According to the Federal Register the Forest Service is looking to revise the Land Management Plan (Forest Plan) for the Ashley National Forest and are wanting to prepare an environmental impact statement. The reason for the revision, according to the National Forest Management Act, is that forest plan should be revised on a 10 to 15-year cycle and the current one is 30 years old and has been amended 24 times. There has also been many changes in economic, social, and ecological conditions; new policies and priorities; as well as new scientific research and information. The plan will need to address the preliminary needs that the Ashley National Forest planning team has developed. The needs include sustainable recreation, economic resiliency, managing traditional resource uses, managing cultural resources, and creating resilient ecosystems and watersheds. For more information visit the Ashley National Forest Planning website at www.fs.usda.gov. https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/
