National Association of Conservation Districts

Forestry

For the past 100 years, the forest land base in the U.S. has remained relatively stable at around 755 million acres, with agricultural and urban land conversions being offset by abandoned and marginal agricultural land returning to forests. However, there are many challenges ahead if we are going to keep forests as forests:

• Recent studies estimate that more than 44 million acres of private forestlands could experience substantial increases in housing density in the next three decades.
• In 2006, almost eight percent of U.S. forests (58 million acres) were at significant risk from insect and disease mortality with 27 million acres at risk on private lands.
• Fourteen percent of plant species on non-crop lands in the Midwest are non-native invasive plants.
• Hazardous fuel buildup and number of wildland forest fires have been unusually high, affecting an average of 5.8 million acres annually between 1999 and 2006, and an estimated 90 million acres are at risk to catastrophic wildfire.

Fifty-seven percent of U.S. forestland is privately owned, with 262 million acres of forests owned by families and individuals. Many of these private owners are conservation district members and their families and neighbors who own forestland or have woodlands in association with their farming operations. Conservation districts and their members have long been engaged in forestry activities ranging from community tree planting, the protection of riparian buffers and the active management of private forests and woodlands for wildlife habitat, aesthetics, recreation, soil protection, clean water, the production of wood and other forest related products and the protection of private forestlands through conservation easements.

Recent NACD Forestry Activities

• The NACD Forest RPG October Meeting Photo Slideshow– This group met at the National Wild Turkey Federation headquarters, October 28-29, 2008 in Edgefield, South Carolina. The Forest RPG examined the next steps in implementing the forestry provisions in the new farm and of the new Joint Forestry Team MOU. To view a photo slide show from the meeting, click here.
  
  
• Joint Letter on Improving Communication About Wildland Fire Activities, Conservation Natural Resource Leaders, October 6, 2008 | PDF |
  
  
• NACD Signs Joint Forestry Team MOU - In late September, the Team signed a Memorandum of Understanding with National Association of State Foresters, U.S. Forest Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service regarding the roles and responsibilities of each of the four partners as well as exploring the mutual recognition of forest management plans. NACD actively works in partnership to collectively improve the delivery of technical assistance to forest landowners. Continue to monitor this page for future developments and reports on these efforts.
  
  
• Joint Letter on Wildfire Suppression Funding, Senate Appropriations Committee, September 15, 2008 | PDF |

NACD Forestry Resources
Several  of the resources listed below have been developed through cooperative agreements with NACD’s federal and nonfederal partners. NACD has enjoyed an active working relationship with the U.S. Forest Service, for a number of years, to highlight forestry issues of importance to districts and to showcase district-related forestry projects and success stories. NACD is also engaged in a cooperative agreement with the Department of The Interior and the USDA Forest Service to further engage conservation districts in support of the National Fire Plan and the reduction of hazardous fuels on private and public forestlands in and around local communities.

Forestry Notes - NACD publishes Forestry Notes to highlight forestry issues of importance to districts and to showcase district-related forestry projects and success stories. Forestry Notes is funded through a cooperative agreement between NACD and the U.S. Forest Service. The monthly publication is sent to 3,000 conservation districts and 1,700 resource professionals in state, federal, and partners offices working across the country.

Forestry Notes Special Reports - NACD works with the Forestry Service to produce the monthly newsletter Forestry Notes. Periodically an issue of special interest is highlighted in a four-page insert called a Special Report and included with the newsletter. These informative inserts are valuable sources of information and are each stand alone publications.

Conservation Districts' Role in Implementing National Fire Plan – A Second Look - This publication takes a second look at the role of conservation districts in implementing the Fire Plan. The booklet, available in Acrobat format, was produced by NACD in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and US Department of Interior to provide conservation districts with a tool to motivate and educate your communities and help mitigate the dangerous impacts of wildland fires in your areas. this report is available as a 3.5 MB Acrobat file. | PDF |

The Phoenix Guide – This guide is a handbook for watershed and community wildland fire recovery. This resource is intended to provide conservation districts, nonprofit groups, and communities with a step-by-step guide to use in developing a post-fire recovery and re-habilitation plan. The handbook is available for download as a 5MB file. | PDF |

Sample Press Releases on Wildfire - Fire is a constant. Here are three sample press releases for distribution to local media on the following topics: Wildlife and Resources; Firewise; and Districts and the Cost of Fire The press releases are aimed to help districts educate landowners on fire-preserving methods. Be sure to use these materials in your public education efforts.

The Hidden Treasure Comic Book - This valuable teaching tool shows young people and families how woody biomass from our nation's woodlands can provide a wealth of products and energy resources. Click here for more information about the book and how to order.

Woody Biomass Speakers Bureau - The Speakers’ Bureau lists contact information, areas of expertise and cost. NACD encourages its members and partners to use the Speakers’ Bureau to invite qualified speakers to participate in upcoming meetings.

Forestry Partners
U.S. Forest Service - Cooperative Forestry - The Cooperative Forestry staff works with States, private landowners, and other partners to promote healthy forests and livable communities throughout the United States. Their programs and partnerships help private landowners and rural communities care for their forests and strengthen local economies.

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service - NRCS provides federal leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their natural resources. NRCS provides both technical forestry and agroforestry practice standards, as well as financial assistance through a number of conservation programs.

National Association of State Foresters (NASF) - NASF is a non-profit organization that represents the directors of all 50 state forestry agencies, the eight U.S. territories (American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guan, the Northern Marianas Islands, Paiau, Puerto Rico, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the District of Columbia. This link provides contact information for the agency responsible for forestry in each state and territory.

USDA National Agroforestry Center - Accelerates the application of agroforestry through a national network of partners. The Center conducts research, develops technologies and tools, coordinates demonstrations and training, and provides useful information to natural resource professionals.

Project Learning Tree (PLT) - Project Learning Tree® is an award winning, multi-disciplinary environmental education program for educators and students in PreK-grade 12. PLT, a program of the

American Forest Foundation - The American Forest Foundation is one of the most widely used environmental education programs in the United States and abroad. Many conservation district employees are among the 3,000 grassroots volunteers who have helped train more than 500,000 educators in using PLT materials, and reaching approximately 26 million students. PLT materials are aligned with state and national education standards.