In two letters, the National Association of State Foresters in the US has offered its support for the “Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020,” a bipartisan bill that sets out to streamline collaborative wildfire risk reduction projects and accelerate forest management near existing roads, trails, and transmission lines. Source: Timberbiz
“Forests across the United States need more active management,” said NASF President Greg Josten. “Active management is central to mitigating boundaryless forest threats like diseases, pests, and wildfire. NASF applauds the bipartisan approach of the Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act to promote the cross-boundary management needed to improve the health, productivity, and resiliency of all forests.”
“The only way to protect the health and productivity of all of our nation’s forests is by managing them all to be more resilient,” said NASF Executive Director Jay Farrell. “Greater forest management requires coordination among state and federal natural resource agencies, private forestland owners and forestry organizations. NASF supports expanding proposed authorities provided in this bill, in order to benefit all of America’s forests.”
NASF represents the directors of the state forestry agencies in all 50 states, eight US territories, and the District of Columbia.
By providing more than 270,000 technical assists to private landowners each year, and by directly managing 76 million acres of state-owned forestland, state foresters conserve, protect, and enhance more than two-thirds of all America’s forests and trees.
Download the full letter here:NASF-letter-of-support_Emergency-Wildfire-and-Public-Safety-Act_Final09152020
