By Zoe Bommarito
Did you know that the Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Program was created to enhance outcomes for USDA Forest Service cooperative forestry programs? In a nutshell, this critically important program allows for the most cost-effective and coordinated implementation of crucial cross-boundary forest management projects nationwide.
LSR grants address forestry issues of national importance that the states have prioritized in their Forest Action Plans. State Forest Action Plans offer practical, long-term road maps for investing federal and non-federal resources in ways that are most effective for achieving national conservation goals.
A variety of forestry projects—from community tree inventories to stewardship planning—have been awarded LSR funding throughout the last decade. In celebration of 40 years of Cooperative Forestry—and to spread the word about the great work that has been done through LSR—we’ve highlighted a sampling of LSR successes below! (To read more LSR projects summaries, visit the Landscape Scale Restoration Project Search on the USDA Forest Service’s website.)
Bringing Urban Forestry Full Circle: Innovative, Localized Approaches for Capturing Value and Enhancing Public Benefits from Urban Forests
Lead agency: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Participating agencies: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources
This project focused on creating markets for urban trees killed by invasive forest pests like the Emerald Ash Borer. By encouraging urban wood utilization and community-led management of city trees, the partners were able to maximize the public benefits of their urban forests and foster public investment in their long-term health.
Developing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle/System Capabilities in the South
Lead agency: Mississippi Forestry Commission
Participating agencies: Alabama Forestry Commission, Virginia Department of Forestry, Georgia Forestry Commission, Kentucky Division of Forestry, North Carolina Forest Service, Oklahoma Forestry Services, South Carolina Forestry Commission, and Tennessee Division of Forestry.
This project utilizes unmanned aerial vehicles and systems (UAV/UAS) to monitor forest threats (like wildfire and pests) across ownerships and state boundaries. LSR funds are being used to explore and research the utilization of UAV/UAS in forest management and to train leading professionals throughout the region to use these emerging technologies.
Mountain States DON’T MOVE FIREWOOD Campaign
Lead agency: Wyoming State Forestry Division
Participating agencies: Colorado State Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
With invasive pests like the Emerald Ash Borer and Mountain Pine Beetle wreaking havoc on forests throughout the country, state foresters are doing everything possible to prevent the spread, but communities need to do their part too! This LSR project aims to educate the public on how to prevent these deadly pests from spreading.
Zoe Bommarito is NASF’s 2018 Winter and Spring James Hubbard Intern for Policy and Communications. She can be reached by email at intern@stateforesters.org.