The State : Forest Plan Implemented

After more than five years of study and revisions, the new plan to manage the 1.1-million-acre Sequoia National Forest through the end of the century has been implemented. Paul E. Barker, regional forester for the Pacific Southwest Region in San Francisco, approved the final version of the plan on Feb. 25, forest officials said. It provides a management program reflecting a mix of activities. Included in the 5-inch-thick, 12-pound series of documents are environmental impact studies for all areas and uses of the forest in Central California. Barker said more than 3,000 public comments were considered before final approval. Under the plan, giant Sequoia groves will be managed to encourage reproduction, protect specimen trees and sustain the stands over time on a budget of $20 million per year.