Silver City, NM, April 26, 2017'For Immediate Release. The Final Assessment Report of Ecological/Social/Economic Sustainability Conditions and Trends and Needs for Change for Management Direction under the Existing 1986 Forest Plan for the Gila National Forest Plan revision has been released. The Notice of Intent to Revise the Gila National Forest Land Management Plan and Prepare an associated Environmental Impact Statement has been officially published in the Federal Register.

A Need for Change paints a picture of the strategic changes in current management direction necessary to address conditions, trends and risks to sustainability identified by the assessment. The Need for Change statements will provide focus for the second phase of planning - the development of the revised plan - where plan components are created to help ensure management meets desired conditions for each resource.

The public may view the Assessment Report at https://go.usa.gov/xX7nv and the Needs for Change can be viewed at https://go.usa.gov/xX7nA. The Federal Register Notice can be found at: https://go.usa.gov/x58sr. These and other plan revision documents may be obtained by visiting our website http://go.usa.gov/h88k, emailing gilaplan@fs.fed.us, or calling 575-388-8280 and requesting a copy.

With this notice, the Gila National Forest is initiating formal plan revision and invites other governments, non-governmental parties, and the public to contribute. Written comments on the need for change statements and proposed action as published in the Notice of Intent are welcome and most helpful if received by June 12, 2017.

Comments received during this 45-day scoping period will determine the breadth of issues that should be addressed during development of the proposed plan and help identify significant issues which will form the basis for alternatives. Comments can be submitted via email to gilaplan@fs.fed.us or via mail to Gila National Forest, Attn: Forest Plan, 3005 E. Camino del Bosque, Silver City, NM 88061.

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila