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Climate Change and the National Forests

Climate Change and the National Forests. Wayne National Forest and Scorecard Compliance. Peter B Williams, PhD  Ecosystem Mgmt Coord . USDA-FS, Washington Office .  Interim Forest Supervisor, June-Sept. 2011. Overview. What:

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Climate Change and the National Forests

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  1. Climate Change and the National Forests Wayne National Forest and Scorecard Compliance Peter B Williams, PhD Ecosystem Mgmt Coord. USDA-FS, Washington Office Interim Forest Supervisor, June-Sept. 2011

  2. Overview • What: • Five-Year Plan to Respond to the USDA Forest Service Climate Change Scorecard • Where: • Wayne National Forest, Ohio • When: • August, 2011 • Who: • Forest Ecologist, Forest Supervisor, Forest Leadership Team • How: • Let’s take a look…

  3. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • Project Area for a Potential Central Appalachia Climate Change Response Framework

  4. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • Project Area Now Finalized

  5. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • Part of broader network of ecological provinces and response framework projects

  6. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • Broad Vision: • Use scorecard as framework to organize relevant parts of our program of work and to link our Forest Management Plan to appropriate national frameworks. • Example: • Approach would allow WNF to be especially responsive in the area of broader scale assessments—which are an expected part of NFS monitoring program under the pending national planning rule—and to do so in an especially efficient way.

  7. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • Policy Background: • National Forest Management Act (NFMA; 16 USC 1600), defines the job of land management by the US Forest Service: • … to be a leader in assuring that the Nation maintains a natural resource conservation posture that will meet the requirements of our people in perpetuity (16 USC 1600). • Today, addressing climate change is part of the FS job: • It is no longer possible to conserve the nation’s renewable resources without addressing climate change.

  8. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • Policy Background: • NFMA requires FS prepare and update a Renewable Resource Assessment every ten years. • Social, economic, and ecological considerations are all key given: • …the vital importance of America’s renewable resources of the forest, range, and other associated lands to the Nation’s social and economic well-being, and of the necessity for a long term perspective in planning and undertaking related to national renewable resource programs administered by the Forest Service… (16 USC 1601(a)).

  9. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • Policy Background: • The Scorecard is supported by all FS Deputy Areas. • Business Operations has led discussions regarding sustainable operations and greenhouse gas reductions. • Research & Development will deliver much of the science and has been instrumental in working with NFS staff in developing the guidance by providing background material and recommendations. • National Forest Systems applies the Scorecard on National Forests and Grasslands • State & Private Forestry is key to successful compliance • Scorecard is fundamentally collaborative

  10. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • WNF Strategy for moving towards Vision: • Begin work where we already have traction … • …and then build capacity where and how it makes sense as we learn more about the newly emerging National Planning Rule and Climate Change Framework.

  11. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • Built upon three principles: • Smart to Start: Select initial scorecard elements that build on existing efforts and focus on those priorities. • Smart to Grow: Be responsive in the near-term by working toward initial priorities while at the same time growing capacity to adopt a more robust framework at the eco-regional scale • Smart to Change: When appropriate, validate or adjust elements and actions to recalibrate the WNF scorecard response with the finalized Forest Planning Rule and revised Climate Change Scorecard Guidance

  12. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • What it looks like:

  13. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • Expected operational benefits to WNF: • More coherent and consistent NEPA planning for landscape-scale vegetation projects, • A more informed and engaged workforce that understands sustainability as being about reducing operational costs, reducing overhead, and making more dollars directly available for projects, • Increased capacity and resources to implement the 2006 Forest Plan and annual work plans,

  14. Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance • Expected operational benefits to WNF: • Relevant, meaningful connection between the Climate Change Scorecard and IM&A elements of 2006 Forest Plan, • Responsiveness & alignment with national efforts including: • Invasive Species Strategy, • 2011/12 Planning Rule, • Watershed Condition Framework, • Priority Watersheds and Jobs Stabilization Initiative, • Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program

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