Forestry Notes - April 2013
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USDA Seeking Nominations for Forestry Research Advisory Council
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to re-establish its Forest Research Advisory Council to provide advice to the Secretary and the Forest Service on a wide range of priorities.
The Council is seeking nominations for representatives from the following categories: federal and state agencies, industry, academic, and voluntary organizations.
For more information and to submit a nomination, click here.
Nominations for the Forestry Research Advisory Council are due Friday, April 29.
NACD, eResource, 4/16/13
Forest Resource Coordinating Committee Holds First Meeting
Last week, the Forest Resource Coordinating Committee (FRCC) held its first meeting in Washington, D.C. Doug Rushton of Washington State, a member of NACD’s Forest Resource Policy Group, represented conservation districts on the Committee.
During the meeting, the attendees worked to identify long- and short-term priorities, as well as a work plan, for private forestland conservation. The discussion included delivery of USDA programs and outreach and education.
The FRCC was created from the 2008 Farm Bill and serves as a Federal Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Agriculture. The FRCC is charged with setting priorities for private forest conservation by providing direction and coordinating actions with USDA, state agencies, and the private sector.
NACD President Earl Garber submitted a letter to the Committee for the official record. To read a PDF of the letter, click here.
For more information on the FRCC, click here.
NACD, eResource, 4/16/13
Forestry Notes - March 2013
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Community Forestry National Conference Seeking Proposals
The call for proposals for the 2013 Partners in Community Forestry National Conference is open until March 31. The program committee is seeking proposals for the general session, breakout sessions and the "Lightning Rounds."
This conference, scheduled for November 6-7 in Pittsburgh, Penn., serves as the annual national gathering for the urban forestry community. It continues to focus on encouraging collaboration between both traditional and new stakeholder groups. This is an excellent event for conservation/natural resource districts to showcase their work and partnerships in community forestry as well as to make new connections to enhance your programs.
Learn more about the conference and submit your presentation proposal online at arborday.org.
NACD, eResource, 3/26/13
Supreme Court Rules on Forest Roads Case
Last week, the Supreme Court ruled 7-1 reversing the Ninth Circuit’s 2011 ruling on Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC).
The high court’s decision reverses the rule that required mandatory EPA permits for point source on forest roads for logging activity. This ruling validates EPA’s interpretation that logging activities constitute industry activities and as a result are not subject to mandatory point source permits on forest roads.
While the Court’s ruling addresses the Ninth Circuit’s ruling on this particular instance, the Court did not rule on how to treat the roads in the future. NACD remains engaged with the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) to address this issue.
To read the full Supreme Court decision, click here for a PDF.
For more information on the ongoing activities involving forest roads, click here.
NACD, eResource, 3/26/13
Joint Forestry Team Convenes in Washington, DC
On March 20, the Joint Forestry Team (JFT)—a forestry delivery team made up of NACD, National Association of States Foresters (NASF), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS)—held a meeting in Washington, D.C.
The JFT met with USFS Chief Tom Tidwell, NRCS Acting Chief Jason Weller, NACD President Earl Garber, and NASF Secretary/Treasurer Carl Garrison to continue ongoing discussions on how to better deliver forestry conservation to private landowners.
The team discussed a variety of issues, including evaluating the Memorandum of Understanding, Farm Bill status and programs, the Forest Resource Coordinating Committee, Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees, and ongoing communication efforts.
For more information on the Joint Forestry Team, visit jointforestryteam.org.
NACD, eResource, 3/26/13
Forest Health Hearing before House Agriculture Committee
Last week, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry, held a hearing titled “National Forest Management and its Impacts on Rural Economies and Communities.” U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell testified, along with representatives from the Society of American Foresters, the Pinchot Institute, the Association of Consulting Foresters of America, and the Forest County Economic Development Partnership.
Forest management for private and public lands is critical for rural economies, Chief Tidwell explained, with more than 20 percent of Americans relying on drinking water that originates on national forest lands. There is also a significant concern for restoration; between 60-85 million acres need to be restored, due to bark beetle and other forest pests.
Tidwell and the panelists also articulated the importance of stewardship contracting and the need for its reauthorization.
"It's a tool where there's strong support across the board," Tidwell said. "The first thing would be able to get it reauthorized so that our folks know we're going to be able to continue to have this authority."
To read the full testimony from the hearing, click here.
NACD, eResource, 3/19/13
Western Forestry Leadership Coalition Meets in Guam
The 2013 Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) Pacific Island Committee held a meeting in Guam from March 4-7. NACD's Western Issues Specialist Mark Truax traveled to Guam to present and participate in the meeting.
During the meeting, Guam's NACD Board Member and Northern Guam Soil and Water Conservation District Member Roland Quitugua and Truax had the opportunity to sit down with Guam's Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio. Quitugua and Truax spoke with Tenorio about NACD's mission and locally led conservation priorities, such as invasive species, forestry, and capacity needs.
The meeting attendees were made up of nearly 60 forestry professionals, including local and state foresters of the Pacific islands as well as representatives from the U.S. Forest Service. On Monday, Truax gave a presentation about NACD's forestry activities and the benefit of working with conservation districts on forestry and other conservation needs.
Other presentation topics included: how forestry can help with water quality and erosion; invasive species including, Little Fire Act and Coconut Rhino Beetle; and the Micronesia Challenge.?
For more information on the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition, click here.
NACD, eResource, 3/12/13
Forest Landowners Guide to the Federal Income Tax Now Available Online
The latest publication in the series of income tax handbooks for nonindustrial private forest owners, Forest Landowners Guide to the Federal Income Tax, is now available online.
While the handbook does not provide guidance on establishing or managing forest stands, it fosters good forest management by combining relevant information for analyzing investments in forest management and an explanation of the federal income tax law associated with those investments. The handbook also contains new information on the disposition of depreciated property and like-kind exchanges.
For more information, visit timbertax.org.
NACD, eResource, 3/5/13