Resource Management Planning -Purpose and Use

The Plan

Resource Management Planning is used by BLM managers to allocate resources and select appropriate uses for the public lands. It is the manager's road map to wise resource use. Developed plans establish practices to manage and protect resources. They set up systems to monitor and evaluate status of resources and the effectiveness of management practices over time.

The plans are also important to public land users, whose contributions are crucial if plans are to be responsive to public needs. Plans provide ranchers, miners, utility companies, loggers, community planners, recreationists, and the general public information on suitable land uses for a particular area. This helps them to develop their own activities, projects, and proposals for the future.

The primary responsibiity to develop and implement these plans is at the local field level of BLM. A plan is prepared for an individual resource area. District and Area Managers initiate planning activities when significant resource issues or conflicts require resolution. For example, when livestock and wild horses compete for limited forage, a Resource Management Plan may allocate forage in a particular area to accommodate both.

BLM plans must be consistent with those of State and local governments.

You are encouraged to provide comments on the design and utility of these site materials. In the future a questionnaire will be included to solicit your comments, including need for specific types of additional information.