Bridger-Teton National Forest

Forest Plan Revision

Public Collaboration Round 2: Building a Framework of Desired Conditions

The page is for reference purposes only. To provide feedback for the plan revision, visit the page for our current collaboration round.

Overview
In Fall 2005, the Plan Revision Team created a comment database and spent several months organizing and reviewing the input provided through Round 1. Our objective was to find an effective way to address and track all the concerns, interests and values that were expressed, while also drawing on the best available science and following relevant regulatory guidance. The result is a draft Framework of Desired Conditions, which we have assembled in an at-a-glance version as well as a more detailed abridged version.

Our objective for Round 2 is to review this Framework with the public, in order to learn whether anything from Round 1 is inadequately or incorrectly addressed. We also want the public’s help in identifying meaningful measures of progress toward these Desired Conditions; this will be important as we put together a more complete (‘unabridged’) version of the Framework. We have created a fill-in form based on the abridged version in order to efficiently collect and assimilate your input (see below).

Structure of the Framework
The Framework is set up as a hierarchy that tiers down from three basic domains of sustainability—ecological, social, and economic. Within each domain there are criteria, indicators and measures:

• Criteria are relatively general conditions by which sustainability may be assessed.
• Indicators are more specific conditions that can demonstrate trends over time and that, taken together, evaluate a criterion.
• Measures are the specific variables that quantify the associated indicator. Each criterion and indicator has both a definition and desired condition statement. Measures are listed for each indicator, noting potential sources of data.

Purpose of the Framework
When completed, this Framework should represent a complete set of Desired Conditions for the BTNF, expressed as criteria and indicators that evaluate how sustainably the Forest is being managed. The Framework plays a fundamental role throughout the planning process:

• Each criterion and indicator in the Framework identifies a condition to be evaluated in the Comprehensive Evaluation phase of Plan Revision, while the measures indicate the data to be collected and analyzed for that evaluation.
• The criteria, indicators and measures identify gaps between current conditions and desired conditions. The largest gaps are the need for change.
• In developing the proposed Revision, we try to reduce those gaps. We do this by selecting from the Framework the Desired Conditions to emphasize in individual geographic areas around the Forest, and by designing management strategies that provide for them more adequately than current management does.
• Once the Revised Plan is adopted and implemented, the criteria, indicators and measures provide the basis for monitoring progress toward Desired Conditions.

The Framework fill-in form
In order to obtain and assimilate your input most effectively, we’ve put together a fill-in form for you to download, fill in electronically, and return to us via e-mail (btnfplanrevision@fs.fed.us).

DOWNLOAD THE FORM NOW [MS Word]

The form may seem like a large workload, since it adds up to over 60 pages. However, most of the document is white space for various fields that you may or may not choose to complete; you are not required to complete all the fields. So in fact, the form requires only as much work as you wish to undertake.

Completing the form is easy. It is designed to be completed electronically in Microsoft Word. Each individual criterion and indicator is shown on its own page; you need only to place the cursor in a field, and type. Instructions found by each field explain the kind of input requested; beyond that, you are free to write your input—revisions, additions, comments or questions—as you see fit. Please return your completed form to us by March 10, 2006.

Please provide your name, affiliation and contact info in the space provided, on each page where you provide input. This will enable the FPR Team to discuss with you directly any questions or concerns that may arise.

Also, would you be interested in assisting us with collecting information on current conditions between now and Fall 2006? If so, please e-mail us (btnfplanrevision@fs.fed.us) with your contact info, particular interests, and anticipated uses of the Forest and we will provide you with further instructions tailored to them.

For questions or concerns about the above, please contact Rick Fox, BTNF Forest Planner, at (307) 739-5563 or hsfox@fs.fed.us.

Round 2 Workshops (December 5-8, 2005)
Prior to preparing the above fill-in form, the Plan Revision Team held a series of public workshops to explore more general input regarding the Framework. The Team is currently analyzing the results of those workshops as it finalizes the Framework. While the public is now (as of January 30, 2006) encouraged to use the fill-in form to provide its input, those interested in the format and content of the December workshops can find it below…

• Announcement of December Workshops
• Round 2 agenda

Each local workshop was organized around the steps shown below. As you work through these steps you'll find various links to additional information and the worksheets that participants were asked to complete (if you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download the software for free ).

Welcome to Round 2!

Step 1

Sign in

Step 2

FYI: Round 2 Agenda of the local workshops

Step 3

Please read these principles of Collaborative Learning and about the facilitators.

Step 4

Please review the documents referenced in Overview of the Plan Revision Process and then answer questions 1-3 in Feedback on Desired Conditions

Step 5

Please review the draft Framework of Desired Conditions abridged version and then answer questions 4-5 in Feedback on Desired Conditions and questions 1-5 in Evaluating Desired Conditions.

Step 6

Would you be interested in assisting us with collecting information on current conditions between now and Fall 2006? If so, please e-mail us (btnfplanrevision@fs.fed.us) with your contact info, particular interests, and anticipated uses of the Forest and we will provide you with further instructions tailored to them.

Send in your comments!

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USDA Forest Service - Bridger-Teton National Forest
Last Modified: Thursday, 22 May 2008 at 14:39:32 EDT