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AFRC: Background & Context. AFRC BAC meeting, October 21, 2002 Colin Donohue, Principal Investigator colind@ruralaction.org. What is AFRC?. Appalachian Forest Resource Center Serves Central and Southern Appalachia Appalachian counties in 13 states Pennsylvania to Alabama.
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AFRC:Background & Context AFRC BAC meeting, October 21, 2002 Colin Donohue, Principal Investigator colind@ruralaction.org
What is AFRC? • Appalachian Forest Resource Center • Serves Central and Southern Appalachia • Appalachian counties in 13 states Pennsylvania to Alabama
Appalachian Regional Commission “Distressed Counties” FY 2003
What is AFRC? (2) • One of four regional branches of NCFC- National Community Forestry Center • A project of NNFP- Nat. Network of Forest Practitioners
Origins of the NNFP • Started about 10 years ago amidst mushrooming of grassroots efforts • Ford Foundation supported efforts to find out • Who are the individuals and organizations? • Can we learn from each other? • Can we Network? • Discovered - WE HAVE A MOVEMENT
Evolution of the Role of the Network • Networking – annual meeting – 1990s - regional networking • Training – contracting, fire plan workshops • Capacity building – “Week in Washington” • PolicyInterventions– Economic Assistance Program • Research – four regional community forestry centers
National Community Forestry Center (NCFC) • USDA FFRA 4 year grant • Established four regional Centers (Pacific West, SW, NE, Appalachia) • www.nationalcommunityforestrycenter.org
National Community Forestry Center (NCFC) • 3 primary activities • Partner 2-5 communities for participatory research • Conduct locally and regionally relevant research • Technical assistance – resource center
Who is AFRC? • Hosted by Rural Action and SACCO • Advised by BAC- Bioregional Advisory Council • Supported by technical advisors • Partnering with local communities
AFRC is YOU! • A network of local communities creating innovative solutions • A network of people helping each other learn and succeed • A movement for jobs AND the environment in Appalachia
Goals of AFRC • Support communities in participatory research • Conduct research which supports innovating communities • Make existing research available to and useable by communities
“Deliverables” • Local partners’ work • Publications • Workshops • Technical assistance • Regional network of practitioners learning together • A cadre of Tech. Assist. providers • Policy?
Examples of NCFC Research • Participatory research with partner communities • Research conducted by the center – locally and regionally relevant
Research – NCFC Northern Center Starksboro, VT – measuring indicators of forest health to inform local decision-making. Center researchers working with community partners
Research – Northern Center • How changes in forestland ownership impacts local communities • Survey of landowner needs and motives, Mt. Washington Valley, NH • Identifying demonstration forests • Utilization of low value wood www.ncfcnfr.net
Research – Southwest Center Partner communities • Navajo Nation and ICE – utilizing small diameter wood • Southern Utah Forest Products Association (SUFPA) – assessing accessibility of timber sales to members • Las Humanas Cooperative, NM – ecological monitoring of forest restoration treatments • Zuni Pueblo, NM –ecological monitoring of thinning treatments www.theforesttrust.org/research.html)
Research – Pacific West Center • Matsutake Mushroom Monitoring at the Winema NF, OR Harvesters monitor raking damage
Research – Pacific West Center • Matsutake Mushroom Harvesting Map
Research – Pacific West Center Partnering the “underserved” • Crescent Lake, OR mushroom monitoring project • Maidu Culture and Development Group, CA – traditional ecological knowledge • Latino brush harvester communities in WA and OR – building their capacity to participate in forestry dialogues • Assessing the forest contract and mobile workforce in the Pacific West www.pwcfc.org
Most Importantly, What Will AFRC Be? • We are creating it. • It is what we want it to be • It is what most will benefit the region’s people and forests
The End.Or Shall We SayThe Beginning…. www.nnfp.org www.nationalcommunityforestrycenter.org www.appalachianforest.org