Proposed Forest Plan - Public Involvement Process
The Forest Service is working with the public to create a vision of the forest. Because the vision of the forest must include the people and communities who care about the GMUG, the planning team for the GMUG is committed to a public involvement process that keeps the public in the loop and at the table throughout the planning process. The Forest Supervisors and planning team are committed to work hard to ensure the vision for the future of the GMUG is a common vision.
The GMUG planning team initiated a proactive, public involvement strategy that engaged a wide-variety of stakeholders (forest users, community representatives, etc.) interested in the stewardship of the GMUG.
Our goal is to work with the public to develop a revised forest plan that is highly representative of the publics values and objectives and provides strategic direction to maintain or achieve desired conditions.
Release of the Proposed Forest Plan
The Proposed Land Management Plan was released March 2007. Due to the recent court injunction in California regarding the 2005 Planning Rule, all informational meetings have been postponed until further notice. The GMUG National Forest Plan revision is expected to resume when a new planning rule is in place and the final Colorado Roadless Area decision has been made.
Public Participation and Collaboration (PDF, 80 kb) summarizes the public involvement process and activities from the initiation of the Forest Plan revision through to the development of the July 2006 version of the Proposed Forest Plan.
Collaborative Landscape Working Groups- Between February 2002 and November 2003, 42 landscape working group meetings were held throughout the five GMUG Geographic Areas attended by 1035 individuals.
The landscape working groups developed a vision statement for the future desired condition of the geographic area and provided recommendations for smaller areas (landscapes) within the larger geographic area. The smaller units or landscapes were a tool to facilitate “place –based” discussions with participants. Along with the "Vision, roles and contributions from Landscape Working Groups" for each geographic area. Challenges, risks and barriers to achieving the "vision" or desired conditions were also discussed among the participants.