The U.S. Forest Service in February released for public comment a revised management plan for the Uwharrie National Forest northeast of Charlotte. The plan, which will guide activities such as recreation and logging in the 50,000-acre forest, has not been updated since 1986. 

Wild South, our partners, and other members of the public spent a year crafting the rewrite with the Forest Service.  The plan’s main themes include: restoring the forest to a more natural condition, chiefly by replacing planted loblolly pines with longleaf pine or oak-hickory forests; taking better care of historic sites and artifacts; and improving recreation, such as horse and off-highway trails near Badin Lake and completing the Uwharrie National Recreation Trail.