Hoping to nudge progress for all interests, several lumber and conservation entities teamed up to submit suggestions on Monday for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests draft forest plan.

The collective proposals from the organizations, which include Idaho Forest Group and Idaho Conservation League, include expanding protective habitats, while still supporting areas for job-producing logging efforts.

Ideas, the group leaders deem, that will help everyone in the long run.

"There are few things in these comments that we'd necessarily all fight for, but they're things we can live with," said Liz Johnson-Gebhardt, executive director of Priest Community Forest Connection, another group behind the submitted suggestions. "It is truly a collaboration."

The draft plan establishes management guidelines for the IPNF's 2.5 million acres of forest. The document includes designations for habitat protection, recreation activities and timber harvest.

In their comments, the collaborating groups pointed out several ways the plan could be improved, like more than doubling the "old growth" forest area to more than 30 percent.

"(Old growth's) biggest function is it provides habitat for species that use all or part of it to exist," explained Mike Petersen, executive director of the Lands Council.

The groups' comments support deeming 38 percent of the forest suitable for timber production.

They also suggest a more detailed active forest management plan, with an updated interactive map for the public, as well as increased monitoring of rare species populations.

"Our national forests really have commitment by law to ensure there's viable habitat (for the species)," Petersen said.

The document also recommends setting aside several roadless areas for wilderness protection, and giving more areas the protection of wild-scenic designations.

The group of individuals who signed the submitted suggestions include wildlife biologist Paul Sieracki, and representatives from PCFC, IFG, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, ICL, The Lands Council, Mike Reynolds Logging and Vaagen Brothers Lumber.

Bob Boeh with IFG said the dual focus on encouraging tree growth while allowing for harvest would help keep businesses like his humming.

"We'll take the product from the land, turn it into lumber for our customers," Boeh said. "The community should benefit from more jobs, and more revenue from the forest."

The proposals would have the greatest impact on the forest itself, he added.

"Hopefully it will keep the forest healthy, and remove the product, keep it thinned out so the trees are growing," he said.

Josh Anderson with Vaagen Brothers Lumber said his company would benefit from the group's suggested active management practices.

"A lot more timber volume," Anderson explained, adding that his Washington company purchases trees from North Idaho.

Johnson-Gebhardt said the comments, if adopted, could also result in more community involvement in projects like restoration, as well as more logging jobs.

"Being from Coeur d'Alene, the timber industry is a huge part of our area up here," she said.

She worries the groups' suggestions might be more than the Forest Service can handle, though.

"Their budget has been greatly reduced, their workforce greatly reduced," Johnson-Gebhardt said. "They know what they need to do to make these forests healthier, but if it can be achieved..."

Jason Kirchner, IPNF spokesman, said the agency hadn't had a chance to peruse the comments by late Monday afternoon.

"We are thrilled to see these types of groups working together on issues," Kirchner said. "It's wonderful to see groups that historically might not have had a lot of agreement coming together."