The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service is inviting public input on a proposed policy aimed at improving the monitoring system of national forests and grasslands. This initiative seeks to refine current monitoring policies, ensuring consistency and fostering stronger government-to-government relationships with Tribes.

 
Forest Service Chief Randy Moore highlighted the significance of the proposed policy, stating, "The proposed monitoring policy is a framework that supports strategic thinking about what questions to ask and how to most efficiently use the answers to conduct adaptive management. It will help us focus on climate-informed land management to achieve the Forest Service's multi-purpose mission through science and Indigenous Knowledge."

Developed through government-to-government consultations with Tribes, the policy emphasizes transparency, communication, and integration with Tribal governments. It aims to provide a comprehensive framework that combines science-based monitoring with Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

The Forest Service is accepting public comments until December 27, 2023.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/newsroom/releases/usda-forest-service-seeks-public-comment-proposed-policy-monitoring