NASF is a founding member of the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition, a diverse group of conservation, forest landowner, industry, academia, and community organizations that first came together in preparation for the 2008 Farm Bill. The coalition has joined forces again to ensure forests have a seat at the table in the 2012 Farm Bill reauthorization process.

Forest Priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill | January 2011

The 2008 Farm Bill added new opportunities to increase conservation and improve management of private forests. Congress affirmed forests' importance to America's economic vitality and quality of life and put forest conservation on par with agriculture land conservation. These investments in private forests for the public good were a strong beginning.

Since enactment of the 2008 bill, funding has supported such projects as wildlife habitat improvement, water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, wetlands restoration, insect and disease mitigation, prescribed burning, reforestation, windbreak plantings, and firebreaks that improved the health of America's private forests.

Recommendations for 2012

To ensure that America's private forests continue to provide nature's benefits that every American benefits from and to alleviate the threats to America's private forests, Congress should:

1. Provide sufficient funding for USDA conservation and forestry programs (including agroforestry) through the 2012 Farm Bill to help satisfy the unmet need for more conservation practices.
2. Streamline program requirements for forest landowners to improve delivery of conservation and forestry programs, maximizing resources available for more conservation practices.
3. Boost capacity to provide technical assistance and outreach for family and other private forest owners, especially landowners who are currently not engaged in conservation or management of their lands. State forestry agencies, non-governmental organizations and other private sector technical service providers should be utilized to reach landowners whose forests provide vital services and benefits to the American public.
4. Focus conservation and forestry programs to accomplish landscape level conservation goals. Maximize ability of programs to address important forest issues and threats, especially those identified by the Forest Action Plans and state wildlife action plans. This should include continued support for regular updates to these state level efforts.
5. Promote policies for sustainably producing forest biomass for renewable energy and other forest products from well-managed forests.
6. Encourage and facilitate the development of markets and incentives for ecosystem services from private forests, building on the 2008 Farm Bill's directive.
7. Strengthen forest research, education, extension offices, and forest inventory capacity to address current and future forestry and conservation needs.
8. Implement education strategies to ensure a future pool of forestry professionals.

In September, NASF sent letters to House and Senate leaders to offer recommendations for the next Farm Bill that are priorities for State Foresters—many of which are shared by the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition—and are essential in implementing each state's forest action plan. State Foresters recognize that writing the next Farm Bill will be as difficult as any in the past; as states face the most challenging fiscal environment since the Great Depression, State Foresters appreciate the difficult choices that come with spending decisions.

Looking for info on the Statewide Forest Resource Assessments and Strategies? Visit www.forestactionplans.org.