A group in the current class of Leadership Asheville is helping to spread the word about a proposed national forests plan. The following information was provided by this group.
If you’ve ever visited Craggy Mountains or Big Ivy, hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail with your children or dog, ridden a mountain bike at Bent Creek or Bennett Gap, or simply gazed in awe at the views that surround our community, you know how important the mountains are to our quality of life, for both local residents and for visitors.
This is your chance to help protect these valuable natural resources.
The US Forest Service has released its latest version of the management plan for the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, which together comprise 1.1 million acres that surround Asheville and Buncombe County. The plan will determine the fate of these two major local national forests for the next two to three decades.
Citizens are encouraged to let the US Forest Service know why protecting the natural beauty and health of the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests is so important.
Express your opinion about the management plan by visiting the US Forest Service website when the 90-day public comment period opens on February 14. Or, watch for a variety of local events where you can to learn more and comment. Postcards located around town will also make it easy to submit a public comment.
More about the proposed plan from Carolina Public Press here.
Photo of Pisgah National Forest from ExploreAsheville.com