New NFS Guidelines Emphasize Sustainability

New planning guidelines, released by the National Forest Service on November 9 emphasize forest health over logging. Under the new guidelines, which became effective immediately,

“sustainability” becomes the overall goal of forest planning. This means that forests are to be managed for the long-term and that forest uses, such as logging or recreation, must not exhaust resources—whether timber or solitude. “We will manage the national forests in a way that protects the environment while continuing to ensure a sustainable flow of goods and services such as timber, recreation, and clean water from the national forests,” said Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman in announcing the rules. This fundamental change is sure to spark controversy. In October, according to a November 10 article in

The Oregonian, the General Accounting Office (an investigative arm of Congress) issued a report saying that the Forest Service lacks a clear mandate to make forest health part of its permanent mission; this lack of a clear mandate may leave these planning guidelines open to citizen appeals or court challenges.