By Robyn Whitney Last week before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, USDA Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen provided glowing testimony on the efficacy of state and private forestry programs, including those most important to state foresters and their agencies. Below are a few choice excerpts from the hearing: On Forest [read more]
By Whitney Forman-Cook | This blog is a cross-post that appeared in the Summer 2020 edition of the National Woodlands Magazine. The way federal dollars are allocated to state forestry agencies for Forest Stewardship programs will change soon – but don’t worry, it’s a good thing for private forestland owners. Within the USDA Forest Service’s [read more]
By Tyler Hoguet You generally won't see the Firefighter Property Program (FFP) and the Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program included in NASF's annual appropriations recommendations; however, state foresters know that FEPP and FFP are instrumental in helping their agencies fight wildfire nationwide. Both FEPP and FFP help state and local agencies secure much needed firefighting [read more]
By Tyler Hoguet This week was a busy one for state foresters on Capitol Hill. George Geissler, Laura McCarthy, and Thom Porter all appeared (virtually) before members of Congress this week to discuss the difficulties of fighting wildfire during the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington State Forester George Geissler’s testimony before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources [read more]
While NASF leadership was in town this week for the first of three 2020 Executive Committee meetings, the state foresters of Virginia, South Dakota, and Nebraska held a Hill briefing for U.S. House of Representatives staffers on urban and community forestry. State-led Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) programs provide critical assistance to communities in establishing [read more]
By Keith Wood and Josh Knoll Earlier this month, the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition (SUFC) held its 14th Annual Meeting in Arlington, Virginia, at The Nature Conservancy’s headquarters. It was a chance for a wide array of community forestry stakeholders—including city planners, educators, landscape architects, non-profit leaders, scientists, arborists, foresters, and nurserymen and women—to come [read more]
By Ryan Martini This week, members of the National Association of State Foresters and regional state forestry associations met with their members of Congress in Washington, D.C., to discuss priority forestry issues. During more than 30 meetings, state foresters spoke with congressional leaders and their staff about priority programs that help conserve, protect, and enhance [read more]
By Ryan Martini State Foresters congratulate USDA Secretary Designee Sonny Perdue on his nomination. "The nation’s 59 State and Territorial Foresters that comprise the National Association of State Foresters are poised to work with [Sonny Perdue] in using America’s forested green infrastructure to help make America great again," Bill Crapser, NASF President and Wyoming State Forester, said in [read more]
Trees and forests built America and are essential for the nation’s growth and success. State forestry agencies are poised to support the new presidential administration. The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) is pleased to provide the Donald Trump Administration and Congress with recommendations for capitalizing on the benefits of trees and forests. Trees and [read more]
The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) unveiled the 2015-16 NASF annual report today at its meeting in Savannah, Georgia. From city streets to remote mountainsides, trees connect a forested ecosystem that connects with people in countless ways. This is the essence of NASF's work, and the association is pleased to share recent accomplishments through this publication. Trees [read more]
