The Tonto National Forest's seeking public collaboration & input on the revision of its forest management plan. The current plan, provided overall direction for resource management on the forest's 3 million acres, was 1st approved in '87 & is no longer current.

They are hosting public meetings at various locations in each of its 6 districts between now & March 13th. The purpose of the meetings is to provide an orientation to the Forest Land Management Plan revision process, & to begin collaborating with those interested in participating in this effort.

The upcoming meetings are scheduled as follows:

March 2nd, Besh-Ba-Gowah conference room, Globe, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
March 5th, Saguaro Room, Mesa Public Library, 64 E 1st Street, Mesa, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
March 7th, Tonto Basin Elementary School gym, Tonto Basin, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
March 13th, Paradise Valley Community College, Bldg KSC, Room 208, Phoenix, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

The emphasis of the revision effort is on a few key areas of management where new info indicates the existing management direction is no longer appropriate or where there is need for additional info. The Forest Service is operating under a new planning rule, implemented in 2005, that has changed the purpose of what a forest plan should be: developed collaboratively with the public; more adaptable; more responsive to local needs & conditions; less detailed & more focused on desired conditions.

In this 1st phase of the process the Forest Service will work with interested parties to look at existing forest conditions & identify what needs to be changed in the current plan. A vision statement will be developed during this phase which will describe management direction for the revised plan & the desired future conditions envisioned for the Tonto National Forest.

In addition to joining in the collaborative process at public meetings, ideas & comments can be submitted to the Tonto Planning Team via postal mail at 2324 E. McDowell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85006 or by emailing Tonto-plan@fs.fed.us. To obtain further info about the public meetings or the Forest Plan revision process, visit: fs.fed.us/r3/tonto or call 602-225-5200. Anyone with a special need, such as sign language translation, should contact the forest at least one week in advance.