Why didn the Plan propose purchasing more land?
It is not realistic to think federal control by purchase is the only answer. Concerns about the national debt and difficulty in managing isolated parcels outside of the Allegheny National Forest resulted in a conservative federal land acquisition proposal. The Plan focuses primarily on providing strategically-located public lands to meet public recreation needs, protect key aesthetic values, and protect important habitat for rare, endangered and sensitive species along the river. The Forest Service feels that state or local public acquisition of lands outside of the forest boundary is preferred to federal land acquisition. No attempt was made to estimate these acres as it is outside of Forest Service control.
