3. Topics 2011 Forest Planning Rule Huron-Manistee NF Lawsuit Landscape-scale Conservation

4. 2011 Forest Planning Rule Public comment period ended May 16 Agency now revising the draft Expect final rule late in 2011 As mentioned last year, proposes lots of collaboration and landscape-level planning

8. Broad-scale Monitoring Managed at Regional level: Doug Chaltry For monitoring questions best answered at a scale broader than the unit –Detecting changes in conditions related to wide-ranging or migratory species –Measuring stressors such as climate change

9. Broad-scale Monitoring (cont.) Takes into account: –Drivers and stressors affecting large ecosystems –Multiple land ownerships –Existing national and regional inventory, monitoring, and research programs –Information from other branches of Agency and governmental and nongovernmental partners –Opportunities for multi-party monitoring with other FS units, Federal, State or local government agencies, scientists, members of the public, and federally recognized Indian Tribes

10. Huron-Manistee NF Lawsuit Lawsuit challenging the Huron-Manistee Forest Plan Called the “Meister Case” after the plaintiff Much misinformation floating around

11. Huron-Manistee NF Lawsuit (cont.) The H-M is revising the Forest Plan EIS to analyze the proposed alternative –Prohibits firearm hunting and snowmobiles within Wilderness and semi-primitive, non- motorized management areas This does NOT set a precedent for other Forests, even if the H-M makes changes The Forest Service is NOT banning, or considering banning, hunting on National Forests

12. Huron-Manistee NF Lawsuit (cont.) Areas where these restrictions are being considered comprise <7% of the Forest Indian Treaty rights and Michigan deed restrictions will not be violated Analysis of the proposed alternative is underway; there's no way to know what the result will be Court ordered analysis, not specific decision

13. Landscape-scale Conservation Region 9 Planning, Appeals, & Litigation program has expanded to include Landscape Scale Conservation New Assistant Director: Pam Dryer –Leading Landscape Scale Conservation efforts –She will be working closely with State & Private Forestry and the States.

14. Thanks

15. Questions?