Earlier this week, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the decision of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Florida that the U.S. Department of Labor lacks the authority to issue regulations governing the H-2B guestworker program. This decision upholds the lower court’s preliminary injunction (in Bayou [read more]
NASF has been giving our Smokey Bear and other fire prevention educational materials a makeover! Our online Educational Materials Store has the perfect items to complement your outreach efforts. You'll find new items like Smokey temporary tattoos, pencils and zipper pulls, and don't miss our new bookmark and postcards with classic Smokey artwork. Don't forget [read more]
NASF has submitted recommendations regarding potential climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for the nation’s forests delivered primarily through existing authorities at USDA to the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change. The leaders of the task force on climate change have reached out to more than 300 businesses and organizations to ask for their input on [read more]
Earlier this week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently appointed eight new members to the Forest Resource Coordinating Committee. The Committee provides advice on private forestry and USDA’s programs that assist landowners in managing their forests to protect, conserve and enhance the values they produce. New Mexico State Forester Anthony Delfin and Vermont State Forester Steve [read more]
In December, NASF hosted a signing ceremony for the Chesapeake Bay Forest Restoration Strategy. Present at the signing ceremony were State Foresters Steve Koehn (MD), Monica Lear (DC), and Carl Garrison (VA), along with U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell and Chesapeake Bay Program Director Nick DiPasquale. The Strategy was established to help the Chesapeake [read more]
In response to the release of the 2010 National Report on Sustainable Forests by the USDA Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) calls for practical and realistic actions to ensure the future sustainability of the nation's forests. Central among its recommendations are implementing the strategies and programs in every state and territory's Forest Action [read more]
State Foresters met with Butch Blazer, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, this week to discuss priorities established by NASF for the next term of the Obama Administration. The priorities include: I. Commit to Protecting the Nation’s Forests, Rangelands and Communities from Wildland Fire II. Support Efforts to Improve Markets for Forest [read more]
The longest tenured Virginia Department of Forestry employee ever, Billy Apperson, is retiring after almost 50 years and an illustrious career with the department. In an effort to recognize his pivotal role in one of the most astounding restoration efforts ever undertaken in Virginia, bringing back the longleaf pine, the department wanted to honor his [read more]
The NASF Fire Committee, chaired by Florida State Forester Jim Karels, has released the 2012 National Prescribed Fire Use Survey Report produced in collaboration with the Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils. When applied appropriately in fire-dependent ecosystems, prescribed fire maintains forest health and function, provides habitat for wildlife populations, enhances soil and water conservation, and [read more]
This week NASF participated in a White House Conference on Conservation convened by President Obama and members of his Cabinet to strengthen partnerships and identify next steps in advancing community-driven conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives that are building strong local economies and healthy lands, waters and wildlife across America. The event is part of the [read more]
