Blog
Forest Service chief testifies before appropriators on agency budget
Posted on Friday, February 26, 2010U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell responded to concerns from House appropriators this week over Obama administration plans for a major restructuring of the Forest Service budget and a proposed drop in funding for forest roads and research (E&E News - subscription req'd). The agency is proposing to combine what have been three separate habitat, watershed and forest product programs into one "integrated resource restoration" budget line that would receive $694 million. Tidwell said the agency chose to combine the three programs because they share the same objective and it will provide a more integrated approach. "It is not at all clear that this big funding bucket, with less accountability, is needed," said Interior Appropriations Subcommittee chairman Norm Dicks (D-WA). MORE: read about NASF's appropriations recommedations.
Climate change's impact on forests being measured via expanding tree trunks
Posted on Friday, February 26, 2010 Research by a forest ecologist at the Smithsonian Institution has shown tree trunks gradually fattening over time, indicating that many of the study's trees were growing two to four times faster than expected. That raised questions about climate change's impact on the age-old rhythms of U.S. forests.
Oregon acquires first state forest in 70 years
Posted on Thursday, February 25, 2010The Oregon Board of Forestry has approved the purchase of 43,000 acres of forestland in Central Oregon, creating the first new state forest in about 70 years. The OR Department of Forestry will manage it to restore the densely packed young stands and to create a forest that eventually provides many benefits, including diverse wildlife habitat, ongoing flows of clean water, and recreation opportunities, in addition to forest products and revenues.
Editorial: good news for New Jersey's forests
Posted on Thursday, February 25, 2010The New Jersey Forestry Stewardship and Sustainability Act was a long time coming, according to a recent editorial lauding the merits of the bill.
Washington DNR seeks Olympic Region Manager
Posted on Monday, February 22, 2010The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) seeks an Olympic Region Manager responsible for administering the field implementation of all DNR activities within Clallam , Jefferson, and Grays Harbor counties. The incumbent will be expected to contribute significantly to the development of long term, sustainable, and restorative natural resource policies. Download the full announcement here.
Saving the Amazon may be the best way to cut greenhouse gas emissions
Posted on Monday, February 22, 2010Slash-and-burn deforestation accounts for about 15% of global CO2 emissions. Despite activists' efforts, forests have been disappearing at the rate of about 34 million acres a year for the last two decades. Globally, Indonesia and Brazil are the third- and fourth-largest emitters respectively of greenhouse gases, after China and the U.S., because of their breakneck pace of forest destruction. Saving the Amazon, Earth's largest tropical jungle, can be a cheaper and faster way to avoid greenhouse gas emissions than replacing coal-fired power plants with renewable energy or switching to electric cars -- although all such measures are considered necessary by climate experts.
NASF Communities at Risk Report for FY2009
Posted on Friday, February 19, 2010NASF continually surveys all states to determine progress in identifying communities at risk and developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). The Communities at Risk Report helps provide a national snapshot of wildland fire risk, preparedness and capacity. Survey results for 2009 indicate a significant number of communities at risk (CAR) that have been identified by State Foresters as being at reduced risk. The number of communities reported at reduced risk in 2009 is 10,293. The number of CARs covered by a CWPP (5,567) shows an increase of 938 since last year's report.
Wood-to-energy projects in Maine receive ARRA funds
Posted on Friday, February 19, 2010Six school and university oil-to-wood heating projects in Maine are receiving more than $3.2 million in grants under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA). The six energy-conversion grants will be managed by the Maine Forest Service and are intended to create and retain jobs, achieve energy savings through wood-to-energy installations, reduce dependence on non-renewable energy resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support sustainable forestry.
Timber tax tips webinar March 17
Posted on Friday, February 19, 2010The National Timber Tax Website is offering a webinar for foresters, landowners, agency staff, extension agents, and tax professionals regarding tax filing tips for timber transactions for the 2010 tax season, new tax form and incentives and the latest IRS regulation on timber. For more information on how to participate, visit http://www.timbertax.org/Email%20InvitationJan2010.pdf.
The Forest Trust: Senior Program Manager
Posted on Friday, February 19, 2010The Forest Trust (formerly Tropical Forest Trust) works with retailers and importers in Europe, Asia and the U.S and is currently seeking to recruit a Senior Program Manager based in North America, reporting to the Member Program Director in the UK. To apply, send a cover letter and CV to H.Wingfield@tft-forests.org. Closing date for applications is March 15th 2010. For more details, download the job description here [PDF].
Western land may be up for designation as national monuments, says leaked report
Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010More than a dozen landscapes, wildlife habitats and scenic rivers in 11 Western states are under consideration by the Obama administration to be designated as National Monuments, potentially without local input or congressional approval.
Industry loses lawsuit over Alaska forest logging
Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010A federal judge has thrown out an industry lawsuit that could have led to more logging and road building in Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the nation's largest federal forest.
Study: less frequent fog may be stressing California redwood trees
Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010According to a study from the University of California, Berkeley, the coastal California fog that nurtures Sequoia sempervirens has declined in frequency by about one-third since the early 20th century.
Program battles southern pine beetle in Georgia
Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010The Georgia Forestry Commission is reaching out to landowners to participate in a cost-share program that will help them combat the destructive southern pine beetle.
Trading invasive trees for solar power
Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2010A proposal to cut down hundreds of invasive tamarisk trees in a desert community east of Bakersfield, CA, to build a solar power plant is seen as "a big environmental win" by local officials. Other proposals to build solar farms on hundreds of thousands of acres in the desert Southwest have split the environmental movement and divided local communities. For solar developers and some green groups, the projects are desperately needed in the fight against climate change; others see them as a threat to unique and fragile ecosystems.
Boggus hired as director of Texas Forest Service
Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010On February 12, Tom Boggus was officially named director of Texas Forest Service. The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents announced Boggus was the sole finalist for the directorship late last month. The panel unanimously approved his hiring last week after waiting a state-mandated 21 days.
Online class for foresters on wildlife awareness in tree management activities
Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010A new online certification course has been developed by the Wildlife Training Institute (WTI) to teach tree management professionals how to comply with wildlife protection laws and avoid nesting birds during tree management activities. WTI course graduates will earn one continuing education credit from the International Society of Arboriculture. To register for WTI's online Wildlife Protector certification course and for more information, go to www.wildlifetraining.org or call (866) 376-6292.
State Foresters respond to President's budget
Posted on Friday, February 12, 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, NASF members 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. MORE: Read the full press release and view NASF's FY2011 appropriations recommendations.
Toledo to remove thousands of ash trees due to EAB
Posted on Friday, February 12, 2010With help from federal grant funds totaling $400,000, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Forestry, will remove hazardous ash trees in Toledo. The trees pose an imminent threat to the safety of residents in areas of the city most heavily impacted by the emerald ash borer (EAB).
Bark beetles' song could save forests
Posted on Thursday, February 11, 2010Researchers at Northern Arizona University may have found a weapon against the bark beetles: digitally altered recordings of their own calls. The sounds caused the bugs make to stop mating or burrowing, and most importantly, stop chewing away at the pine trees.
Colorado to receive bulk of $40M from Forest Service beetle funds
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010Colorado will receive $30 million of a $40 million federal investment to clear dead and weakened trees from Rocky Mountain forests ravaged by the pine beetle. The Forest Service also will spend $8 million in Wyoming and $2 million in South Dakota to clean up pine beetle-killed trees.
Aldo Leopold film vying for $50K from Pepsi
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010The Aldo Leopold Foundation is in the running for a $50,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project to create a documentary called "Green Fire" on famed conservationist and writer Aldo Leopold. The documentary will encourage audiences to think about Leopold’s land ethic idea and how it may apply to the environmental problems we face today. For more information and to vote for the project, visit http://www.refresheverything.com/greenfire.
Alabama forms student wildland firefighting crew
Posted on Tuesday, February 9, 2010Thirty students from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (A&M) are participating in the nation's first student wildland fire-fighting crew recognized by the U.S. Forest Service. As part of the training program and to provide students with firefighting skills, the school is partnering with the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC); the Forest Service will provide safety equipment and fund the first year of insurance for the students.
U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities seeks Senior Vice President
Posted on Tuesday, February 9, 2010The U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities is seeking senior vice president candidates with substantive knowledge in natural resources, experience in strategic grantmaking at a regional or national level and effective skills in partnering and leveraging public and private resources. Applications must be received not later than February 15, 2010.
President's budget reflects difficult economic climate
Posted on Friday, February 5, 2010On February 2, President Obama released the expanded budget for the federal fiscal year 2011. The FY2011 President's request is 0.05% below the FY 2010 enacted levels, but represents a 4% increase for State & Private Forestry programs. The S&PF increase is due to the $100M proposed investment in Forest Legacy and relatively flat budgets for the other S&PF programs. Notable changes to NASF priority programs from the FY2010 levels include:
- a $2M increase to Urban and Community Forestry for a competitive cost-share grant program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas
- a $7M decrease (12%) to Cooperative Forest Health (includes S&PF and Wildland Fire programs) based on a proposed reduction of Forest Service monitoring and treatment of gypsy moth and hemlock woolly adelgid
- a $25M reduction (23%) in State Fire Assistance (includes S&PF and Wildland Fire programs)
- a $5M decrease in Forest Inventory & Analysis
NASF is developing its specific funding level recommendations, and will be working with House and Senate Appropriations Committees to work toward a final budget that reflects the importance of State & Private Forestry programs in promoting sustainable forest management and addressing national climate change and renewable energy concerns.
Study: Eastern forests growing faster in response to rising CO2
Posted on Friday, February 5, 2010A new study published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that forests in the eastern U.S. appear to be growing faster in response to rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The study centered mixed hardwoods representative of much of the those on the Eastern Seaboard. All are growing two to four times as fast as normal, according to a study. After controlling for other variables, scientists concluded that the change resulted largely from the increase in carbon dioxide, a major factor in climate change.
Roundtable on Sustainable Forests releases Action Strategy
Posted on Friday, February 5, 2010The Roundtable on Sustainable Forests (RSF) has recently developed finalized an Action Strategy that identifies challenges and opportunities within the forest sector and puts forward by nine recommended actions that can be taken now to improve the conservation and sustainable management of the nation’s forests. The RSF is an open and inclusive alliance committed to sustainable forest management on public and private lands in the United States. For more information visit www.sustainableforests.net/whatsnew.php.
VA Department of Forestry mobilizes teams in advance of winter weather
Posted on Friday, February 5, 2010In anticipation of this weekend’s winter storm, the Virginia Department of Forestry has assembled six strike teams and three incident management teams that will assist state and local governments in the event of any emergency needs they may have.
USDA, Interior form new conservation advisory panel
Posted on Thursday, February 4, 2010Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have launched a new advisory council that will give hunters a forum for advising the government on conservation. The new Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council will replace the Sporting Conservation Council created under the George W. Bush administration, adding more representatives from hunting interests.
Editorial: Proper management of forestland essential to preventing devastating fires
Posted on Thursday, February 4, 2010An editorial by Mike Zupko, executive director of the Southern Group of State Foresters, urges residents of Florida's Treasure Coast to support and participate in the efforts of local state forestry agency personnel to minimize human impact and reduce the possibility of wildfire within the wildland-urban interface.
Computer science aids wildfire fighters on the ground
Posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2010Innovative computer mapping tools and airborne imaging techniques can penetrate dense smoke and offer views of emerging dangers that firefighters lack on the ground. Yet research scientists' efforts to better understand fire spread and to create accurate predictive computer programs are often stymied by funding droughts. Duringactive fire seasons, research budgets quickly feel the pinch. Read more from a series of articles about wildfire technology in the science-focused magazine Miller-McCune.
Healthy Watersheds through Healthy Forests Initiative
Posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2010The Virginia Department of Forestry is one of three partners selected to participate in the $6 million "Healthy Watersheds through Healthy Forests Initiative" (HWHF), which seeks to advance the connection between forest management and water quality and quantity. The other two participating organizations are the Conservation Trust for North Carolina and the Pinchot Institute for Conservation. The project will focus on three specific watersheds and is supported by a combination of funding, including $2 million from the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants program, a $2 million investment from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, and at least $2 million in on-the-ground match from project partners.
Virgin River restoration showing progress
Posted on Tuesday, February 2, 2010Since 2003, a collection of state and local agencies have worked to restore damaged habitat in the Virgin River watershed, digging out invasive plant species, shoring up river banks to protect against flooding, and trying to re-establish the fragile populations of rare plant and animal species native only to the Virgin's flood plain. The multi-state effort engaged forestry agencies in Utah, Nevada and Arizona.
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