On 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.