Sustainable Operations Tip
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State & Private Forestry
News
November 2017
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Kathleen Atkinson
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MILWAUKEE --- In the October 27th edition of
Inside the Forest Service
,
Chief Tony Tooke released his five priorities for the agency. I hope you take the time to read his Leadership Corner closely because these priorities
highlight the Chief's vision for the Forest Service and how we will accomplish our mission. They give urgency and focus to critical needs; help foster the work environment we want for our employees; and set expectations for the manner in which we accomplish our work with citizens, partners, volunteers, and each other.
All five priorities align with Secretary Sonny Perdue's
Strategic Goals
and the Forest Service's
Strategic Plan
.
Forest Service Chief Tooke's Five Priorities for Our Work
- Uplifting and empowering our employees through a respectful, safe working environment.
- Being good neighbors and providing excellent customer service.
- Promoting shared stewardship by increasing partnerships and volunteerism.
- Improving the condition of forests and grasslands.
- Enhancing recreation opportunities, improving access, and sustaining infrastructure.
Over the next few weeks I will discuss each of the Chief's priorities and how they should guide our work in the Northeastern Area (NA). In addition, our combined NA and Eastern Region leadership will explore how to fully integrate these priorities and their urgency into our decisionmaking. The current effort related to Environmental Analysis and Decisionmaking is one example of how we are meeting these priorities.
Along with Chief Tooke, I'm interested in hearing from you. What do you see standing in your way? What are you experiencing that we can collectively learn from? If you have feedback to provide, please send a note to
[email protected]
. Nicholas Pardi, Eastern Region Public and Governmental Relations Director, and Charles Reger, NA Communications Director, will be collecting input for this effort and providing feedback to me and the leadership team as we work to incorporate the Chief's priorities into our daily operations.
I look forward to working with you. We will explore ways to meet the Chief's priorities and to help the Forest Service remain
the preeminent land management agency sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands, to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Kathleen Atkinson
Northeastern Area Director,
Regional Forester
Home
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National Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Story Map
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(Courtesy photo by pexels.com/Lukas)
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WASHINGTON
--- In collaboration with the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6), the Office of Sustainability and Climate is pleased to announce the release of a new tool that highlights the potential effects of climate change on a wide range of natural and cultural resources across the nation. The
National Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Story Map was designed as a resource for professionals, researchers, managers and the public.
Read more in Inside the Forest Service.
Did you know?
Climate change exacerbates the challenges associated with land areas that are particularly susceptible to insects, disease, and wildfire.
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Small Pests, Big Problems: The Global Spread of Bark Beetles
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Southern pine beetle damage (USDA Forest Service photo, Region 8, Southern, Bugwood.org)
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. --- Read an article by
Cheryl Katz about warming temperatures fueling expansion of pine and spruce beetles, in the
Yale Environment 360 online magazine.
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Forest Service Working to Improve Environmental Analysis and Decisionmaking
MILWAUKEE
--- The Northeastern Area and Eastern Region have a cadre from across the East working on improving environmental analysis and decisionmaking. This work has the ability to significantly enhance our efforts to improve the health and resiliency of our forests in the East. We hope you take a few moments to read and share the attached
Fast Facts.
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Forest Service Grant Contributes to New Hampshire Community Forest
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The community forest expansion protects critical wetlands and wildlife habitat, and opens new recreational opportunities. (Forest Service photo by Neal Bungard).
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MEREDITH, N.H.
--- With a Community Forest and Open Space grant from the U.S. Forest Service, in addition to funds from other sources, the Town of Meredith has acquired and added almost 200 acres to the existing Page Pond Community Forest. The added land expands the trail network and provides a new trailhead close to downtown and the school, improves wildlife habitat and drinking water quality, and provides a source of raw materials for local mills. The community forest will serve as a recreational, ecological, and economic asset to the community.
Read about the forest expansion in a news release on The Trust for Public Land Web site.
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Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Requests 2018 Proposals
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. --- Approximately $600,000 in new funds are expected to be available for Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) in the Great Lakes Basin. This funding will be competitively awarded based on proposals received. As one of 16 task force members, the U.S. Forest Service uses Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) resources to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem. Learn more and get application instructions for the 2018 GLRI CWMA RFP on the Forest Health Protection page of the Northeastern Area's Web site. Submit all applications through grants.gov.
Search for Grant Opportunity USFS-GLRI-CWMA-2018. Review the requirements and complete the registration steps early, to be ready to submit your application by the January 5, 2018, deadline. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world-the Great Lakes.
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2018 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity
PRINCETON, W.Va.
--- The U.S. Forest Service seeks proposals that significantly stimulate or expand wood energy and wood products markets that support the long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands. The focus is on these three goals:
- Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forest lands
- Reduce the costs of forest management on all land types
- Promote economic and environmental health of communities
Proposals will be evaluated and funding awarded in two categories:
Expansion of wood energy markets and wood energy projects
Expansion of wood products markets
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Cohesive Fire Strategy Competitive Request for 2018 Proposals
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.
--- The Northeastern Area Cohesive Fire Strategy Request for Project Proposals for Fiscal Year 2018 is designed to support and carry out the goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy across the Midwestern and Northeastern States, as well as meet the intent of the current year budget direction. These national goals are:
- Restore and maintain landscapes.
- Create fire adapted communities.
- Improve wildfire response.
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New App for Wildfire Preparedness in the Northeast
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. --- The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compacts worked with Quick Series to develop an app about wildfire preparedness for use by the public. Features include learning how to prepare your home for wildfire, being informed on recovery steps after wildfire, and having easy access to resources for more information about wildfire in your area. The app is available in both English and Spanish. Support of this project by the National Fire Protection Association helped to make the app available at no cost to the public. Learn more and download the free app from their blog.
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Call for Nominations, Smokey Bear Award
WASHINGTON
--- The Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) Campaign is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Smokey Bear Award. This prestigious awards program, now in its 60th year, recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding service in wildfire prevention programs. The CFFP Campaign is challenging every State forestry agency, as well as each Forest Service Region and Federal partner, to identify at least one nominee. As we approach Smokey's 75th birthday in 2019, let's take time to celebrate those committed to his "Only You" message and those who are working hard to make our lives easier. Please submit nominations by December 15, 2017, using only the electronic form provided.
Get more information at Smokey Bear's Web site.
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Environmental Education Vacancy
MADISON, Wis. --- The LEAF program (Wisconsin's K-12 forestry education program, a partnership between the Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry and the Center for Environmental Education at University of Wisconsin -- Stevens Point) is recruiting a new staff member. They are looking for someone with a strong forestry background in addition to K-12 education experience. The application deadline is November 22, 2017.
Get details
at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point Web site.
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