SFNF News:SANTA FE ― The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will host 10 public meetings and a two-day technical meeting between Jan. 17 and Feb. 9, 2017, as part of the multi-year effort to revise the comprehensive plan that will guide forest management, use and protection for the next 10 to 15 years.
This round of public meetings will give members of the public an opportunity to discuss and comment on initial plan components and the draft wilderness evaluation maps.
Initial plan components have been drafted for all resource areas, including vegetation, fire and fuels, wildlife, water and soil resources, air quality, traditional and cultural ways of life, cultural resources and archaeology, forest products, range and grazing, recreation, roads and infrastructure, energy and minerals, lands and realty, scenic resources and designated areas.
“Based on the 2012 directives that guide land management planning on all national forests, the Santa Fe National Forest is committed to listening to our stakeholders, developing creative approaches to meet a wide range of interests, and building a plan for the long term,” Acting Forest Supervisor Joe Norrell said. “Public input is a key part of that strategy and is already reflected in our initial plan components.”
As part of the 2012 planning rule, forests are required to identify lands that may or may not be suitable to recommend to Congress for wilderness designation as part of the revision of their management plan. The four-step wilderness process includes:
- the inventory of lands to be evaluated for wilderness characteristics
- the evaluation of the areas based on characteristics outlined in the Wilderness Act of 1964, including naturalness, size, opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation, manageability and special features
- analysis of areas to be considered in the plan alternatives, including their social and economic contributions to communities
- recommendations for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System
The SFNF will share draft wilderness evaluation maps for public comment at the upcoming meetings. “It is important to remember that the draft evaluation maps are our first cut at the evaluation, and public input will help us complete the evaluation and determine which areas will move forward to the analysis phase,” Norrell said.
The forest plan revision public meetings will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following dates and at the following locations:
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Jan. 17, 2017
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Pojoaque Middle School
Sixth Grade Academy |
1797 NM-502
Santa Fe, NM 87501 |
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Jan. 18, 2017
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Mora Independent School
School Board Room |
10 Ranger Rd.
Mora, NM 87732 |
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Jan. 19, 2017
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Bernalillo High School
High School Cafeteria |
148 Spartan Alley
Bernalillo, NM 87004 |
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Jan. 23, 2017
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Coronado High School
High School Auditorium |
State Hwy 96 #1903
Gallina, NM 87017 |
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Jan. 24, 2017
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Santa Fe Convention Center
Coronado Room |
201 W Marcy St.
Santa Fe, NM 87501 |
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Jan. 26, 2017
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Jemez Madonna Hall
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0040 Legion Dr. HWY 4
Jemez Springs, NM 87025
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Jan. 30, 2017
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Cuba Fair Grounds
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Sandoval County Fairgrounds
37 Rodeo Rd, Cuba, NM 87013 |
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Feb. 1, 2017
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Santa Fe Community College
Jemez Rooms |
6401 Richards Ave.
Santa Fe, NM 87508 |
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Feb. 2, 2017
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Rio Arriba Cooperative Extension Office
Conference Room |
State Road 554 House #122-A
El Rito, NM 87530 |
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Feb. 9, 2017
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Pecos High School
School Board Rm (Across from Admin) |
28 Panther ParkwayHighway 63 N, Pecos, NM 87552
(Park at Track & Field) |
The technical meeting is scheduled for Feb. 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Jemez Rooms at the Santa Fe Community College. Open to the public, the technical meeting will give participants the opportunity for in-depth discussions on plan components and the draft wilderness evaluation.
Please RSVP for the technical meeting or request additional information by contacting the Forest Plan team at santafeforestplan@fs.fed.us or by phone 505.438.5442.
