Forest Service Assessment Looks to Future Planning, Highlights Forest Concerns

The U.S. Forest Service recently released a Bioregional Assessment in an effort to provide a plain language, compelling story on the current conditions of forests and grasslands.

The document examines the social, economic, and ecological trends of U.S. Forest Service lands across the west coast to help with future planning.

Spokesperson Wade Muehlhof said although the assessment looks at broad scale generalizations, the document does include the biggest challenges facing the Okanogan/Wenatchee National Forest.

"(The Okanogan/Wenatchee National Forest) has a high need for disturbance restoration. Certainly they've had a high impact from high severity fire. High impact from climate change. Also, one of the challenges that they're facing is sawmill scarcity."

Nineteen national forests and grasslands were part of the assessment area.

Muehlhof added that the document's main audience is land managers. The hope is the assessment will be more accessible.

The assessment is supposed to be a conversation starter with the public. It does not contain recommendations, decisions, or changes.

The department's next step will be holding virtual meetings with the public.

More information can be found on the Forest Service's website.