NASF RESOLUTION No. 2008-1: Endorsing priority concepts to advance as action requests with a new Administration.

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION: NASF Executive Committee

ISSUE OF CONCERN: 2009 Presidential Transition

BACKGROUND: Anticipating the 2008 presidential election, the National Association of State Foresters should exert early leadership by communicating priority concepts with the presidential candidates, and by advancing those concepts as action requests with the newly elected Administration. Both candidates are promising a "change" agenda that includes climate change and energy as priorities. This presents an opportunity to help craft clear, solutions-oriented policies that recognize the unique contributions of forests and state forestry agencies.

A Presidential Transition Package serves as a framework for advancing NASF priorities with a new Administration. The package consists of an introductory letter and a white paper ("Four Actions to Support Sustainable Forests"). These documents request Administration leadership and pledge NASF assistance to advance four priority actions:

1) Framework for Sustainable Forests - Establish a national framework to enhance cooperation and communication between federal, state, tribal, and local governments and private landowners to keep forests forested and working forests working;
2) Targeted Federal Funding: Target federal funding to support effective state and private forestry programs that help keep two-thirds of the nation's forests forested and healthy;
3) Fire Suppression Funding Fix: Implement a rational budget approach to deal with catastrophic wildland fires and the impacts on federal agency budgets without sacrificing other important federal forest management programs; and
4) Forest Energy & Climate Initiatives: Implement national initiatives that recognize forests' role in producing sustainable energy and mitigating climate change.

These actions should be taken within the first 100 days of a new Administration to address political, policy and programmatic elements needed for an integrated approach to sustainable forests. Such an approach will assure our nation's forests continue to provide traditional benefits as well as contribute to solutions for new environmental, energy, and climate challenges. This is consistent with new Administration priorities and will demonstrate how state forestry agencies are in a unique position to contribute to those priorities.

RESOLUTION: The members of the National Association of State Foresters endorse the following four (4) priority concepts to advance action requests with a new Administration:
• Framework for Sustainable Forests
• Targeted Federal Funding
• Fire Suppression Funding Fix
• Forest Energy & Climate Initiatives

NASF members endorse communication of these priority concepts through a Presidential Transition Package. The final Presidential Transition Package is subject to amendment by the NASF Executive Committee based upon member input and post-election needs.

NASF ACTION:
( X ) Approved

DATE OF ACTION:
October 1, 2008