Testimony

This week firefighters and forest managers spoke at a briefing sponsored by the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change. While wildfires affect the western United States most heavily today, changing weather conditions in the East might make wildfire a more frequent occurrence in the more densely populated areas along the Atlantic Coast. Joe Duda, Deputy [read more]

Last week Alaska State Forester and NASF Vice President Chris Maisch testified on behalf of the State of Alaska in front of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. He was joined by other forest experts and government officials to address the improvement of forest health and management on Federal lands.  Maisch spoke about [read more]

The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing this week to explore ways to improve wildland fire management. Along with other witnesses, Oregon State Forester Doug Decker,  U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell and NAU’s Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) Director of Policy and Partnerships Diane Vosick testified. Through the lens of the Blue Mountain Project in [read more]

This week NASF President Randy Dye testified on invasive species before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation. During his testimony, Mr. Dye stressed the importance of continued and improved collaboration between federal, state and local partners to help deal with the increasing issue of invasive species on all [read more]

This week NASF teamed up with the Coalition Against Forest Pests to submit written testimony to the Senate Committee on Appropriations - Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies. The testimony encouraged the continued funding for programs at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The Coalition Against [read more]

This week, Georgia State Forester Robert Farris delivered testimony before the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee on behalf of the National Association of State Foresters. Robert’s testimony identified FY14 funding recommendations for NASF priority programs.

Wyoming State Forester Bill Crapser testified last week before the House Natural Resources Committee regarding “The Impact of Catastrophic Forest Fires and Litigation on People and Endangered Species." Mr. Crapser spoke on behalf of the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and the Council of Western State Foresters. During his testimony, he called for improved [read more]

This afternoon NASF President Randy Dye testified before the House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry regarding the 2012 Farm Bill. Mr. Dye submitted priority recommendations to the Subcommittee and spoke about the importance of Forest Action Plans as a resource providing an analysis of forest conditions and trends for each state [read more]

USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell testified this week before the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies on the proposed FY 2013 Forest Service budget.  According to an agency press release, the $4.86 billion budget request, an increase of $15.5 million from last year, will be administered through programs [read more]

Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell testified at a public hearing before the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry this week on issues related to forest health, including timber harvests, wildlife management, invasive species, and the U.S. Forest Service's planning rule. "The Forest Service recognizes the need for a strong forest industry to [read more]