The U.S. Forest Service will hold a pair of public listening sessions in Halsey on Monday to consider options going forward for the Nebraska National Forest.

Last fall the Bovee Fire burned nearly 19,000 acres in and near the hand-planted forest. A smaller fire just west of that area burned another 1,800 acres last week.

The listening sessions will give the public the chance to have input on plans for restoration of the forest.

Earlier this year Rangeland Manager Geri Proctor told KBEAR News it would be years before the forest fully recovers from the fire and there’s no simple answer for what comes next.

Each session is expected to last about an hour with one beginning at noon and the second at 5:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Halsey Community Center.