Conservation Conference Highlights

Matt DiBona, NWTF district biologist for New England, discussed how groups and people virulently opposed to cutting any public land timber or conducting any forest management are imperiling habitat for myriad wildlife species. This anti-management preservationist movement is called “proforestation.”    

The policy ramifications are significant and professional groups of foresters and conservationists are rising to outline the dangers of this proposed totally hands-off position. 

DiBona honed in on the issue of carbon sequestration and storage. Anti-management proponents often tout a mature forest’s ability to store carbon, but DiBona showed study reports revealing that young, managed forests sequester more carbon than mature forests. They also support much more wildlife. The key is educating people who value wildlife and worry about greenhouse gas issues. The forests that are managed and feature a good mix of young, intermediate and mature trees are the best solution.

The Ruffed Grouse Society’s Todd Waldron also spoke, outlining a specific 1,600-acre project in Massachusetts. Studies show 89 percent of people value wildlife and habitat improvements but have a disconnect regarding sustainable, resilient forest management practices. Continuous education effort is essential, he said.

John Weir of Oklahoma State University shared the benefits of creating prescribed burn associations, groups of landowners and other interested people who form partnerships to pool their knowledge, equipment, and other resources to conduct prescribed fires.

Conducting prescribed burns can be challenging, with risk management and liability concerns, property boundary issues, equipment and manpower limitations and more.

Forming an association can mitigate many of these issues and having association members with adjoining properties can negate concerns about a fire ranging beyond the margins of the property lines. 

Weir noted associations can be formed at the state and local levels. 

Minnesotans Dan Steward and Lindberg Ekola shared details about how this heavily forested state of 10,000 lakes is working to ensure forests, especially privately owned forests, remain healthy. They showed how forests intercept and absorb water, filtering it and ensuring clean lakes and waterways.

“Protect the forests and you can probably keep your water quality for a long time,” Ekola said. 

The key, they said, is protecting at least 75 percent of the forested landscape. Deforestation of about 25 percent begins resulting in decreased water quality, with things such as increased phosphorous concentrations in lakes.

“Protection doesn’t mean you can’t manage, though,” Steward said.

Timber harvest, invasive species control, nurturing desired trees and diversifying habitat with appropriate native trees can all be part of the effort.

To help protect private forests, the Department of Natural Resources and the Board of Water and Soil Resources are helping landowners create “Woodland Stewardship Plans.” Landowners get an implementation toolbox covering everything, including planning, improving and managing.  

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas has tribal lands about an hour north of Houston. Restoring longleaf pine on the land has been a priority since 2010. Gesse Bullock heads up the effort today and shared how the longleaf provides cultural, economic, aesthetic and recreational value to the tribe.

Bullock said that the trees’ long needles are used in basketry, and the ecosystems where longleaf thrive have plants known for medicinal properties. The tribe will also benefit from mature longleaf timber.

Bullock noted how longleaf restoration requires intensive, ongoing effort. There is a renewed emphasis on removing invasive species and using prescribed fire to promote the longleaf across hundreds of tribal acres. The tribe is partnering with numerous agencies and organizations, including the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Texas Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy. 

Ferebee first lauded the decades-old relationship the Forest Service has enjoyed with NWTF and spoke enthusiastically about the recently signed, long-term $50 million master stewardship agreement. He said tackling the wildfire issue requires an “all hands, all lands” perspective. He noted that $131 million was allocated to work in 2022, with 3.2 million acres of hazardous fuels treated nationally and significant improvements in creating and executing prescribed fire programs. 

New is the identification of 11 large landscapes across ten western states, with large swaths of forest targeted for treatment. The expected funding is $492 million.

The program is ambitious, Ferebee observed. Challenges related to hiring, increasing costs associated with contracts housing and the sheer scope and scale of some projects were highlighted.

A lot of projects were designed two-to-three years ago Ferebee said. And in some cases, costs have risen significantly.

Ferebee said success with the WCS will involve multiple factors. A major aim is to move large landscapes from this initial, often aggressive early stage to a long-term maintenance posture, creating safer and more resilient communities in and near these landscapes along the way.