Planning

Forest Planning

Maintaining and improving the nation's forests requires planning before work can be done on the ground.

All activities in the forest, from building campgrounds to improving watersheds, involve planning first. Management of the forest is guided by The Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, commonly referred to as the Forest Plan. Each project works towards the goals and objectives outlined in The Forest Plan.

  • Current Forest Plan

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    The Forest Land and Resource Management Plan is an important document that governs forest management, and it provides the underlying rules and guidelines for work on the forest. It was written in 1986, and as the landscape, science, and technology changed, the plan was amended numerous times.

  • Forest Plan Revision

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    The Lincoln National Forest is in the process of revising the land management plan. Our new plan will continue to promote a healthy and productive Lincoln National Forest.

  • NEPA: The Planning Process

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    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) exists to ensure federal agencies consider the environmental impacts of their actions and decisions. There are three levels of analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). They are categorical exclusion, environmental assessment, and environmental impact statement. There are multiple steps involved with each process.

The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) is the primary statute governing the administration of national forests and grasslands.