Northwest Forest Plan Review

Welcome

Adopted in 1994, the Northwest Forest Plan (NFP) is an integrated, comprehensive design for ecosystem management, intergovernmental and public collaboration, and rural community economic assistance for federal forests in western Oregon, Washington, and northern California. In California, the Plan encompasses the Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, Six Rivers, and Mendocino National Forests, portions of the Lassen and Modoc National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.

After eight years of management under the Northwest Forest Plan, there are increasing concerns about meeting the Plan's goals for support to communities and local economies, and concerns about sufficiently treating fuels to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires. In response to these concerns, the Pacific Southwest Regional Forester, during the week of June 23, 2003, reviewed accomplishments on northern California national forests managed under the Northwest Forest Plan. The Regional Forester was joined in the review by Jack Ward Thomas who in the early 1990s led a number of influential committees that laid the foundation for the Northwest Forest Plan. Thomas is currently Boone and Crockett Professor of Conservation at the University of Montana in Missoula.

During the review, Thomas presented two papers; one on sustainability and another on the role of line officers in implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan. As a result of the review, Thomas has prepared a third paper and the Forest Service prepared findings and developed an action plan to address problems identified in the review. This web site links to the Jack Ward Thomas papers, findings and action plan in the Plans & Reports section. A summary of the review is in the Meetings section. Additional information will be posted on this web site when it becomes available.