1. Climbing and the Nantahala & Pisgah Forest Plan Revision
Access Fund & Carolina Climbers Coalition

2. Outline Forest Planning Climbing on Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest
AF/CCC involvement, input and management concerns with plan revision
What’s next?

3. Quick Plug: Take the Economic Impact Survey!
Outdoor Alliance economic impact study on climbing, whitewater paddling, and mountain biking on Nantahala-Pisgah Nat. Forest.
Money talks! Economic impact data is a powerful advocacy tool Outdoor Alliance, Access Fund and CCC will use to protect WNC climbing.
Survey Link (also on CCC website):
Closes July 10th (tomorrow) at midnight!

4. Forest Planning Forest’s revise management plans every ~15-20 years.
Plans are like the Bible or Constitution for Forests - subject to interpretation, sets policy and guides decisions on-the-ground.
New 2012 Forest Planning Rule - more public and stakeholder involvement required. Slower process, but a good thing.
Plan revisions take years to complete

5. Forest Planning: Nantahala & Pisgah National Forest
NPNF over 1 million acres of land
Third most visited NF in the U.S. - millions of visitors annually
Plan timeline (fluid and changing): Plan revision begins! Inventory and Assess (Desired Conditions, Need for Change, Wilderness Eval., other phases) Produce first draft of plan with alternatives Public review and comment on draft ? Respond to input, finalize plan, objection process ? IMPLEMENTATION

6. Forest Planning: Collaborating with other Stakeholders
Two separate collaborative planning groups: The Partnership and The Forum. Various stakeholder members include:
American Whitewater
Back Country Horsemen of America
Carolina Mountain Club
Graham County Economic Development
Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition
MountainTrue
North Carolina High Peaks Trail Assoc.
National Wild Turkey Federation
North Carolina Trout Unlimited
North Carolina Wildlife Federation
Southern Environmental Law Center
Southern Appalachian Mineral Society
Southern Off Road Bicycle Association
The Nature Conservancy
The Wilderness Society
Wild South
Sierra Club, Wenoca Chapter
Columbia Forest Products
Evergreen Paper
Southern Environmental Law Center
Ruffed Grouse Society
Gilkey Lumber
Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
Root Cause
NC Wildlife Federation
NC Wildlife Resource Commission
Defenders of Wildlife
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Gordon Warburton, Wildlife Resources Commission
SORBA/IMBA
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council
Commission of Agriculture, North Carolina
“If you’re not at the table you’re on the menu.”

7. Forest Planning: Nantahala & Pisgah National Forest
Forest Plan Breakdown
Forest wide goals
Chapters on recreation, soil, water, roads, and dozens of other specific topics
Management Areas like Interface, Matrix, Backcountry, Wilderness, Special Interest Areas and others
Geographic Areas that describe regions of Forest with general management goals

8. Forest Planning: NPNF Geographic Areas
Geographic Areas “Geographic Areas recognize the unique social, ecological, and economic characteristics on each part of the forest, describing uses and places that are special. “

9. Forest Planning: NPNF Mngt Areas
Management Areas “Areas of the forest that have similar management intent and a common management strategy.” Example MAs: Interface Matrix Backcountry Wilderness Special Interest Areas (SIA)

10. Climbing on Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest

11. Climbing on Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest
Big, diverse, nationally significant climbing resource - Dozens of areas with ice, multi-pitch, cragging, bouldering. Front country to Wilderness climbing opportunities. Widely spread across nearly the entire Forest.
Long History - climbing on NF since ~1930s, including US Army and early guiding
High Visitation, High Value - Likely among most visited climbing NFs in East, with Daniel Boone NF and White Mountain NF. Access Fund and Outdoor Alliance estimating 150k-250k climbing visits/year.
Economic Driver - Retailers and manufacturers, plus colleges, summer camps, gyms, Outward Bounds, and guides all rely on NF for businesses.
Health - Residents and visitors value climbing here for health and recreation

12. AF-CCC Involvement & Input on Forest Plan
Work done 2013-Now
Comment letters
5 comment letters per phases of Plan Revision process
Stakeholder meetings
AF seats on two large Forest planning Groups. Attend ~40 meetings and going..
Direct work with USFS staff
Work on plan language, climbing educ.
Direct support for USFS projects
Trails, kiosks, peregrines, etc.
AF-CCC collaboration ongoing....

13. AF-CCC Involvement & Input on Forest Plan: Mapping

14. AF-CCC Involvement & Input on Forest Plan: Mapping

15. AF-CCC Involvement & Input on Forest Plan
Big themes
Climbing! - Greater recognition, understanding and inventory of climbing on Forest
Stewardship - Improve climbing areas stewardship, trails, non-system trails
Fixed Anchors - Appropriate, modern and clear fixed anchor policy
Resource protection - Maintain successful collaborative approach to sensitive resources (Peregrines, plants)

16. What’s Next?
Comment to Forest now. Send comments to
Attend upcoming public meetings
July 13, 6-8 p.m.: Pisgah Ranger District Office, 1600 Pisgah Hwy, Brevard
July 25, 3-6 p.m.: Appalachian Ranger District at Appalachian District Office, 632 Manor Road, Mars Hill
Take Economic Impact survey. Deadline is July 10, midnight.
Provide comments on Draft Plan when it comes out in ~Spring 2018.