Each national forest and grassland is governed by a management plan in accordance with the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). These plans set management, protection, and use goals and guidelines. Monitoring conditions on a forest or grassland ensures projects are done in accordance with plan direction, and determines effects that might require a change in management.

Appeals & Litigation

Forest Service managers make many resource management decisions, which may be subject to appeal (request to a higher authority for administrative review of a decision).