| In 2012, the United States Forest Service (USFS) adopted a new land management planning rule, governing the development, revision, and amendment of national forest plans. Detailed guidance supporting implementation of the rule was finalized in January 2015. In addition, a national advisory committee was established to support implementation of the planning rule to achieve social, economic, cultural, and ecological objectives. Over 20 national forests are currently revising their forest plans under the new rule. Several key implementation issues associated with the rule's wildlife conservation standards have been identified, including the interpretation of requirements to develop forest plan components that maintain viable populations of species of conservation concern (SCC) and contribute to the recovery of species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. Specifically, there has been considerable variation across forests in methods for determining the occurrence of SCC on national forest lands, and differing interpretations of key decision-making criteria such as "capability to persist" and "substantial concern." In addition, forests and stakeholders have wrestled with operationalizing complex concepts associated with the "natural range of variation" and adaptive management. The USFS is working with forest planning partners and the advisory committee to identify, resolve, and adapt to emerging implementation challenges. |