El Yunque seeks 15 candidates for Resource Advisory Committee
The committee will advise on developing a path to ensure the forest can sustainably finance its operations and maintain the recreation infrastructure.
The U.S. Forest Service is seeking 15 local representatives from various sectors to form a Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The committee will provide advice and recommendations to El Yunque National Forest regarding the allocation of funds, project proposals and alignment with the Forest Management Plan.
The Secure Rural Schools program provides funding for schools, roads and other municipal services in more than 700 U.S. counties and Puerto Rican municipalities.
Applications are open until May 1. The form should be submitted via email.
The committee will also advise on developing a path to ensure the Forest Service can sustainably finance its operations and maintain the recreation infrastructure, explained rainforest Supervisor Keenan Adams.
“El Yunque has been at the forefront of community engagement, and we take pride in our 2019 management plan, which has served as a model for co-management globally. This advisory committee represents the next step in our journey, ensuring that local voices play a significant role in our management strategies,” Adams said.
“In the coming years, we anticipate having revitalized nearly all our key recreational infrastructure impacted by Hurricanes María and Fiona. Now, our greatest challenge lies in ensuring the maintenance of this infrastructure to support our visitor economy,” he added.
“We aim to have the community’s voice in the room, helping us navigate this challenge, to find a solution that can put the forest on a financially sustainable path,” Adams said.
El Yunque RAC’s goal is to “improve collaborative relationships among people who use and care for national forests and give advice and recommendations to the Forest Service on projects and funding consistent with Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.”
By serving on the RAC, members engage with local land managers to work together with other community members and promote the Forest Service’s mission to maintain the public forest and grasslands’ health, diversity and productivity.
The committee seeks members from a wide range of backgrounds and interests, including the industrial, ecological and recreational sectors, the community, and elected officials.
Applicants must be Puerto Rican residents, preferably from municipalities within the El Yunque region, and will be evaluated based on their education and experience, “commitment to collaborative decision-making, and their “contribution to the RAC in terms of balance and diversity.”
“Any person living in Puerto Rico with an interest in El Yunque National Forest, and in planning and project execution, is encouraged to apply,” the Forest Service said.
Meetings may be held virtually or in person, with the frequency and location to be determined by the committee. Members will serve a four-year term without remuneration, with the possibility of reappointment for additional terms.
The call for applications extends beyond El Yunque region municipalities to include Cayey, Florida, Guayama, Manatí, and Salinas.
