SAF ACTIONS

1. The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program Annual Report Released

   A national report released last week on first-year results of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) revealed beneficial returns for forests, jobs, water, and wildlife. The CFLRP was designed by the Forest Service as a tool to promote active management on the ground, and in 2010, $10 million was distributed among ten projects on National Forests throughout the country. The CFLR Coalition played an integral role is advocating for funding in fiscal year 2011, and support full funding on the program in the Fiscal Year 2012 budget.
   As identified in the report, one year the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program:

   • Created and maintained 1,550 jobs;
   • Produced 107 million board feet of timber;
   • Generated nearly $59 million of labor income;
   • Removed fuel for destructive mega-fires on 90,000 acres near communities;
   • Reduced mega-fire on an additional 64,000 acres;
   • Improved 66,000 acres of wildlife habitat;
   • Restored 28 miles of fish habitat;
   • Enhanced clean water supplies by remediating 163 miles of eroding roads.

   The CFLRP annual report was produced by the CFLRP Coalition, which is comprised of 144 member organizations that includes private businesses, communities, counties, tribes, water suppliers, associations, and non-governmental organizations. The CFLR Steering Committee members include American Forests, The Nature Conservancy, The Society of American Foresters, Sustainable Northwest, and The Wilderness Society.
   Copies of the 2010 CFLRP Annual Report can be requested from Jon Schwedler of the CFLRP Coalition at jschwedler@tnc.org.
   Information on CFLRP can be found at the U.S. Forest Service's website: http://www.fs.fed.us/restoration/CFLR/

   The SAF Task Force Report "Managing Forests because Carbon Matters: Integrating Energy, Products, and Land Management Policy" is available to read online.

   To read the Task Force Report link to: http://www.safnet.org/documents/JOFSupplement.pdf

   Updated SAF National Position Statements

   The Society of American Foresters, through approval of the Committee on Forest Policy, the Forest Science & Technology Board, and the SAF Council, has updated two of the SAF National Positions Statements. The Committee on Forest Policy, with help from various SAF Working Groups, completed the revision process over the past year. These newly approved position statement represent the views of National SAF, and are active until October 2016. The revised statements include:

   The Forest Inventory and Analysis Program: http://www.eforester.org/fp/documents/Forest_Inventory_Analysis.pdf

   Federal Tax Treatment of Private Forest Land: http://www.eforester.org/fp/documents/Federal_Tax_Position_Statement_12-6-11.pdf

In the Administration

1. US Forest Service, Ad Council Launch PSAs Featuring Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
   
   USDA Forest Service News Release, December 20th

   In an effort to encourage children to spend more time outdoors and reconnect with nature, the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council today announced that they are joining Universal Pictures to launch a series of public service advertisements featuring characters and footage from Universal and Illumination Entertainment's upcoming 3D-CG feature Dr Seuss' The Lorax?. Initially launched in 2009, the Discover the Forest campaign aims to encourage children and their families to get outside and experience the many benefits of nature. The goal of the campaign is to instill a life-long love for nature in children. Created pro bono by Universal Pictures, the new English and Spanish television, radio and outdoor PSAs feature the Lorax, a symbol of forest conservation, to encourage children to explore and enjoy nature everywhere and become lifelong stewards of the forest and its beauty.??More than 245 million Americans live within 100 miles from a national forest or grassland. However, children in the U.S. spend fifty percent less time outdoors than they did twenty years ago, according to the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. Research shows that children who play outside have lower stress levels and more active imaginations, become fitter and leaner, develop stronger immune systems and are more likely to become environmentally conscious in the future. To read more of this article link to: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2011/releases/12/lorax.shtml

    

2. Secretary Vilsack Announces Opportunity to Advise Land Management Planning
   
   USDA News Release, January 5th

   Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a call for nominations to serve on a newly-formed advisory committee that will guide better management of our national forests and grasslands. The National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule will advise and give recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. "Input from the public is critical to successful land management planning," said Vilsack. "I'm forming this committee to help us implement planning that conserves our forests and grasslands for the benefit of water, wildlife, recreation and the economic vitality of our rural communities." The committee will provide advice and recommendations on issues such as planning rule directives for implementation, best practices, effective monitoring practices and ongoing collaboration efforts. It will meet three to four times annually, or as often as necessary to complete its work. Members of the committee do not receive compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses. The announcement of this committee builds on the Agency's efforts to develop a new Land Management Planning Rule for the National Forest System. To read more of this article click here:

Back

This Week in Congress

1. The U.S. House and Senate are on recess.

National News

1. Obama Signs $1 Trillion Spending Bill
   
   The Hill, Published by Erik Wasson, December 31st

   Without fanfare, President Obama signed the $1 trillion 2012 omnibus spending bill into law on Friday. The bill passed both houses of Congress on Dec. 16, but the government has been operating on a short-term continuing resolution that was set to run out at midnight Friday. The 2012 spending process is now complete. The 1,200-page omnibus was being formally "enrolled" in the meantime, as aides proofread it and put it onto parchment paper. The bill funds all parts of the federal government except for the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, as well as the science agencies. These were funded by a smaller bill that passed Congress in November. The base bill clocks in at $915 billion. There is an additional $115 billion for the Pentagon to fight wars overseas. President Obama signed a separate measure on Friday providing an additional $8.6 billion in disaster aid. The House wanted the disaster aid offset by spending cuts, but the Senate rejected a third House-passed bill that would have provided the offsets. To read more of this article link to: http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/appropriations/201229-obama-signs-1-trillion-omnibus-spending-bill

    

2. U.S. Weighs Protection for Sierra Nevada Red Fox
   
   The Sacramento Bee, Published by Matt Weiser, January 4th

   Federal officials are considering whether to protect the Sierra Nevada red fox under the Endangered Species Act. Responding to a petition from the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday that there is enough information to consider protecting the fox. The fox weighs only about 10 pounds, measures just over 2 feet from nose to tip of tail, and generally lives only above an elevation of 7,000 feet. Once found throughout the Sierra Nevada range, the fox is now considered one of the rarest mammals in America. Until recently, the species was thought to be limited to just a few hundred animals in the Lassen Peak area. But in 2010, U.S. Forest Service biologists discovered a small population in the Sonora Pass area of Stanislaus National Forest. To read more of this article link to: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/04/4161187/us-weighs-protection-for-sierra.html

    

3. Members Sought for Forest Resource Coordinating Committee
   
   Examiner.com, Published by Charles Pekow, January 5th

   The U.S. Forest Service seeks nominees for eight vacancies on the Forest Resource Coordinating Committee. Interested parties must apply by March 2. Congress established the committee in 2008 to advise the secretary of agriculture on polices regarding non-industrial private forest land. Members serve staggered terms of up to three years. The committee meets at least once a year. Members (except federal employees) get reimbursed for travel expenses. Anyone serving on other U.S. Department of Agriculture committees isn't eligible. The committee consists of 20 members representing different interests. To read more of this article link to: http://www.examiner.com/outdoor-recreation-in-washington-dc/members-sought-for-forest-resource-coordinating-committee

In the States: Oregon, Montana, Texas and Idaho

1. Guest Viewpoint: A Bipartisan Plan for Healthy Oregon Forests and Counties
   
   The Register-Guard, Published by Peter DeFazio, Greg Walden, and Kurt Schrader, December 21st

   Oregon's rural communities cannot afford another 20 years of gridlock in our federal forests. Without a new path forward, mills will continue to disappear, forest jobs will be outsourced and counties will be pushed off the budgetary cliff. During a time when it's particularly hard to find common ground in public policy, we think we have achieved a balanced forest health and jobs plan - and in a uniquely Oregon way. As a bipartisan coalition, we have worked through our differences to forge a plan that would create thousands of new jobs, ensure the health of federal forests for future generations and provide long-term funding certainty for Oregon's rural schools, roads and law enforcement agencies. Federal support payments to rural and forested communities, commonly known as "county payments," helped support rural Oregon counties for more than a decade. They expired Oct. 1. To read more of this article link to: http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/27347310-47/oregon-plan-counties-federal-forests.html.csp

    

2. Bitterroot Forest to Accept New Bids on Two Timber Sales
   
   The Missoulian, December 23rd

   The Bitterroot National Forest has made significant changes to two timber sales based on feedback from potential purchasers and will soon be accepting new bids on the projects. The changes come after the forest received no bids earlier this month. One of the projects, Como Campground, will remove nearly 700,000 board feet of timber for use in Montana sawmills. "We have made substantial changes to these timber sales based on feedback from potential buyers," said Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor Julie King. "Changes include dropping the minimum bidding price and extending contract terms to allow companies more time to complete the work. We hope these changes based on feedback from the industry and on current market conditions, result in some bids on these important projects." The 210-acre Como Campground sale is located on the Darby Ranger District and will salvage beetle killed trees in and around the Lake Como Recreation Area. Work includes removing dead, dying and some live trees from campgrounds and popular recreation areas on the south and north sides of the lake. To read more of this article link to: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/bitterroot-forest-to-accept-new-bids-on-timber-sales/article_b93c9792-2de8-11e1-b54c-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1hya3MxcU

3. US. Forest Service Working with Texas Forest Service to Create Fire Breaks Around Neighborhoods
   
   Yourhoustonnews.com, December 29th

   The Sam Houston National Forest in partnership with the Texas Forest Service and the City of Huntsville is working to prevent the devastating wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes in Central Texas and cost millions of dollars. Unmanaged forests build up a dangerous level of underbrush that can quickly become raging wildfires with a single spark or dropped match, according to Jordan Beakley, Prevention/Fuels Technician for the Sam Houston National Forest. The use of controlled fire is the fastest and most cost effective way of dealing with thick underbrush, but the resulting smoke is a constant cause of concern for residents whose homes are close to the national forest. The Forest Service is working with Texas Forest Service and the City of Huntsville on a way to protect neighborhoods by mulching a 200-foot wide break along National Forest lands. This will reduce the intensity of potential wildfires to a manageable level so that firefighters will be able to extinguish the fire much easier. The mulching will include 224 acres around seven neighborhoods in Montgomery and Walker counties and take around two months to complete. To read more of this article link to: http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/eastex/news/u-s-forest-service-working-with-texas-forest-service-to/article_190f29fb-8a78-5362-b537-a6a67835eaca.html

4. Forest Plan is Released
   
   Bonner County Daily Bee, Published by Alecia Warren, January 5th

   It encompasses protecting endangered species, and keeping terrain hardy enough to sustain the licks of a wild fire. All around, it aims at keeping an eye out for one of the steadier sources of oxygen in North Idaho. Whether it accomplishes any of that is up to folks caring enough to read. The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comment on the Draft Forest Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement released this week, documents that will set standards for what is and isn't acceptable across the 2.5 million acres of Idaho Panhandle National Forests. "It incorporates new science, as well as the ideas and desires of the counties up here," said Jason Kirchner, spokesman for Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The draft plan, to replace the 1987 version, maps out how to address the needs of forest stakeholders and supply clean water while still offering access to the forest and recreational opportunities there. The documents focus largely on restoring the composition of forests, Kirchner said, to be more resilient against fire, insects and disease. To read more of this article link to: http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/news/local/article_fac06ce0-3769-11e1-b20b-0019bb2963f4.html

Last Week in Congress

1. The U.S. House and Senate were on recess.

Wildfire Update

1. USFS Finalizes New Rule for Aerial Use of Fire Retardants
   
   Summit County Citizens Voice, Published by Bob Berwyn, December 29th

   The U.S. Forest Service last week finalized new guidelines for aerial application of fire retardants aimed at better protecting streams, rare plants and wildlife. All documents relating to the decision are online at this Forest Service website. Under the changes, the Forest Service will use about 12,000 detailed maps identifying streams and lakes, as well as locations of hundreds of plant and animal species that could potentially be harmed by retardant. With some exceptions, the guideline prohibits use of retardants about 0.80 percent of national forest system lands. "These new guidelines strike a balance between the need to supplement our boots-on-the-ground approach to fighting wildfires while protecting our waterways and important plant and animal species at the same time," said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said. To read more of this article link to; http://summitcountyvoice.com/2011/12/29/usfs-finalizes-new-rule-for-aerial-use-of-fire-retardants/

About the Policy Update:

Disclaimer: The Society of American Foresters does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the news items and/or links to additional information that appear in the Policy Update.