Planning Act of 1974 (RPA) 
was another major piece of 
Federal legislation that has 
had a significant impact on 
State forestry organizations. 
This act and subsequent 
amendments Call for the 
Forest Service to make an 
assessment of all the forest 
and rangeland and related 
resources of the Nation at 
10-year intervals. Based on 
this assessment, a program 
of action is to be prepared 
which responds to the 
national needs identified. 
While the Forest Service is in 
the best position to plan 
programs for the national 
forests, it was evident early 
on that State and private 
interests must be involved 
with regard to programs to 
provide for the needs of 
non-Federal lands and the 
management and utilization 
of their resources. The logical 
step was to seek the 
cooperation of the States by 
encouraging and assisting 
them in the preparation of a 
forest resource plan for each 
State. 
The Cooperative Forestry 
Assistance Act of 1978 
Clarified authority for Federal 
assistance to States in 
planning, and Congress 
made a small appropriation. 
State and Forest Service 
personnel in the South held 
meetings to coordinate the 
effort and to seek some 
general agreement on the 
scope and content of the 
State plans. Each State’s 
first step included identifying 
a planner and developing a 
steering or advisory 
committee with 
representatives of the 
agencies and groups who 
had an interest in the State’s 
forest situation. The 
implementation of these 
committees varied widely, 
but the primary responsibility 
for the planning task was 
assigned to the State 
Forester. During the last 5 
years, each Southern State 
has completed a State forest 
resource plan. A new round 
of planning is under way in 
several States. 
The scope of the State plans 
varies, but the general format 
involves identifying forest 
resources goals or issues of 
greatest importance to the 
State’s future. The States 
consider each goal or issue 
in terms of its importance 
and their capability to deal 
with it. In many of the plans, 
responsibility for leadership 
is considered and the 
87 
