Two Chiefs' Partnership Awards nominations deadline extended
Posted on Wednesday, September 1, 2010The deadline to submit nominations for the Two Chiefs' Partnership Awards has been extended to September 30, 2010. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Forest Service are requesting nominations for their fifth annual Two Chiefs' Partnership Award.
Nominations should be submitted to the Joint Forestry Team website by September 30.
Nominations should be submitted to the Joint Forestry Team website by September 30.
New forestry sciences lab for Rocky Mountain Research Station
Posted on Friday, August 27, 2010An infusion of federal stimulus funds is bringing a new Forestry Sciences Laboratory to the Fort Collins-based Rocky Mountain Research Station of the USDA Forest Service. The $5.3 million state-of-the-art facility will allow scientists to expand their research on forest-health issues such as bark beetles, climate change and water quality, officials say.
Two Chiefs' Partnership Award winners announced
Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2010Jonas Feinstein of the Jefferson Conservation District in CO, the Ohio Forest Resource Partnership, and the Montana Joint Forestry Team have been announced as the winners of the 2009 Two Chiefs' Partnership Award. The awards recognize exemplary employees and projects from the Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, state forestry agencies, and conservation districts who have worked collaboratively to support conservation and forest stewardship.
Forest Service chief on ARRA progress in the Pacific Northwest
Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010An Oreganlive.com editorial by USDA Forest Service Tom Tidwell discusses American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects in Washington and Oregon, where nearly one in five of the agencies ARRA dollars have been spent.
Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentives Program, deadline Aug. 23
Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010The Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP) provides grants to states and tribes working with private landowners willing to open their land to public access for wildlife-dependent recreation. States have until August 23 to submit 2010 proposals. Click here for a factsheet on the program (PDF) or here for application information.
Conservation Reserve Program sign-up now open
Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010General sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) began on August 2 and closes August 27, 2010. CRP is a voluntary program that assists farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers to use their environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. By reducing water runoff and sedimentation, CRP also protects groundwater and helps improve the condition of lakes, rivers, ponds and streams. For more information, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/crp.
New 'Forests on the Edge' report details threats to private forests
Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010A new USDA Forest Service report entitled "Private Forests, Public Benefits," shows that privately held forests in the U.S. are under substantial stress from development and fragmentation and that increased housing density in forests will exacerbate other threats to forests from wildfire, insects, pathogens and pollution. "The [report] shows that now, more than ever, we need to take an 'all lands' approach to managing our nation's forests, whether they are national forests or under the stewardship of state or private entities," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
First-of-its-kind map from NASA depicts global forest heights
Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010Using NASA satellite data, scientists have produced a first-of-its kind map that details the height of the world's forests. Although there are other local- and regional-scale forest canopy maps, the new map is the first that spans the entire globe based on one uniform method.
WFLC releases 'Threats to Western Forests' report
Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2010The Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) recently released "Threats to Western Private Forests: A Framework for Conserving and Enhancing the Benefits from Private Working Forests in the Western U.S." The report offers recommendations focused on climate change, markets for forest products and ecosystem services, and improved social appreciation for forests and sustainable forest management. For more information, visit http://wflccenter.org/forestthreats.
FSC harmonizes regional forest standards
Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2010The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has revised its Forest Management Standard for forest operations in the contiguous U.S. by integrating nine regional standards into a single, national standard. Regional variation is maintained in key areas of forest management and conservation where local conditions, including forest types and ecological processes, warrant different management techniques, according to the organization.
