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Forest Service acquires 112K acres of Montana forestland in Legacy project
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010The U.S. Forest Service took over ownership of 112,000 acres of former Plum Creek Timber Co. land this week in the second phase of the Montana Legacy Project, which saw the Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land buy much of Plum Creek's western Montana holdings in trust for the state and federal government. The entire project encompasses about 310,000 acres.
Estate planning book helps forest owners understand tax laws
Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2010The USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station has published, Estate Planning for Forest Landowners: What will become of your timberland?, with practical information about tax and estate planning and techniques involving forest properties (PDF). Tax, legal, forestry, insurance and other professionals will also benefit from the guidance offered in the book's 200-pages. Landowners and others may request paper copies by e-mail by sending their name and complete mailing address, along with the title, author and publication number (GTR-SRS-112) to: pubrequest@fs.fed.us.
Oregon State Forester elected SFI board chair
Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2010Oregon State Forester Marvin Brown has been elected Chair of the independent board of directors for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Inc., which is solely responsible for the non-profit SFI forest certification program. SFI Inc.'s 18-member board represents environmental, social and economic sectors equally so it can meet the many needs of forests and communities. Current board members include representatives of environmental, professional and academic groups, independent loggers, family forest landowners, public officials, labor and the forest products sector.
Study calls for more prescribed burns to reduce forest fire emissions
Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2010A new study published in Environmental Science and Technology found that widespread prescribed burns might have slashed fire-related carbon dioxide emissions in 11 Western states by an average of 18 to 25 percent between the years 2001 and 2008, and by as much as 60 percent in some forest systems.
USDA announces details and objectives of Office of Environmental Markets
Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010USDA press release: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced new details about the functions and objectives of USDA's Office of Environmental Markets (OEM). OEM, now part of USDA's Natural Resources and Environment mission area, will work to carry out USDA's climate and rural revitalization goals by supporting the development of emerging markets for carbon, water quality, wetlands and biodiversity.
The 2008 Farm Bill's Conservation Title directs the Secretary to facilitate the development of environmental markets and ensure the participation of America's farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. As set forth by Congress in the Farm Bill, OEM will work across government and in consultation with experts and stakeholders to build a market-based system for quantifying, registering, and verifying environmental benefits produced by land management activities.
Need for wood highlights invasive insect problems
Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010Months of heavy rains throughout the South have made it difficult for large logging equipment to get into the forests for harvesting. Desperate for wood for its central South Carolina mill, International Paper Co. has begun harvesting from Virginia, New York and Massachusetts -- states infested with gypsy moths, which defoliate a million acres of trees each year in the U.S. USDA has promised to work with International Paper on moth inspections of trees imported to the South for processing to avoid bringing the insect to South Carolina.
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