HEALTHY FOREST RESTORATION ACT Western Hardwood Association June 26, 2005

HFRA Objectives To reduce the threat of wildfires while upholding environmental standards and encouraging early public input

HFRA Strengthens public participation in forest health projects Reduces complexity of environmental analysis and allows for best science uses Encourages public participation in project planning HFRA has support of bi-partisan majority of Congress, and Administration, industry, and a variety of conservation groups

Adoption followed a series of catastrophic fires in the West in 2002 and 2003: 147,000 fires – 11 million acres 22 civilians and 51 firefighters lost their lives Air quality reduced Endangered species habitat destroyed Increased threat of invasive species and disease

Provisions of HFRA can be applied to 20,000,000 acres of Federal land or 31,000 square miles

Removes hazardous fuels Expedites treatment of lands at risk from fires Removes blown down or ice storm damaged trees Expedites environmental review of projects Addresses maintenance and restoration of old growth Requires collaboration between Federal agencies and local communities on wildfire projects

Requires 50% of HFRA funds to protect areas adjacent to high-risk communities Encourages courts to expedite judicial review of legal challenges Courts are to balance long and short-term environmental effects against taking no action when considering requests for injunctions. Encourages removal of biomass from public and private lands.

Allows stewardship contracts (up to 10 years) for small business, not-for-profits and communities to reduce wildfire risk. Allows USFS and Bureau of Land Management to trade goods for services, trees and biomass in return for work. USFS must develop and carry out an applied silvicultural assessment program along with states, universities and private land owners to combat forest damaging insects and diseases. Department of Agriculture authorized to develop an early warning system for environmental threats (insects, disease).

HFRA 1 ½ Years Later Debate continues if a $760 million budget is sufficient – or too much. 4.2 million acres treated in 2004 for hazardous fuels. Goal is to treat 8 million acres a year million acres need fuel reduction treatment. At current rate, it will take 15 years to reach that goal. USFS infrastructure is stretched thin and not adequate to meet challenges.

What’s Next? Undersecretary Mark Rey: Bush Administration will continue to focus on implementation of HFRA. It has had a positive effect of USFS morale.

First Ignored—Now Addressed Early warning satellite monitoring system. Applied silvicultural assessment.

Satellite Monitoring System $5 million a year for five years One station in Corvallis, OR NHLA priority

Disease and Insects

Sudden Oak Death Active spots in California and Oregon (Oregon near eradication) Nurseries in 37 states quarantined West Coast nurseries being monitored by APHIS

Red Oak Borer

Epidemic levels in northwest Arkansas, southern Missouri, and east Oklahoma Common on land pushed beyond carrying capacity USFS funding prevention activities in National Forests in Arkansas

Emerald Ash Borer

Considered the most devastating tree killing pest in North America (comes from Asia) Every ash tree in North America is threatened; 30-36,000 trees already dead Eradication strategy is to cut down tree and grind it up All infested trees are removed along with all trees within 1/2 mile Quarantined area is 20 counties in SE Michigan; Lucas County, OH and small pockets in NW Indiana

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Hardwood plantings given special treatment Continuous enrollment Extended, long-term contracts Secretary of Agriculture set a goal of 500,000 acres planted in hardwood Program is behind expectation

USFS Regional 6 National Forests Volume Sold by Fiscal Year (MMBF) ,

USFS Region 6 Harvest Volume by Fiscal Year (MMBF) Total Oregon Washington