Stakeholders Forum for the Nantahala and Pisgah Plan Revision

Purpose

In a collaborative dialogue amongst stakeholders representing diverse interests, identify zones of agreement to form recommendations around critical resource issues related to the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests’ plan revision. The key issues are forestry and restoration, special designations, and sustainable recreation, and wildlife. Recommendations should achieve clean and abundant water, connect communities to the land, and maintain and restore resiliency and diversity.

Goals

• Supplement the Forest Service’s public involvement process with collaborative dialogue
• Strengthen relationships amongst stakeholders with differing views about how to manage the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests
• Develop consensus recommendations on key issues to provide to the Forest Service
• Support the development of an implementable Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Land and Resource Management Plan

Upcoming Meetings

• May 1, 2020, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT, Virtual Timber Calculations Q&A session via Adobe Connect
• May 4, 2020, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT, Virtual Special Interest Areas, Wilderness, and Wild and Scenic Rivers Q&A via Adobe Connect
• May 8, 2020, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT, Virtual Old Growth Q&A via Adobe Connect
• May 6, 2020, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT, Virtual Meeting (contact kdibari @ nationalforests.org for connection information)
• June 3, 2020 (tentative)

Forest Plan Revision Resources

• 2020 Deep Dive Webinars
  • Forest Plan Deep Dive #1: Fire (February 11, 2020 Presentation by the Forest Service) and PDF of Questions and Answers
  • Forest Plan Deep Dive # 2: Recreation and Access (March 10, 2020 Presentation by the Forest Service) and PDF of Questions and Answers
  • Forest Plan Deep Dive # 3: Wildlife and Plant Species Analysis (March 11, 2020 Presentation by the Forest Service) and PDF of Questions and Answers
  • Forest Plan Deep Dive #4: Timber Calculations (April 2, 2020 Presentation by the Forest Service)
  • Forest Plan Deep Dive #5: Public Meeting Overview (April 6, 2020 Presentation by the Forest Service
  • Forest Plan Deep Dive #6: Special Interest Areas (April 13, 2020 Presentation by the Forest Service)
  • Forest Plan Deep Dive #7: Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers (April 16, 2020 Presentation by the Forest Service)
  • Forest Plan Deep Dive #8: Old Growth (April 29, 2020 Presentation by the Forest Service)
• Forest Plan and DEIS Overview Presentation
• How to Access and Use the Online Maps
• NATIONAL FORESTS OF NORTH CAROLINA PLAN REVISION WEBSITE

News

• Stakeholders Forum Works to Find Common Ground on Draft Forest Plan (News Release, February 2020)
• Forest Service in home stretch on draft revised plans (Carolina Public Press, May 2016)
• New NC forestry chief arriving in middle of crucial process (Carolina Public Press, January 2016)
• Stakeholders Forum for the Nantahala and Pisgah Plan Revision (written by the NFF, and published as a guest column in the Asheville Citizen-Times, December 2015)
• Next phase of wilderness recommendation process underway (Smoky Mountain News, November 2015)
• Behind-the-scenes effort seeks harmony on WNC forests plan (Carolina Public Press, October 2015)

Stakeholders Forum Members

** DENOTES ORGANIZING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

• Andrea Leslie, Wildlife Resources Commission (shared seat)
• Ben Prater, Defenders of Wildlife (Alternate is Tracy Davids)
• Bill Kane, North Carolina Wildlife Federation** (Alternate is Tim Gestwicki)
• Bill Yarborough, North Carolina Department of Agriculture
• Chris Coxen, National Wild Turkey Federation
• Curtis Smalling, National Audubon of NC
• David Whitmire, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council**, Headwaters Outfitters(Alternate is Gary Peters)
• Deirdre Perot, Back Country Horseman of North Carolina & North Carolina Horse Council**
• Gordon Warburton, Quality Deer Management Association
• Hugh Irwin, The Wilderness Society (Alternate is Jill Gottesman)
• JD Diefenbach, Sierra Club, Wenoca Chapter (Alternate is David Reid)
• Jim Gray, Ruffed Grouse Society** (Alternate is Ben Jones)
• Jim Sitts, retired Columbia Forest Products (Alternate is Fred Hardin)
• Josh Kelly, MountainTrue** (Alternate is Bob Gale)
• Julie White, International Mountain Bicycling Association/Southern Off-Road Bicycling Association
• Kevin Colburn, American Whitewater
• Lang Hornthal, EcoForesters
• Megan Sutton, The Nature Conservancy
• Morgan Sommerville, Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Rob Elliot, Evergreen Paper, Canton**
• Ruth Hartzler, Carolina Mountain Club** (Alternate is Bill Van Horn)
• Ryan Jacobs, Wildlife Resources Commission (shared seat)
• Sam Evans, Southern Environmental Law Center** (Alternate is DJ Gerkin)
• Susan Fletcher, Pisgah Hardwoods**
• Zach Lesch-Huie, Access Fund

Documents & Records

Governance

• STATEMENT OF GOOD INTENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Updated in November 2017)
• STAKEHOLDERS FORUM PURPOSE AND GOALS (Approved September 23, 2017)
• CODE OF CONDUCT (Updated and Approved in April 2016)

2018 Forum Proposals In Google Docs Consolidated By:

• Geographic area proposals
• Forest-wide proposals
• Management area proposals

Forum Proposals (As Submitted) For Consideration At The Sept. 25, 2018 Meeting

• Proposals Developed During the Eastern Escarpment GA Small Group Meeting
• Proposals Developed During the Great Balsam & Highland Domes GA Small Group Meeting
• Proposals Developed During the Nantahala Mountains GA Small Group Meeting
• Proposals Developed During the Pisgah Ledge GA Small Group Meeting
• Proposal Regarding Pisgah Ledge GA Recreation
• Proposal Regarding Forest-wide and GA Specific Recreation
• Proposal for NEPA Alternatives
• Proposal Regarding Forest Roads
• Forest-wide and GA Specific Proposals Submitted by Wildlife and Forest Product Stakeholders
• Proposal Regarding NAPs and Backcountry
• Proposal Regarding NAPs
• Proposal for Forest Certification through FSC and SFI
• Proposal Regarding Vegetation Management
• Forest-wide Proposal Regarding Climbing
• Comments on Wilderness Inventory from Wood Products Managers

2018 Materials For Geographic Area (Ga) Review Process

• June 13 Nantahala compiled notes google doc
• June 13 Nantahala compiled notes
• June 6 Pisgah compiled notes google doc
• June 6 Pisgah compiled notes

GA synopses: Unicoi Mountains, Great Balsam, Bald Mountains, Fontana Lake, Highland Domes, Eastern Escarpment, Hiwasee, North Slope, Nantahala Gorge, Pisgah Ledge, Nantahala Mountains, Black Mountains

Webinars

• The Landscape View: Geographic Areas and Management Areas Working Together (Presentation by the Forest Service) - May 2, 2017
• Desired Conditions Webinar (Presentations by the Forest Service) - January 26, 2016
  • Presentations: NPNF Forestwide Plan Components DRAFT (Presentation by the Forest Service)

Meeting Records

• Stakeholders Forum Web Meeting Record - February 22, 2018
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - November 8, 2017
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - September 25, 2017
• Stakeholders Forum Informational Meeting Notes - August 17, 2017
  • Meeting Presentations: Natural Range of Variation, Gap Analysis, and Ecological Desired Conditions (presented by the Forest Service)
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - June 13, 2017
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - June 6, 2017
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - November 1, 2016
  • Meeting Presentations: Management Areas and Geographic Areas (Presentation by the Forest Service), Forest Plan Objectives (Presentation by the Forest Service), Wilderness Evaluation Process
• Spatial Data Listening Session Meeting Notes - June 10, 2016
  • Meeting Presentations: Audubon Society (Presentation by Curtis Smalling), Ruffed Grouse Society (Presentation by Jim Gray), The Wilderness Society (Presentation by Hugh Irwin)*, NC WRC Resources Commission (Presentation by Ryan Jacobs), Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council (Presentation by David Whitmire, given by Jim Gray), and Access Fund summary and photos (Presentation by Zach Lesch-Huie)
  • *There are an additional study results and map materials associated with the study submitted by the Wilderness Society and Southern Environmental Law Center. Please contact Michelle Aldridge ([email protected]) if you would like this information.
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - May 10, 2016
  • Statement of Good Intent
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - April 12, 2016
  • Meeting Presentation: Map Committee Update (Presentation by the Forest Service & Map Committee)
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - March 8, 2016
  • Meeting Presentation: Mapping Management Areas (Presentation by the Forest Service)
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - February 9, 2016
  • Meeting Presentation: Introducing Draft Forest-wide Plan Components (Presentation by the Forest Service)
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - January 12, 2016
  • Meeting Presentations: What We Heard (Presentation by the NFF)
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - December 8, 2015
  • Meeting Presentations: None this meeting
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - November 11, 2015
  • Meeting Presentations: Timber Management (Presentation by the Forest Service), Defining the Nantahala and Pisgah Sustainable Recreation Strategy (Presentation by the Forest Service), Management Areas (Presentation by the Forest Service), and Sustainable Recreation Committee Hopes (Presentation by Forum Members)
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - October 22, 2015
  • Meeting Presentations: Wild and Scenic Rivers Update (Presentation by the Forest Service), Framework for Sustainable Recreation (Presentation by Forum members)
• Stakeholders Forum Meeting Record - September 12, 2015
  
  • Meeting Presentation: Launching a Collaborative Process (Presentation by the National Forest Foundation)