Giant Sequoia National Monument Science

Since the Forest Service initiated the collaborative planning process in October 2007, we have completed a number of tasks to link science to management. In May 2008, the Forest met with some of the members of the initial Scientific Advisory Board to review the science advisories submitted from 2001 to 2003, and discuss how they are still relevant. In July 2008, the Forest released the science advisories again to the public and provided a 60-day commenting period for the public to review the advisories and provide their comments on whether the advisories were still relevant and addressed current science.

The Forest held a Southern Sierra Science Symposium in September 2008. The Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument worked for over a year with the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the Pacific Southwest Research Station, and the U.S. Geological Survey to host a Southern Sierra Science Symposium to explain and design a research science agenda for the future.

In 2003, the research branch of the Forest Service developed procedures for conducting a science review. A science review determines whether an analysis or decision document is consistent with the best available science. The review is accomplished by judging whether scientific information of appropriate content, rigor, and applicability has been considered, evaluated, and synthesized in the documents that underlie and record land management decisions.

Two Science Review Panels, consisting of a science administrator and five scientists, were convened as part of the Monument planning process. On November 10, 2009, a public meeting was held in Visalia to introduce the first Science Review Panel and the science consistency review process. At that meeting, the public was asked to submit scientific resources for the panel to consider in their review. A science consistency review of the draft EIS and management plan was conducted in April 2010. Another meeting with the Science Review Panel was held on October 12, 2010 to discuss the completed science consistency review.

In December 2011 and January 2012, a new Science Review Panel was convened to review the FEIS. Their report, an addendum, and the Forest Service response t their report are included in Appendix F of the FEIS.

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