Blog
Maine foresters say hemlock wooly adelgid is still spreading
Posted on Friday, July 30, 2010Last year's unusually warm winter contributed to the continued northeasterly spread of the hemlock wooly adelgid, and could ravage Maine's hemlock trees, according to forest service officials. The invasive pest has been found in 13 towns since May in Cumberland, Sagadahoc and Lincoln counties, and the list is expected to grow.
Judge rejects Forest Service’s plan on fire retardant
Posted on Friday, July 30, 2010A federal judge has ruled that the federal Forest Service's plan for using fire retardant to fight wildfires violates the law because it does not ensure protections for threatened and endangered species of fish and other animals. The ruling ordered the Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to conduct more rigorous environmental reviews on the effects of retardant on wildlife and to place more specific restrictions on how it is used.
Montana biomass project slated to receive federal funds
Posted on Friday, July 30, 2010The Energy and Water Appropriations Act passed the Senate Appropriations Committee last week would provide $800,000 for the Tri-County Biomass Pilot Project, which would use woody biomass produced in Lewis and Clark, Jefferson and Broadwater counties to create renewable energy for the city of Helena. The three counties yield about 350,000 tons of biomass a year, from sources like dead trees.
MORE: The Washington Department of Natural Resources has received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service to study the state forests' biomass supply.
Delaware State Forester position announcement
Posted on Friday, July 30, 2010The Delaware Department of Agriculture is seeking a Forestry Administrator/State Forester. Job requirements include experience in: forest management; preventing, controlling and diagnosing tree insects and diseases; budget, program and grant administration; and operations management. Position will be posted August 1 at www.delawarestatejobs.com.
White bark pine forest mortality has far-reaching effects
Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2010A recent editorial in the New York Times discusses the white bark pine forests across Wyoming, Idaho and Montana that are dead or dying after being attacked by the mountain pine beetle and a disease called white pine blister rust. Warmer winters and summers have allowed the beetle to breed more quickly; just over half the white bark pine forests are dead; one-fourth have medium to high mortality; few forests have escaped some damage.The loss of the pines threatens rate of snowmelt, as well as habitat for bird species and grizzly bears, which feed heavily on pine nuts before hibernation.
Forest Policy internship opportunity -- Fall session
Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2010The NASF Foundation is sponsoring a Fall internship opportunity at the National Association of State Foresters in Washington, DC, focused on Forest Policy. Dates negotiable for up to a 15-week period, beginning on or around September 7 for the fall session. Applications must be received no later than Friday, August 13. For more information, visit http://www.stateforesters.org/nasf_internship.
Wyoming seeks Assistant District Forester
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2010The Office of State Lands & Investments, Forestry Division is seeking an Assistant District Forester.
Thousand cankers disease threatens 'uncontrollable outbreak'
Posted on Monday, July 26, 2010Just two years ago researchers discovered that a sudden decline in black walnut in Colorado was due to a combination of the walnut twig beetle and a fungus that infested the trees by hundreds of thousands, causing cankers and cutting off the flow of nutrients. According to a University of Colorado professor, "based on the patterns seen in the West, such a colonization could very possibly develop into an uncontrollable outbreak. This may ultimately have the potential to destroy black walnut in its native range."
MORE: Kansas, a gateway to the hardwood forests that extend from the Plains to the Atlantic Ocean, has issued a state quarantine to try and protect its more than 26 million black walnut trees.
An unexpected soldier in the battle against wildfire
Posted on Monday, July 26, 2010When extreme overgrowth and underbrush behind a California courthouse threatened the risk of fires, officials turned to a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution: they hired a herd of goats. An efficient vegetation management tool, goats cost thousands less than human laborers would. Used historically for the annual project, goats control brush and weeds without disturbing the grass and soil.
Dems pull the plug on climate bill
Posted on Friday, July 23, 2010The effort to advance a major climate change bill through the Senate this summer collapsed this week. Senator (D-NV) said the Senate would not take up legislation intended to reduce carbon emissions blamed as a cause of climate change, but would instead pursue a more limited measure focused on responding to the in the Gulf and tightening energy efficiency standards.
Forest Service releases 'roadmap' for climate change action
Posted on Friday, July 23, 2010The USDA Forest Service has released a "National Roadmap for Responding to Climate Change" (PDF) that identifies agency priorities linked to USDA's Strategic Plan. The Roadmap lays out actions to incorporate adaptation, mitigation, sustainable consumption, and education objectives into existing programs and policies. The document acknowledges that climate issues are not limited to national forest boundaries, and presumes to take an "all lands approach" to "devise and implement solutions that operate across jurisdictions at a landscape scale."
MORE: Read NASF's recommendations on advancing a shared vision for the nation's forests based on an all-lands approach to conservation.
New coalition focuses on wildfire threat in the wildland-urban interface
Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010The International Code Council and the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils have formed the National Wildland Urban Interface Council (NWUIC) to address challenges associated with the growing threat from wildfires in urban neighborhoods that border wildland areas. According to a recent press release, the NWUIC was a primary recommendation of a National Blue Ribbon Panel on Wildland Urban Interface Fire organized by the ICC. The group's first meeting is scheduled for Nov. 3-4 in Washington, D.C.
Continental Dialogue meets October 5-6; registration now open
Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010Registration is now open for the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Continental Dialogue on Non-Native Forest Insects and Diseases, October 5-6, 2010 at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. The meeting will feature
talks on curtailing pest introductions, various pathways of spread, the issue of firewood movement, citizen detection efforts, and more.
talks on curtailing pest introductions, various pathways of spread, the issue of firewood movement, citizen detection efforts, and more.
New tool available for assessing climate change impacts and management options
Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010The USDA Forest Service Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center has announced that the Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO) is now ready to use. TACCIMO is an interactive, web-based tool that allows users to integrate current climate change science into land management planning decisions. The tool fits within the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and can be used in land management plan revision, environmental assessments, environmental impact statements, and reasonable alternatives. For more information and to participate in demonstration and training workshops, please contact Steve McNulty (USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 919-515-9489, steve_mcnulty@ncsu.edu).
North Carolina seeks ARRA Longleaf Program Coordinator
Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010The NC Division of Forest Resources, Technical Development & Planning Branch is recruiting for an ARRA Longleaf Program Coordinator. This is a time-limited full-time position funded under a grant from the USDA Forest Service under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Full state benefits package applies with the exception of Reduction in Force (RIF) benefits. Opening closes on 7/30/10.
First-of-its-kind map from NASA depicts global forest heights
Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010Using NASA satellite data, scientists have produced a first-of-its kind map that details the height of the world's forests. Although there are other local- and regional-scale forest canopy maps, the new map is the first that spans the entire globe based on one uniform method.
Scientists urge use of renewable biomass to meet energy and climate goals
Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010More than 100 scientists signed a letter to House (PDF) and Senate (PDF) leaders this week expressing their concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency's "Tailoring Rule" and other policies that equate emissions from biomass energy with fossil fuel emissions. According to the Society of American Foresters, the letter reaffirmed the sentiment of many members of Congress that biomass has an important role in our nation's renewable energy policy and that EPA regulations are impeding the existence and potential development of renewable biomass energy sources.
MORE: NASF weighed in with other over 160 organizations on the EPA Tailoring Rule last month.
Wildfire prevention pays dividends in Florida, says study
Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010A study by USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station scientists and research partners suggests that wildfire prevention education in Florida pays for itself several times over by saving millions of dollars in fire-fighting costs and reducing damages from human-caused fires. Researchers published their findings in a recent issue of the journal Forest Science.
Ethiopia triples its forest cover through reforestation
Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2010The total forest cover of Ethiopia has tripled in size since 2000 as a result of large-scale reforestation campaigns. High demand for fuel wood and land for agriculture caused Ethiopia's forest cover to drop, but the country planted more than 700 million trees in 2007 alone, according to the United Nations.
Worms, fungi wreak havoc on pine trees in Oklahoma
Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2010A disease called pine wilt is being blamed for an outbreak of dead and dying pine trees across Oklahoma. Nematodes, tiny worms, get to pine trees on the backs of beetles and kill trees. The trees most susceptible to pine wilt are aged and/or non-native species.
Jan Davis selected as new USFS assistant director of urban & community forestry
Posted on Monday, July 19, 2010Jan Davis has been selected as the new USDA Forest Service Assistant Director for Urban & Community Forestry. Jan currently serves as the Planning and Forest Policy Coordinator and Stewardship Coordinator
for the Texas Forest Service, and will begin her new role in early September.
for the Texas Forest Service, and will begin her new role in early September.
Illegal logging has declined internationally
Posted on Monday, July 19, 2010Illegal logging of tropical woodland has fallen sharply, providing welcome news for nearly billion of the world's poorest people who are dependent on forests, according to the London think tank Chatham House. Since 2000, international efforts to stem the illicit felling of trees has spared some 42 million acres in three countries alone.
NGA survey shows state budgets still in decline
Posted on Friday, July 16, 2010Findings from the biannual report, "The Fiscal Survey of States," released by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) last month, show fiscal year 2010 presented the most difficult challenge for states' financial management since the Great Depression. To address falling revenues and meet balanced budget requirements, states have dramatically reduced spending from $687.3 billion in fiscal 2008 to $612.9 billion in fiscal 2010. States will have to make additional spending cuts or increase taxes to close their budget gaps, according to the report.
Washington DNR seeks Southeast Region Manager
Posted on Friday, July 16, 2010The Washington Department of Natural Resources is seeking a Southeast Region Manager, responsible for field implementation of most DNR programs within 15 southeast Washington counties. The position also participates in the development of natural resource policies. Download the full job announcement here.
WFLC releases 'Threats to Western Forests' report
Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2010The Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) recently released "Threats to Western Private Forests: A Framework for Conserving and Enhancing the Benefits from Private Working Forests in the Western U.S." The report offers recommendations focused on climate change, markets for forest products and ecosystem services, and improved social appreciation for forests and sustainable forest management. For more information, visit http://wflccenter.org/forestthreats.
Pacific Forest Trust job opportunities
Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2010The Pacific Forest Trust has two current job opportunities: Vice President - Policy and Incentives, and Vice President - Conservation. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.pacificforest.org/about/jobs.html.
FSC harmonizes regional forest standards
Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2010The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has revised its Forest Management Standard for forest operations in the contiguous U.S. by integrating nine regional standards into a single, national standard. Regional variation is maintained in key areas of forest management and conservation where local conditions, including forest types and ecological processes, warrant different management techniques, according to the organization.
Diversifying a portfolio with timber
Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2010Some investment strategists call timber “a perfect investment” for someone with a time horizon of, say, 20 years or more. Over the last few years, exchange-traded funds have been introduced that provide easier access to the diversification benefits of timber.
USDA projects to improve natural resources on private agricultural and forest lands
Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2010The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced 26 projects in 15 states that will help farmers and ranchers implement conservation practices on agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands through the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI). USDA will provide nearly $7 million in financial assistance in fiscal year 2010 through CCPI, which is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). CCPI works through three existing programs—the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP)—to leverage additional services and resources from non-federal partners.
APHIS releases risk assessment of firewood movement
Posted on Friday, July 9, 2010The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has just released a "Risk Assessment of the Movement of Firewood within the United States" (PDF) The Risk Assessment concludes that "Movement of firewood is a high-risk pathway for spreading non-native and native forest pests in the United States. We recommend that Federal and State regulatory agencies examine the current regulations for firewood movement and coordinate efforts to mitigate the potential risks, with primary focus on long-distance and urban area movement."
Biomass battle heats up in Massachusetts
Posted on Friday, July 9, 2010Biomass-plant developers have blasted the Massachusetts governor's move to curtail use of wood-burning power plants in the state, saying the decision was based on a "mischaracterized" environmental study. Even some of the authors of the “Manomet” report blamed the media for distorting what the report found.
Meanwhile, Stop Spewing Carbon, a group working to get a ballot question before voters to stop state financial incentives for wood-burning power plants, pulled the question after the state signaled it would fundamentally alter how it calculates the plants' greenhouse gas emission benefits.
European parliament approves illegal timber ban
Posted on Wednesday, July 7, 2010The European Parliament voted this week to pass legislation banning the import and sale of timber obtained through illegal logging. The new rules will close a loophole that has made it possible for European firms to import and sell timber that has been logged illegally in countries such as Brazil and Indonesia.
Forest Service and U.S. Endowment launch biomass partnership
Posted on Wednesday, July 7, 2010The USDA Forest Service and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities have developed a joint-venture designed to advance sustainable uses of woody biomass. Each organization has committed a minimum of $2 million in the initial phase of the partnership. Funded projects will provide at least a 50% local match extending the reach of the initiative to more than $6 million. Several projects are already in the pipeline and will be announced soon.
Bask in the forest for better health
Posted on Wednesday, July 7, 2010In a series of studies, scientists found that when people swap their concrete confines for a few hours in more natural surroundings — forests, parks and other places with plenty of trees — they experience increased immune function.
Asian longhorned beetle found in Boston
Posted on Wednesday, July 7, 2010The Asian longhorned beetle that is threatening many of New England's forests has been discovered in Boston, across the street from the country's oldest public arboretum. Teams of tree climbers and spotters, sent in by federal officials, have begun laboriously examining every tree vulnerable to the beetle within 1.5 miles.
Florida 'recycles' old fire lookout towers
Posted on Wednesday, July 7, 2010Florida has found a diminishing need for fire towers, with ongoing urban growth and technology including aircraft, cell phones, radar and satellites to scout for brush fires. State officials say selling some old towers is a way for the state to cut costs and make a few dollars, considering that an increasing number of towers are sitting idle.
Inchworms eating their way through Alaskan forests
Posted on Tuesday, July 6, 2010An infestation of inchworms in Alaska has devastated native trees and shrubs, with some of the worst areas experiencing complete defoliation.
NASF issues briefing paper on identifying communities at risk
Posted on Tuesday, July 6, 2010Identifying communities at risk and prioritizing projects to reduce wildfire risk is a national effort. The NASF Forest Fire Protection Committee has prepared a briefing paper, "Identifying Communities at Risk and Prioritizing Risk-Reduction Projects," intended to provide national guidance for identifying communities at risk, conducting planning efforts that are consistent with national initiatives, and to reinforce the role of NASF in setting priorities, effecting progress, and measuring success toward reduction of wildfire risk for America's communities.
Suit filed to halt GM tree planting
Posted on Tuesday, July 6, 2010In May, USDA issued a permit for ArborGen to plant field tests of genetically modified Eucalyptus trees on 28 sites in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. The goal is to use the fast-growing trees for pulp and biomass. A coalition of environmental groups have filed suit to stop the planting, charging that USDA granted ArborGen the permit with minimal environmental review.
Ag appropriations bill passes with conservation funding intact
Posted on Thursday, July 1, 2010The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously approved a $23 billion Agriculture appropriations bill this week. It keeps intact major spending boosts for energy and conservation that lawmakers set two years ago, and rejects significant cuts that threatened the Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Grasslands Reserve Program, Farmland Protection Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.
North Carolina Division of Forest Resources seeks Utilization Forester
Posted on Thursday, July 1, 2010The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Forest Resources, is seeking a Utilization Forester position in Raleigh, NC, to deliver statewide program in forest products utilization & marketing.
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