State and Private Forestry Fact Sheet

Transcription

1 State and Private Forestry Fact Sheet 2015 Nebraska Investment in State's Cooperative Programs: Program FY 2014 Final FY 2015 Final Community Forestry and Open Space $0 $0 Cooperative Lands - Forest Health Management $192,406 $170,626 Forest Legacy $43,000 $43,000 Forest Stewardship $132,836 $127,836 Landscape Scale Restoration $75,000 $595,370 State Fire Assistance $1,034,621 $1,124,621 Urban and Community Forestry $717,000 $232,000 Volunteer Fire Assistance $207,902 $207,902 Total $2,402,765 $2,501,355 NOTE: This funding is for all entities within the state, not just the State Forester's office. Program Goals: Volunteer fire assistance and wildland fire hazardous fuels funds are pass-through to volunteer fire districts or forest landowners. Increase cost effectiveness through the use of expanded and effective partnerships. Increase values through sustained productivity of forests. Deliver programs that are voluntary and use non-regulatory approaches. Address the critical issues of: approaching and existing threats to forest health and productivity; declining community forests; increasing wildfire risk to forests; declining rural forest health and productivity; the loss of conservation plantings on agricultural lands; diminishing understanding and appreciation of the value of trees and forests; persistent lack of wood product markets; and underutilized forest resources. Geographically concentrate program efforts on critical landscapes to achieve landscape-level, all lands impacts. Promote species diversity as part of healthy rural and community forest resources. Develop effective partnerships to promote the use of woody biomass for energy and other applications. Key Issues: Fuel loads in our ponderosa pine, mixed pine/cedar and some riparian ecosystems are dangerously high and growing and must be thinned to reduce the risk of intense, stand-replacing catastrophic wildfire, as experienced in Eastern redcedar forests are expanding at a rapid rate across rangeland and under existing hardwood forests. These forests are expanding by 38,000 acres per year, and are generating considerable concern by the conservation community, the fire community, and the agricultural community, while at the same time creating economic opportunities for wood products enterprises. Emerald ash borer is now in Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota and threatens 46 million ash trees across the state. This is a huge threat to Nebraska's forest resources. In Nebraska's community forests alone, costs to remove and replace ash trees killed by EAB are estimated to exceed $1.3 billion. Ash trees in Nebraska represent nine percent of the state's entire tree population. Declining forest health, due to an aging community tree population, recent emergence of several fatal tree diseases, severe weather events, drought and severe flooding along the Missouri and Platte Page 1 of 6

2 Rivers in 2011 and Large-scale community tree planting programs, as well as urban/suburban dweller education and green professional training are all required to restore healthy community forests. Expanded use of green infrastructure to reduce costs, increase tree planting, improve aesthetics and provide ecosystem services is an important new direction for community forestry programs. Need to extend community forestry programs to the wildland-urban interface. Declining health and quality of rural forests due to damage from livestock grazing, herbicide drift, harvesting practices and conversion to non-forest uses. Approximately 75 percent of Nebraska's natural and planted forest resources are in need of improvement practices. Need to establish new conservation plantings for wildlife habitat, shelterbelts, watershed protection, wood products and other conservation purposes. Training of local firefighters is often not consistent with that of federal firefighters. To reverse the decline of rural economies across Nebraska, woody biomass markets will be fostered as long-term drivers of rural economic development and a pathway toward Nebraska's energy independence. Federal, state and local legislators and their staffs must be educated onthe economic and environmental benefits provided by trees and forests. Forest Facts and Accomplishments: Selected Facts Population 1,826,341 Acres of Forest Land 1,576,174 Acres of Nonindustrial Private Forest Land 1,092,000 Number of NIPF Landowners 57,000 Acres of Federal Land Under State Fire Protection Acres of Private Land Under State Fire Protection 741,247 48,342,273 Number of Rural Fire Departments 494 Cities and Towns 530 Forest Based Employment 2,200 Economic Impact of Forestry (by rank) 34,000,000 State Forestry Budget (All Sources) 5,306,217 FY 2014 Accomplishments Landowners Receiving Educational or Technical Assistance Acres Covered by New or Revised Forest Stewardship Plans Acres in Important Forest Resource Areas Covered by New or Revised Stewardship Plans 6, , ,674 Volunteer Fire Departments Assisted 88 State Fire Communities Assisted 65 Coop Forest Health Acres Protected 232 Forest Legacy Project Acquisitions 0 Communities Provided Urban Forestry Program Assistance Population Living in Communities Provided Urban Forestry Program Assistance 160 1,276,343 Urban Forestry Volunteer Assistance 44,500 Program Highlights: Cooperative Fire Protection After a record-breaking worst year for wildfires in 2012, 2013 recorded lowest number of wildfires (473) and a near record low of 10,991 acres burned. In 2014, 854 wildfires burned 23,000+ acres. Intense 2012 fires prompted NFS, firefighters and partner groups to urge the Legislature to pass the Wildfire Control Act of 2013 to strengthen state fire suppression programs by: adding an air tanker during the fire season; increasing wildfire training for volunteer firefighters; expanding provision of firefighting equipment to fire districts; establishing a forest products marketing, utilization and investment program; and providing state cost-share funds for forest fuels reduction and land restoration. Since 2001, worked with 349 landowners to reduce fuel loads on 18,881 acres of forest land in six counties. -Reduced risk of catastrophic wildland fires, improved health and safety of forests, provided cost-efficient and reliable renewable energy supply, preserved water quality and stimulated economic growth in struggling areas. -Three USFS S&PF Redesign grants support geospatial analysis of coniferous forest resources in Pine Page 2 of 6

3 Ridge and Niobrara River valley, and to conduct similar assessments in Wildcat Hills and Platte River valley. -Data provided lets NFS and cooperators make informed decisions about where fuels treatment projects are most effective. -Acquired high-resolution aerial imagery that produces a data map of forest fuel loads, roads, communities, political boundaries and readily available GIS layers. -Four classifications completed; Platte River valley underway. -Slated areas: Central Loess Hills, Republican River valley and Missouri River valley. All areas are priority forest areas in Statewide Forest Resource Assessment & Strategy. -In 2014, 2,874 acres of forest land treated for fuel reduction; three additional competitive fuel treatment grants ($750,000) secured for fuel treatment in Pine Ridge, Niobrara Valley and Loess Canyons. Forest Health Protection Forest threats continue, as four neighboring states already detected emerald ash borer (EAB). It is very likely that EAB soon will be discovered in Nebraska. APHIS expanded the list of regulated areas for EAB to include all of Iowa, regulating the interstate movement of EAB-host wood and wood products from Iowa, including firewood of all hardwood species, nursery stock, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips of ash species. EAB threatens Nebraska s 54 million ash trees. It will cost billions to remove, dispose of and replant these trees and will greatly alter Nebraska s urban and rural landscapes. Black walnut, prized for timber and nut production, is threatened by thousand cankers disease (TCD). Nebraska s estimated 1.5 million black walnuts are found mostly along river and stream corridors in north central and eastern portions of the state. The value of merchantable black walnut wood is estimated at million, and approximately 70,000 pounds of hulled nuts, valued at $840,000, are harvested annually from 4,000 nutbearing trees. In 2014 staff completed 19 presentations, training 1,220 professionals and individuals, and distributed 15,000 forest health publications. NFS works with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and other state and federal agencies to develop and conduct monitoring, detection and public education. Also, through a network of 120 trained and engaged citizen volunteers in 48 communities across the state, NFS s Tree Pest Detector Program continues to monitor local areas for EAB and TCD. The intense drought of 2012 and 2013 continues to have lingering effects on trees in urban and conservation plantings and native forests, and has led to greater tree mortality from the insect pests and diseases that benefit from trees being stressed. Ponderosa pines in the Pine Ridge, Wildcat Hills and Niobrara River valley have been especially vulnerable to attack by ips bark beetles, with many trees dying in highly stressed areas. Forest Legacy NFS and a coalition of conservation organizations acquired a spectacular forested property along the Niobrara River in The Chat Canyon Wildlife Management Area is a diverse and ecologically significant 400-plus acre property that is bisected by the Niobrara River. Located about 30 miles west of Valentine, it will be forever protected from subdivision and development. Chat Canyon is the home of unusually high numbers of nesting Yellow-breasted Chats, a beautiful songbird that is increasingly uncommon elsewhere and which has disappeared in eastern Nebraska. This acquisition was the culmination of a 12-year effort on the part of the NFS to implement the Forest Legacy Program, and involved numerous NFS staff and two state foresters. It is the result of a partnership between the University of Nebraska, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NG&PC), Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET), The Conservation Fund, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and two landowners who were passionately committed to conservation. Funding was provided by the USFS, NET, NG&PC and NWTF. The property is now owned and operated by Game and Parks, and adds to their statewide network of Wildlife Management Areas. Uniquely, it will be co-managed for both forestry and wildlife objectives under a formal agreement between the Commission and the NFS. Chat Canyon WMA is a significant, important and permanent addition to Nebraska s protected wildlands, and will serve as a powerful demonstration to other landowners of how forestry and wildlife management objectives can be combined in the Niobrara forest ecosystem. Urban and Community Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Nebraska communities face challenges: water quality, storm water management and declining overall forest health and habitat loss. NFS, in collaboration with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, Inc., addresses these issues through initiatives aimed at enhancing green infrastructure in communities. These efforts focus on water conservation and water quality landscapes, while providing diverse habitat through Page 3 of 6

4 use of native and regionally adapted plant materials. Projects encourage and enable communities to use environmentally sound landscape practices that conserve water, improve water quality, create habitat, improve air, save energy and restore community forests. - Utilized S&PF funding to support initiatives designed to reverse declines in forest health and community forest canopy, including ReTree Nebraska, a grassroots effort to properly plant and maintain 1 million trees by This initiative has established a network of 290 volunteer ambassadors in 10,020+ participating communities statewide who promote tree planting in their communities and educate citizens about the value of trees and forests. Conservation Trees for Nebraska The Nebraska Conservation Tree Working Group, a partnership including the Nebraska Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, and the U.S. Forest Service, are working on ways to reverse a recent and significant trend in the planting of conservation trees for soil, crop, and livestock protection. Changes in crop prices and land values have led to the removal of mature windbreak and a subsequent decline in the planting of new windbreaks. Research has consistently shown that, within the protected zone of the windbreak, spring wheat yields were increased an average of 8 percent, corn by 12 percent, soybeans by 13 percent, and winter wheat by 23 percent. In an effort to bridge this disconnect, the Conservation Tree Working Group is looking to work with agricultural producers to implement a study of the impact of windbreaks on crop production yields in Nebraska. Our goal is to let those landowners who value windbreaks and have kept them in place demonstrate the real and significant impacts of windbreaks to their peers and provide them with the evidence that the planting of conservation trees is a financially responsible choice. Education and Outreach Utilize two-way communication between the agency and the public to establish and foster mutual understanding, promote public involvement and influence behaviors, attitudes and action with the goal of enriching the lives of Nebraska citizens by protecting, restoring and utilizing Nebraska s tree and forest resources. This approach provides for a dialogue that is an effective exchange of information between the agency and the public. It also facilitates understanding, communicates with direction and purpose and comprehends rather than persuades, and encourages publics and stakeholders to pull information from the agency that is useful rather than the agency pushing information toward the general public. It promotes familiarity with the agency, its goals and objectives, and encourages a more effective relationship with the media. This involves listening to stakeholders, recognizing their concerns and enhancing the way the agency provides service to its partners and constituents. Outreach encompasses constituent, legislative, corporate, media, non-governmental and governmental relations and includes public involvement, public information activities and informational products - Develop a comprehensive brand strategy - Integrate brand messaging into all interactions - Enhance agency s visibility - Establish procedures and protocols for two-way flow of information within NFS - Increase partnership activities within NFS to maximize outreach results - Increase partnership activities outside NFS to maximize outreach results - Increase understanding of how tree resources relate to social, economic and environmental issues - Develop materials with clear and consistent messages - Increase collaboration to create synergy between partners - Inform constituents of emerging issues and policies prior to implementation - Disseminate informational materials regarding policies and programs - Promote timely communication between leadership and communicators Federal Excess Personal Property and Fire Fighter Property NFS increased surplus property placements in 2014 to over $67 million worth of equipment now on loan to 268 fire departments. This program has grown steadily since 2006, from 279 major pieces to over 624 in 2014, which results in significant savings to Rural Fire Districts. These programs allow Rural Fire Districts and some State agencies to secure vital emergency equipment at reduced cost. Without these programs, initial costs would far exceed current budgets; these pieces have an estimated replacement value in excess of $67 million. After screening and transporting, the NFS Fire Shop reconditions and/or repairs the equipment to be placed on loan to the participating departments and agencies. Equipment includes 4x4 pickups, 6x6 and 8x8 trucks, fire trucks, water tenders, generators, and light sets, as well as other pieces. Smaller items also are available through these programs, such as tools, personal protective Page 4 of 6

5 equipment, water distribution equipment, and ladders, etc. The Fire Shop now also stocks parts and has field repair capabilities to assist in the maintenance of placed equipment. Forest Products Utilization Urban wood waste from arborists and homeowners continues to be well utilized in the Lincoln and Omaha areas by the mulch industry. Additionally, industrial wood waste is being converted to energy products in several forms. Chips are manufactured for use in wood boilers, sawdust is used in the alfalfa drying process, wood waste is converted to wood pellets and some industrial wood waste is ground into mulch. Recent state forest resource inventories completed by USFS show that eastern redcedar (ERC) continues to expand. This expansion resulted in an additional 104,000 acres of land being classified as forestland and adds to the more than 330,000 acres classed as ERC. This new forestland is primarily grasslands, which have been invaded by ERC, something that is undesirable to the grazing industry and to proper riparian water management. However, the expansion of ERC provides potential as a new source of wood energy. An emphasis has been placed on wood energy market development to increase the market demand for wood fuel above the 10 facilities currently utilizing wood for a variety of thermal applications. In 2014, two feasibility studies were completed with an estimated market impact of 7,000 tons of wood fuel required for these facilities. NFS continues to increase the number of facilities considering wood energy options, annually. Agricultural markets for wood products also are being investigated through the development of pilot projects across the state with a variety of partnering agencies. Forestry Education Center NFS is converting the 240-acre forested landscape into the only tree, forest and agroforest managementfocused educational center in Nebraska or the region. Supported with funding from the U.S. Forest Service, USDA National Agroforestry Center, USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative and the Nebraska Environmental Trust, the project is converting Horning Farm State Demonstration Forest (near Plattsmouth) from a limited-access forestry research forest to a broadly accessible and critically needed regional forestry education center. The Education Center will serve a broad clientele, including woodland and acreage owners, agricultural producers, conservation and green industry professionals and urban residents. Seventeen demonstrations will promote and educate diverse clientele in sustainable forest, agroforest and urban tree management practices for eastern Nebraska. Completed 2014 projects included Walnut enrichment selective thinning, forest succession projects, eradicating invasive honeysuckle, deer browse demonstration, cutting a nature trail, planting in new edible buffer and pollinator habitats and constructing areas for future prescribed burn demonstrations. Hybrid hazelnut research field demonstrations were expanded, drip irrigated and protected from deer. Education and outreach activities will include: training/educational and outreach events for agencies, conservation groups, nonprofits, green industry, forest landowners, birders and the public, mentored hunts and master naturalist training in working forest management. The development of the Center is guided by a multiorganizational steering committee composed of conservation organizations and agencies, including NFS, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, The Nature Conservancy, Lower Platte South NRD, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, NRCS & Papio Missouri River NRD lending critically important technical support & advice. Rural Forestry The Pine Ridge and Niobrara Valley represent a significant portion of the forest resource in the state of Nebraska. However, the loss of mills and manufacturer in the Black Hills has resulted in a lack of management and stagnation of these woodlands. The recent and severe wildfires in 2006 and 2012 has caused significant concern among landowners and citizens alike about the health and vigor of these forests. In 2014, Nebraska Forest Service staff worked with over 60 woodland owners to help them remove dead, dying and diseased trees, improve the quality and quantity of marketable timber, and reduce fuels loads on over 2,800 acres of land in these areas. These landowners invested over $250,000 and generated nearly 3,000 man-days of work for contractors with and economic impact of well-over $1 million. These efforts, supported by financial assistance through the Wildfire Control Act of 2013, have provided these woodland owners, their neighbors, and their communities with a measure of safety and security in these fire prone areas and, looking to the future, a potentially marketable product. Urban and Community Forestry Addendum ReTree Nebraska also partnered with the Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association to develop Good Page 5 of 6

6 Trees for the Good Life, a list of trees that grow well in Nebraska but are often under planted. In 2014, Tree Care Workshops and trainings were held at nine locations across Nebraska and provided information about current and emerging issues in forest health, as well as cutting-edge information about tree selection and care. Offered in cooperation with the Nebraska Arborists Association and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, Inc., the workshops are developed specifically for public works employees, landscape managers, tree board volunteers, arborists, nursery professionals and others in the green industry. The 2014 Tree Care Workshops provided continuing education credits to more than 2300 participating green industry professionals to support the International Society of Arboriculture or the Nebraska Arborists Association certification requirements. Other accomplishments include implementing the Green Streets implementation in Omaha and investing $819,036 in 82 community projects to support tree planting and landscaping efforts across the state. The Tree City USA Recognition Day and training with 110 communities certified as TCUSA, four utility providers certified as Tree Line USA and six campuses certified as Tree Campus USA. The Sustainable School Yards Program and Conservation Education programming investments continued this year in coordination with the NSA, Inc. and Conservation Education Programming efforts. Sustainable Community Trees, Environmentally Adapted Trees (FFY14 Redesign Grants) and Nebraska's 10 Largest Communities and Full Circle Benefits (FFY15 Redesign Grants) are also being rolled out in coordination with 10+ participating communities and multiple green industry partners. Wildland Fire Training In partnership with state and federal agencies, NFS coordinated the seventh annual Nebraska Wildland Fire Academy, held at Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford, Neb. The Academy offered 14 National Wildfire Coordinating Group courses and registered more than 150 firefighters. NFS provided training via the Nebraska Wildland Fire Academy and 25 additional classes, providing a total of 568 hours of training to 1,014 firefighters. NFS also provided significant support to an additional 1,200 firefighters through Nebraska State Fire School. NFS conducted 84 district fire prevention activities that reached 33,149 people through news releases, television interviews, community activities, school visits and programs. Website and social media contacts totaled approximately 156,000. For more information, please contact: Nebraska Forest Service Dr. Scott J Josiah State Forester Plant Industry Building, Rm. 103 University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE sjosiah2@unl.edu Rocky Mountain Region Rick Cooksey Director USDA Forest Service P.O. Box Lakewood, CO rcooksey@fs.fed.us Page 6 of 6