diverse range of quality natural and cultural resource based recreation opportunities in partnership with people and communities.
- Protect the natural, cultural, and scenic environment for present and future generations to enjoy.
- Partner with public and private recreation benefit providers that together we meet public needs and expectations.
- Perform and plan by implementing systems and processes to ensure: effective decisions, sound investments, and accountability; collaborative approaches to integrated solutions across the landscape; and enhanced professionalism of our workforce.”
The AHC also requested that the planning rule be modified to reflect the recreational purpose of wilderness as well as the protection purpose of wilderness.
Additionally, the proposed planning rule directs forest plans to take into consideration culture and heritage resources. In its comments the AHC reminded the Forest Service that the horse has played a distinctive roll in the history and culture of America. The AHC stated its position that equestrian activities in our national forest are not only a recreational pursuit but a distinctive part of American culture and history that deserves to be recognized and protected. The complete comments can be viewed at http://www.horsecouncil.org/Comments_FSRule.pdf
Status
The comment period for the proposed rule is now closed. The Forest Service will review the submitted comments and issue a final rule.
AHC Position
The American Horse Council is generally supportive of the proposed rule.