DOF Resumes Public Scoping of Haines State Forest RMA Management Plan

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DOF Resumes Public Scoping of Haines State Forest RMA Management Plan

Alaska Department of Natural Resource
Division of Forestry & Fire Protection

After a hiatus in public planning activities since December 2024, the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) is resuming the public scoping process for the Haines State Forest Resource Management Area (HSF RMA) Management Plan (MP) amendment.

Background
Initial HSF RMA MP public amendment activities began in Spring 2024 with scoping meetings, online surveys, and an informational meeting in October 2024. During this initial scoping phase, the amendment was framed with the primary focus of inserting language to allow carbon offset projects as a potential use of the forest resources within the HSF RMA (AS 38.95.400, AS 41.15.300(c), 11 AAC Chapter 78).

Recent Developments
After reflecting on the DOF's resource management goals within the HSF RMA and upon the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) goals to provide opportunities for carbon offset projects within Alaska's State Forest lands, the DOF has determined that additional changes to the management policy within the HSF RMA MP are necessary to best support these goals. These additional changes include the following:

1. Policy language will be written to allow forest management including timber harvest and carbon offset projects on all land classifications within the HSF RMA.

2. Management intent for each unit will be amended from broadly defining a unit's management intent by a single resource use to defining management intent for multiple resources present on the landscape.

Tracking the ProcessWith these adjustments to the amendment goals, the DOF would like to offer additional opportunities for the public to provide input on policy development prior to the public review of the amended HSF RMA MP draft. Beginning July 2025, four public scoping surveys and an interactive web map will re-open for public input through September 30, 2025. These surveys and additional plan amendment information are available at the HSF RMA Amendment website: https://forestry.alaska.gov/HSFamendment/.Moving forward, the DOF will continue developing language for the intended policy updates. Feedback received through online public surveys and from consultation with expert resource managers representing other State and Federal agencies will inform this policy development. A public review period for the proposed amended plan will occur, tentatively in Fall 2025. Opportunities to submit comments and to participate in virtual and in-person public meetings will be announced on the plan amendment website and through the State of Alaska Online Public Notice System.

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