Forest plan
rapped
The first revision of a
forest management plan in the nation is a flop, says a coalition of
environmental groups that monitors activities on South Dakota’s
Black Hills National Forest. The draft plan emphasizes logging and
fails to implement ecosystem management, says Brian Brademeyer,
conservation chair of the Black Hills Sierra Club. In 1983, the 1.2
million-acre Black Hills National Forest became the first forest in
the lower 48 states to adopt a 10-year management plan (HCN,
9/20/93). Its revision, says the coalition, leaves out land-use
guidelines to protect sensitive plant and animal species, as well
as recommendations for Wild and Scenic designation of rivers. John
Rupe, planning team leader for the national forest, says the agency
will not comment on environmentalists’ criticisms until the public
comment period for the draft forest plan ends Dec. 8. “We thought
we had a balanced plan,” he says. “The timber industry is upset,
too.” For a copy of the draft plan or to send comments, write
Roberta Moltzen, Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest, RR
2, Box 200, Custer, SD 57750
(605/673-2251).
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Forest plan rapped.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
