Below is the text of the recent press release from the Green Mountain Nationa
Forest/Finger Lakes National Forest regarding the successful resolution of an
appeal of the Finger Lakes National Forest Plan by the Finger Lakes Forest
Watch Congress seeking to obtain proper protection of old forest areas. This is
a success! Kathy Engel of Forest Watch informs me that the response by
individuals to the threat to old white pine trees in a timber sale last fall
influenced this decision. Thanks to all who contacted the Forest Service
regarding this issue.
Tony Ingraham
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
FINGER LAKES NATIONAL FOREST RESOLVES FOREST PLAN APPEAL
Hector, NY Forest Supervisor Meg Mitchell announced that the Finger Lakes
National Forest and appellants, Kathy Engel representing Finger Lakes Forest
Watch and Susan Wiener, have successfully resolved the appeals filed on the
Finger Lakes Forest Plan. The appeals were resolved through the informal
resolution process conducted between the appellants and the Forest Service.
The appellants have withdrawn their appeals as a result of the resolution
agreement.
The Forest Plan was approved by Eastern Region Regional Forester, Randy Moore,
and released on June 12, 2006. Two appeals were filed with the Chief of The
Forest Service in Washington DC. The concerns raised in both appeals were
similar, and expressed their belief that some old forest areas were not being
adequately protected in the Plan. The appeal focused on the protection of
stands with a year of origin of 1907 or earlier, approximately 228 acres, and
some other older forest areas on the FLNF.
Through the informal resolution, the Forest Service and the appellants agree
to: a) defer timber harvest within the identified older stands until a more
in-depth evaluation can be made and appropriate management determined; and b)
use these older forest stands to meet the Forest Plan age-class objectives for
the old age-class. The Forest Service and the appellants also agreed to work
together doing field studies to further identify the least disturbed old forest
areas on the Finger Lakes National Forest.
Finger Lakes National Forest District Ranger Michael Liu said This is a great
example of collaborative problem solving. I really appreciate the willingness
of all parties to put a great amount of effort into coming to an agreement that
helps implement the Forest Plan. We look forward to building on this
cooperative effort in the future management of the Finger Lakes National
Forest.
_______________________________________________
RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for:
[email protected]
http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins
free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
