New National Forest Planning Rule a Win for Sportsmen

With America’s population surpassing 310 million, the significance of national forest lands to our outdoor traditions continues to grow.

The TRCP praised the recent implementation of a new planning rule that will facilitate responsible management of 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands critical to outdoor recreation and our hunting and fishing resources. The national forest planning rule will guide all new land use plans for 155 national forests and 20 grasslands in 42 states, encompassing vast expanses of valuable fish and wildlife habitat and publicly accessible hunting and angling.

“America’s national forest lands are vitally important for fish and wildlife and public hunting and fishing opportunities,” said Joel Webster, director of the TRCP Center for Western Lands. “With America’s population surpassing 310 million, the significance of these lands to our outdoor traditions continues to grow – as do challenges in their management. The adaptive management approach of the new planning rule will help the agency address these challenges.”

The U.S. Forest Service made specific improvements to the final rule, such as a commitment to use the best available science in making management decisions, an increased commitment to watershed conservation, added attention to commonly enjoyed fish and wildlife species and an improved approach to timber management.

Take a moment to express your appreciation for a job well done! Send an e-mail to the U.S. Department of Agriculture offering thanks for considering sportsmen’s values and embracing a conservation vision in the new planning rule.