The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) – Eastern Region (Region 9) has partnered with ERO Resources Corporation (ERO) to support long-term vegetation management planning at Kisatchie National Forest (KNF) in Louisiana. This initiative plays a key role in maintaining forest health, improving ecosystem resilience, and reducing wildfire risk across the diverse landscapes of KNF.
ERO is currently leading the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA), biological assessment, and biological evaluation to evaluate the potential environmental effects of proposed forest-wide vegetation management activities. These efforts are being conducted in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, ensuring that environmental protections are upheld throughout the planning process.
Nicole Den Herder, ERO’s Project Manager, is coordinating a multidisciplinary team of internal specialists and maintaining close collaboration with KNF staff. Together, they are conducting a comprehensive analysis of a wide array of environmental resources including:
- Air quality
- Heritage resources
- Human health
- Soils and hydrology
- Aquatic life and fisheries (including threatened and endangered [T&E] and forest sensitive species [FSS])
- Wildlife (including T&E and FSS)
- Vegetation and wetlands (including T&E and FSS)
- Water quality
The goal of this project is to provide the USFS with sound scientific analysis to guide decision making for sustainable land management. By identifying potential impacts and offering mitigation strategies, the EA will help KNF balance ecological protection with the need for active forest stewardship.
This important project reflects ERO’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality environmental consulting services that support resilient and healthy public lands.