Blog
Forest tax seminar June 12 in Washington, DC
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009The U.S. Forest Service is offering a Forest Tax Primer seminar June 12 in Washington, DC. The one-hour program will discuss new tax incentives enacted by the 2008 Farm Bill encouraging land conservation and wood biomss energy production, timber income and expenses, carbon payment and proposed IRS regulation. Contact National Forest Taxation Specialist Linda Wang (lwang@fs.fed.us) for more information.
Bruce Wight named NRCS National Forester
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009Bruce Wight has been named National Forester for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Wight is currently NRCS's National Agroforester, located at the USDA National Agroforestry Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. He begins his tenure in Washington, DC, on July 19, replacing Andy Mason who served a two-year detail as National Forester since 2007.
Report on TN forests reveals changes in species, age and ownership
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009The amount of forestland in Tennessee remains stable, but is changing in terms of species, age and ownership according to a newly released report by the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS) Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry.
Ag secretary asserts executive power over roadless area decisions
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that all proposed activities in roadless areas on national forests -- including logging, road-building and road reconstruction -- must meet his direct approval for at least a year while the Obama administration decides how to handle a controversial Clinton-era roadless rule.
Lingering uncertainty over Ag undersecretary pick
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009Some observers in the West wonder if President Barack Obama’s selection of Homer Wilkes reflects the administration's lack of focus on public lands. In his new role, Wilkes, a longtime Natural Resources Conservation Service official in Mississippi, inherits the troubled legacy of his predecessor Mark Rey.
Human-caused wildfires increase in CA
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009Government statistics show that a growing number of wildfires in California are caused by people. Between 2006 and 2008, Southern California was the only region of the country to see a significant jump in the number of wildfires blamed on people. [MORE: Learn more about NASF's wildfire prevention work at http://www.stateforesters.org/smokey_bear/smokey_bear.
Billions at stake as lawmakers grapple with 'renewable' definition
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009A recent article in the New York Times looks at the many interests with a stake in a definition of renewable energy. Both houses in Congress are moving legislation to establish national quotas for renewable energy sources, including the climate bill passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week. [MORE: South Dakota lawmakers seek to fix language that act prevents federal forest waste from being used as a renewable fuel source; an NASF letter is cited.]
Indian tribe in NV to use waste wood to revive land and generate income
Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009The Moapa Band of Paiutes is demonstrating how it can use the debris of Las Vegas to help build the tribe’s future — an organic farm. Waste wood from demolished buildings and broken palettes is creating mulch that will be sold and used to restore farmland.
NASF joins 41 organizations in pushing for forestry offsets
Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009On May 18, NASF signed on with more than forty organizations to a joint letter to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and Subcommittee on Energy and Environment leadership urging the inclusion of forestry offsets in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (Waxman-Markey). This is part of NASF's ongoing work with the Forest Climate Working Group coalition to ensure recognition of forestry in practical and effective federal climate change legislation.
NASF speaks on biomass
Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009NASF Executive Director Jay Farrell was one of five panelists that presented views on federal biomass legislation to a national webinar audience on May 15. Approximately 120 participants from across the nation learned and discussed the positions of the American Forest Foundation, the Forest Guild, the National Alliance of Forest Owners, NASF, and the Society of American Foresters. The webinar was part of an ongoing educational series sponsored by North Carolina State University. Copies of the webinar presentation are available under "Previous Webinars" at: http://www.forestrywebinar.net/
Waxman-Markey bill talks on biomass definition unresolved
Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009The latest draft of the Waxman-Markey bill contained a compromise on the definition of a renewable feedstock that would allow the use of some non-commercial biomass removed from federally managed forests but may not be enough to generate new wood-based bioenergy markets particularly in the western U.S. On Tuesday the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted down Rep. Greg Walden's (R-OR) more permissive amendment, which included language similar to the renewable biomass definition found in the 2008 Farm bill. NASF continues to work with both House and Senate chambers to advance a definition which is consistent with six core principles.
NACD seeks new chief executive officer
Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009NACD President Steve Robinson officially announced the opening of NACD's search for a new CEO to lead and oversee its operations. NACD staff member Brad Ross will serve as Interim CEO during the transition. Additional information about the position qualifications and application process is available on NACD's website at http://www.nacdnet.org/news/CEO_job_summary.pdf.
Joint Forestry Team launches website
Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009NASF, the U.S. Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the National Association of Conservation Districts have launched a new website (http://www.jointforestryteam.org) as part of their partnership in the Joint Forestry Team. The Team's mission is to work together to improve forestry and conservation assistance and resources to increase the number of state and local-level partnerships and enhance existing cooperative activities. The website features a recent webinar hosted jointly by the team, success stories from around the country and the ability to submit additional stories from our members.
NASF to host webinar on federal climate legislation
Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009NASF Forest Markets Committee Chair and Maine State Forester Alec Giffen is hosting a webinar on federal climate legislation, Wednesday, May 27, 3-4:30 pm (EDT). The webinar will be led by Ellen Hawes, Policy Analyst for Environment Northeast, and Jad Daley, Director of Northern New England Programs for The Trust for Public Land. The session will discuss research on the carbon impacts of forest management, an update on efforts to include forests in international and regional climate change agreements and an overview of current legislation, including the Waxman-Markey bill. To participate, RSVP to Ellen Hawes (ehawes@env-ne.org).
State Foresters weigh in on president's proposed budget
Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009State Foresters were pleased with federal support for the nation's forests as demonstrated in President Obama's proposed FY2010 budget released earlier this month. The budget included $306 million for the U.S. Forest Service's State and Private Forestry program, a $40 million increase over the 2009 omnibus. While this show of support is appreciated during austere budget conditions, NASF cautions that some critical program areas such as Forest Stewardship and Urban & Community Forestry continue to be underfunded. [MORE: See NASF's appropriations recommendations for a number of priority forestry programs]
Colorado job opportunities
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) has two open positions: Communications Manager - Assistant Staff Forester and Assistant Staff Forester - Forest Entomologist. Visit http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/employment.html for more information.
Spotters in towers help prevent wildfires
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009Despite advances in technology, no satellite, radar or spotter plane can do the job as well and as quickly as a human can. "The human element is still very difficult to replace," said James Barnier, WI Department of Natural Resources forest fire suppression specialist.
EAB found in Minnesota
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009The long-expected emerald ash borer was found this week in Minnesota, which has the nation's second-highest number of ash trees after Maine. Many of the state's ash trees were planted to replace trees killed by Dutch elm disease.
DOE targets $800M in stimulus funds to accelerate biofuels research and commercialization
Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2009As part of the ongoing effort to increase the use of domestic renewable fuels, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu recently announced plans to provide $786.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate advanced biofuels research and development and to provide additional funding for commercial-scale biorefinery demonstration projects.
Alabama launches defensible space initiative
Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2009The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has embarked on an initiative to encourage homeowners living in the wildland urban interface to increase their home's defensible space. Where possible, AFC will provide cost-share programs to help with the expenses related to hazardous fuel reduction in these wildfire-prone communities and other priority areas covered under community wildfire protection plans.
Funding opportunity from the Joint Fire Science Program
Posted on Wednesday, May 13, 2009The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) provides funding for scientific studies to address problems associated with managing wildland fuels, fires, and fire-impacted ecosystems. The JFSP is soliciting start-up proposals to develop a national network of regional consortia working together to enhance fire science delivery and adoption within a specified geographic region. For more information, visit http://www.firescience.gov.
Paper and forest companies' role in the climate debate
Posted on Wednesday, May 13, 2009The forest and paper industry is asserting its role in the conversation surrounding developing energy legislation and America's activities in regards to climate change. "Balancing greenhouse gas reductions with a regulatory cost structure that preserves the viability of U.S. manufacturers...is both an economic and environmental priority," said Rhea Hale, director for climate and air programs at the American Forest and Paper Association.
Landownership questions loom in advance of international climate talks
Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009A new report from the International Institute for Environment and Development addresses questions about who decides and owns forest resources in the debate among reduced deforestation stakeholders in countries with tropical rainforests. The possible inclusion of "reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation," or REDD, projects in a post-2012 global climate change framework could mean exploitation of local communities by governments or powerful private-sector stakeholders if land tenure has not been formally established, according the the report's authors.
President's proposed budget includes 15% increase for State & Private Forestry
Posted on Friday, May 8, 2009President Obama's proposed FY2010 budget was released this week, and included $306 million for the U.S. Forest Service's State and Private Forestry program area, a $40 million (15%) increase over the 2009 omnibus for the agency. More specific dollar amounts for NASF's key priority areas have not yet been released. In addition, the budget proposes creation of a discretionary reserve fund for use if fire suppression dollars in the Forest Service and Department of the Interior coffers are exhausted before the end of the fire season.
NASF and others urge Congress to consider forest biomass in energy legislation
Posted on Friday, May 8, 2009This week NASF joined 68 other organizations and signed on to a letter urging House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee leadership to include renewable forest biomass as an energy source to meet a renewable electricity standard (RES). The RES is a focus in both chambers where efforts to bring energy legislation to committee markups hit a few obstacles this week.
Obama names Homer Lee Wilkes to oversee Forest Service & NRCS
Posted on Wednesday, May 6, 2009President Barack Obama announced this week his intent to nominate Homer Lee Wilkes as Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wilkes, a 28-year veteran of the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service, will serve with Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Ag Secretary announces $224 million in funding to reduce hazardous fuels
Posted on Wednesday, May 6, 2009Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $224 million this week for 110 hazardous fuels reduction and ecosystem improvement projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The projects are located on forested lands in over 26 states and territories. Click here for a full listing of the hazardous fuels and ecosystem restoration projects by state.
Green infrastructure summit and urban trees forum
Posted on Wednesday, May 6, 2009The Alliance for Community Trees is organizing the first annual Green Infrastructure Summit and Urban Trees Forum to pursue changes in domestic policy with a new Congress and a new administration. The two days of Hill meetings and discussions will take place at The Methodist Building on Capitol Hill at 100 Maryland Avenue NE in Washington, DC.
Collaborative effort eradicates invasive pampas grass from Hawaiian island
Posted on Wednesday, May 6, 2009The Kaua‘i Marriott and the Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee teamed up recently to remove the island’s pampas grass population. The project was part of a long-term program dedicated to habitat protection and restoration on the Kaua‘i Lagoons Golf Club. A once commonly used ornamental, pampas grass is now listed on the state noxious weed list and has become a problematic invasive species in Hawai‘i where it has spread into agricultural and natural areas creating a fire hazard and out competing other species.
New insight into hazards of forest fire smoke
Posted on Tuesday, May 5, 2009Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA, report that a “substantial fraction” of the tiny particles in forest fire smoke are plant alkaloids, which can be toxic. Because these compounds eventually find their way back to the ground and water, forest fires may be a significant source of biologically useful nitrogen and may affect cloud formation and precipitation patterns as well.
Policy group launches online state climate tracker
Posted on Tuesday, May 5, 2009The New America's Foundation's climate policy team has created an online tool that tracks climate action in 33 U.S. states. The State Climate Policy Tracker seeks to compile state-by-state data on carbon and energy initiatives meant to address global warming. The tool is a single spreadsheet that examines climate activity across six economic sectors. It reports on the progress of such measures, estimates costs and predicts carbon emissions reductions to be achieved on an annual basis.
AFF now accepting comments on revised Standards of Sustainability
Posted on Friday, May 1, 2009The American Forest Foundation is accepting comments on its revised Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification on Private Lands (2009-2013), May 1 through June 29. The AFF Standards are the basis for its forest certification program, the American Tree Farm System (ATFS). To submit comments on the revised AFF Standards, please visit www.forestfoundation.org or email: Certification@forestfoundation.org for more information.
Colorado embarks on pilot project to turn beetle kill into charcoal
Posted on Friday, May 1, 2009The Colorado State Forest Service has partnered with a Colorado-based company, Biochar Engineering Corp., to deal with the growing need to remove forest brush that spreads wildfires and scrawny and diseased trees infested by spreading beetle epidemics. The pilot experiment has the potential to keep more carbon on the ground, fertilize soils, and earn back money at the same time.
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