I. Featured News

All of these items and more appear in the "Featured News" section on the SAF home page

1. Why Gibson Guitar Was Raided by the Justice Department

National Public Radio (August 31) - Last week federal marshals raided the Gibson Guitar Corporation in Tennessee. It wasn't the first time. The government appears to be preparing to charge the famous builder of instruments with trafficking in illegally obtained wood.

2. Timber Industry Reels from Housing Bust

Minneapolis Public Radio (September 1) - Although timber is a $17 billion dollar industry in Minnesota, an anemic housing market has put segments of that industry on life support. Thousands who depend on timber for their livelihood have lost their jobs. Plants and mills have shut down.

Timber-related businesses that survived the economic shake-up are hanging on, waiting for a recovery. But economists say that could be years away.

3. Wisconsin Officials Start Work on Timber-Clearing Plan

Associated Press (August 29) - Wisconsin State forestry officials have said they are moving ahead with a multi-front plan to salvage hundreds of thousands of downed trees across far Northwestern Wisconsin that calls for using soldiers to clear debris, relaxing air pollution permits, and raising weight limits on the region's roads for loggers.

4. Trees Showing Resilience to Beetles

Telegram and Gazette (Worcester, MA; August 31) - According to a recently released study by researchers from Harvard University and the US Forest Service, trees infested with the Asian longhorned beetle have shown remarkable resilience in coping with the insect.

For more on the ALB, see #2 under Science and Technology

5. National Fire News

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, as of August 31, 14 states-Alabama Arizona, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming-have reported large fires, and the number of acres burned by active fires totals 313,360.

For the latest national fire information, visit the NIFC website.

Residents Evacuated as Firefighters Battle Blaze in Parched Texas
KAJ18.com (September 1)

Red Flag Warning Issued as Wildfire Risk Increases
Waff.com (August 29)

New Fire Erupts in Oregon Cascades Outside Sisters
Statesman Journal (August 29)

Lightning Sparks Nine New Fires on Bitterroot National Forest
Missoulian (August 29)

Steady Progress in Fighting Blaze Outside Yosemite
Associated Press (August 29)

Federal Lands Management

6. Sustainability of Pennsylvania Forests Challenged

Penn State (August 31) - The USDA Forest Service recently released the second "National Report on Sustainable Forests for the United States", which indicates that Pennsylvania forests have declined slightly in the last decade and face a number of threats.

7.DeFazio on BLM lands: Leave Some Forests Alone but Log Others

KVAL News (August 29) - Congressman Peter DeFazio said it is time to generate more logging revenues off of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Oregon, especially as federal payments to timber counties are set to expire.

The plan is to cut the so-called O&C lands managed by the BLM roughly in half. One portion would be managed by a conservation trust to save the old-growth forests. The other lands would be managed for timber production to create jobs and generate income for the counties.

8. Forest Service Plan to Detail Four Alternatives

CadillacNews.com (Michigan, August 30) - In the coming weeks, the Huron-Manistee National Forest expects to be able to provide a draft supplemental environmental impact statement providing alternatives to address a lawsuit asking forest officials to limit snowmobiling and gun hunting in certain areas.

Forest Products Industry

9. New Umpqua Watersheds Executive Director Seeks Rapport with Timber Industry

NRToday.com (Oregon, August 29) - Since its formation in 1987, Umpqua Watersheds has been in frequent litigation against the timber industry. Now, the organization's new executive director, Randy Rasmussen, says he hopes to work with the timber industry to manage forests.

10. Forestry Firm Fears Ruling Will Tie Up Private Timber

Mail Tribune (Oregon, August 30) - Oregon is still the No. 1 lumber and plywood producer in the country and the timber industry remains the No. 2 employer in the state. That could all change if a recent federal court decision alters forestry rules for private and state lands.

11. Biomass News

Burgeoning Biomass

Biomass Power & Thermal (August 23) - The United Kingdom's Renewable Energy Roadmap, released as part of a government white paper on reforming the electricity market, identifies both biomass heat and power within the eight technologies with the greatest potential to meet the UK's 15 percent by 2020 renewable energy goals. In fact, biomass is listed among the top three, along with wind and air heat pumps.

BCAP Application Deadline Extended

Bioenergy-news.com (August 30) - In the United States, the deadline for applications to participate in the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) has been extended until September 16, 2011. The BCAP offers financial support to farmers who grow biomass.

Report: Rising Biomass Demand Could Drive Land Grabs

Reuters Africa (August 30) - According to an International Institute for Environment and Development report, rising global demand for cleaner energy from biomass could drive more land acquisition in poorer nations where food security and land rights are weak.

II. Publications, Resources, and Items of Interest

1. Details Emerge in Shooting Death of Fort Bragg City Councilman Jere Melo

Press Democrat (California, August 29) - Jere Melo, a security worker for Campbell Timber Management Company and Fort Bragg city councilman, was killed while inspecting a remote property near along the Noyo River. A SAF member, Melo worked in the area's timber industry for about 50 years.

His killing came just over 2 weeks after a Mendocino Land Trust staff member was fatally shot on a remote ranch where he had been clearing brush.

2. Virginia Department of Forestry Seeks Public's Help with Acorn, Seed Collection

Virginia Department of Forestry (August 29) - Virginians can help preserve native tree species by collecting acorns and seeds from 11 species and delivering them to the nearest office of the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF).

The species most needed are: Alleghany Chinkapin, Chinese Chestnut, Hazelnut, Black Oak, Chestnut Oak, Northern Red Oak, Pin Oak, Sawtooth Oak, White Oak, Willow Oak, and Black Walnut.

3. Storm Damages 20 Trees at Arboretum in Middletown Hartford Courant (August 29) - Fierce winds from Tropical Storm Irene damaged or toppled at least 20 trees in the Wadsworth/Kerste deBoer Arboretum. The arboretum includes about 250 trees, many of which were planted by Col. Clarence S. Wadsworth, an environmentalist who founded the Rockfall Foundation in 1935.

III. Science and Technology

1. Federal Study: 'Intense' Forest Thinning Best Way to Ease Catastrophic Wildfires

Cronkite News.com (Arizona State University, August 26) - The US Forest Service said in a report this month that "intense thinning treatments" can ease future wildfires, by removing trees between 6 and 18 inches in diameter to allow for additional space between trees.

According to the report, intense thinning is defined as reducing stands to leave 50-100 trees per acre.

2. Are New England's Iconic Maples at Risk?

National Science Foundation (August 30) - Are New England's iconic maple trees at risk? If a beetle has its way, the answer may be yes. Results from the first study of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) in forests show that the invasive insect can easily spread from tree-lined city streets to neighboring forests.

Successful ALB eradication efforts in Chicago, and ongoing eradication efforts in Boston, New York, and other US cities have focused exclusively on urban street trees. The ongoing ALB infestation in Worcester, Mass., is the only outbreak so far that has allowed the beetle to invade nearby closed-canopy forests.

A paper reporting the results appears August 30 in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research.

3. Wolves May Aid Recovery of Canada Lynx

Oregon State University (August 31) - As wolf populations grow in parts of the West, most of the focus has been on their value in aiding broader ecosystem recovery. However, a new study from Oregon State University also points out that they could play an important role in helping other threatened species, such as the Canada Lynx.

And in other wolf-related news…

Feds Reopen Comment Period for Gray Wolf Protections

Wisonsin Ag Connection.com (August 30) - The US Fish and Wildlife Service has reopened the comment period on the proposed rule to de-list the gray wolf population in the Western Great Lakes. Written comments on the proposal may be submitted on or before September 26.

IV. SAF News

1. ATFS, SAF, and ACF "Partner for Better Forests"-and Help Foresters in the Process

The "Partners for Better Forests" initiative, a collaborative effort among the The American Tree Farm System, the Society of American Foresters, and the Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF), aims to increase the number of engaged inspectors across the United States to provide landowners with the tools they need for on-the-ground support, and promote better forest stewardship.

Because members of ACF and SAF have traditionally been those who have volunteered their time to work as Tree Farm inspectors and committee members, Partners for Better Forests is rewarding participating foresters with membership dues support to their respective professional association.

In return for completing two reinspections or two initial inspections, the program will give foresters $100 to be applied toward the annual dues of ACF or SAF. The money will be paid directly to SAF or ACF and will result in a $100 dues reduction for the member forester.

For more information, visit the Inspectors Corner of the Tree Farm System website.

2. National Committee Positions Now Open

SAF currently has openings on 12 National Committees. National committees work with the SAF Council and the staff of the national office to help shape policy and guide the future development of SAF. For information about available openings, see the August issue of The Forestry Source.

3. Student Video Contest: Why Trees Are the Answer

Do you have talent? Do you have a video camera? Then you can be a star! Introducing the 2011 Student Video Contest. We want students and student chapters to show us why you think Trees Are the Answer. Make a 60- or 120-second video and you could win one of three awards. Winning videos will be presented at the 2011 National Convention. Submit your videos by Friday, September 30, 2011.

4. Foresters' Fund Deadline September 15

The final 2011 Foresters' Fund deadline is fast approaching. Regular grant proposals are due September 15. Remember: the fund supports local unit projects that help educate the public about forest management.

For more information, visit the SAF website at: http://www.eforester.org/members/forfund.cfm.

Foresters and Science Funds Raffle and Auction at 2011 National Convention

The national raffle held during the SAF national convention is the main fundraiser for the Foresters' Fund program, which provides grants to SAF local units to educate the public about forestry and support local unit projects. In addition, the Science Fund is holding its first national silent auction during the National Convention.

All donations are tax deductible.

For more information please see the Foresters' Fund and Science Fund Donation Form.

 

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