MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest Research Stations have released the draft Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) science synthesis.

The draft synthesis, when finalized, will help to provide a scientific foundation for land management plans for 17 national forests within the NWFP area.

The public can provide input on the science content of the draft synthesis in two ways:

· Attend a public forum webinar Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows.

· Through Jan. 6: Upload written input via http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/research/science-synthesis/index.shtml .

The synthesis is a highly influential science document as defined by the Office of Management and Budget.

As part of the requirements for such a document, an independent peer review is underway. It is being coordinated by the Ecological Society of America.

Peer reviewers will provide their reviews to the synthesis authors in the spring of 2017. The draft will be revised and published in late 2017.

The draft NWFP science synthesis is online at http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/research/science-synthesis/index.shtml .

If you have any questions, please contact Becky Gravenmier at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 503-808-2851.