Planning
All natural resource management activities are guided by land and resource management plans. Land and resource management plans (Forest Plans) are required by the 1976 National Forest Management Act for each National Forest unit in the country. They include plan components that describe forest-wide goals and objectives, management area desired resource conditions, standards and guidelines for implementation of projects, levels of resource production and management, and the availability of suitable land for resource management.
For a timeline of notable forest planning related events, visit the Agency’s “History of Forest Planning” page.
There are separate Forest Plans for the Green Mountain National Forest and the Finger Lakes National Forest. Forest Service staff developed each Forest Plan through robust public collaboration that played a large role in shaping land management direction. The Forest Plans are strategic documents with an emphasis on ecological, social and economic sustainability over the long-term. Changes to Forest Plans may be needed during their planning period to reflect evolving resource conditions or ineffective plan components. These changes can be incorporated into the Forest Plans with administrative changes or amendments depending on the magnitude of change.
For information related to engaging in the land management process, visit the Agency’s “Land Management Planning, Get Involved” page.
Implementing a Forest Plan
Forest Plans are implemented through site-specific projects and management activities. Site-specific projects are conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
For information related to Forest Service NEPA procedures and guidance, visit the Agency’s “Environmental Planning and Compliance” page.
Sites across the forests are analyzed to determine their current conditions and to contrast those current conditions with desired future conditions of the forest as defined in the Forest Plan. Forest Service subject matter experts such as silviculturists, biologists, and recreation specialists recommend management actions to modify a site from its current conditions to its desired future conditions, if necessary.
Stay informed and involved with site-specific project planning to implement the Forest Plans.
The Forest Plan for the Green Mountain National Forest was last revised in 2006.
Forest Plan Documents:
Appendices and Maps
- Appendix A: Analysis of the Management Situation
- Appendix B: Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
- Appendix C: Management Indicator Species (MIS)
- Appendix D: Proposed and Probable Practice
- Appendix E: Relevant Laws
- Appendix F: Management Area Allocations Maps
- Management Area Allocation Map – North
- Management Area Allocation Map – South
- Proclamation Boundary Management Map – North
- Proclamation Boundary Management Map – South
Administrative Corrections, Changes or Amendments
- Administrative Correction #1: Changes to Standards and Guidelines
- Administrative Correction #2: Changes resulting from the New England Wilderness Act
- Administrative Correction #3: Appendix A, Table A-4. Green Mountain NF Miles of Trails by Managed Use
- Administrative Correction #4: Appendix D, Timber Practices Average Annual Allowable Sale Quantity (ASQ)
- Administrative Change #5: Chapter 4, Monitoring and Evaluation
- Administrative Change #6: Chapter 6, Glossary and Appendix D, Proposed and Probable Practices
- Forest Plan Amendment #1
The Forest Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) documents the analysis of effects of alternatives considered for plan revision that was completed in 2006. The Final EIS executive summary presents the information in an abbreviated document. The EIS appendices include additional information used to analyze effects of alternatives as well as a summary of public comments received in response to the Draft EIS and Proposed Forest Plan.
Final Environmental Impact Statement Documents:
- Executive Summary
- EIS Cover, Table of Contents and Chapter 1: Purpose and Need
- Chapter 2: Alternatives
- Chapter 3: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
- Chapter 4: Preparers
- Chapter 5: Recipients
- Chapter 6: Literature Cited
- Chapter 7: Glossary
- Chapter 8: Index
- Management Alternative Maps
- Proclamation Alternative Maps
Final Environmental Impact Statement Appendices:
- Appendix A: Public Involvement
- Appendix B: Analysis Processes
- Appendix C: Wilderness
- Appendix D: Wild and Scenic Rivers
- Appendix E: Biological Evaluation
- Appendix F: Roads Analysis Process
- Appendix G: Proclamation Boundary Mapping
- Appendix H: Responses to Public Comments
Final Environmental Impact Statement Errata
The Forest Plan for the Finger Lakes National Forest was last revised in 2006.
Forest Plan Documents:
- Finger Lakes National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) as corrected, changed or amended since 2006
Appendices and Map
- Appendix A: Analysis of the Management Situation
- Appendix B: Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
- Appendix C: Management Indicator Species (MIS)
- Appendix D: Proposed and Probable Practices
- Appendix E: Relevant Laws
- Appendix F: Map
- Management Area Allocation Map
Administrative Corrections, Changes or Amendments
- Administrative Correction #1: Changes to Forest Plan: Forest-wide Management Direction Objective
- Administrative Change #2: Changes to Forest Plan: Chapter 4, Monitoring and Evaluation
The Forest Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) documents the analysis of effects of alternatives considered for plan revision that was completed in 2006. The Final EIS executive summary presents the information in an abbreviated document. The EIS appendices include additional information used to analyze effects of alternatives as well as a summary of public comments received in response to the Draft EIS and Proposed Forest Plan.
Final Environmental Impact Statement Documents:
- Executive Summary
- EIS Cover, Table of Contents and Chapter 1: Purpose and Need
- Chapter 2: Alternatives
- Chapter 3: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
- Chapter 4: Preparers
- Chapter 5: Recipients
- Chapter 6: Literature Cited
- Chapter 7: Glossary
- Chapter 8: Index
- Management Alternative Maps
Final Environmental Impact Statement Appendices:
The Green Mountain National Forest and Finger Lakes National Forest - Land and Resource Management Plans (Forest Plans) provide management direction with plan components including goals, objectives, desired conditions, standards, and guidelines at the forest-wide and management area scales. Monitoring and evaluation are separate, sequential activities to determine how well management direction is being met. Monitoring is continuous and provides feedback for the planning cycle by testing relevant assumptions, tracking relevant conditions over time, and measuring management effectiveness.
The Monitoring Plan (Chapter 4 in each Forest Plan) consists of questions designed to evaluate whether plan components are effective and appropriate, and how well management activities are meeting Forest Plan direction. The 2012 National Forest System Land Management Planning regulations (36 CFR 219) changed Forest Plan monitoring program requirements that were in place when both Forest Plans were revised in 2006. The rule required monitoring plans to address eight resource monitoring elements with at least one monitoring question (36 CFR 219.12(a)(5)).
Monitoring questions designated to address the eight required elements were adopted in 2016 and are reflected in each Forest Monitoring Plan. Also included are other monitoring questions to provide additional information for determining overall effectiveness and validation of plan components, and whether management direction is being implemented at projected levels
Monitoring Program – Proposed Changes to Questions
The Monitoring Programs are intended to track how well management activities are meeting Forest Plan direction and identify associated resource trends. Monitoring questions and associated measurement indicators are based on one or more Forest Plan component (goals, objectives, desired future conditions, and standards and guidelines). Evaluation of information collected to answer monitoring questions provides Forest Service resource specialists the basis to determine whether changes are needed to Forest Plan components. These changes can be made through the amendment process to ensure Forest Plans remain current by adapting to new information and changed conditions. Evaluation of monitoring information may also provide the basis for design changes to management activities to better meet Forest Plan direction.
Each Forest Monitoring Program has been reevaluated to determine how well monitoring questions have been providing information to understand if management activities are adequately addressing Forest Plan components and associated resource trends can be evaluated. All questions have been reviewed to confirm whether they are meaningful, feasible, cost effective, and scientifically sound. The review has resulted in proposed changes to monitoring questions to better meet monitoring program intent.
Substantive changes to the monitoring program made outside of the process for plan revision or amendment may be made only after notice to the public of the intended change and consideration of public comment (36 CFR 219.13(c)(1)). The Forest Service is inviting public comment to proposed changes for each Forest Monitoring Program through July 7, 2025. Final versions for the monitoring questions will then be reflected in Chapter 4 - Monitoring and Evaluation for each Forest Plan.
- Directions for submitting comments
- Proposed Monitoring Questions to Address the Eight Required Monitoring Questions ((36 CFR 219.12(a)(5)).
- Proposed Other Monitoring Questions
- Current Forest Plan Chapter 4 (Green Mountain National Forest)
- Current Forest Plan Chapter 4 (Finger Lakes National Forest)
Monitoring and Evaluation Reports Program Transition
The monitoring program for both Forests were modified in May 2016 to comply with the 2012 Forest Service land management planning rule (36 CFR 219). The rule requires that the monitoring program must address eight specific monitoring elements. The final modified Monitoring Plan (Chapter 4 of the Forest Plan, Monitoring and Evaluation) describes the overall monitoring program, and lists the questions and indicators we selected for each of the eight required monitoring elements.
Monitoring of Forest Plan implementation began with the completion of each Forest Plan revision in 2006 following the 1982 Forest Service planning rule which required the completion of monitoring and evaluation reports on an annual basis. The 2012 Forest Service planning rule changed the reporting schedule to a two-year period starting in 2016.
Green Mountain National Forest
- Fiscal Year 2006 Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2007 Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report
- Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013 Combined Annual Report
- Fiscal Years 2006-2013 Trend Analysis (anticipated by July 2025)
- Fiscal Years 2017-2024 Combined Report (anticipated by August 2025)
Finger Lakes National Forest
- Fiscal Year 2006 Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2007 Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report
- Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013 Combined Annual Report
- Fiscal Years 2006-2013 Trend Analysis (anticipated by July2025)
- Fiscal Years 2017-2024 Combined Report (anticipated by August 2025)
In 2006, Regional Forester Randy Moore, signed the Record of Decisions (ROD) formally documenting his selection of the alternatives to become the revised Forest Plans for the Green Mountain National Forest and Finger Lakes National Forests.