NASF poll shows broad support for protecting and maintaining America's forests. WASHINGTON—In a poll commissioned by the National Association of State Foresters and released today in support of Arbor Day, voters across the country were found to strongly value forests as sources of clear air and water as well as providers of good-paying jobs and [read more]
NASF and several partners recently urged Senate leaders to avoid duplicative permitting requirements for public health and agricultural applications of pesticides. Entities affected by the new pesitcide general permit will include counties, municipalities, school districts, public utilities, parks, forestry, and farmers. Some states estimate it will cost each small business at least $15,000 per year [read more]
NASF advanced recommendations to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee regarding the strong role forest biomass can play as part of a federal Clean Energy Standard. The letter included recommendations regarding forest biomass supply, sustainability and carbon accounting that were endorsed by resolution at the 2010 NASF annual [read more]
NASF Vice President John Shannon (AR) was in Washington this week to testify before the House appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. Shannon discussed the association's recommendations for FY2012, which center on appropriations for the USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry programs. As states face the most challenging fiscal environment since the [read more]
NASF, alongside a diversity of forestry, environmental and conservation groups, recently sent letters to House and Senate appropriators demonstrating broad support for shared FY12 program funding recommendations for Urban and Community Forestry, Forest Inventory and Analysis, Forest Health, State Fire Assistance and the FLAME account within the USDA Forest Service. The letters were sent as [read more]
WASHINGTON—The National Association of State Foresters applauded a new strategy from U.S. Department of Agriculture that will promote the use of wood as a green building material. Announcement of the new pro-wood policy came from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at an event launching the U.S. celebration of the International Year of Forests March 30 in [read more]
WASHINGTON—A new roadmap for interagency wildland fire management across the country has been released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI). Representatives from the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) played a key role in the crafting of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (Cohesive Strategy). "State [read more]
"Celebrate Forests, Celebrate Life" campaign highlights how American forests contribute to health and livelihoods. WASHINGTON—Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, key members of Congress including Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), and a consortium of top officials from America's leading forest and conservation organizations, will join together to highlight the importance [read more]
NASF led a coalition of organizations urging support for priority Forest Service programs and funding levels for the 2011 budget. The letter, sent to members of Interior Appropriations, acknowledged the nation's forest infrastructure as critical in providing numerous public benefits and stressed the importance of programs that assist private forest owners with their efforts to conserve [read more]
State Foresters responded to the release of President Obama's fiscal year 2012 budget last week by urging the Administration and Congress to adopt a bipartisan approach to budget compromises that does not compromise America's forests and forest economies. Jake Donnay, NASF Policy Director has prepared an Issue Brief that addresses both the FY12 budget and [read more]
