Planning
Forest planning guides long-term strategies to create healthy, resilient landscapes. Plans include priorities such as restoring wildlife habitat, reducing wildfire risk, and updating outdated policy to reflect today's conditions. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) provides the framework we follow in making decisions for the long-term stewardship of our National Forests.
Current Forest Plans
A Forest Plan— sometimes called a Land and Resource Management Plan—sets the strategic direction for how each National Forest is managed. Forest Plans provide the guidance for subsequent project level planning. Each forest plan includes:
- Desired Conditions — The long-term outcomes we want to achieve.
- Objectives — Specific, measurable steps that move us toward those outcomes.
- Standards & Guidelines — Rules and guardrails for activities such as recreation, grazing, and logging.
- Suitability Determinations — Decisions about where and how different uses are permitted.
- Management Areas — Designated places with unique characteristics or special priorities.
View the current local Forest Plans:
Northwest Forest Plan and Amendment
The Northwest Forest Plan covers 24.5 million acres of federally managed lands in California, Oregon, and Washington. It was established in 1994 to address threats to threatened and endangered species while also contributing to social and economic sustainability in the region.
After nearly 30 years, the Northwest Forest Plan needs to be updated to accommodate changes in ecological and social conditions. There is now a Draft Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for public review.
Late-Successional Reserve Assessment
The Northwest Forest Plan requires assessments for each Late-Successional Reserve before active management of those areas can occur. The Late-Successional Reserve Assessment addresses key resources, challenges, management objectives, and the desired future condition of late-successional habitat.
The Late-Successional Reserve Assessment for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest was revised in 2024. The revision updated 25-year-old assessments for the Wenatchee and Okanogan National Forests, reflecting current conditions, incorporating the latest science, and revising management recommendations.