CWSF Newsletter - March 2024

CWSF Newsletter | March 2024

Organizational Highlights

We Are Hiring!

The Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) is currently accepting applications for a Director of Committee Coordination. The application window closes on April 19.

We are also accepting applications for a Communications Intern. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and accepted until filled. Thanks to the National Association of State Foresters Foundation for providing funding for this opportunity.

We encourage you to share these opportunities with anyone who may be interested.

Registration for the 2024 CWSF/Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) Spring Meeting is open!

The meeting will take place May 21-23, 2024, in Fargo, North Dakota.

Meeting details and registration information are available on the CWSF and WFLC websites.

Photo: Visit Fargo-Moorhead

BIL and IRA State Forestry Stories - Idaho Feature

A new story from the Idaho Department of Lands has been added to CWSF’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) webpage.

If you are interested in submitting a BIL or IRA story, please contact Kelsey Delaney and Sara Goodwin.

Photo: Jon Songster, IDL

Policy Update

March 2024

Check out our latest policy update from Neil Simpson, CWSF/WFLC Director of Policy.

This month’s policy update highlights:

State Foresters Testify at U.S. Congressional Committee Hearings
Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Forest Service Appropriations and FY 2025 Budget Request

Committee Updates

Photo: Amanda Morrison

Good Neighbor Authority Spotlight - South Dakota

View our Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) webpage for this month’s GNA Spotlight featuring the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Meet a Forester

Larry Mamis

This month, we are pleased to feature Larry Mamis, Chief of the Division of Forest, Land, and Water Management for the Republic of Palau.

Competitive Grants Updates

Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Program

Thank you to those who submitted applications and those who helped applicants through the application process for the FY 2023 CWDG program. The list of awarded projects for the second round is being finalized and approved. For more information, visit the CWSF CWDG webpage or the USDA Forest Service CWDG webpage.

If you have any CWDG questions, please contact Halie Miyazawa.

Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Competitive Grant Program

The FY 2024 LSR Competitive Grant Program is now officially closed. Recommendations have been ranked and reviewed by the WFLC Executive Board and the Washington Office. For more information, visit the WFLC LSR webpage.

If you have any LSR questions, please contact Leena Visnak.

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Grant Program

The FY 2024 WUI Competitive Grant Program is now officially closed. Applications were evaluated during the scoring period, which ended on March 1, 2024. A ranked project list will be compiled and sent to CWSF’s Executive Board for approval by the end of March. For more information, visit the CWSF WUI webpage.

If you have any WUI questions, please contact Leena Visnak.

News and Notes from Our Members and Partners

Member and Partner Transitions

USDA Forest Service Alaska Region: Chad V anOrmer accepted the position of Acting Regional Forester for the Alaska Region (R10) effective March 10. He replaces Janelle Crocker, who has served as Acting Regional Forester since October 2023.
Alaska: Following Helge Eng’s departure, Norm McDonald will serve as Acting State Forester and Director for the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection. Helge Eng was Treasurer on the CWSF Executive Committee and served as a member on the WFLC Executive Board. The CWSF Executive Committee has voted for Kelly Norris to serve as Treasurer for the remainder of this year. Thank you to Helge for his time serving in this leadership role and to Kelly for stepping in to complete the term and continue on the CWSF leadership track.

Job Opportunities

Looking for a job opportunity in forestry? Find your next position in western forestry on the CWSF job blog.

If you would like to submit a job posting, please contact Patricia Payne.

Western Happenings

For a quick look at a few of the recent happenings in the western region, check out the features below:

Arizona: Arizona Forestry Requesting Contractor Proposals To Expand Fuels Reduction Work Throughout The State
Colorado: 2023 Report on the Health of Colorado's Forests; Forests and Water United in the West
Montana: $3.1 Million Awarded to Cross-Boundary Forest Restoration Projects
Nevada: Nevada Division of Forestry Allocates $2.3 Million in Federal Funding to Enhance Urban and Community Tree Canopies
North Dakota: Landscape Forest Stewardship Plan Developed for the Turtle Mountains
Oregon: ODF Sends Strike Team to Assist in Texas Wildfires; Gov. Kotek proclaims April as Oregon Arbor Month
Washington: Commissioner Franz Announces $8 Million in Urban Forestry Grants
USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station: How Arborists Go Beyond Just Planting Trees; Mighty Mangroves: Forest Service Researchers Help Conserve Coastal Guardians in Micronesia

If you have a press release or feature you would like to include in an upcoming newsletter, please email Sara Goodwin.

Meetings Calendar

See the calendar of meetings and events hosted by CWSF/WFLC and partner organizations.

Visit CWSF | Subscribe to our newsletter | Visit WFLC

Questions, comments, feedback? Please contact us!

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