State Foresters were pleased with federal support for the nation’s forests as demonstrated in President Obama’s proposed FY2010 budget released earlier this month. The budget included $306 million for the U.S. Forest Service’s State and Private Forestry program, a $40 million increase over the 2009 omnibus. While this show of support is appreciated during austere budget conditions, NASF cautions that some critical program areas such as Forest Stewardship and Urban & Community Forestry continue to be underfunded. [MORE: See NASF’s appropriations recommendations for a number of priority forestry programs]