Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program How did we get here? Brief account of Selway Middle Fork CFLR project

Transcription

1 Mike Ward, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest May 11, 2011

2 Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program How did we get here? Overview of CFLR program Brief account of Selway Middle Fork CFLR project Transferrable knowledge

3 Ecologically Desirable Socially Acceptable Economically Feasible

4 Title IV Forest Landscape Restoration...to encourage the collaborative science based ecosystem restoration of priority forest landscapes...

5 Establishes Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund in US Treasury Authorizes to be appropriated $40,000,000 annually from 2009 to 2019 Secretary of Ag. May request up to $4,000,000 annually for each proposal Funds may be used to pay for up to 50% of the cost of carrying out and monitoring ecological restoration treatments on National Forest System land...

6 10 Year program Landscapes of at least 50,000 acres Maintains, promotes, protects old growth and large trees Focuses on removing small trees and biomass to reduce fuels and fire risks with an emphasis on utilization

7 Substantial reporting and monitoring requirements Annual report and work plan Documentation of expected cost savings and unit cost decreases Multiparty monitoring report required for 15 years after implementation Secretary of Ag s 5 year report to Congress

8 31 proposals submitted nationally Evaluated by a 15 person Resource Advisory Committee July proposals selected and recommended for funding Secretary signs recommendation -Aug 13

9 Short turnaround between call letter and proposal due date (~ 2 months) Little program direction Estimations, interpretations, assumptions

10 Joint development between CBC and FS Early emphasis on creating a sense of place and highlighting social benefits Presented to full CBC in front of Regional Forester - unanimous support for proposal Continued to develop support following proposal submission

11 1.4 million acre landscape includes ~800, 000 acres of Wilderness Treat fuels / restore appropriate disturbance Water quality, weeds, job creation

12

13 Received and obligated $1,000,000 in FY 10 through existing partnership agreements through FY 14 Nez Perce Tribe Water Quality Division Nez Perce Tribe Biocontrol Center Montana Conservation Corps Idaho County IDIQ contract for road improvement

14 1100 acres of harvest - fuel reduction acres commercial thin forest health / fuels 8000 acres prescribed fire - fuel reduction / wildlife habitat improvements 75 miles road decom. watershed improvements 17 culvert replacements approx. half are fish barriers 3000 acres of weed treatments annually 3 miles aquatic habitat restoration restore native trees / shrubs

15 Clear Creek integrated restoration 57,700 acre analysis area Approx acres variable retention regeneration harvest ~ acres commercial thin (12,000 acres of eligible stands) Monthly engagement with CBC as project develops straw man votes to proceed or refine

16 Biomass and small diameter material opportunities

17 Harvest History Clear Creek and Middle Fork Watersheds

18

19

20 ~75 miles to nearest market Clearwater Paper, Lewiston, ID $0 ($15) per ton 2 nd Phase of feasibility study for 15MW cogen plant in Orofino, ID (40 miles)

21 Built from the ground up Visionary leadership Collaborative development Commitment and dedication of all parties Political affiliations

22 Observations: Program and funding seems to be secure increased 250% in budget bill Initial reluctance to bring more work on ourselves requires culture change. Commitment and engagement of partners has been excellent Social license to plan bigger, outputs will follow Initial successes have led to a re-evaluation of forestwide project planning

23

24 Legislative approach: Tester Forest Jobs and Recreation Act Wyden Oregon Eastside Forest Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act Collaborative / incentive based approach: Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program

25 Catastrophic wildfire Increased fire management costs Declining forest / watershed health Climate change Declining budgets

26 Forest Health and Landscape scale Restoration Recommendations (2010) 16 page report - 12 recommendations and detailed actions towards achieving accelerated landscape scale restoration treatments

27 Economically feasible $$$ must be shifted to balance

28 A problem whose solution requires a great number of people to change their mindsets and behavior is likely to be a wicked problem. Therefore, many standard examples of wicked problems come from the areas of public planning and policy.