168 



United States Forest wo 



Department of Service 



Agriculture 



Reply to: 1920-2 Date: ^ ^ .^ 



Subject: Implementation of Forest Plans 



To: Regional Foresters, NFS Staff Directors 



Some confusion continues to exist between the ""analysis" required by the NFM 

 planning process and the "analysis" required by the NEFA. The purpose of th 

 letter is to clarify the difference so implementation of Forest plans aay no 

 ■ore saoothly. Ve also believe that there Is soae inappropriate midlevel 

 decisionmaking taking place; i.e., functional analysis and "area analysis." 

 Tou need to give specific attention to determine if this problem exists with: 

 your Region and develop an action plan to remedy the situation if it exists. 



Implementation of Forest plans is the process of selecting, scheduling, 

 budgeting, monitoring, and evaluating management practices. Analysis, In 

 addition to that required within the NFMA planning process, may be required a 

 the implementation stage to fully Integrate all resources and to evaluate 

 cumulative effects and Interconnected actions. This is often referred to as 

 "area analysis" or "opportunity area analysis" which are terms easily 

 misunderstood and therefore confusing. This analysis is not NEFA disclosure 

 of a proposed action; rather It Is a management exercise that focuses 

 management attention on established priorities, refines the resource 

 integration objectives of Forest plans, and assesses future budgeting 

 requirements. The NEFA disclosure requirements apply only when we want to 

 implement a defined action. 



There are only two levels of decisions in planning for units of the National 

 Forest System. These are (1) approval of the Forest plan and (2) approval of 

 management practices that implement the plan. Ve suggest reviewing FSM 1922, 

 1922.4, FSH 1909.12, and the Flathead decision, pp. 4-9 and 63—69- Ve must 

 avoid introduction of a third level of planning and decisionmaking. 

 Unfortunately, In some cases. Forest plan decisions are being reexamined on an 

 area-by-area basis, and additional evaluation of functional programs Is being 

 conducted on a Forest-wide basis. Ve should not rehash decisions that have 

 already been made In the Forest plan. However, if new information or 

 conditions exist. It may be appropriate to reconsider plan decisions and amend 

 the Forest plan. This should be the exception, however, not the rule. 



The Regions should evaluate their approach to Forest plan implementation by 

 considering the following. 



The Forest plan provides direction for all resource programs, practices, uses, 

 and protection measures through establishment of both Forest-wide and 

 management area specific standards and guidelines. The environmental 



