NASF stands behind Jim Hubbard

By Kiera Quigley

Today NASF was on Capitol Hill supporting Jim Hubbard, President Donald J. Trump's pick to lead the USDA's natural resources and environment mission area, which includes the USDA Forest Service.

At Hubbard's confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee today, no one in attendance was surprised to hear the former Colorado state forester emphasize the importance of cross-boundary work.

In his testimony, Hubbard recalled the Hayman Fire and the crucial cross-boundary fuels treatments that saved housing developments from destruction. The former NASF president also said that Good Neighbor Authority has “allowed the state and the federal agencies to coordinate on implementing high-priority projects.”

In response to concerns Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., expressed about the increasing intensity of wildfires across the country, Hubbard explained that more active management leads to healthier and more resilient forests. But the Forest Service alone cannot achieve this, he added: “My approach, if confirmed, would be to sit down with the states and determine where we can do the most good and where we should make our investments.”

Pictured above: Jim Hubbard (left), USDA NRE undersecretary appointee, and Jay Farrell (right), executive director of NASF.

Kiera Quigley​ is NASF's 2018 Summer James Hubbard Intern for Policy and Communications. She can be reached by email at intern@stateforesters.org.

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