Notice2022-15185
Request for Information (RFI) on Federal Old-growth and Mature Forests
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 15, 2022
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest ServiceInterior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Forest Service (Forest Service), and the United States Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), invite public comment to inform the response to Executive Order Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities, and Local Economies which requires USDA and DOI to define old-growth and mature forests on Federal lands; complete an inventory and make it publicly available; coordinate conservation and wildfire risk reduction activities; identify threats to mature and old-growth forests; develop policies to address threats; develop Agency-specific reforestation goals by 2030; develop climate-informed reforestation plans; and develop recommendations for community-led local and regional economic development opportunities.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 135 (Friday, July 15, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42493-42494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15185]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
Request for Information (RFI) on Federal Old-growth and Mature
Forests
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA); Bureau of Land Management,
Interior (DOI).
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United
States Forest Service (Forest Service), and the United States
Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
invite public comment to inform the response to Executive Order
Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities, and Local Economies
which requires USDA and DOI to define old-growth and mature forests on
Federal lands; complete an inventory and make it publicly available;
coordinate conservation and wildfire risk reduction activities;
identify threats to mature and old-growth forests; develop policies to
address threats; develop Agency-specific reforestation goals by 2030;
develop climate-informed reforestation plans; and develop
recommendations for community-led local and regional economic
development opportunities.
DATES: A webinar will be held for interested members of the public on
July 21, 2022. More information about this session (including specific
time and how to attend) will be posted to the Forest Service website
(<a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/old-growth-forests">https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/old-growth-forests</a>). Comments
must be received in writing by August 15, 2022.
ADDRESSES: The webinar will be held on Microsoft Teams web conferencing
software. The webinar will be recorded. Information about how to attend
the webinar, presentation materials used during the webinar, and the
webinar recording will be posted to: <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/old-growth-forests">https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/old-growth-forests</a>. Written comments concerning this notice may be
submitted electronically to: <a href="https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=NP-3239">https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=NP-3239</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Barbour, Assistant Director,
Ecosystem Management Coordination, (503) 708-9138,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#582a3721763a392a3a372d2a182d2b3c39763f372e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cdbfa2b4e3afacbfafa2b8bf8db8bea9ace3aaa2bb">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for
the deaf and hard of hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service
(FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year,
including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this RFI is to inform the
public and gather feedback on potential future implementation efforts
associated with provisions of Executive Order (E.O.) 14072:
Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities, and Local Economies,
issued April 22, 2022. The focus of this current request for
information is to inform the response to E.O. 14072 Section 2(b)
specifically, which calls on the Secretaries of Agriculture and the
Interior, within one year, to define, identify, and complete an
inventory of old-growth and mature forests on Federal lands, accounting
for regional and ecological variations, as appropriate, and making the
inventory publicly available.
Background. E.O. 14072 Section 2(b) states that: ``The Secretary of
the Interior, with respect to public lands managed by the Bureau of
Land Management, and the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to
National Forest System lands, shall, within one year of the date of
this order, define, identify, and complete an inventory of old-growth
and mature forests on Federal lands, accounting for regional and
ecological variations, as appropriate, and shall make such inventory
publicly available.''
USDA and DOI recognize definition development as a pivotal first
step in meeting the subsequent identification and inventory
requirements of E.O. 14072. Development of the definition, followed by
identification and inventory will then be used to inform subsequent
needs identified in E.O. 14072 Section 2(c) (e.g., conservation and
wildfire risk reduction activities, including consideration of climate-
smart stewardship of mature and old-growth forests; analysis of the
threats to mature and old-growth forests on Federal lands, including
from wildfires and climate change; and development of policies to
institutionalize climate-smart management and conservation strategies
that address threats to mature and old-growth forests on Federal land).
This effort is also directly connected to the Secretary's
Memorandum 1077-004: Climate Resilience and Carbon Stewardship of
America's National Forests and Grasslands (issued June 23, 2022, by the
Secretary of Agriculture, <a href="https://www.usda.gov/directives/sm-1077-004">https://www.usda.gov/directives/sm-1077-004</a>).
The Secretary's Memorandum 1077-004 specifically references E.O. 14072
implementation and other actions.
Defining old growth and mature forests for purposes of conducting
an inventory as required under E.O. 14072 Section 2(b) does not, by
itself, change any current forest management policies or practices.
Developing policies to institutionalize climate-smart management and
conservation strategies that address threats to mature and old-growth
forests on Federal land as stated in E.O. 14072 Section 2(c) will
follow completion of definition development, identification, and
inventory.
Defining old-growth and mature forests has evolved with our
scientific understanding of these unique ecosystems. Previous
definitions include a general old-growth one included in a 1989, Forest
Service Chief's letter to Regional Foresters which reads: ``Old-growth
forests are ecosystems distinguished by old trees and related
structural attributes. Old-growth encompasses the later stages of stand
development that typically differ from earlier stages in a variety of
characteristics, which may include tree size, accumulations of large
dead woody material, number of canopy layers, species composition, and
ecosystem function.'' Today, most scientists agree that old-growth
forests differ widely in character with age, geographic location,
climate, site productivity, and characteristic disturbance regime.
Mature and old-growth forests also reflect diverse spiritual and
cultural values for these special places.
Gathering and synthesizing old-growth forest information at a
national scale continues to progress. Data sources exist, including the
Forest Service Inventory and Analysis Program. Yet,
[[Page 42494]]
several factors, including variations in ecological definitions of old
forests in response to the diversity of forest types across the nation,
climate change impacts, and the dynamic nature of forest conditions,
are challenging to integrate. Considering the important values provided
by old forest conditions, leveraging the Forest Service Forest
Inventory and Analysis Program with existing and evolved definitions of
old-growth will provide an improved picture for land managers to guide
sound, science-informed, decision-making.
Input Requested. The USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management, DOI, are seeking input on the development of a definition
for old-growth and mature forests on Federal land, and are specifically
requesting input on the following questions:
<bullet> What criteria are needed for a universal definition
framework that motivates mature and old-growth forest conservation and
can be used for planning and adaptive management?
<bullet> What are the overarching old-growth and mature forest
characteristics that belong in a definition framework?
<bullet> How can a definition reflect changes based on disturbance
and variation in forest type/composition, climate, site productivity
and geographic region?
<bullet> How can a definition be durable but also accommodate and
reflect changes in climate and forest composition?
<bullet> What, if any, forest characteristics should a definition
exclude?
Additional information about this effort, including a link to the
recorded webinar, can be found at: <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/old-growth-forests">https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/old-growth-forests</a>.
Christopher French,
Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest Service.
Tracy Stone-Manning,
Director, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2022-15185 Filed 7-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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