WASHINGTON, D.C.—Beginning October 15, and for 30 days thereafter, Forest Service employees will be able to review and provide comments about the draft National Forest System monitoring policy directive. The Washington Office, Ecosystem Management Coordination staff launched the effort last year, and we’re excited to hear from our employees as we work to improve our ability to be strategic about our monitoring commitments and resources.

Employees can comment on the proposed policy directive by accessing the Comment Analysis and Response Application comment form (internal website) via the National Monitoring Policy SharePoint site. When commenting, please keep in mind that the directive is a high-level, overarching umbrella policy for FSM zero code. You won’t see how-to guidance in the proposed manual policy. We expect to develop a Forest Service Handbook and/or other technical and support resources to supplement the policy. It would be helpful if, when commenting, you provided specific wording changes to the draft text in addition to broader feedback and, it is most valuable if your comments are unambiguous, clear, and direct.

Why a new NFS monitoring policy?
Monitoring across the NFS could be more coordinated and integrated. We want to promote doing the right monitoring work - in the right places at the right time and for the right reasons. A new monitoring policy in the zero code of Forest Service Manual 2000 (FSM 2040) by fall/winter 2022—followed by supplement resources such as a handbook and implementation guides—will help provide the framework needed.

What does the new policy aim to do?
The new policy will build upon the agency’s existing quality monitoring foundation by governing the development and implementation of efficient, transparent, science-based monitoring programs that use high-quality monitoring questions and data to adaptively manage NFS lands. 

How will the new policy help employees?
The new policy will help employees get their jobs done and make a difference on the ground by developing integrated monitoring protocols and databases, providing employees with monitoring training, professional development, and mentoring, leveraging our partners and citizen scientists, and using a monitoring prioritization process to streamline and keep monitoring commitments using existing staff and funds.

Where can I learn more about National Forest System monitoring policy?

• Visit the National Forest System monitoring policy SharePoint site (internal link) to learn more about the status of policy development and to leave a comment.
• We are distributing a bulletin through GovDelivery. Please contact Madelyn Dillon to be added to the mailing list.