Forest policy

Forest Service releases new proposed planning rule

smccreary — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:13:43 -0500

The Forest Service has released a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for land management planning for the National Forest System. USDA and Forest Service staff carefully considered nearly 300,000 comments received on the proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement to develop a preferred alternative, which is included in the PEIS.

S&PF handbook updated

smccreary — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:16:20 -0400

The USDA Forest Service has updated the "Principal Laws Relating State and Private Programs" handbook for 2011, which lists the major laws relating to the Cooperative Forestry Program of the State and Private Forestry mission area. The document is available on the web (http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/library/SPF-CF%20handbook.pdf) and in hardcopy (send requests to Mary Dempsey at mkdempsey@fs.fed.us).

New federal interagency council to promote recreation via 'Great Outdoors' initiative

smccreary — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:28:46 -0400

The Obama administration has established the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR) to coordinate and promote outdoor recreation on public lands, as part of the president's "America's Great Outdoors" initiative unveiled in February.

Vilsack extends roadless rule

smccreary — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:53:44 -0400

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is renewing for a third year an interim policy giving himself sole power to choose which logging or road projects are exempt from roadless protections on tens of millions of national forest acres. The policy temporarily extends the controversial Clinton administration roadless rule until the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decides its ultimate fate.

Forest Service Chief defends integrated fund

smccreary — Fri, 20 May 2011 10:16:34 -0400

Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell was grilled by the Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee this week over the agency's proposal to combine habitat, watershed and timber harvest programs into one "Integrated Resource Restoration" fund, E&E News reports (subscription).

UN Forum on Forests to consider improving livelihood and reducing poverty in forest areas

smccreary — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:57:48 -0500

Strategies that can help the world's forests to promote social development, livelihoods and poverty eradication will be the focus of the United Nations Forum on Forests, which will meet from 24 January to 4 February.

USDA seeks nominations for Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Advisory Committee

smccreary — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:50:22 -0500

The Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations from the public for a new Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Advisory Committee. Authorized by Title IV of Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, the purpose of the CFLR program is to encourage the collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority forest landscapes.

Forest Service to host public events on development of new planning rule

smccreary — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:18:42 -0500

The USDA Forest Service will sponsor a series of events to provide opportunities for public discussion on the development of a new Forest Service Land and Resource Management Planning Rule (planning rule). The agency will host a national science forum, three national roundtables and nine regional roundtables.

Tax tips for forest landowners for the 2009 tax year

smccreary — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:17:29 -0400

This bulletin (PDF) from the U.S. Forest Service summarizes federal income tax information useful to woodland owners in preparing their 2009 tax returns. It is current as of October 1, 2009, and supersedes Management Bulletin R8-MB 132. Visit the National Timber Tax website for more information.

Comment period for CSP interim final rule extended

smccreary — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:16:03 -0400

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the comment period for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) interim final rule to October 28. See the Federal Register notice for more information.