CWSF Newsletter | March 2022
Organizational Highlights
Registration for 2022 Spring Meeting
The 2022 Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) Spring Meeting will take place in Manhattan, KS on Tuesday, May 17 from 8:00 a.m. to Wednesday, May 18 at 12:30 p.m. The 2022 Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) Spring Meeting will immediately follow from Wednesday, May 18 at 12:30 p.m. to Thursday, May 19 at 4:00 p.m. View the CWSF Agenda. View the WFLC Agenda.
 
Please note that both meetings are taking place in-person and that attendance is limited to CWSF State Foresters and their representatives, USDA Forest Service WFLC members, and invited partners. If you have any questions, please reach out to Halie Miyazawa. 

Western Urban & Community Forestry Publication
WFLC recently completed a publication in cooperation with the Western Urban & Community Forestry (WUCF) Committee.

This publication titled 'Building Equity Through Community Forestry Connections' features stories from 14 western states and American Samoa. Stories are centered around the themes of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, along with the interrelated topics of environmental and social justice.  
  
To accompany the publication, the WUCF Committee webpage has been updated to include past publications and individual state stories. This online collection of U&CF content will serve as a regional repository of U&CF success stories.


Photo: Tucson Clean and Beautiful
Good Neighbor Authority - Montana Spotlight
The WFLC Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) Information and Resources webpage was recently updated with a new spotlight highlighting the Brooklyn Bridge GNA timber sale in Helena, MT. This timber sale is part of a restoration effort to reduce the probability of high-severity wildfire in the Tenmile Municipal Watershed.

The GNA Information and Resources webpage, launched in March 2021, serves as a western repository of relevant, timely GNA resources for state forestry agencies, federal agencies, and partners. Featured resources are updated on an ongoing basis. This month, the new Bureau of Land Management Update and Reissuance of the Good Neighbor Authority Policy Guidance has been added to the webpage. 

Photo: Gary Ellingson
Policy Update
Western governors’ State of the State addresses and President Biden’s State of the Union all highlighted the significance of investment in infrastructure, including efforts to increase wildfire resilience. Just prior to the deadline of the Continuing Resolution that had been funding the federal government, Congress passed the appropriations bills for fiscal year 2022. 
Meet a Forester
Matt McCombs

This month, we are pleased to feature Matt McCombs, State Forester & Director of the Colorado State Forest Service.
News and Notes from Our Members and Partners
Member and Partner Transitions

Joe Tyler has been appointed as the Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
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 email Halie Miyazawa.
Meetings Calendar
See the calendar of meetings and events hosted by CWSF/WFLC and partner organizations.
Rural Energy Pilot Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making up to $10 million available through the new Rural Energy Pilot Program (REPP). The REPP offers financial assistance for rural communities to further develop renewable energy. According to USDA, funds can be used to deploy community-scale renewable energy technologies and innovations to reduce climate impacting pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. These technologies include solar, wind, geothermal, micro-hydroelectric, and biomass/bioenergy. Funds will be targeted to historically underinvested and disinvested communities.
Questions, comments, feedback? Please contact us!