The draft Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) science synthesis is now available. The U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest Research Stations developed the plan, which, when finalized, will help to provide a scientific foundation for land management plans for 17 national forests within the NWFP area. Written by 45 scientists from the Forest Service, other federal agencies, universities, and tribes, the synthesis provides a review of the relevant scientific literature pertaining to key resource management topics within the NWFP area.

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. The public can provide input on the science content of the draft synthesis to the group of independent peer reviewers in two ways:

• From November 10, 2016, through January 6, 2017: Upload written input via http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/research/science-synthesis/index.shtml.

• On December 6, 2016: Attend a public forum in Portland, Oregon, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton Portland. The forum will also be broadcast live as a webinar, so interested parties outside of the Portland commuting area can participate. Additional information, along with a detailed agenda, is forthcoming and will be posted online at http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/research/science-synthesis/index.shtml. For now, please save the date.

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.

If you have any questions, please contact Becky Gravenmier at bgravenmier@fs.fed.us or (503) 808-2851.