Federal Forest Resource Coalition

Ag Committee leaders continue spelling out plans for the next farm bill. In the House, Chairman (R-PA) passed his bill out of committee on May 24. In the Senate, read detailed section-by-section breakdown of Chairwoman ’s (D-MI) proposal and a framework from Ranking Member Sen. (R-AR) that includes forestry initiatives.

https://www.trcp.org/2024/07/01/ag-committee-leaders-continue-spelling-out-plans-for-the-next-farm-bill/

Ag Committee Leaders Continue Spelling Out Plans for the Next Farm Bill | Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Farm Bill proposals gain momentum as Ag Committee leaders make tangible progress.

treatments prevent wildfire from spreading to Oregon town

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/bureau-of-land-management-treatments-prevent-wildfire-from-spreading-to-oregon-town/

Bureau of Land Management treatments prevent wildfire from spreading to Oregon town - Elkhorn Media Group PRINEVILLE(Released from Bureau of Land Management)-Last week, wildfire broke out on public lands near the ...Read More

Watch We The Forest’s latest video, "Thinning the Blaze: Enhancing Forest Resilience," produced in partnership with . This insightful video explores the crucial practice of mechanical thinning and its role in reducing wildfire risks and promoting healthier forests.

The video delves into the dangers of overgrown forests, the benefits of thinning and prescribed burns, and expert insights. Watch the full video and join the conversation about sustainable forestry practices. Your support is vital in spreading awareness about responsible .

https://wetheforest.com/blogs/videos/thinning-the-blaze-enhancing-forest-resilience

Thinning the Blaze: Enhancing Forest Resilience The critical practice of mechanical thinning and its role in protecting our forests from devastating wildfires.

Watch video, “Why Utilities Care About Forest Health & Management” – A We the Forest Original, in Partnership with – to understand why utilities like the Salt River Project are invested in forest health and how these initiatives benefit communities and ecosystems alike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcEVonY20VE

Why Utilities Care About Forest Health & Management | A We the Forest Original Join us in this insightful discussion with Elvy Barton, Water & Forest Sustainability Senior Manager at the Salt River Project, an Arizona-based electric pow...

Amforest_org: Politically driven nationwide old growth amendment fails to address primary threats to old forests, harms efforts to address wildfire crisis

https://amforest.org/politically-driven-nationwide-old-growth-amendment-fails-to-address-primary-threats-to-old-forests-harms-efforts-to-address-wildfire-crisis/

Politically Driven Nationwide Old Growth Amendment Fails to Address Primary Threats to Old Forests, Harms Efforts to Address Wildfire Crisis | American Forest Resource Council The American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) today said the U.S. Forest Service's Draft Environmental Impact Statement for its proposed nationwide old growth amendment will not address the primary threats to old growth forests on National Forest System lands, including severe wildfires, insect infest...

seeks public comment on draft guidance for old growth management on national forests

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/06/20/usda-forest-service-seeks-public-comment-draft-guidance-old-growth

USDA Forest Service Seeks Public Comment on Draft Guidance for Old Growth Management on National Forests WASHINGTON, June 20, 2024 — Tomorrow, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is taking the next step to advance President Biden’s commitment to conserve old growth forests by publishing a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed national old growth forest plan amendme...

Discover how Salt River Project () employs active forest management strategies to ensure the health of watersheds and mitigate the risks associated with catastrophic wildfires. Join us in this insightful discussion with Elvy Barton, Water & Forest Sustainability Senior Manager at the Salt River Project, an Arizona-based electric power and water utility company.

Watch video, “Why Utilities Care About Forest Health & Management” – A We the Forest Original, in Partnership with : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcEVonY20VE

Why Utilities Care About Forest Health & Management | A We the Forest Original Join us in this insightful discussion with Elvy Barton, Water & Forest Sustainability Senior Manager at the Salt River Project, an Arizona-based electric pow...

President Jim Parma testified in support of the Fix Our Forests Act at a Natural Resources Committee hearing in April. Parma’s testimony focused on the litigation reforms, the “Cottonwood” fix, Good Neighbor Amendments, and the reforms to the Forest Service small sales program. Unfortunately, the final bill dropped provisions that would have required prompt suppression of wildfires during extreme burning conditions and a pilot arbitration program.

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman (R-AR) and Peters (D-CA) last month introduced the Fix Our Forests Act, which includes a number of FFRC priorities including relief from unnecessary Endangered Species reviews and improvements to the Good Neighbor Act program.

Watch April hearing: https://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=415848

Legislative Hearing on Discussion Draft of H.R. ___ (Rep. Westerman),To expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and improve forest management activities on National Forest System lands, on public lands under the jurisdiction... On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold a legislative hearing on the following bill:

“The proposed old growth amendment as proposed could have been far worse, and we appreciate the fact that the Forest Service and senior USDA officials were receptive to concerns raised by industry and leading forest managers. That said, the old growth inventory showed that 55 percent of the Forest Service’s old growth was already in permanent set asides, like wilderness or roadless areas. The threat assessment showed that logging practices on the national forests haven’t been causing old growth loss for a long time. So we question the continued focus on amending forest plans rather than taking actions to implement needed management, using authorities and funds already provided by Congress.”
– Executive Director Bill Imbergamo, commenting on the releasing a proposed nation-wide Forest Plan amendment that would further restrict logging in old growth stands and require each National Forest to identify future old growth.

See first-of-its-kind ever attempted DEIS nationwide plan amendment: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65356

Forest Service Forest Service

The recently released “threat assessment” – published just 6 days before the DEIS was issued – showed that logging had removed only 9,000 acres of old growth forests on Forest Service and BLM lands over the last quarter century, while other disturbances like fire, insects, and disease had destroyed nearly 100 times that amount. Despite the miniscule “threat” posed by logging, the proposed action would limit harvest in old growth stands unless it is “for the purpose of proactive stewardship,” and that harvest must not be “for the purpose of timber production.”

See first-of-its-kind ever attempted DEIS nation-wide plan amendment: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65356

Forest Service Forest Service

Watch We The Forest video, "Thinning the Blaze: Enhancing Forest Resilience," produced in partnership with . This insightful video explores the crucial practice of mechanical thinning and its role in reducing wildfire risks and promoting healthier forests.

The video delves into the dangers of overgrown forests, the benefits of thinning and prescribed burns, and expert insights. Watch the full video and join the conversation about sustainable forestry practices. Your support is vital in spreading awareness about responsible .

https://tinyurl.com/5af7u6hj

Thinning the Blaze: Enhancing Forest Resilience The critical practice of mechanical thinning and its role in protecting our forests from devastating wildfires.

Why Utilities Care About Forest Health & Management | A We the Forest Original, in Partnership with

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcEVonY20VE

Why Utilities Care About Forest Health & Management | A We the Forest Original Join us in this insightful discussion with Elvy Barton, Water & Forest Sustainability Senior Manager at the Salt River Project, an Arizona-based electric pow...

“The Draft EIS clearly reflects a lot of what FFRC has been saying in our comments during other phases of this process,” said Executive Director Bill Imbergamo. “It acknowledges that some forests do not have an old growth phase, recognizes that disturbances like insects and fire are having a much greater impact on older forests than logging is, and it repeatedly acknowledges the need to manage in old growth stands to improve their health and resiliency.”

“That said, the proposed nation-wide plan amendment remains a flawed approach to old growth conservation. NEPA staff at the Forest and Regional levels will be tied up writing the required ‘management approaches’ after the plan amendment’s restrictions on harvest go into effect. In a perfect world, this might not make much difference. Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in. Bad actors – who’ve already succeeded in tying up billions of board feet in needed timber and delaying fuels reduction on thousands of acres – will use the plan amendment to abuse the legal system and further disrupt management.”

See first-of-its-kind ever attempted DEIS nation-wide plan amendment: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65356

Forest Service Forest Service

(R-AR) slams old growth amendment as misguided and ineffective

https://naturalresources.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=7UIRT4YQDTDQW

Committee on Natural Resources Washington, D.C. - Today, the United States Forest Service (USFS) proposed burdensome regulations that will make it harder to responsibly manage against wildfire and forest health threats. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in respon...

“The action taken today by the Forest Service is the next step towards limiting timber harvesting at the expense of common-sense forest management. Let’s be clear, this war on timber harvesting is to the detriment of communities across rural America and will increase the risk of out-of-control forest fires by limiting proper forest management tools.”
– Congressional Western Caucus Chairman (R-WA), commenting on Biden Administration’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed National Old-Growth Amendment

https://mailchi.mp/6679935cddb0/western-caucus-diablo-canyon-forum-10596537?e=e3b819b6ac

Chairman Newhouse Lambasts Old-Growth Forest Plan Proposal

Today, insects, fire, and disease stoked by climate warming, not logging, are the biggest threats to old-growth forests in the West, according to a review of forest conditions that helped inform the plan.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/old-growth-forest-plan-offers-protections-but-no-ban-on-cutting/

Old-growth forest plan offers protections, but no ban on cutting U.S. Forest Service releases its plan to protect old trees from fire, pests and logging.

scientists develop new tools to expedite decision-making after extreme drought

https://www.fs.usda.gov/features/research-action

Research in action | US Forest Service Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

: Healthy forests provide clean and abundant water

https://healthyforests.org/2024/06/healthy-forests-provide-clean-and-abundant-water/

Healthy Forests Provide Clean and Abundant Water – Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities healthyforests June 11, 2024 News Active forest management plays a crucial role in protecting clean water supplies, particularly in regions vulnerable to wildfires and water scarcity, such as Arizona and California. For decades, passive management across the west has contributed to unnaturally thick...

Wildfire damage outpaces U.S. reforestation efforts

https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2024/06/13/wildfire-damage-outpaces-western-reforestation-efforts-00163156

E&E News: Wildfire damage outpaces US reforestation efforts "Time is not on our side," a new study on replanting in wildfire-prone states declares.

"Rather than waste limited staff time and resources re-writing Forest Plans and developing old growth management approaches, the Forest Service ought to use the authorities and funding Congress has provided to focus on reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires and insect outbreaks on our public lands before it’s too late.”
– Executive Director Bill Imbergamo, in a statement regarding Draft EIS for the Forest Service National Old Growth Amendment.

Read full statement: https://tinyurl.com/ywhapcur2

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“The USDA’s recently released ‘threat assessment’ for old growth found that existing Forest Plans restrict tree cutting in old-growth forests to conditions where tree cutting benefits the durability of the old-growth through stewardship that maintains old-growth characteristics. Wildfire caused the destruction of over 700,000 acres of old growth since 2000, while insects and disease destroyed another 182,000 acres. That’s 98 times more acres than was impacted by timber harvest.”
– Executive Director Bill Imbergamo, in a statement regarding Draft EIS for the Forest Service National Old Growth Amendment.

Read full statement: https://fedforestcoalition.org/ffrc-press-statement-on-forest-service-national-old-growth-plan-amendment/

FFRC Press Statement on Forest Service National Old Growth Plan Amendment FFRC Press Statement on Forest Service National Old Growth Plan Amendment: June 20, 2024: Washington, DC: FFRC Executive Director Bill Imbergamo issued the following statement regarding Draft EIS for the Forest Service National Old Growth Amendment: “FFRC is disappointed that the Administration co...

“FFRC is disappointed that the Administration continues to pursue further restrictions on management of the National Forests in the face of unprecedented forest health and wildfire challenges,”
– Executive Director Bill Imbergamo, in a statement regarding Draft EIS for the Forest Service National Old Growth Amendment.

“We do not believe focusing on older forests is a good way to address those challenges, and we are extremely concerned about the disruption this unprecedented approach will have on urgently needed management efforts,” Imbergamo added.

Read full statement: https://fedforestcoalition.org/ffrc-press-statement-on-forest-service-national-old-growth-plan-amendment/

FFRC Press Statement on Forest Service National Old Growth Plan Amendment FFRC Press Statement on Forest Service National Old Growth Plan Amendment: June 20, 2024: Washington, DC: FFRC Executive Director Bill Imbergamo issued the following statement regarding Draft EIS for the Forest Service National Old Growth Amendment: “FFRC is disappointed that the Administration co...

“You said that you will follow the law and the science. Let’s talk about grizzly delisting, because you’re doing neither,” (R-WY), during at Senate Environment and Public Works Committee FY2025 budget proposal hearing, after Williams pointed to the agency’s recent efforts on grizzly bear conservation in the Blackfoot Valley, MT, to emphasize the agency’s overall effectiveness, calling the process a “national model for successful collaboration."

“In January of 2022, that’s two and a half years ago, the state of Wyoming filed a petition with FWS to establish grizzly bears in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem as a distinct population segment that is neither threatened or endangered and remove it from the endangered species list,” SenLummis (R-WY) added. “By law, your agency is required to make a determination within 12 months of receiving the application. We’re now two and a half years out from when the petition was submitted, and your agency has stated you won’t have a decision until July. Further, the science established by the USFWS decades ago proves that the grizzly has recovered and is way over population criteria.”

Watch archived webcast: https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings?ID=F63083EA-2C13-498C-B548-341BED68C209

Read Director Williams’ testimony:https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/c/1/c166e18a-6d32-493b-a87a-c80f9bc1ec94/8B01B00196AFACEA8906935266098FC5.06-12-2024-williams-testimony.pdf

www.epw.senate.gov

finalizes roadmap for future management covering 3.2M acres of in .

https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/gmug-adopts-plan-mapping-out-future-management/article_a3d7ff0a-2a9b-11ef-be53-1bd7eb05b707.html

GMUG adopts plan mapping out future management After seven years of effort, the U.S. Forest Service has finalized a roadmap for the future management of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.

The Fix Our Forests Act makes significant strides in reducing litigation and ensuring accountability. On behalf of the more than 300,000 American who rely at least in part on Forest Service timber for their livelihoods, we urge the House to act on this critical bill as soon as possible.”

– Executive Director Bill Imbergamo, in statement on Tuesday’s introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect communities, by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman (R-AR) and (D-CA)

Read full statement: https://fedforestcoalition.org/press-statement-on-the-fix-our-forests-act-of-2024-ffrc-executive-director-bill-imbergamo-issued-the-following-statement-on-the-fix-our-forests-act/

Read release:
https://naturalresources.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=VZCDZNX6JTRWC

Committee on Natural Resources Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced the Fix Our Forests Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect commu...

“The National Forest System is a conservation achievement of which all Americans should be proud. More than half of the National Forests are already in low to no management designations like Wilderness Areas, Wild & Scenic River corridors, and Inventoried Roadless Areas. Less than 28 percent of the National Forest System is designated as ‘suitable for timber production.’ Yet management of National Forests remains a daunting challenge.”

– Executive Director Bill Imbergamo, in statement on Tuesday’s introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect communities, by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman (R-AR) and (D-CA)

Read full statement: https://fedforestcoalition.org/press-statement-on-the-fix-our-forests-act-of-2024-ffrc-executive-director-bill-imbergamo-issued-the-following-statement-on-the-fix-our-forests-act/

Read release:
https://naturalresources.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=VZCDZNX6JTRWC

Committee on Natural Resources Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced the Fix Our Forests Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect commu...

“We particularly applaud the provisions clarifying that there is no need for additional consultation on forest plans, particularly if the project itself has not raised any concerns about listed species. …”

– Executive Director Bill Imbergamo, in statement on Tuesday’s introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect communities, by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman (R-AR) and (D-CA)

"This misguided case law was opposed by the Obama Administration, which appealed it to the Supreme Court," Imbergamo added. "Enacting these reforms will free up agency resources and prevent unnecessary delays in implementing badly needed management actions."

Imbergamo continued :“We are also strongly supportive of Good Neighbor Authority provisions. Allowing the retention of some receipts under GNA by agency partners, including tribes, counties, and states, will encourage further participation in and investment in Good Neighbor programs at those levels.”

Read full statement: https://fedforestcoalition.org/press-statement-on-the-fix-our-forests-act-of-2024-ffrc-executive-director-bill-imbergamo-issued-the-following-statement-on-the-fix-our-forests-act/

Read release:
https://naturalresources.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=VZCDZNX6JTRWC

Committee on Natural Resources Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced the Fix Our Forests Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect commu...

“We believe the fireshed provisions, reforms to Stewardship Contracting, locally led restoration, litigation reform and expanded efforts to use utility corridors as fuel breaks, are a good starting point for reforms at the Forest Service."
– Executive Director Bill Imbergamo, in statement on Tuesday’s introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect communities, by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman (R-AR) and (D-CA)

"The proposed litigation reforms are badly needed," Imbergamo added. "According to data provided to us by the Forest Service, over 1.8 Billion Board Feet of Forest Service timber was under litigation in the fall of last year. That’s more than half a year’s worth of timber sales in an average year. The reforms included in the Fix Our Forests Act ensure that needed management can take place in a timely fashion.”

Read full statement: https://fedforestcoalition.org/press-statement-on-the-fix-our-forests-act-of-2024-ffrc-executive-director-bill-imbergamo-issued-the-following-statement-on-the-fix-our-forests-act/

Read release:
https://naturalresources.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=VZCDZNX6JTRWC

Committee on Natural Resources Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced the Fix Our Forests Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect commu...

“We appreciate the bipartisan leadership Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman and Rep. Scott Peters have demonstrated on forest management issues. We urge the Committee to take up the Fix Our Forests Act quickly so it can be passed this summer, before the wildfire season ramps up.”

– Executive Director Bill Imbergamo, in statement on Tuesday’s introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect communities, by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman (R-AR) and (D-CA)

Read full statement: https://fedforestcoalition.org/press-statement-on-the-fix-our-forests-act-of-2024-ffrc-executive-director-bill-imbergamo-issued-the-following-statement-on-the-fix-our-forests-act/

Read release:
https://naturalresources.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=VZCDZNX6JTRWC

Committee on Natural Resources Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced the Fix Our Forests Act, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect commu...

Rep (R-CA), Rep (R-CA) in op-ed: We all can help prevent wildfires

https://www.ocregister.com/2024/06/04/ken-calvert-and-darrell-issa-we-all-can-help-prevent-wildfires/

Ken Calvert and Darrell Issa: We all can help prevent wildfires While wildfire season may be an annual occurrence, we will be best served by developing and implementing tools, partnerships, and practices 365 days a year.