WYOMING — Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) and Friends of the Bridger-Teton has announced that it will host a public Forest Plan Symposium in the new year, with simultaneous meetings scheduled in Jackson, Afton, Kemmerer and Pinedale on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will also be livestreamed.
According to BTNF, the Forest Plan provides the overall vision and management of the forest and guides all the decisions made for specific activities. The current Forest Plan for BTNF was approved in 1990 and needs to be updated to better reflect past and future trends in ecological, social and economic conditions, according to forest representatives.
The panel will feature three members of the national federal advisory committee, including Dr. Martin Nie, director of the Bolle Center for People and Forests at the University of Montana, James Magagna, executive vice president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and Adam Cramer, CEO of the Outdoor Alliance.
Joining them will be Ms. Randy’L Teton (enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes), Forest Service Public Affairs/Tribal Relations Specialist from the Washington DC Office of Communications, and Clancy Jandreau, who was involved in the Custer- Gallatin forest planning effort as a student in Montana and now works as a water steward for the Blackfoot Challenge. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Melanie Armstrong, director of the Ruckelhaus Institute at the University of Wyoming.
BTNF’s Forest Supervisor Chad Hudson said via press release that he is honored to welcome such a stellar panel of speakers and looks forward to learning from them, along with all those who will attend.
“Everyone who recreates, values wildlife and scenic beauty, ranches, guides, gathers forest products or otherwise in connection to National Forest public land should attend and learn more about how to become engaged and make a difference for the future,” Hudson said via press release.
The in-person meetings will be held at Center for the Arts in Jackson, the Civic Center in Afton, the Sublette County Library in Pinedale and the South Lincoln Training and Event Center in Kemmerer. Forest staff will be available in person at all four venues to visit with attendees about the status of Forest Plan.
Light refreshments will be served at each of the meetings. For more information, see the BTNF website.
