1. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Steve Harouff WVDOF - GIS Specialist NAASF-FRPC Annual Meeting State College, PA June 5 th -7 th, 2012

2. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy The WV DOF is implementing the State Forest Resource Strategy, now known as the Forest Action Plan (FAP), in many ways. Initially…as a press release with a link to download comprehensive planning documents. http://www.wvforestry.com/events_12022K1.cfm National FAP website

3. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Through an agency wide Annual Work Plan Credit - Dan Kincaid, WV DOF Forest Planner (Retired)

4. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Work plan goals as identified by Director Dye: Measure productivity Track accountability Ensure efficient and proper use federal dollars Focus on accomplishment reporting Gauge effectiveness in addressing issues Set a base for building on future planning

5. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Work Plans also address issues identified in the Forest Management Review Commission (FMRC) Strategic Plan Statutory body State senators, delegates and appointed citizen members Serves as oversight and advisory capacity of WV DOF Identifies 73 Issues, 78 goals and 204 actions for WV DOF to address 28 “High Priority” Issues were identified by WV DOF State Forester, Deputy SF and Forest Planner. Many issues were common with the Forest Action Plan

6. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Plenty of issues to address in the agency work plan…

7. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy All WVDOF Program Areas and associated staff established work plans Program work plan covers Program background Ties to FMRC and FAP Program Goals and Objectives Identify Grants, Special Projects, MOUs to work on in coming FY Budgets Specific direction to the regions Special needs Individual work plans Very specific focus on FAP and FMRC issues to work on along with associated accomplishments Detail down to the number of work days Program managers establish goals that are directed to regions and eventually down to all programmatic staff

8. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Individual work plan example:

9. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy FAP implementation is delivered through “Core” Program funding as well as grant streams FY11 WV DOF was awarded on 8 competitive grants Some of these include: Landscape Scale Forest Stewardship Feasibility Study in West Virginia Call Before You Cut Strategic Blitz Healthy Forests and Trees for TMDLs in the Potomac Friends of Firewood

10. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Use of geospatial technology to help deliver FAP strategies Build on data and analysis established in 2010 Forest Resource Assessment Establish new priority areas Future FAP updates will be easier

11. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Accomplishment tracking New accomplishment tracking system being incorporated into employee time keeping system Goal is to be able to track and report work plan accomplishments back to FAP strategies Working with state Office of Technology as they develop a mandatory state agency time keeping and reporting system

12. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Future implementation Stewardship Mapping And Reporting Tool (SMART) Specific for the Forest Stewardship Program, incorporates FAP “Priority Areas” Will help WV DOF deliver and manage FAP program strategies more effectively through this “Core” program.

13. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy For the WVDOF implementation so far is going well, but is faced with many challenges including: Lack of a Forest Planner to help keep this all rolling along Reduced funding streams Staff time to implement and update work plans Communication/integration Ex. Forest Health handled by WV Department of Agriculture Grant RFP development time with no ROI Zero RFPs funded 2012 New processes for doing business

14. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Opportunities for implementation: Increased awareness DOF staff Other state and federal agencies Multi-state grants FMRC strategies tie in FAP website has brought residual “outside” interest from other agencies DEP, NRCS and NGO’s like TNC for unexpected implementation opportunities

15. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Suggested changes for updates to FAP strategies: Really too soon to make any suggestions, as we are just now completing our first year of using work plans. Gathering information on updates to FY13 work planning Currently establishing systems to report accomplishments associated to work planning that address issues through FAP strategies

16. WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Implementation of the WV State-Wide Forest Resource Strategy Thank you… Questions? Steven.E.Harouff@wv.gov