News

Individuals and organizations honored for exemplary commitment to community fire protection. WASHINGTON—The Wildfire Mitigation Awards committee has named the seven recipients of this year's Wildfire Mitigation Awards. These individuals and organizations have earned the highest commendation for innovation and leadership in wildfire mitigation for their outstanding dedication to solving many of the most complex challenges posed by wildfire. Established in 2014 and co-sponsored [read more]

The National Association of State Foresters applauds President Trump’s executive order encouraging more active and collaborative forest management nationwide. WASHINGTON – In an executive order supported by the nation’s 59 state foresters, President Donald Trump has directed the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture Departments to coordinate wildfire mitigation and forest restoration efforts in close partnership [read more]

The National Association of State Foresters and the Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils have released a report documenting a 12 percent decrease in the use of prescribed fire on forested acreage nationwide since 2011. WASHINGTON—The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and the Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils (CPFC) have released the findings of their [read more]

In a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership, NASF and two dozen other signatories requested hurricane recovery support for southern forests. We respectfully ask that you: Extend or renew the USDA’s 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (WHIP) to provide landowners, especially where insurance is cost-prohibitive, with some recovery of lost value, and [read more]

The National Association of State Foresters has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the National Woodland Owners Association to advance shared state and private forestry objectives. WASHINGTON—The National Association of State Foresters and the National Woodland Owners Association have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance their memberships' shared state and private [read more]

The National Association of State Foresters thanks lawmakers for their efforts on the 2018 Farm Bill and weighs in on its Forestry Title. WASHINGTON—The nation's 59 state and territorial foresters are thankful that Congress has finalized a Forestry Title to be included in the 2018 Farm Bill, but disappointed in the bill's treatment of the Landscape Scale [read more]

Oregon senator, Idaho representative honored by state foresters for their leadership in finalizing a wildfire funding fix. WASHINGTON—The National Association of State Foresters today presented Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon and Representative Mike Simpson of Idaho with the 2018 Bernard L. Orell Award, commemorating their tireless work and tremendous leadership in advancing a comprehensive fix for funding wildfire [read more]

The National Association of State Foresters extends its congratulations to the newly appointed chief of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. WASHINGTON—The nation’s 59 state and territorial foresters offer their congratulations to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s pick for chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Matt Lohr. Lohr, a full-time family farmer in Virginia, served [read more]

In comments submitted to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service last week, NASF detailed its concerns regarding the federal deregulation of the emerald ash borer (EAB) and its recommendations for addressing those concerns. In cooperation with federal agencies, state forestry agencies have been at the forefront of EAB monitoring, early detection, delimiting, and outreach since [read more]

In a letter to the leaders of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, a long list of organizations pledged their support for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S.3223), introduced in July by Sens. Risch, Manchin, Alexander, and Heitkamp: We believe this legislation is a key part of a critical solution towards addressing the [read more]