Update on State Assessments and Strategies “Your Favorite Things”

1. Update on State Assessments and Strategies “Your Favorite Things” Sherri Wormstead Sustainability & Planning Coordinator Northeastern Area S&PF July 13, 2009

2. Statewide Forest Resource Strategy Statewide Forest Resource Assessment Your favorite things!

3. Presentation Overview • Background and overview • State Assessment & Strategy updates • Key points from Guide for State Strategies • Questions/Discussion

4. Background andOverview

5. The Farm Bill (Title VIII) Requires • “State-wide assessment of forest resource conditions” • “A long-term State-wide forest resource strategy” • Within 2 years of enactment of the Farm Bill (2010) • For a State to be eligible to receive CFAA funds “State-wide assessment & State-wide strategy…shall be deemed to be sufficient to satisfy all relevant State planning & assessment requirements under Act.”

6. S&PF Redesign • In response to the combined impacts of • Increasing pressures on our nation’s forests • Decreasing S&PF resources and funds • = need for progressive strategies

7. S&PF Redesign—Components • Themes • State assessments & strategies • National assessment • Competitive resource allocation • Programs and staffing • Demonstrating and communicating results 3 Themes Conserve working forest landscapes Protect forests from harm Enhance public benefits from trees and forests http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/redesign/

8. State Assessment Requirements • Analysis of present and future forest conditions and trends on all ownerships • Identify threats, benefits, and services • Consistent with the S&PF national themes • Delineate priority landscape areas • Identify multi-state areas

9. State Strategy Requirements • Long-term strategies to address priority issues, threats, and areas • How invest Fed. and other resources • Long-term timeline for implementation • ID partner and stakeholder involvement • How will monitor outcomes and revise action • How will accomplish S&PF nat. objectives • How S&PF programs will be used • Incorporate existing statewide plans

10. S&PF National Themes & Objectives • 1. Conserve Working Forest Landscapes • 1.1. Identify and conserve high priority forest ecosystems and landscapes • 1.2. Actively and sustainably manage forests • 2. Protect Forests from Harm • 2.1. Restore fire-adapted lands and reduce risk of wildfire impacts • 2.2. Identify, manage, and reduce threats to forest and ecosystem health • 3. Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests • 3.1. Protect and enhance water quality and quantity • 3.2. Improve air quality and conserve energy • 3.3. Assist communities in planning for and reducing wildfire risks • 3.4. Maintain and enhance the economic benefits and values of trees and forests • 3.5. Protect, conserve, and enhance wildlife and fish habitat • 3.6. Connect people to trees and forests, and engage them in environmental stewardship activities • 3.7. Manage and restore trees and forests to mitigate and adapt to global climate change

11. Assess—Plan—Implement—Adapt Long Term (5+ yrs) State Assessment State Strategy • Report & Monitor • State annual report • S&PF Performance Measures Annual Actions • S&PF Grants • Core activities • Competitive projects • Other Funding • Other grants • State budget

12. Updates Related to State Assessments & Strategies

13. Update on Regional Guidance • NAASF & NA Guidance for State Assessments finalized & approved by NAASF (Nov. 08) • Shift focus to components for State Strategy • NAASF & NA State Strategy Team formed • Developed “Guide for State Strategies” • All NAASF committees reviewed (April-May) • Sent to State Foresters for approval (June)

14. In State Support • Your support and involvement is key! • All staff will implement the State Strategy— state program staff need to engage: • Help draft/review the assessment • Make sure each program is integrated • Identify strategies • Engage stakeholders

15. USFS Support • Northeastern Area • Area-wide support and coordination • NA Field Office contacts • Northern Research Station • FIA, urban, fragmentation data • National Forests • Support and engage

16. National-Level Updates • Redesign Implementation Council to discuss: • Approval process (drafted by USFS WO) • S&PF performance measures • National Data Strategy Team: • Assessment tool & data for assessments • National meeting on state assessments & strategies—perhaps Nov. 2009

17. Status of State Assessments As of July 6 (according to planners): • 3 states = “Getting Started” • 12 states = “Underway” • 6 states = “Well Underway” • ≥ 13 states have met with stakeholders • ≥ 13 states drafted a “key issues” list

18. Quick Analysis of Key State Issues • Forest products industry/markets • Loss of forests, competing land uses, fragmentation • Invasive species • Biodiversity/wildlife habitat • Water quality/impaired watersheds • Communicating the value of forestry to public • Support active, sustainable management of forests • Urban forest health • Climate change • Recreation • Biomass utilization • Wildfire/role of fire in forests • Viability for private landowners to keep forests

19. Approaches for State Assessments States have flexibility to address their needs • Frame assessment per criteria & indicators • Stakeholder issue-based approach • Organize by land use (rural, urban, etc.) • Combination of above approaches

20. USFS Funds to Support Assessments & Strategies NAASF share = $481,525 • $45,000 reserved to support travel • likely some will be left over • $143,000—habitat classification project • $293,525—split equally among requesting states • $15,449 available for each • 16 states have submitted application • Status report due in Sept.

21. Key Points from “NAASF & NA Guide for State Strategies”

22. NAASF Charge to Forest Resource Planning Committee “Work with other NAASF committees and key NA staff to draft regional document(s) with more details on the components for State Strategies.”

24. Sherri Wormstead—NA lead Tom Luther—NA GIS lead Dan Devlin (PA, NAASF) Ian MacFarlane (NAASF) NAASF Committee Reps. NAASF & NA State Strategy Team Planning Committee Members NA Program Reps.

25. Guide for State Strategies • Developed by State Strategy Team • Slightly revised following wider review • Accompanies NAASF Guide for State Assessments and Strategies • Geared to state forest planning contacts • This is guidance: • Our interpretation of requirements • Suggestions, tips, examples

26. Suggested State Strategy Components • Description of priority areas & issues • Description of strategies • Investing resources • Protocol for translating into annual actions • Monitoring and reporting • Stakeholder involvement • List of other plans consulted • Glossary of terms and acronyms

27. Key Points from Guide for State Strategies • Strategic: to address priority issues & areas • Planning document for S&PF programs (and more!) • There is flexibility for content and structure • Long term (5+ years) • Strategies are broad and flexible • Annual actions tier from State Strategy • Include ongoing activities

28. A. Example matrix of strategies organized by priority State issues State Issue #1: Private Forest Landowner Demographic Trends, and Corresponding Land Use Changes Example Matrix of Strategies Second strategy for State issue #1 • Can meet several of minimum requirements with a table(s) to summary the following for each strategy: • S&PF programs that will contribute • Stakeholders that will help implement • Resources available/required to implement • National objective(s) the strategy supports • Measure of success (S&PF performance measure)

29. Integrate S&PF Programs • Intent of Farm Bill & Redesign—integrate programs • Prior individual S&PF Program plans not required (fully integrate into the State Strategy) • Address priority issues and areas through collaborative approach • Recognize there will still be some strategies implemented by one program.

30. Stakeholder Involvement • At minimum “coordinate” with: • State Forest Stewardship Committee • State wildlife agency • State Technical Committee • Federal land management agencies • Lead agency for Forest Legacy Program • State Urban Forestry Council • List who was involved • ID stakeholders that will contribute to strategies

31. Consulting Other Plans • State Wildlife Action Plan (required) • Community Wildfire Protection Plans (required) • Past state strategic plans • State Comprehensive Outdoor Rec. Plan • Plans for state-owned land • Applicable plans for Fed. forest land • Prior 5-yr S&PF Program plans How these plans are “incorporated” will vary. Intent—Complement other plans —ID opportunities for coordination

32. Key Unknowns • Federal approval process • S&PF Reporting • Performance measures • Annual Report • Annual grant narrative/proposals

33. NAASF Forest Resource Planning Committee Web Site: www.northeasternforests.org/FRPC Case Sensitive! More Info & Resources FRPC contacts National guidance Regional guidance Stakeholder involvement resources Example state assessments and plans Links to data sources Link to national Resource Center

34. Potential Discussion Questions • Can we finalize the guide for state strategies? • Value in further analysis of key state issues? • Additional NA, NRS, R9 support needed? • Early NA review of assessment when drafted? • How is your state ensuring involvement of all staff?

35. Statewide Forest Resource Strategy Statewide Forest Resource Assessment Your favorite things!