Issues
State Foresters Call on Green Building Sector to Drive Economic Growth through Wood Use
Posted on Friday, September 30, 2011NASF applauded a new report from the USDA Forest Service showing that wood is superior to other construction materials in terms of environmental benefits. There is a well-established scientific understanding that wood products use less energy and provide greater environmental benefits than alternative building materials.
NASF Resolution No. 2011-2: Landscape-Scale Forest Management in the Vicinity of Federal Lands
Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2011A resolution on the value of collaborative landscape-scale management for the long-term health and sustainability of all forests.
NASF Resolution No. 2011-3: Forest Action Plans and Federal Budget Formulations
Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2011A resolution on the use of the Statewide Forest Resource Assessments and Strategies (Forest Action Plans) in budget formulation and funding allocation decisions for Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (CFAA) programs.
NASF Letter: comments on USDA Forest Service aerial application of fire retardant (June 24, 2011)
Posted on Friday, June 24, 2011NASF supports the U.S. Forest Service aerial delivery of fire retardants under "Guidelines for Aerial Application of Retardant or Foam Near Waterways," which are designed to minimize the impact of aerially delivered fire retardants on aquatic life and habitat. Often the use of fire retardants and/or foam is the only practical way to reduce wildfire intensities and rate of spread until ground forces can safely take suppression action. Continuing the use of fire retardants/foam is essential for firefighter and public safety.
NASF Letter: Comments on Proposed Forest Service Planning Rule (May 16, 2011)
Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011Because of the interconnected nature of the threats to all the nation's forests regardless of ownership, NASF has a strong interest in the management of National Forest System lands, and therefore a strong interest in efforts to create a new planning rule. To be successful, a planning rule must afford enough flexibility for regions and forests to address their unique set of issues while providing a solid framework for management activities needed to ensure the ecological, social and economic elements of sustainability. We believe that state foresters can and should play a unique role in the planning process.
State Foresters Praise New USDA Green Building Strategy
Posted on Friday, April 1, 2011NASF applauded a new strategy from U.S. Department of Agriculture that will promote the use of wood as a green building material. USDA's strategy will direct the U.S. Forest Service to preferentially select wood in new building construction while maintaining its commitment to certified green building standards. Announcement of the new pro-wood policy came from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at an event launching the U.S. celebration of the International Year of Forests March 30 in Washington, DC.
State Foresters Help Deliver National Strategy for Wildland Fire Management
Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2011A new roadmap for interagency wildland fire management across the country has been released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI). Representatives from NASF played a key role in the crafting of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.
Robust Forest Census Needed for Comprehensive Carbon Data
Posted on Friday, October 15, 2010State Foresters responded to federal estimates of the total carbon storage of U.S. forests today by calling for a current and accurate forest inventory to better address issues of climate change, biomass, and land use in the nation's forests.
Briefing paper: State Forestry Agency Perspectives Regarding 2009 Federal Wildfire Policy Implementation (July 2010)
Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010
In 2009, federal agencies clarified existing agency fire policy, leading to changes in terminology and how some wildfires were managed. To proactively address these issues within the construct of resource-benefit wildfire management strategies, NASF has endeavored to capture lessons learned from the 2009 fire season and provide recommendations as to how they can be incorporated in future wildfire incidents. The intent is to improve the level of cooperation and understanding by all parties engaged in or affected by wildfires that are managed for multiple objectives.State Forestry Agencies Identify Priority Lands and Issues Across America
Posted on Monday, June 21, 2010The fifty-nine members of the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) have completed the first-ever comprehensive suite of Statewide Forest Resource Assessments and Strategies as part of a national effort towards protecting and sustaining healthy forests. The assessments provide an analysis of forest conditions and trends in the state and identify priority rural and urban forest areas and issues. The strategies provide long-term plans for addressing needs identified in the assessments through state agency initiatives, partner engagement and federal investments. Individually and as a whole, the Statewide Forest Resource Assessments and Strategies represent an invaluable asset to the nation for forest conservation decision making.
