The Francis Marion National Forest, encompassing 259,000 acres in both Charleston and Berkeley Counties, is enjoyed by millions of people every year. This natural area provides a wide array of ecological, economic, and social benefits including: clean air and water, recreational opportunities, wildlife and plant habitat, forest products such as timber, and many more.
The US Forest Service has revised the 1996 Francis Marion National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. The 1996 plan focused on managing the Francis Marion in the wake of Hurricane Hugo. Since that time, the communities surrounding the forest have grown and changed significantly. The new draft forest plan recognizes the challenges associated with these changes, and the need to work across political, organizational, and social boundaries to address them.
As part of the review process of the new draft plan, the Forest Service will hold two public meetings in October – and they need your feedback!. Details on each public meeting are included below:
The first public meeting focuses on the content of the draft forest plan and how to submit comments on it. This public meeting is an open house format, so drop by anytime between 2 pm and 5 pm. Forest Service staff will be on-hand to answer your questions or provide additional information.
Tuesday, October 6th
2pm – 5pm
Berkeley County Assembly Room
Berkeley County Government Office
1003 Highway 52
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
The second public meeting is a working meeting, and will consist of stakeholders working together in break out groups to refine and enhance the management direction in the draft forest plan.
Tuesday, October 27th
10am – 3pm
Sewee Visitor & Environmental Center
5821 US Highway 17 North
Awendaw, South Carolina 29429
To register, send an email to FMPlanRevision@fs.fed.us or call Mary Morrison at (803) 561-4000.
For more information on the Francis Marion Plan Revision and to the draft forest plan and draft environmental impact statement, and to view all information from the last public meeting, click here.