A plan that’s been in place since 1991 is the current guidance for forest management on state-owned lands in the Susitna Valley. But that plan is due for an update. Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection Forest Planner Geneva Preston says the group is currently in the middle of the scoping process for that updated plan. And that includes a lot of public input.
Preston says that the timber industry and markets have changed along with the changing landscape. As more development has moved in and the spruce bark beetle has altered the forest make-up, management needs to change as well.
Policies should match what’s currently happening on the ground and provide opportunities for active forest management on those lands. But it’s also about what the community sees in the land. The Department of Natural Resources planning team understands the lands with broad strokes, but Preston says they need community members to help provide context for other ways the land is currently being used or could be used in the future.
This scoping phase is the public’s opportunity to share what they know, such as important hunting or fishing sites, summer and winter recreation spots, or other uses that the team should work into the plan. Capturing these current uses will help guide managers in developing a plan that’s useful for the community as well as for those harvesting timber in the area.
Preston says the team held a virtual meeting this week with about 15-20 community members in attendance. They plan to hold in-person meetings in the near future.
For now, residents can provide input by emailing dnr.dof.matsuplanning@alaska.gov
