(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . DKos Asheville Open Thread: Final plan for our two National Forests and Early spring gardening tips [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-02-25 Mountain Express, Jack Igelman, 2/21/2023 The very edge of Pisgah National Forest. (My yard) Originally published by Carolina Public Press. Carolina Public Press is an independent, in-depth and investigative nonprofit news service for North Carolina. The long-awaited plan to manage more than 1 million acres of national forest was released Friday by the U.S. Forest Service. The plan sets out a strategy to restore the ecological integrity of ecosystems and watersheds within Pisgah and Nantahala national forests. It also prioritizes sustainable recreation to accommodate expanding visitation in one of the nation’s most popular national forests. The final revised land management plan and the final environmental impact statement are available online. National forests are required to have a plan describing the strategic direction for management of forest resources that is revised every 10-15 years or when conditions require an update. The management of forest resources was guided by the 1976 National Forest Management Act. The revision of the plan is managed by the National Forests in North Carolina office, or NFNC, which is based in Asheville and supervises the state’s four national forests. While the 1976 law requires each forest to have a plan, a single plan covers the two national forests in the mountain region and was last updated in 1994. James Melonas, forest supervisor of the NFNC who signed the plan, said in a press release from Friday that the plan provides a framework to address challenges that include climate change and recreational demands. “Ensuring our forest ecosystems are healthy and resilient is critical to long-term sustainability of all the habitats and ecosystem benefits on which we all depend,” Melonas said in the press release. The plan, signed on Feb. 16, will take effect in mid-March, 30 days following its signing, and will guide the management strategy of the forest for the next two decades. Spectrum News 1, Charles Duncan, 2/232/2023 Environmental groups that have been working with the Forest Service on the plan say there are better solutions than allowing logging in old growth areas. They also say the plan would allow logging along trails like the Appalachian Trail and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and other popular spots for recreation like Craggy Gardens, just north of Asheville. “The Forest Service had a once-in-a-generation opportunity to map out a better future for these two incredible forests, but this Forest Plan is instead a step backwards,” said Sam Evans, with the Southern Environmental Law Center. “The plan not only dramatically expands where and how much logging will happen, but it puts the wildlife habitats, backcountry areas, and old growth areas that make the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests special on the chopping block,” Evans said in a statement. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the plan would allow logging in 44,000 acres of old-growth forest. It would also allow logging companies to build new roads into remote areas and harvest trees from steep slopes, which could harm streams and rivers. “The Nantahala and Pisgah Forests represent the gold standard of National Forests for key priority conservation lands, old-growth and mature forest, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and clean drinking water,” said Hugh Irwin, with The Wilderness Society. “This Forest Plan will put key conservation areas and values at risk at a time when we need to act swiftly to mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis for communities across the Appalachian Mountains,” he said. Mountain Express, Chloe Lieberman, 2/23/2023 Chloe Lieberman Midwinter greetings, mountain neighbors! I’m excited to restart this monthly gardening feature and to engage with your plant- and land-tending questions. You can get in touch with me at gardening@mountainx.com, and I’ll share what I know about growing things in our beautiful ecosystem. Snakes in my garden bed My friend found a nest of baby snakes on her property. Is there a safe way to relocate their nest and/or a way to “hide” the nest from a dog while still preserving their home? When I hear about snakes in gardens, I rejoice! Of course, the first and most important step is to identify what kind of snakes they are. Fortunately, the vast majority of species that live in North Carolina are nonvenomous, 31 out of 37 to be more precise. And many that are harmless to humans like to hunt garden pests like voles, mice and rats. In fact, the snake I’ve seen most frequently in my garden has been the black rat snake, which, true to its name, loves to eat rodents (thank you!). Potato time The weather is pretty warm. Is it too early to plant potatoes? Potatoes are a favorite spring crop and are indeed one of the earliest things that can be put into the ground as spring comes. However, they do require a soil temperature of at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Since “seed potatoes” are planted deeper than true seeds, this means the ground needs to be that warm about 6-8 inches down. It’s not quite there yet. The life of seeds Where can I buy the best garden seeds? Seeds are the foundation of any garden, and now is the time to get them for spring and summer gardening. Not all seeds are created equal, and the quality of your seeds plays a major role in the success of your crops. I am a strong proponent of open-pollinated, regionally adapted seeds and varieties for small-scale growers like us. Some hybrid seeds that have been developed for organic practices can be great in the home garden, too. Genetically modified seeds, on the other hand, have no place in our food system, in my humble opinion. Thanks for reading and contributing, I hope you have a safe weekend. 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