Planning
Each national forest and grassland is governed by a Land Management Plan (Forest Plan) in accordance with the National Forest Management Act.
Forest Plans set desired conditions, standards, and guidelines for the management, protection and use of the national forest. Monitoring conditions on the national forest ensures projects are done in accordance with plan direction and determines effects that might require a change in the Forest Plan.
The most Idaho Panhandle National Forests Land Management Plan was adopted January 5, 2015. The previous plan, adopted in 1987, was superseded by the 2015 plan. Current forest plan documents are available below.
National forest and resource management planning is performed in compliance with a number of legal mandates.
Two important laws are the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (RPA) and the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA) which amended RPA. The specific rules that govern the forest planning process are published in the 2012 Planning Rule.
Questions? contact NEPA Planner Bennett Thomas at bennett.thomas@usda.gov or 208-765-7258.
2015 IPNF Forest Plan
The following map displays the timber suitability for the 2015 Forest Plan. This map is very large. It will be best to view by downloading first to your PC by right clicking the map link and selecting "save target as."
Administrative Changes to the Forest Plan
As described above, the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Plan was revised in 2015. It was developed under the authority of the 1982 Planning Rule. In 2012, the U.S. Forest Service adopted a new planning rule that directs future forest plan revisions. The 2012 Planning Rule (26 CFR 219) requires us to modify our forest monitoring program consistent with the requirements at 36 CFR 219.12. We completed this transition on June 23, 2016.
Please select the following links for more information.
Forest Plan Monitoring and Evaluation
Public Participation in the Section 106 Process
The Idaho Panhandle National Forests manages roughly 2.5 million acres of land in north Idaho, containing some of the nation’s most unique and significant historic properties. As a federal agency these historic properties are subject to the stipulations of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Members of the public we serve are essential to an informed federal decision-making process. If you would like your voice heard regarding the management of historic properties on the IPNF or have site specific concerns, please reach out to the archeologist or responsible district ranger for how best to engage in our NHPA compliance effort.