HSC : March 2026 Meeting on Forest Plan Revision input

In attendance : Ian J., Chris T., Monique N., Bob C., Erica D., Catherine B., Makayla H., Mary W., Nikki O., Paris D., Shookeesh G., Jackie D.

On March 12th the Huna Stewardship Council met to discuss the Tongass Forest Plan Revision and to learn about the public comment process.

We’re not shouting, but here’s the reality : THIS PROCESS IS IMPORTANT AND WILL SHAPE THE GUIDE USFS MANGEMENT OF LANDS AROUND HOONAH FOR 10-15 YEARS. If you think that makes this process important, you are right!

The meeting started with an explanation of the process by USFS Forest Supervisor, Monique Nelson. She highlighted what a Forest Plan is – a set of guidelines to determine how management will occur. Right now its determined by complicated list of “Land Use Designations”. One of the goals of the plan is to create less complex designations and fewer of them. She also highlighted two key current and upcoming comment periods.

1. March 20 – Notice of intent review. More information on the notice of intend, but in a nutshell this is the “need for change”. Based on what you have seen as a Hoonah resident what do you think should change about how lands are managed around Hoonah? What should stay the same? These questions are important and we’d recommend providing your voice!
   • Your comments are requested through 3/20/2026 11:59:59 PM (Alaskan Standard Time). at this link : NOI Comment
2. Community Meeting in Hoonah on April 9th at City Hall starting at 5PM. This meeting will review maps and plan status.

Background

What is the Forest Plan? You can read in detail here : Forest Plans. Here are things a forest plan does according to the USFS.

• Desired Conditions: describe the specific social, economic and/or ecological characteristics that are desired for the plan area, or a part of the plan area.
   
• Objectives: a concise, measurable, and time-specific statement of a desired rate of progress toward a Desired Condition(s) and should be based on reasonably foreseeable budgets.
   
• Standards: the rules we will operate within as we develop projects to accomplish Objectives and move closer to realizing Desired Conditions.
   
• Guidelines: mandatory constraints on projects and activities that are implement with the Forest Plan.
   
• Suitability: Lands are identified as suitable or not suitable for various types of multiple uses or activities based on the Desired Conditions.  The new Planning Rule requires Timber Suitability.
   
• Monitoring: assess the effectiveness and progress toward achieving desired conditions and objectives which then helps the responsible official determine if a change in plan content is needed.
   
• Management Approaches: Management Approaches do not offer plan direction and are not required components but describe a strategy to achieve a Desired Condition. Management Approaches often convey how plan components work together to achieve the Desired Condition.

What is a Notice of Intent? A notice of intent statement is the need for change. The forest plan we are working under right now was written in 1997 (yes, 29 years ago) and was amended several times. The notice of intent from the USFS states how changing conditions (economic, forest, wildlife, timber, tourism, etc) make a new plan necessary. The long, legal NOI is here : NOI Fed Register.

How Do You Provide Comment?

Let’s be honest – this is a complex process and it can be very hard to find a place to start. We’d recommend this resource below as a place to start which helps you learn about the process. It’s important to note we are not in the case advocating for a position or that everything in the resource is correct. However, instead we’d encourage you to read through this and decided for yourself if the statements in there about how a forest plan could make sense. If statements do not make sense we hope they provide a jumping off spot for you to comment on the NOI (link above) or join the April 9th meeting in Hoonah. Thank you!

Tongass Forest Plan Community Alternative, etc.

Heard from public at meeting 

We did hear specific things from several members on the call which we are summarizing below.

• Protect wildlife
• No more clearcut logging
• Access is important, need to maintain access
• Old growth is valuable for healing plants and cultural plants (weaving)
• All wood has a use – Alder for hats, cedar for carving, spruce for canoes
• Not one thing is more imporant than another in the Tlingit culture. Makes it very hard to prioritize
• Wild bluberries are very beneficial
• Logging creates slash and that also hinders access