The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 1976 requires every national forest or grassland managed by the Forest Service to develop and maintain a Land Management Plan (also known as a forest plan). The process for the development and revision of the plans, along with the required content of plans, is outlined in the planning regulations, or planning rule. Individual forests and grasslands then follow the direction of the planning rule to develop a land management plan specific to their unit.
More information on the National Forest Management Act (NFMA):
More Information and the current and past Forest Service planning rules:
The Forest Service is currently operating under the transition provisions of the 2000 Planning Rule, as an interim measure until a new planning rule is issued. The 2000 rule allows forests to develop, revise and amend forest plans using the procedures of the 1982 Rule.
All existing forest plans have been developed using the 1982 Planning Rule procedures.
