Climbing and the Nantahala & Pisgah Forest Plan Revision Access Fund & Carolina Climbers Coalition

Outline Forest Planning Climbing on Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest AF/CCC involvement, input and management concerns with plan revision What’s next?

Quick Plug: Take the Economic Impact Survey! Outdoor Alliance economic impact study on climbing, whitewater paddling, and mountain biking on Nantahala-Pisgah Nat. Forest. Money talks! Economic impact data is a powerful advocacy tool Outdoor Alliance, Access Fund and CCC will use to protect WNC climbing. Survey Link (also on CCC website): https://ekussem.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1AY23r1ZOQCCpLv Closes July 10th (tomorrow) at midnight!

Forest Planning Forest’s revise management plans every ~15-20 years. Plans are like the Bible or Constitution for Forests - subject to interpretation, sets policy and guides decisions on-the-ground. New 2012 Forest Planning Rule - more public and stakeholder involvement required. Slower process, but a good thing. Plan revisions take years to complete

Forest Planning: Nantahala & Pisgah National Forest NPNF over 1 million acres of land Third most visited NF in the U.S. - millions of visitors annually Plan timeline (fluid and changing): 2013 - Plan revision begins! 2013 - 2017 Inventory and Assess (Desired Conditions, Need for Change, Wilderness Eval., other phases) 2017 - 2018 Produce first draft of plan with alternatives 2018 Public review and comment on draft 2018 - 2019? Respond to input, finalize plan, objection process 2019? IMPLEMENTATION

Forest Planning: Collaborating with other Stakeholders Two separate collaborative planning groups: The Partnership and The Forum. Various stakeholder members include: American Whitewater Back Country Horsemen of America Carolina Mountain Club Graham County Economic Development Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition MountainTrue North Carolina High Peaks Trail Assoc. National Wild Turkey Federation North Carolina Trout Unlimited North Carolina Wildlife Federation Southern Environmental Law Center Southern Appalachian Mineral Society Southern Off Road Bicycle Association The Nature Conservancy The Wilderness Society Wild South Sierra Club, Wenoca Chapter Columbia Forest Products Evergreen Paper Southern Environmental Law Center Ruffed Grouse Society Gilkey Lumber Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards Root Cause NC Wildlife Federation NC Wildlife Resource Commission Defenders of Wildlife Appalachian Trail Conservancy Gordon Warburton, Wildlife Resources Commission SORBA/IMBA Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council Commission of Agriculture, North Carolina “If you’re not at the table you’re on the menu.”

Forest Planning: Nantahala & Pisgah National Forest Forest Plan Breakdown Forest wide goals Chapters on recreation, soil, water, roads, and dozens of other specific topics Management Areas like Interface, Matrix, Backcountry, Wilderness, Special Interest Areas and others Geographic Areas that describe regions of Forest with general management goals

Forest Planning: NPNF Geographic Areas Geographic Areas “Geographic Areas recognize the unique social, ecological, and economic characteristics on each part of the forest, describing uses and places that are special. “

Forest Planning: NPNF Mngt Areas Management Areas “Areas of the forest that have similar management intent and a common management strategy.” Example MAs: Interface Matrix Backcountry Wilderness Special Interest Areas (SIA)

Climbing on Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest

Climbing on Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest Big, diverse, nationally significant climbing resource - Dozens of areas with ice, multi-pitch, cragging, bouldering. Front country to Wilderness climbing opportunities. Widely spread across nearly the entire Forest. Long History - climbing on NF since ~1930s, including US Army and early guiding High Visitation, High Value - Likely among most visited climbing NFs in East, with Daniel Boone NF and White Mountain NF. Access Fund and Outdoor Alliance estimating 150k-250k climbing visits/year. Economic Driver - Retailers and manufacturers, plus colleges, summer camps, gyms, Outward Bounds, and guides all rely on NF for businesses. Health - Residents and visitors value climbing here for health and recreation

AF-CCC Involvement & Input on Forest Plan Work done 2013-Now Comment letters 5 comment letters per phases of Plan Revision process Stakeholder meetings AF seats on two large Forest planning Groups. Attend ~40 meetings and going.. Direct work with USFS staff Work on plan language, climbing educ. Direct support for USFS projects Trails, kiosks, peregrines, etc. AF-CCC collaboration ongoing....

AF-CCC Involvement & Input on Forest Plan: Mapping

AF-CCC Involvement & Input on Forest Plan: Mapping

AF-CCC Involvement & Input on Forest Plan Big themes Climbing! - Greater recognition, understanding and inventory of climbing on Forest Stewardship - Improve climbing areas stewardship, trails, non-system trails Fixed Anchors - Appropriate, modern and clear fixed anchor policy Resource protection - Maintain successful collaborative approach to sensitive resources (Peregrines, plants)

What’s Next? Comment to Forest now. Send comments to NCplanrevision@fs.fed.us Attend upcoming public meetings July 13, 6-8 p.m.: Pisgah Ranger District Office, 1600 Pisgah Hwy, Brevard July 25, 3-6 p.m.: Appalachian Ranger District at Appalachian District Office, 632 Manor Road, Mars Hill Take Economic Impact survey. Deadline is July 10, midnight. Provide comments on Draft Plan when it comes out in ~Spring 2018.