Blog
Trees lost to beetles will be used to heat homes
Posted on Friday, January 30, 2009The loss of trees in Worcester, MA, and surrounding communities because of Asian longhorned beetles may be an environmental tragedy, but the trees lost are not being wasted. The wood is not good for lumber because the risk of spreading the destructive beetles, but the bulk of the now junk trees will go to creating energy for the electric grid.
New post for former USDA deputy under secretary Melissa Simpson
Posted on Friday, January 30, 2009Melissa Simpson, former U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, has joined the Washington DC office of Pac/West, a public relations and government affairs firm.
Cheatgrass will migrate with climate change
Posted on Friday, January 30, 2009Climate change will help some of the West's most troublesome invasive plants conquer new territory, but the pesky invaders will also retreat from some currently infested areas.
CWSF/WFLC: Western Forest Planner - Special Assignment
Posted on Friday, January 30, 2009Colorado State Forest Service has announced a position within the Council of Western State Foresters/ Western Forestry Leadership Coalition for a Western Forest Planner - Special Assignment (two- year duration). Closing date is March 6, 2009.
NV Division of Forestry recruiting for Deputy State Forester & Forester
Posted on Friday, January 30, 2009The Nevada Division of Forestry is recruiting for a Deputy State Forester and a Forester II in the Northern Region.
Boy Scouts under fire for logging practices
Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2009In a scathing expose, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer details a Hearst Newspapers investigation that found dozens of cases over the past 20 years of local Boy Scout councils logging or selling prime woodlands to big timber interests, developers or others, turning quick money and often doing so instead of seeking ways to preserve such lands. Paul Tauke, Iowa State Forester, is quoted in the article.
Cleveland sets up community-based carbon fund
Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2009The new Cleveland Carbon Fund allows individuals and companies in Northeast Ohio to reduce their own carbon footprint by buying into a fund administered by the Cleveland Foundation. Organizers are calling the venture the "first-ever community-based, open-access carbon reduction fund" in the country. Money from the fund will go to nonprofit organizations for local projects such as tree planting and solar panel installments.
Governors urge EPA to delay soil fumigant measures
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2009The National Governors Association sent a letter to newly installed EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson this week regarding soil fumigant pesticides that growers say are essential to state reforestation efforts but which environmentalists say are harmful to human health. The letter, signed by Govs. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and Brian Schweitzer (D-MT), urges EPA to delay for two years mitigation measures the agency proposed to attach to several pesticides' reregistration eligibility decisions (REDs) that the agency issued in 2008. The mandates would "put nurseries at serious risk of closure, severely decreasing the available seedlings for reforestation purposes," the governors say in their letter.
For more about this issue, read: Impacts of EPA Soil Fumigant REDs on Regenerating America's Forests (PDF)Companies compete for woody biomass in Hawaii
Posted on Monday, January 26, 2009Six companies are competing intensely for trees that can be turned into badly needed energy and coveted wood products on the big island of Hawaii. Leading the race is Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC, which plans to spend $40 million to put the retired 22-megawatt Hilo Coast Power Co. generator back on line. Hamakua Biomass Energy LLC, in contrast, plans to spend about $200 million to build a 30-megawatt plant farther up the coast.
Environmental issues slide in public poll
Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009The New York Times reports that Americans, preoccupied with the economy, are less worried about rising global temperatures than they were a year ago but remain concerned with solving the nation's energy problems.
Senate confirms EPA and CEQ posts
Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009The Senate confirmed former New Jersey environmental chief Lisa P. Jackson on Thursday to be Environmental Protection Agency administrator; the Senate also confirmed Nancy H. Sutley, Obama’s pick to chair the White House Council on Environmental Quality, by voice vote.
NRCS announces request for applications for Conservation Innovation Grants
Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) 2009 announcement is now available on grants.gov and the NRCS CIG national website. The closing date for applications is March 02, 2009. CIG is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production.
NASF-Arbor Day partnership to plant 3 million trees in 11 states
Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009The Arbor Day Foundation has accepted tree planting proposals in 11 states so far as part of its reforestation partnership with NASF. Michigan, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Nebraska, Washington, Georgia, Indiana, and Puerto Rico will plant more than 3 million trees combined, Watershed restoration, ecosystem restoration, fire rehabilitation, and wildlife habitat protection are just a few of the benfits these projects will provide. "This is a program that will continue to flourish for years to come as the Arbor Day Foundation and state foresters advance a common mission of celebrating the many benefits that trees bring to our forests," said Brad Brandt, reforestation manager at the Arbor Day Foundation. For more information about reforestation as well as other programs visit www.arborday.org. For questions regarding this partnership, please contact Brad Brandt at 402-473-9619 or bbrandt@arborday.org.
Western tree death rates double
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009The death rates of trees in western U.S. forests have doubled over the past two to three decades, according to a new study spearheaded by the U.S. Geological Survey, driven in large part by warmer temperatures and water scarcity linked to climate change.
Fire Suppression Funding Solutions Coalition meets in DC
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009NASF, The Wilderness Society and American Forests co-hosted the first meeting of the Fire Suppression Funding Solutions Coalition on January 12 in Washington, DC. More than fifty organizations attended the meeting either in person or by phone. This coalition will work to promote a legislative solution to the fire suppression budgeting issue.
OR Dept. of Forestry: Chief of the Administrative Services Division
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009The Oregon Department of Forestry is seeking highly qualified candidates to fill the position of Chief of the Administrative Services Division. The position is located at Salem headquarters and serves as a principal executive of the Oregon Department of Forestry. The Division Chief is responsible for organizational leadership and management that directly supports the Oregon Board of Forestry's and the agency's mission. Deadline is 02/23/2009.
Senate confirms Vilsack as agriculture secretary; Salazar as interior
Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2009The U.S. Senate confirmed former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as U.S. agriculture secretary on Tuesday, a job he plans to use to promote renewable energy including biofuels and put healthier food in America's school meals. The Senate also approved Ken Salazar to be the new interior secretary; he resigned his position as Colorado's senior U.S. senator to take the post.
Foresters' salary surprisingly low?
Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2009An article on careerbuilder.com looks at "5 Salaries You Thought Would Be Higher." Unlike fishers, HVAC mechanics, painters and court reporters, apparently "few of us probably even realize that being a forester is a real job." Yet managing the health and well-being of America's forest is "a huge task that requires a lot of research and coordination with property owners. When you consider just how important healthy, green land is to air quality and the environment, you'd probably expect foresters to have higher compensation."
Beetle-kill in WY and CO a danger to infrastructure
Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009The pine beetle epidemic devastating forests in Wyoming and Colorado could endanger roads, power lines and other infrastructure as millions of acres of trees fall to the ground. "Right now it's is so big there's really nothing you can do to stop it," said Bill Crapser, WY state forester. "So really what we have to focus on now is public safety ... and what we want the future forest to look like and start to position ourselves to move to that."
NASF office closed in Washington, DC, January 19-20
Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009The NASF office will be closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday on Monday, January 19. The office will also be closed on Tuesday, January 20, due to inauguration-related travel restrictions in the DC area.
Free AF&PA webinar on green building Jan. 30
Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009AF&PA is co-hosting a free webinar on January 30 with the Wood Building Network. The webinar will feature experts from the Green Building Initiative (sponsors of the Green Globes rating system) and will discuss how wood products fare under the different green building rating systems being used to evaluate construction. Federal and state green building legislation impacting the use of wood nationally and regionally will also be discussed. Register for free at: https://thegbi.webex.com/thegbi/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=827869770
Obama's USDA nominee says he will promote biofuels
Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack said Wednesday he would promote renewable energy technologies such as biofuels, wind, solar and geothermal energy.
Communities Committee releases manual on managing a community-owned forest
Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009The Communities Committee has published a new manual entitled, "Acquiring and Managing a Community-Owned Forest: A Manual for Communities." The document provides a guide for communities interested in establishing a community-owned forest, whether just beginning to think about a project or re-engaging community residents around land already in community ownership.
Here's how to comment on the 2010 Draft National Report on Sustainable Forests
Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009Along with its series of three National Review Workshops, the Roundtable on Sustainable Forests'will also hold a series of web-based conferences (Webinars) on the draft report. The Webinars are intended for all individuals who have interest in the state of the Nation's forests, and/or who plan to attend one of the upcoming Review Workshops. Webinar # 1: Friday, January 16, 1-2 pm (EST); Webinar # 2: Thursday, January 22, 3:30-5 pm (EST)
Top 5 invasive plants threatening southern forests
Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009Cogongrass, tallowtree, and Japanese climbing fern are among the fastest moving and most destructive nonnative plant species facing many southern landowners this year, according to U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS) Ecologist Jim Miller, PhD. "Rounding out the top five invasive species that I'm very concerned about would be tree-of-heaven and nonnative privets.
State partnership promotes motorized trail restoration and improvement
Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009The partnership and cooperation between the Huron-Manistee National Forests and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is critical to OHV recreation in Michigan. State grants provide funding for the materials and maintenance of the motorized trail system and also allows the U.S. Forest Service to complete larger projects that would not be possible without such funding.
WFLC hires two new staff
Posted on Friday, January 9, 2009The Western Forestry Leadership Coalition has filled a key vacancy and added a specialist position on staff with the hiring of Dana Coelho as its new Program Manager and Marcia Patton- Mallory as Bioenergy and Climate Change Specialist.
In the UK, wood for fuel could create more jobs and provide renewable energy
Posted on Friday, January 9, 2009Even in one of the least forested countries, the role of wood in solving national needs is influencing policy discussions. "With some sensible government support, a plan to reforest 1 or 2% of the UK clearly makes economic sense, not least because of its potential employment impact and for its effect on carbon reduction."
Forest study shows excess nitrogen means more carbon storage
Posted on Friday, January 9, 2009A team of scientists has found that by releasing one pollutant into the environment, we might help capture another. Findings from one of the National Science Foundation's longest-running studies show that adding nitrogen to soil prompts northern hardwood forests to absorb more heat-trapping carbon dioxide.
New life for fallen city trees
Posted on Friday, January 9, 2009Urbanwood is a Michigan partnership that rescues felled city trees in routes them to small, local sawmills where they eventually become hardwood floors and other home products. The group's sustainability approach utilizes dead urban trees from Michigan's emerald ash borer outbreak and diverts them from landfills. Similar projects are popping up around the country.
NWCG updates Federal Wildland Fire Policy Implementation
Posted on Friday, January 9, 2009A National Wildfire Coordinating Group memo recently announced an update to Federal Wildland Fire Policy Implementation. "The revision allows fire managers to manage a fire for multiple objectives and increase managers' flexibility to respond to changing incident conditions and firefighting capability while strengthening strategic and tactical decision implementation supporting public safety and resource management objectives."
Forest Service leadership changes
Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2009Hank Kashdan has accepted the position of Associate Chief, following Sally Collins, who was named last month by Agriculture Secretary Ed Shafer as the Director of the newly created USDA Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets. Hank's position of Deputy Chief for Business Operation will be filled by Chuck Myers, who is now an Associate Deputy Chief for the National Forest System and was previously Regional Forester in the agency's Southern Region (R8).
Roundtable on Sustainable Forests to hold review workshops for 2010 Draft National Report
Posted on Monday, January 5, 2009The Roundtable on Sustainable Forests has announced a series of three National Review Workshops in February and March for public input on the Draft National Report on Sustainable Forests: 2010. The dates and locations for the Review Workshops are:
- February 4 and 5, 2009, Denver, CO;
- February 24 and 25, 2009, Athens, GA; and
- March 23, 2009, Washington, DC.
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