Northwest Forest Plan: Then and Now
Written by Alexi Lovechio, December 27th, 2022
The 1994 Northwest Forest Plan (NFP) is widely hailed as the first of its kind. It was the first large-scale, bioregional forest plan that incorporated the science of conservation biology. 19 million forested acres managed by the US Forest Service across western Oregon, Washington, and northern California are included in the plan.
Coho salmon spawning in a creek.
Before 1994, the once verdant Pacific Northwest landscape was being transformed into clearcuts at an alarming rate. Indigenous people and practices were long removed with colonization of the Western U.S. The post-WWII logging boom led to widespread conversion of ancient forests to clearcuts. Wildlife like the Northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, and Pacific salmon were driven to the brink of extinction. The so-called “timber wars” were in full swing by the late 1980s pitting community members against each other. Something needed to be done or the great forests of the Pacific Northwest would be gone.
The NFP designated large areas on public lands into semi-protected reserves. It also connected these reserves through streamside corridors. Some of our nation’s oldest and largest trees are located within the plan. The NFP ensured that forward looking management would help preserve the integrity of the remaining Pacific Northwest’s ancient forest ecosystem. The plan does not protect all of the forests though. It leaves many areas open as a sacrifice zone known as “matrix” which focuses on timber extraction. Unfortunately, the BLM effectively removed the agency and 2.6 million acres of Oregon public forest from the NFP in 2016.
Why is the NFP Important?
A hiker standing below an old-growth ponderosa pine
Forests of the Pacific Northwest provide us with many benefits including; clean water and clean air, natural carbon storage, and support for outdoor recreation-based economies.
Healthy forests filter water to keep our streams, rivers and lakes clean, and provide millions of people with reliable drinking water. Older forests also provide shade that keeps streams cool and oxygenated for Pacific salmon and trout. Hundreds of rare wildlife species need old forests to survive. Some of our most beloved and iconic plant and animal species of the Pacific Northwest depend on older forests.
The forests of the Pacific Northwest are globally significant for their ability to pull carbon out of the atmosphere and keep it safely stored for centuries. Our forests are a natural and easy way to protect our communities from the threats of climate change.
The NFP is one of the most important tools we have for preserving old-growth habitats and maintaining and improving water quality. The plan has maintained the health of the region’s streams and waterways and has conserved a large portion of our remaining mature and old-growth forests. These are critical tools in combatting the effects of climate change.
What's happening now?
The Forest Service is currently in the beginning phases of updating the original 1994 plan. Since the plan was adopted our environment has changed, new scientific data has emerged, and outdoor recreation has increased. In 1994, we did not know nearly as much about climate change and the impacts it would have on wildfire severity, water quality, and wildlife habitat as we do today.
On December 5th, the US Forest Service announced plans to establish a Federal Advisory Committee to provide the agency with recommendations for updates to the NFP. The committee will provide recommendations for landscape management approaches that promote sustainability, climate change adaptations, and wildfire resilience while providing for increasing use of and demands from National Forest System lands in the NFP area. This is an opportunity for the Forest Service to gather insights and knowledge from rural communities members, tribal entities, scientists, and more.
The updated plan will shape the future of land management in the region for years to come. It is time for an updated plan to reflect the current issues our forests face in the era of climate change. The committee is an important part of ensuring the updated plan will prioritize protecting mature and old-growth forests, restore our fire dependent forests, and support tribal rights and cultural practices.