Imagine you’re a ten-year-old riding a school bus for a field trip. The bus comes to a stop, you step off, and — for the first time in your life — you find yourself in a forest. Everything is new, from the sweet woody fragrance to the chorus of birds and wildlife. This is the experience for several 5th-graders who attend Coffee County (Alabama) Forestry and Wildlife Field Days, co-led by Coffee County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Coffee County Forestry Advisory Committee.
Sue Leverett, Education Specialist with Coffee County SWCD, says that’s what makes the Field Days so meaningful. “Youth is the most important asset we have, and many of the students who attend are city kids who never get to go to the forest," Leverett shares. "At the Field Days, they get to learn how forest areas are good for recreation, good for wildlife, and that the timber industry brings a lot of money and jobs to the state of Alabama.”
Coffee County SWCD hosted the 14th Forestry and Wildlife Field Days in October. For the first time since the pandemic, 5th graders from all county and enterprise schools were able to attend (approx. 700 students). At the event, students rotate around educational stations where they hear presentations from professional foresters and biologists. They learn about forest management practices, including prescribed burning. And they participate in activities, such as tree planting demonstrations. A particular favorite for the students, is the reptile and amphibian station where students learn about wildlife and the habitat they need to survive.
“The students actually get to see live reptiles and amphibians,” says Leverett. “We have a reptile biologist, and he had a baby alligator at his station that was about 8-10 inches. He also had a kingsnake that was about 8-10 feet.”
As the students and teachers go from station to station, Leverett checks in with them to see if they’re having a good time. It’s rewarding for her to see and hear how much they enjoy it. “We always get good reports back from students and teachers,” says Leverett. “Some teachers come year after year. They’re glad to have kids participate. It’s a part of life they don’t always know of.”
The first Forestry and Wildlife Field Day took place in 2009. It started small with just one school invited to a landowner’s property. Over the years it grew until all 5th grade students in the county could attend.
Leverett says partners are key to the success and growth of the Field Days, including the Coffee County Forestry Advisory Committee that co-organizes the event, the Wiregrass Resource Conservation & Development Council that provides grant funding, and the National Security Group, Inc. that hosts the Field Days on their woodland property. She encourages other conservation districts who are interested in launching or growing similar events to look to their like-minded partners, too. “You need to know people who are interested in the same things, which, in this case, is forestry. You can’t do it on your own.”
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URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT |
Over the past few months, SUFC has been busy working to uncover next steps for the Urban & Community Forestry (U&CF) program funding under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). As you know well by now, the IRA created a huge financial opportunity for trees, maintenance and the growth of the U&CF program at the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The investment of $1.5 billion, which must be spent by 2031, is a five-fold increase for the U&CF program over the $32 million the program received in Fiscal Year 2021.
While the bill does not specifically call out underserved or under-resourced communities for U&CF programs, it operates under the Justice 40 umbrella, which directs 40 percent of certain federal resources to address a historic shortfall of tree planting. These funds will revolutionize communities where staggering asthma rates, high crime and unclean water are normal with a goal to combat climate change, lower energy bills, reduce heat-related death and illnesses and plant and protect trees nationwide.
SUFC Vice Chair Rachel Holmes was recently interviewed by the Sierra Club magazine about the role of tree maintenance in the Inflation Reduction Act, sharing, “The IRA funding will help focus attention on an oft-neglected but critical aspect of urban forestry: maintenance. Mature trees (those between 30 and 60 years old) are the workhorses of the urban forests. But those trees must be cared for—or if they’re unhealthy, dead, or dying, they need to be removed to make way for a new tree.”
We are working closely with our partners at USFS to determine next steps with respect to the competitive grant process. We will continue to share information as we learn more through member calls, emails, and our social media channels.
NACD is a member of the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition and sits on the SUFC steering committee.
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FORESTRY NEWS & RESOURCES
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FORESTS IN THE FARM BILL COALITION |
NACD sits on Work Group 4 of the Forests in the Farm Bill coalition led by the American Forest Foundation, the National Association of State Forests, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and the Nature Conservancy. The various work groups have been busy the last few months addressing key issues from their members for inclusion in the upcoming Farm Bill.
Work Group 1 focuses on biodiversity, forest health, wildfire resilience, and climate change.
Work Group 2 is addressing private landowners, technical assistance, conservation easements, and keeping forests as forests.
Work Group 3 is focusing on forest products markets including carbon and wood products as well as research.
Work Group 4 is addressing funding, efficiency, administration, and capacity.
Through November, the coalition has been inviting subject matter experts on programs like EFRP, CRP, FSP, and others to present on these programs to the broader coalition as each group is working to identify top suggestions and priorities for consideration.
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