Summary of Committee Recommendations

2012-2016

Since 2012, the Committee has engaged with agency staff, technical experts, and members of the public involved in forest plan revisions (stakeholders) from across the country to inform the development of solutions to address challenging issues that have generated decades of conflict and difficulties within forest planning.  Feedback to the Committee from stakeholders and staff throughout the Forest Service continually reinforces the value of this work.  Committee learning, deliberations, advice and recommendations provide a bridge between the Rule, Directives, and the planning process.  In addition, the Committee’s work provides critical linkages between 1) the Forest Service and various stakeholder interests and 2) between planning and implementation (i.e. getting work done on-the-ground efficiently and effectively).

The primary objective of the Committee’s work to date has been to promote forest planning that: 1) diversifies and deepens the level of stakeholder engagement, especially involvement of local and under‑represented communities; 2) balances and supports social, economic and cultural sustainability while meeting desired ecological conditions; 3) integrates science, monitoring and adaptive management throughout the planning process; and 4) is efficient and effective, producing forest plans in less time than in the past and with greater engagement from all stakeholders.

To date, the Committee has developed a number of national-level recommendations.

1. Recommendations:

• Recommendations on the 2012 draft planning directives. These recommendations include specific improvements to Monitoring and Adaptive Management; NEPA Integration; Outreach For Diversity; Public Involvement And Collaboration; Intergovernmental Interaction; Social, Economic and Cultural Assessment; Plan Components and Monitoring; Water; Wilderness; Climate Change; Desired Conditions and Natural Range of Variation; Species Of Conservation Concern; and the Objections Process.
   
  • FINAL- Transmittal Letter.pdf
  • APPENDIX 1_Directives Recommendations - All.pdf
  • APPENDIX 2-Co Chairs Summary.pdf

• A Citizens’ Guide to Forest Planning. An 86-page, full color, user-friendly guide to help the public effectively navigate and get involved in the planning process.

• A Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Governments. A 28-page, full color, user-friendly guide to help State, local, and tribal governments better understand their opportunities for being effectively involved in the Forest Service’s land management planning process.

• Review of Assessments Process. The committee designed an evaluation rubric which was then use to review assessments from several early adopter forests. Findings from this exercise underpinned a number of recommendations to improve the efficiency and efficacy of assessments moving forward.

  • Appendix 1.120115_Final_FACA Letter on Assessments.pdf

• Programmatic Overview of Implementation of the Rule – Measuring Success. These recommendations are intended to aid the agency in developing a national oversight process to assess whether revised forest plans are meeting the requirements and intent of the 2012 Planning Rule.

  • Appendix 2.Final Planning Rule FACA Planning Tool for Measuring Success0418_2016.pdf

• Recommendation that the agency produce a ‘Planning 101’ Video(s).  This video is intended to foster robust public participation, and help citizens from rural communities to urban centers fully understand the role national forests play and the purpose of a land management plan.

  • Appendix 3a.FACA Planning Video Recommendation Letter Final with signatures 0313_2015.pdf

• Recommendations on the Transition Process for Forest Service Leadership and Forest Planning Team Members.  These recommendations are intended to improve transitions between outgoing and incoming Forest Service personnel and ensure continued relationships with partners and publics.

  • Appendix 5.FACA Turnover Conveyance Letter Final with signatures 0313_2015.pdf
  • Appendix 5a.Handover Memo Final.pdf
  • Appendix 5b.Pete_Handover_Memo_1-3-06.pdf
  • Appendix 5c.Final DEIS & Forest Plan Roles & Responsibilities.pdf
     

• Recommendation on Pre-Assessment Wilderness Inventory Work; and Recommendations on Public Participation in the Wilderness Evaluation Process. These recommendations included observations on promising practices to improve wilderness inventory and evaluation.

  • Appendix 6a.Final FACA pre-assessment wilderness inventory recommendation -updated 0827_ 2016.pdf
  • Appendix 6b.Final Draft - USFS Planning Rule FACA wilderness evaluation recommendation May 2016 _updated 0827_2016.pdf
  • Appendix 6c.Final USFS Planning Rule FACA Wilderness Info Graphic on Public Participation 2016.pdf
  • Appendix 6d.Final USFS Planning Rule FACA Recommendation on Wilderness Promising Practices 0901_2016.pdf
     

2. Observations:

• Observations on Effective Public Engagement. The Committee has gathered information on public engagement from early adopter forests and stakeholders across the country. These observations have been summarized in a table, highlighting lessons learned.

  • Appendix 3d.Final Outreach Workgroup Challenges and Solutions2_August 2016.pdf

• Species of Conservation Concern (SCC).  The Committee has made observations on several challenging issues surrounding SCCs from input gathered from revision forests and stakeholders across the country and has actively engaged with Forest Service teams to address challenges in improved direction and guidance.

  • Appendix 4.Final Planning Rule FACA SCC Memo 0425_2016.pdf
     

3. Memos to the Chief:

• Corrected Final Planning Rule FACA Memo to the Chief - Meeting 13 0216_2016.pdf
• Final Planning Rule FACA Memo to the Chief 0405_2016v.2.pdf
• USFS Planning Rule FACA Memo to the Chief 0610_2016_Final.pdf
• Final USFS Planning Rule FACA-Memo to the Chief August 2016.pdf
• USFS Planning Rule FACA Transmittal Letter August 2016v2.pdf