Planning
Effective beginning 6/2/2025: This website, and all linked websites under the control of the agency, is under review and content may change.
Learn more about what forest planning is, how you can be involved, and if there are any forest plans or revisions in development at a National Forest near you.
How We're Managing National Forests
There are almost 21 million acres of National Forests and Grasslands in the Southwestern Region. These lands are special to those who live here or visit. They play a key role in our daily lives.
The Southwestern Region manages:
- Six National Forests in Arizona totaling 11.25 million acres of public land.
- Five National Forests in New Mexico totaling 9.1 million acres of public land.
- Three National Grasslands (Black Kettle, McClellan Creek, Kiowa and Rita Blanca) covering 263,261 acres in northeastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma and northern Texas.
Forest Plans determine the management direction and guidance for each National Forest and National Grassland. These Forest Service land management guides are developed, under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA).
Discover the World Around You
Forest Plans and revisions contain information about current and desired conditions, vegetation, fish and wildlife habitats, water and soils, wildernesses, cultural and historic resources, diversity of plant and animal communities, wild and scenic rivers, sustainable recreation, fire and fuels management and much more.
These reports, assessments, maps and plans are available for you to review. They are a great way to learn more about your federal lands!
Get Involved!
We encourage you to get involved in land management planning on the Forest or Grassland that is important to you. Our planning process encourages public participation and dialogue at every stage. Your input at the local level will help us develop effective plans that will endure over time.
Additional Resources
The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) requires the Forest Service to develop land management plans to guide management of the 154 national forests, 20 grasslands, and 1 prairie that comprise the 193-million acre National Forest System. The NFMA required the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a planning rule ‘‘under the principles of the Multiple Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960, that set[s] out the process for the development and revision of the land management plans, and the guidelines and standards’’ required by the NFMA.
- Forest Service Planning Rule website
The national Forest Service website has more information about the National Forest Management Act with links to each land management plan for each National Forest or National Grassland.
- List of Forest Service regions and land management plans