Issues
FY2011 Appropriations
Posted on Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Forest Service's State and Private Forestry programs leverage the capacity of state agencies to provide vital assistance to forest landowners and communities to manage, maintain, and improve their forests and green spaces. S&PF serves nearly 10 million private forestland owners and the 57% of the forestland that is not federally owned. Targeted federal funding in these priority programs is a cost-effective solution to meeting national needs for renewable products, energy, and environmental benefits that mitigate climate change impacts.
State Foresters Concerned that President's Budget Will Fall Short in Meeting Conservation Goals on All Lands
Posted on Thursday, February 11, 2010State foresters responded to President Obama's February 1st budget proposal for FY2011 with some trepidation, warning that cuts to significant forestry programs will likely not meet national forest conservation goals. Even in a tight budget climate, the members of the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) believe it is critically important to make solid investments in key federal programs that help realize the potential of America's forests in helping address climate mitigation, renewable energy production and job creation.
Creating Jobs in the Forestry Sector
Posted on Tuesday, February 9, 2010
NASF urges Congress to help restore jobs and create new ones by reinvesting in our nation's public and private forests through "shovel-ready" activities on non-federal lands.
Obama signs bill to help agencies manage skyrocketing wildfire suppression costs
Posted on Monday, November 2, 2009President Obama this weekend signed legislation that will bring a degree of relief to the nation's forests by helping federal agencies solve several of the top problems caused by the skyrocketing costs of wildfire suppression. The measure establishes a new approach to budgeting for costly wildfires, which continually drain the budgets of the Forest Service and Department of the Interior and lead to the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars from other agency forest and land management priorities.
NASF Letter: Dicks/Simpson/Feinstein/Alexander - NASF recommendations to FY10 Interior-Appropriations conferees (Oct. 5, 2009)
Posted on Monday, October 5, 2009The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) greatly appreciates your continued support of our nation's forests and forest landowners. As you undergo conference on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill, NASF urges you to support the following:
NASF Resolution No. 2009-6: Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) Program Funding and Priorities
Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009A current and accurate forest inventory is a threshold requirement if we are to conserve and restore all of America's forests. The inventory must address the rapidly emerging issues of climate change, carbon, biomass, and land use change. But portions of the nation's forests are not being inventoried, funding is inadequate to implement FIA as currently designed, and FIA needs to be enhanced to provide data relevant to current and emerging issues.
Coalition Letter: DeLauro/Kingston - federal funding for conservation programs (June 2, 2009)
Posted on Wednesday, June 3, 2009We the undersigned farm, forestry, conservation and environmental organizations urge you to maintain the mandatory spending levels for conservation programs as provided in the 2008 Farm Bill and to reject the Obama Administration's proposed cuts to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Farmland Protection Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Agricultural Management Assistance Program, and Healthy Forest Reserve Program. We also encourage you to increase funding for conservation technical assistance and to prohibit the Administration from administratively ending the CRP Public Access program.
KY State Forester MacSwords on FY2010 U.S. Forest Service appropriations (April 23, 2009)
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior hearing on FY2010 appropriations -- The total NASF recommendation for S&PF is $335 million, representing a 26% increase over the 2009 enacted levels. NASF also recommends a modest investment of $10 million in the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill.
KY State Forester MacSwords before House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior (February 24, 2009)
Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2009House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior hearing regarding Government Accountability Office observations on a possible move of the U.S. Forest Service to the Department of the Interior.
NASF Letter: Pelosi/Reid/Durbin/Hoyer -- NASF economic stimulus recommendations (December 23, 2008)
Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2008NASF urges you to invest taxpayer dollars in providing future employment opportunities in forest-based communities as well as infusing capital into the management of our nation's public and private forests. State foresters have the primary responsibility of delivering numerous federal programs administered by the USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry program (S&PF). Through existing initiatives, state forestry agencies can ensure rapid deployment of federal funds at the local level. Investment in any or all of the following land stewardship activities on non-federal lands (through S&PF) are "shovel-ready" and can provide green jobs over the next two to five years.
