The Importance of Forest Management

Transcription

1 The Importance of Forest Management Molly Pitts Rocky Mountain States Director Sacramento Mountains Wood Industry Summit 3/30/16

2 Background Owner of Pitts Resource Consulting, LLC Rocky Mountain States Director for HFHC Intermountain Forest Association (CO, WY, SD) Colorado Timber Industry Association Previous Executive Director of the Northern Arizona Wood Products Association (8 years) Forester White Mountain Apache Tribe (4 years) Education BS in Forestry (NAU 1998) MS in Sustainable Natural Resources (OSU 2014)

3 Established in March 2013, Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities (HFHC) is a non profit, non partisan grassroots organization that advocates for federal forest reforms. We support Congressional action on solutions that: Promote active, multiple use management of federal forest lands. Create jobs and economic opportunities in rural, forested communities. Provide stable revenues for rural county governments and other essential services.

4 Operating in Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes states. Coalition of local elected officials, business, labor, law enforcement, educators, others. Grassroots network of 65,000 people supporting better management of federal forests. Frequent contributor to print and broadcast media on forestry issues. HealthyForests.ORG

5 Why do we Care? Active Forest Mgmt. Quality Hunting Local Economic Vitality Healthy Wildlife Populations Healthy Forests

6 What is Active Forest Management? The practical application of biological, physical, quantitative, managerial, economic, social, and policy principles to the regeneration, management, utilization, and conservation of forests to meet specified goals and objectives while maintaining the productivity of the forest. (Society of American Foresters) May include planning, thinning, prescribed burning, harvest and replanting Helps balance a forest s environmental, social and economic values, providing the wood products and recreational access that society desires.

7 Federal Forest Management: An Overview The federal government administers 76 percent of all public forest land, or million acres. Bureau of Land Management National Forest System About 52 million acres of U.S. forest land are set aside by law for non timber uses, such as parks or wilderness areas (and this number continues to grow). The National Forest System includes 193 million acres in 41 states, or nine percent of the total land area of the United States. About 188 million acres are in National Forests. As federal policies have changed just 35 percent of national forest land is available for regularly scheduled timber harvest, and just half of one percent of those trees are harvested in any one year. The remaining 65 percent is designated for non timber uses, such as wilderness and other areas set aside for recreation.

8 Continuing Trends: Timber harvests on federal lands have reduced percent.

9 Continuing Trends: Forest Products Infrastructure Continues to Disappear Throughout the Country

10 Continuing Trends: Growth Exceeds Harvest National Forest Growth and Removals All National Forest Timberlands Million cubic feet Net Growth 1987 Removals

11 Continuing Trends: Overstocked and Unhealthy Forests USFS: 65 to 82 million acres of federal forest land is at risk and in need of treatment. FY 2014, only 4.6 million acres are treated. Annual mortality increased 25% between Net annual growth decreased 17% between Annual removal is 11% of growth, 13% of mortality.

12 Continuing Trends: Larger and More Severe Wildfires

13 Continuing Trends: Firefighting Costs Now Consume Over Half of the USFS Budget.

14 What Needs To Be Done Congressional Solutions Such as H.R Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015 Builds upon the 2014 Farm Bill to extend limited categorical exclusion (CE) authorities, enabling the Forest Service to expedite critical forest health projects. Up to 5,000 acres / 15,000 acres with collaboration Bond requirement for litigation on collaborative projects only. 5,000 acre CE authority to improve, enhance or create early successional forests. Expedited Environmental Analysis Allows agencies to request and access emergency disaster funds if firefighting budgets are exhausted. Establishes revolving funds for projects on national forests funded by states, as Montana, New Mexico and Oregon have sought to do.

15 Why Should You Care? Local jobs Resilient forests Protection of communities from fire Tourism / Hunting economy Fire borrowing takes away from ALL national forests

16 New Mexico Statistics New Mexico s forest land area = 24.8 million acres 94% is considered unreserved (23.4 million acres) Only 18% (4.3 million acres) is classified as timberland 82% is considered unproductive Privately owned forest land = 10.8 million (44%) 31% is administered by Forest Service = 7.8 million acres BLM manages 2 million acres of forest land (8%)

17 Get Involved Join the Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities Coalition ( Respond to Action Alerts Participate in local and regional collaboratives Participate in state wide associations such as the New Mexico Forest Industry Association Be vocal write editorials Visit with local politicians, county commissioners, state and federal representatives

18 Get Involved: New Mexico Issues Forest Plan Revision Carson Cibola Gila Lincoln Santa Fe Proposed Wilderness Areas Travel Management Planning Local projects (NEPA)

19 Get Involved: National Issues Fire Funding ESA Forest Service and BLM budgets Collaboration

20 Questions? Comments?