In official comments sent to the USDA, the National Association of State Foresters responded to the Executive Order "Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad." America’s trees and forests are a strategic national resource with vast potential as solutions for climate change, public health, and economic challenges. Wildland fire is a national crisis – [read more]
In a letter to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment and and Related Agencies, fifty organizations stated their support for increased fiscal year (FY) 2022 funding for the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. We urge Congress to support FIA at no less than $93.5M in [read more]
In a Dear Colleague letter to the chair and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, members of the House asked that funding for the State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Fire Assistance programs be increased in fiscal year (FY) 2022 to help state and local agencies fight wildfires across the [read more]
In a letter to House members, a coalition of diverse organizations, businesses, professional societies, state fish and wildlife agencies, and tribal nations requested support for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. The bipartisan bill was introduced today by Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell and Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry. Read the support letter in full by clicking the [read more]
The National Association of State Foresters has submitted written testimony to the House Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies concerning FY 2022 USDA Forest Service Appropriations. State foresters deliver technical and financial assistance, along with forest health, water, and wildfire protection to more than two-thirds of the nation’s 751 million acres of forests. The [read more]
Fifty groups have signed on to a letter asking appropriators to fund the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) at $30 million (including $22 million for program work under the new budget structure) for fiscal year 2022. FSP equips private forest landowners with the unbiased, science-based information they need to sustainably manage their forests now and into [read more]
Smokey Bear Awards are reserved for individuals, teams, and organizations that provide outstanding service with significant and sustained program impact in the wildfire prevention arena. WASHINGTON—The partners behind the wildfire prevention legend Smokey Bear and his public service advertisement campaign—the longest running in United States history—have announced the 2021 winners of the national Smokey Bear [read more]
WASHINGTON—Ahead of spring outdoor recreation season, the USDA Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council today announced a new public service advertisement (PSA) from Smokey Bear's Wildfire Prevention campaign encouraging Americans to explore nature responsibly by taking steps to prevent wildfires. "Smokey Bear continues his mission in this campaign to [read more]
The four co-sponsors of the national Wildfire Mitigation Awards have named the individuals chosen to receive honors this year in recognition of their exemplary commitment to community wildfire risk reduction. WASHINGTON—The Wildfire Mitigation Awards committee has named the three individuals chosen to receive 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Awards. This year's recipients have earned the highest commendation [read more]
The National Association of State Foresters has submitted formal comments to the USDA Forest Service regarding its guidebook chapter on Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). States are an essential partner in realizing GNA accomplishments; and NASF continues to appreciate the efforts by the Forest Service to embrace coordinating with state forestry agencies on GNA policy and [read more]
