ivlp miguel galante_us forests technical report_dez2011

Technical Report

US Forests, a strong pillar for sustainable development

Prepared by Miguel Galante

(IVLP Portugal)

December, 2011

Technical Report: US Forests, a strong pillar for sustainable development

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Contents:

A short note about American Forests ..................................................................................................... 3

The visit – a global overview................................................................................................................... 4

10 key-findings on the visit technical assets: .......................................................................................... 4

1) Cohesive partnership and coordination, at the base of a system in constant development ............ 5

2) Sharing experiences and ideas as a driving-force for development ................................................ 5

3) Volunteering plays a important role for the community engagement ............................................ 6

4) Firewise communities - Raising community awareness for wildfires prevention............................. 6

5) Public participation - a relevant issue to regional forest planning and management ...................... 7

6) Stakeholders play a major role in decision making process ............................................................ 8

7) Prescribed burning in wide development as key-technique for large scale fuel management......... 8

8) America is facing changes in the landscape, new challenges in forestry and new trends for

domestic and global markets ............................................................................................................... 9

9) Emerging challenges in forestry research ..................................................................................... 11

10) Building the future, educating the new generations for the importance of forest ........................ 12

Regarding Portugal ............................................................................................................................... 14

Conclusions and recommendations ...................................................................................................... 15

Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. 17

Useful Web links ................................................................................................................................... 17


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A short note about American Forests

The area of American forests, 751 million acres covering about one-third of the US (8% of the world’s

forests), has been stable over the past 30 years, accordingly to the 2010 National Report on Sustainable

Forests by the USDA Forest Service, released in June 2011.

There have been significant regional shifts in the area and composition of the US forests. Reversion of

marginal farmland in the East, large scale planting in the South, and fire suppression have contributed to

increases in forest area. On the other hand, urbanization development, conversion to agriculture,

reservoir construction, and natural disasters have been major factors contributing to loss of forests.

Most of the US forests are owned by family forest owners. Nearly ten million private individuals own

about 422 million acres of forest and other wooded land, which are responsible for 91% of the US wood

production. Federal lands cover 33% of America’s forests and state and municipal 9%.

Eastern forests cover about 384 million acres and are predominantly broadleaf (74%), with the

exception of extensive coniferous forests and plantations in the southern coastal region. These are

largely in private ownership (83%). By contrast, about 363 million acres of western forests are

predominantly coniferous (78%) and in public ownership (57%).

There is a net growth in timber stocks, which currently exceeds harvest by a considerable extent in all

regions of the U.S., yet demand remains constant, with the difference filled by imports. Forest products

industry employment has fallen 15% since 1997 to 1.3 million employees.

Source: USFS – FIA/Proportion of Forest Land (http://www.fia.fs.fed.us/)


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The visit – a global overview

This IVLP consisted in a three week visit across the US, from 6th

until 27th

August 2011. The visit started

in Washington, DC and covered several States and regions of the US: South East Texas, Southern

California, Southern Idaho and Vermont in New England, This resulted in different cultural experiences

and different technical objectives to achieve. From the Washington, DC “national and global” meetings

to the Deep South East Texas pine woodlands, passing by the fire prone landscape of Southern California

and the semi-desert drylands of Southern Idaho to the final stage in the sugar maple forests of Vermont,

the visit was a lifetime journey!

In the technical perspective, this IVLP aimed to promote a deeper and wider knowledge on forest

related issues in the US, especially on Forest Planning and Wildfire Prevention and Combat System,

Sustainable Forest Management, and trade and environmental policies and practices, including

advances in scientific knowledge in some domains.

US visit - Technical meetings and field visits (in italic)

10 key-findings on the visit technical assets:

� Cohesive partnership and a strong coordination, at the base of a system in constant development

� Sharing knowledge and ideas as a driving-force for improvement

� Volunteering plays a important role for the community engagement

� Firewise communities - Raising community awareness for wildfires protection

� Public participation - a relevant issue to regional forest planning and management

� Stakeholders play a major role in decision making process

� Prescribed burning in a wide development as key-technique for large scale fuel management

� America is facing changes in the landscape, new demands in forestry and new trends for

domestic and global markets

� Emerging challenges for forestry research

� Build the future, educating new generations for the importance of forest to life on Earth


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1) Cohesive1 partnership and coordination, at the base of a system in constant development

Firstly, in the meeting hold at the DOI - Office of Wildland Fire Coordination in Washington, DC

and later in the several meetings at the State level, the partnership cooperation among Federal

Agencies (especially the USDA – Forest Service2) and the State Forest Service was notorious

especially regarding wildfires planning, preparedness and combat.

The most dramatic example came during the visit to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)

placed in Boise, Idaho. Created in 1965, it aimed to set

Federal Agencies working together to reduce the duplication

of services and cut costs on wildfire operations. Actually, NIFC

coordinates fire planning and combat operations resources at

the National level. FEMA was the last governmental agency to

join NIFC, in 2003. The State Forest Service are represented at

the NIFC by the National State Foresters Association.

Another interesting example in partnership, observed in a local scale, was the Prescribed Burning

Action plan developed in Southern Idaho (70% Federal lands) within the USDA Forest Service, the

DOI - Bureau of Land Management and the State of Idaho Department of Environmental Quality,

to achieve air quality and smoke management control in the Montana air shed.

2) Sharing experiences and ideas as driving-force for development

ICS – Incident Command System, the world-wide unified command system adopted for natural

disaster incident management, was born in Southern California, 30 years ago at the USFS Pacific

Southwest Research Station (Riverside) as the response for a demand on a more effective and

strong coordination among the several agencies at the “operations stage” in wildfires.

Also in California, the FIRESCOPE program designed to organize Firefighting Resources for

Potential Emergencies, managed by CAL FIRE (California State Department of Forest and Fire

Protection), is a good example of a cohesive strategy developed at the State level by a bureau of

agencies, to address in a very effective solution for the management of resources on forest fire

combat missions. This system is complementary to the action developed at the National level by

NIFC. Taking into account the global warming future scenarios for Southern California (hot-spot

for wildfires), continuing improvement of FIRESCOPE was a wise decision.

In Southern Idaho, a corporative group exists for prescribed burn management among the USDA

Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Idaho Department of Lands and the Idaho

Division of Environmental Quality.

1 The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/) is a collaborative process

with active involvement of all levels of government and non-governmental organizations, as well as the public, to seek national, all-lands solutions to wildland fire management issues. The Cohesive Strategy will address the nation’s wildfire problems by

focusing on three key areas: Restore and Maintain Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities and Response to Fire. 2 The Forest Service (www.fs.fed.us), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), are the main pillar of

the forest partnership programs. Over 30.000 employees, this agency is based in three branches: Research and Development; National Forest System and State and Private Forestry. The USFS are responsible for the management of 20% of the US forests. Their actual management priorities of the National Forests and grasslands are Multiple use and conservation, reintroducing

prescribe burning in the forest ecosystem and Watershed conservation. The USFS also play an important role in the regulation of Congress Laws.


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3) Volunteering plays a important role for the community engagement

NGO and foundations have a major role in the partnership process. During the visit, there were

found some good examples, such as the Texas Buckeye trail near Dallas that is maintained by the

Texas Master Naturalist association (volunteers also promote actions for invasive plants control

and collect tree seeds for further plantation) or the Nebraska Notch trail (a section of Vermont’s

Long trail) maintained by the Green Mountains Club in partnership with the Vermont Department

of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Also, is remarkable the active involvement of several

foundations at the Morley Nelson Birds of Prey – National Conservation Area (Southern Idaho) in

public information and habitat restoration activities (e.g. plantation of sagebrush).

In a different perspective, the American Forests Association3, which develops several programs for

volunteers with the aim to protect and restore American forests, is a good example of a

nationwide action targeted for the community awareness and involvement. The “Global Releaf”

for forest ecosystem restoration or the “Big tree program” and the “Famous & Historic trees

program” are some of the initiative developed by this NGO.

4) Firewise communities - Raising community awareness for wildfires prevention

The protection of houses and local communities facing the threat of wildfires, is a major concern

in the US. Developed by the National Fire

Protection Association (NFPA) in a close

partnership with the International

Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the Firewise

program (http://www.firewise.org/) is a

national program to face this public safety

issue. During the visit, there was the

opportunity to meet with NFPA and IAFC in

Washington, DC and, later, to achieve a

deeper knowledge of its application at the

State level in Texas, California and Idaho. Co-

sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, the

US Department of the Interior and the National Association of State Foresters, the Firewise

County Councils are being established all-over the US4.

The Rural Volunteers Fire Departments, with the technical assistance from the State Forest

Service5 and the IAFC, are developing an important level at the community level awareness

actions. Unfortunately, insurance companies usually don´t take in consideration for the house

premiums the efforts made by the Firewise communities to reduce fire hazard.

3 The American Forests Association is the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the US. This NGO advocates for

the protection and expansion of America’s forests. 4 The Joint Fire Science program is funding an integrated national study to evaluate the most successful collaborative processes

in developing and implementing Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) of communities located in the wildland-urban

interface. Information on the results of this project can be accessed on the following link: http://jfsp.fortlewis.edu/ 5 Texas Forest Service is developing a web-based information tool to support the preparation of community/county fire

protection plans.


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In California, the protection of homes and communities from wildfires is a major political and

safety concern. In a recent survey conducted in this State6, almost 66% of the people living in the

Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI) came from the city or from the urban fringe and 56% of the

inquiries recognized high/extreme level of wildfire threat to their private property (78% had

property insurance that covers loss from wildfire).

CAL FIRE addresses a strong focus in this matter that led to the development of a specific

assistance program: the Fire Safe Council initiative (www.firesafecouncil.org). This program acts at

the County level and provides grants for

Clearinghouse Projects, to establish defensible spaces

management between houses and the wildland area

that surrounds it, creating a buffer to slow or halt the

spread of wildfire to a structure, as the State law

demands (74% of the inquiries assumed to have

defensible spaces). This is an important program in

the Californian fire prone landscape, as there is little

local community's perceived level of wildfire

preparedness to make properties safer from wildfire

(57,5%, accordingly to the survey).

Demonstration Forest - Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council

(San Bernardino National Forest, Southern California)

5) Public participation - a relevant issue to regional forest planning and management

Seeking public participation in forest planning and management is an actual demand regarding

Congress laws, especially towards environmental conservation. The balance between the needs of

urban/countryside people for the National Forests management goals can be a major challenge

for the interdisciplinary planning teams.

Public participation is mainly a web-based process, complemented with public meetings at the

County level to achieve the engagement of local communities in

the process. In the visit to Lufkin (South East Texas), there was the

opportunity to discuss this issue with the USFS officers regarding

the Davy Crockett National Forest post-fire review process of the

management action plan. In this particular process, a public

meeting took place at the city hall to start the post-fire restoration

process, regarding the ecosystem recovery project for habitat

conservation for red-cockaded woodpecker (an forest endangered

specie) with the plantation of the native Long-leaf pine (Pinus

palustris), a frequent fires dependent tree.

6 Eriksen, C and Hankins, D (2011) Living with wildfire in California, Survey July 2011, University of Wollongong.

Online survey of California residents' experiences of living and working with wildfire in the wildland-urban interface. The survey

was conducted by the University of Wollongong, Australia in conjunction with California State University, Chico. The project

aims to assist local, regional and state institutions to develop local knowledge into wildfire management procedures.


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Although, the increasing importance of Federal and State forests for wildlife conservation, in

those States, like Idaho, where most of the forest is placed in Federal lands, especially in National

Forests managed by the USDA Forest Service, the demand for wood to supply the timber industry

can lead to a conflict situation regarding the nature conservation management goals.

The National Forests (also State Forests, too) are actually managed for multiple-uses, such as

timber, habitat and endangered species conservation, air and water quality, recreation, hunting

and fishing. Managers also take into consideration prescribed burning plans and road networking

on the forest planning process.

6) Stakeholders play a major role in decision making process

Texas was the most interesting State to evaluate the importance of stakeholders in the decision

making process. In a State where over 90% of the forest land is private property, the Texas

Forestry Association (TFA) develops a major role addressing the private forest owners concerns to

the policy makers, both in Austin and in Washington, DC.

A good example of the role played by the stakeholders can be achieved on the action developed

by TFA on the US Forest Service cost share programs (e.g. the Southern Pine Beetle prevention

program), on timber taxation information or with the “American Tree Farm System”. Sponsored

by the American Forest Foundation, there are 2.200 Tree Farms in Texas that together encompass

more than 700.000 acres. Actually, this system has 70.000 certified Tree Farmers that are

managing 30 million acres of forest in the United States. Tree Farmers can provide important

economic and conservation benefits to combat threats and keep forests healthy and productive.

But, Washington, DC is the main stage for the work of stakeholders. Congressional Fire Services

Institute, National Fire Protection Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs or the

National Association of State Foresters develops an important “back-stage” work at the US

Capitol, within the Congressman staff and the Committees. Education and review of the legislative

initiatives are their main focus in this political action.

7) Prescribed burning in wide development as key-technique for large scale fuel management

The general perception of fire in the forest lands has dramatically changed over the last century.

After decades of highly successful efforts to suppress fire from the forest, a major change is driven

to reintroduce fire in the forest, as part of the ecosystem dynamics. Actually, reducing hazardous

fuels through prescribed fire is one of the key components of the National Fire Plan7.

Nowadays, prescribed burning is a wide-spread tool for fuel management both in National and

State Forests and also in private forests, like in South East Texas loblolly pine plantations (Pinus

taeda).

7 After the record-breaking wildfire season of 2000, the President requested a national strategy for preventing the loss of life,

natural resources, private property, and livelihoods in the wildland/urban interface. Working with Congress, the Secretaries of

Agriculture and Interior jointly developed the National Fire Plan (NFP) to respond to severe wildland fires, reduce their impacts

on communities, and assure sufficient firefighting capabilities for the future.

The NFP is structured in five key points: (1) firefighting preparedness, (2) rehabilitation and restoration of burned areas, (3)

reduction of hazardous fuels, (4) community assistance, and (5) accountability.


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For instance, just in Texas 100.000 acres are annually prescribed burn in the National Forests for

fuel management and wildlife habitat conservation purposes. Prescribed fires on federal lands

must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires extensive analysis

of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of projects with public participation.

Mature pure Loblolly pine stand treated with prescribed burn

(Davy Crockett National Forest, TX)

In Southern Idaho, a planning and reporting system was developed for prescribed burning

operations, very comprehensive and achieves the demands for update information and post-fire

effects assessment. Information about the status of prescribed fires during the spring and

fall/winter burning seasons can be remotely accessed at www.rxfire.com

Another important issue regarding the usage of this high-skilled forestry technique is training and

qualifications for the planning and execution of prescribed burnings. The National Wildfire

Coordinating Group at Washington, DC prepared the “Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and

Implementation Procedures Guide” and also the “Prescribed Fire Plan Template” to support a

more effective usage of the prescribed burning technique. Planning and using “Rx fire” can only

be made by certified personnel. Actually there are three levels of expertise to execute a

prescribed burning, depending on the burn complexity.

8) America is facing changes in the landscape, new challenges in forestry and new trends for

domestic and global markets

Trees and forests are closely related to the history and development of the USA. Nowadays,

forests represent 33% of the US land and are increasing since the last 50 years, especially due to

the re-naturalization process of abandoned agricultural lands. Accordingly to the National Report

on Sustainable Forests – 20108, Pests (e.g. Southern pine beetle (Texas) or bark beetles (Idaho)),

large and mega-fires and forest fragmentation in the urban expanding areas are some of the main

threats to the sustainability of US forests.

8 An update of the report is anticipated for 2015.


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Urban Forestry is a 21st

century challenge for foresters. The Texas Forest Service (TFS) is

developing a State-wide Urban and Community Forestry program in a strict collaboration with the

counties authorities. The recovery of the Great Trinity Forest and the Trinity River Corridor

Project, in the fast growing Dallas city, are appointed as the top projects of that ambitious

program. At the Dallas city hall meeting, it was also presented the TFS initiative on the county tree

ordinance elaboration, as a requirement for to get recognition for the Tree City USA Program and

apply for federal grants.

Another threat is silently emerging for the US forests: the old ageing of tree farmers and the

decrease of pulp & paper and lumber industry activity in the US most forested States. The

certification of Sustainable Forest Management is, therefore, challenging for the access of timber

to the lumber market. The American Tree Farm program can play an important role to address

that goal, especially through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative – a timber certification system

developed by the industry and recognized by the PEFC international.

The announcement made by the Secretary of Agriculture regarding wood’s inherent properties –

as a sustainable, natural, and renewable resource for Green Building procurement at the 2011 –

International Year of Forests celebration ceremony is good news for the lumber industry and also

for the forest owners that will meet a growing demand for certified timber. Despite this important

political sign, there is an emerging issue to be evaluated in the future: the consequence of trading

forest ownership from the Timber and Pulp & Paper companies to investor’s funds. This concern

was addressed both by the Texas Forestry Association and Intermountain-orient Inc. For the

Intermountain-orient Inc, a forest products supplier, considers this change of ownership as an

effect of globalization: from timber production (manufactures) to a “selling logs” activity by

Timberland Investment Management Organizations – TIMOs and Real Estate Investment Trusts -

REITs), to supply the demand for logs in China, Japan and South Korea.

Source: Texas Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources (2009)

Beside the recognized importance of sustainable forest management certification, the trends in

the global market keep an increasing demand for wood based products, especially from planted

forests in response to the crescent urbanization of the population. Although, firstly it is necessary

to overcome the 2008-2009 US housing construction crisis, which is the main driver for the

recovery of global crisis in the timber market. Also, its important to take into consideration the

role of “new global forest players”: Chile, Uruguay and New Zealand (ex. Pinus radiata).


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Another issue to be addressed, both in the US (Lacey Act, amended by 2008 Farm Bill) and Europe

(EU timber regulation), is the mandatory regulation for traceability to control illegal logging in the

tropical forests. The actions developed by the World Bank (Technical assistance to improve REDD

at a country level) and Rainforest Alliance (“Trees program” for sustainable forestry at the local

community level) are examples of global efforts to control illegal logging.

Biomass energy is, probably, the most recent challenge to the forest sector, especially regarding

the increasing global demand for pellets. The meeting held at the Biomass Energy Resources

Center (Montpelier, VT) was clear on the large potential of this green energy solution, especially

at the community/local level.

There are other challenges that are getting started and need to be more developed in the future

in the perspective of valuing the ecosystem services. Water quality protection for watershed

management (WRI -Portland-Maine project), the habitat and endangered species conservation

(USFS) and Carbon stocks by forest ecosystem (Forests and forest products in the United States

capture and store 12 percent of carbon emissions) are some of the new challenges for future,

especially regarding research projects at Universities. Forest health and invasive species

monitoring are two issues that demand for a more close involvement from the Federal and State

Forest Agencies.

9) Emerging challenges in forestry research

During the visit, there was opportunity to meet with researchers at Texas A&M University (College

Station, TX) and at the USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station (Riverside, CA).

At the Texas A&M University (TAMU), meetings covered the new challenges for forest biomass,

facing the efficiency of small plants (1-2 MW) for energy production to ammonia/urea production

from gasified wood biomass, the new usages of GIS9 and LIDAR technology in forestry, especially

in high accurate forest inventories, biomass estimations and assessing fuels for modeling fire

behavior.

In Riverside, at the USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station, there is a different perspective for

research – basic applied research to provide knowledge and tools development for managers. Just

to point some cases, the ICS, FARSITE and more recently the model for wildfire decision making

based in economic assets (under development by Armando Gonzalo-Caban) are examples of

targeted research to support fire planning policies. Nowadays, the USFS Research Stations10

are

more focuses in technology transfer, with a longer research funding cycle – 10 years programs.

The Joint Fire Science program created by a Congress decision in 1998, is managed at the NIFC

with Federal funds from DOI and USDA. The JFSP develops science-based knowledge and tools in

several areas, such as: Fuel inventory and mapping; Fuel treatment planning, scheduling, and risk

9 Regarding GIS technology, it’s important to underline the project under development by the Texas Forest Service in

collaboration with professors and researchers of the TAMU Spatial Science Laboratory regarding the development of a web-based GIS “Texas Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal” (http://www.texaswildfirerisk.com/) for public information and support to forest fires prevention and mitigation.

10 There are seven USFS Research Stations (head-quarters in Berkley), that work as a neural system. The Pacific Southwest

Research Station is actually organized in five research units: Fire and Fuel; Conservation; Urban Ecosystem Dynamics and Ecology and Biodiversity.


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assessment; Fire effects and fire behavior; Restoration of fire-adapted ecosystems; Post-fire

stabilization and rehabilitation and Remote sensing. This program can play a major role bringing

applied research to the local through the development and integration of research information

with local land managers.

10) Building the future, educating the new generations for the importance of forest

Educating is an important issue to gather better public participation and especially to achieve a

better understanding of the importance of forests to our society and to the environment. Despite

this recognized importance, in times of severe budget cuts, all the past efforts can be affected, as

the results of the effectiveness of the actions developed today can only be achieved in a

medium/long term perspective.

The International Year of Forests 2011, declared by the United Nations, is a good opportunity to

“Celebrate Forests. Celebrate Life.” (http://www.celebrateforests.com/), the official campaign

coordinated by the National Association of State Forests (NASF) in partnership with the U.S.

Forest Service. The U.S. celebration11

aimed to elevate awareness and understanding of the value

of America’s forests and showcase the connections between healthy forests, people, ecosystems

and economies.

During the visit there was the opportunity to know more about the actions developed by the 67

years-old Smokey bear program for forest fires prevention (http://www.smokeybear.com/), which

has a special focus on children awareness for forest fires prevention. Actually, the Smokey bear

awareness campaigns result from the partnership of the US Forest Service with the NASF and Ad

Council.

Smokey bear campaign outdoor

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A 2011 voter poll, commissioned by the National Association of State Foresters, showed that two-thirds (67 percent) of

voters live within 10 miles of a forest or wooded area and say they visit them or recreate in them frequently. Significant

majorities of voters indicate that forests play a "very important" role in providing clean air (92 percent), providing filtration to

keep water clean (91 percent), providing places for wildlife to live (86 percent), supplying products like wood and paper (73

percent), providing a place for recreation (71 percent) and providing good jobs (73 percent).


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Recently, the US Forest Service12

in collaboration with Ad Council, launched the website “Discover

the forest” to inspire tweens (aged 8-12) and their parents to re-connect with nature,

experiencing it first-hand. This

campaign brings to life the joy and

excitement kids have when they

discover the wonders of nature,

helping create interest in their

environment and a lifelong

relationship with it.

Another revelation initiative in this

domains is the new high school

curriculum from Project Learning

Tree, the environmental education

program of the American Forest

Foundation, teaches students

about forest health, fresh water

supply, climate change, who owns America’s forests, and more. Exploring Environmental Issues:

Focus on Forests features hands-on classroom lessons and field investigations to help students

develop an understanding and appreciation for stewardship and informed decision-making on

issues that affect forests.

During the visit, the most interesting and original case regarding education for the importance of

forests to the community came from the Idaho Forest Products Commission (IFPC). Created in

1992 by an act of the Idaho Legislature, with the purpose of promote the economic and

environmental welfare of the state by providing a means for the collection and dissemination of

information regarding the management of the state's public and private forest lands and the

forest products industry, IPFC provides a wide range of statewide communications activities,

educational programs and informational materials for educators and students as well as for the

general public about the forest sector (http://www.idahoforests.org/). In my opinion, this specific

project could evolve for a Science Center for Forests13, like the ECHO Center for the Lake

Champlain information in Burlington, VT.

In Idaho, there is another original initiative to promote awareness for forest protection: Purchase

an Idaho forest license plate and a portion of the fee

will go to help reforestation and education projects in

that northwestern State.

12

The US Forest Service Conservation Education program (http://www.fs.usda.gov/conservationeducation) helps people of all

ages understand and appreciate America’s natural resources and how to conserve those resources for future generations.

13 In Portugal, there is a Science Center for Forests (Centro Ciencia Viva para a Floresta - http://ccvfloresta.com/), located in a

small town in the countryside (Proença-a-Nova, Central Portugal) which has been a recognized case of success in forest

education and could be a good example for IFPC for further development.

www.discovertheforests.org


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The Texas Native Forest Boardwalk at the Forth Worth Botanical Garden is another example of a

different strategy to promote education. Settled as living outdoor classroom — an elevated

boardwalk with viewing platforms and thirteen interactive educational stations addressing forest

ecology designed to engage both children and parents/grandparents. Its purpose is to stimulate

interest in the native forest and to encourage visitors to use what they discover about

stewardship and conservation in their own home environment.

Also, on the stay in East Texas, there was also the opportunity to visit the Texas Forestry Museum

(http://www.treetexas.com/), in Lufkin. Managed by the Texas Forestry Association, it’s a small

museum, but with a rich and comprehensive set of information regarding the history of forestry

and forest industry in South East Texas. The Texas Forestry Museum has about 11.000

visitors/year, especially young students.

Regarding Portugal

Cork and cork oak14

open forests from southern Portugal were one of the most common questions

regarding the Portuguese forest during this visit. Cork is in the base of a sector where Portugal is the

world leader in production and transformation (the

US market is the 2nd most important destination for

Cork products exporting – cork stoppers,

construction material (e.g. flooring) and car

industry).

Cork oak stand (“montado” – open forest)

About 40 percent of Portugal mainland is covered by forests (3.45 million hectares). Portugal has a GDP

equivalent to Kentucky and the forest sector is responsible for 3percent of that value. The Portuguese

forest industry is very dynamic and actually is the 3rd

most important exporting cluster (11% of

Portuguese exportations) and with a increasing trend, especially in paper products (the Pulp & Paper

industry in Portugal is based in Eucalyptus globulus wood supply). Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) is the

main forest specie in Portugal.

14

The Portuguese Parliament recognized the cork oak tree (Quercus suber) as the “National Tree of Portugal” on December 2011.


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Conclusions and recommendations

USA is a large country, with wide landscapes, rich in diversity and an important land of forests (300

million hectares – the 4th most important forest country in the world). Forests can play an important

role for the development of US economy and territory. The actual balanced partnership among

Governmental Agencies, State Forest Service and private stakeholders towards forest health and

conservation goals (cost share programs) is a good platform to keep achieve that goal.

Sustainable Forest Management is an emerging issue, especially for the US Forest Service, which are

responsible for the management of 20% of American forests (National Forests). There is a strong need

for the certification of SFM at the USFS managed National Forests in the West region, where the

National Forests are the major wood supplier. This aspect gets especial importance due to the actual

demand for certified timber for the lumber industry. In this domain, the American forest certification

scheme – Sustainable Forestry Initiative since 1994 already has more than 183 million acres of forest

area certified in North America and this certification scheme can play a important role for the

certification of those private forests in the “American Tree Farm System”.

A key-aspect for the future sustainability of American forests is the development and implementation of

the strategies and programs in every state and territory's Forest Action Plan. These Action Plans are

critical for budget allocation decisions for Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act programs.

The housing crisis is a major concern for the US productive forests. Even though, the forecast for the

next two years is moderately positive.

Sustainable Forest Development

Strenghts

A strong leader in the forest sector regulation,

information and research: USDA Forest Service

Cohesive strategies and strong stewardship among

Federal and State Agencies with private stakeholders

Private stakeholders have an effective lobbying action

Recognized domestic forest certification scheme (SFI)

Fair forest taxation regulation, that promotes active

forest management

Strong organization at National and State level for

wildfire suppression and preparedness

Weaknesses

Weak domestic wood demand due to Housing crisis

Low forest certification in National Forests

Small dimension of private forests

Decrease of competitiveness of forest-based industry

Increase of mega-fires in the most fire prone areas

Spread of pests, diseases and invasive plants

Threats

Leak of competitiveness of the American forest

based industry

Increase of forests owned by Timberland Investment

Management Organizations and Real Estate

Investment Trusts

Environmental pressure on timber harvesting in

federal and state forests

Federal deficit reduction funds for the USDA Farm Bill

conservation forests programs

Climate change - Invasive plants and pests and more

frequent and severe droughts like in Texas 2011

Urban development pressures

Opportunities

USDA policy for green building

State and Territory’s Action Forest Plans

“Integrated Management Units” to gather higher

operations scale among small private forest

Forest education programs for communities and youth

Climate Change policies (eg. Green Energy/Forest Biomass)

Revenue of Forest Ecosystem Services

Review insurance regulation for wildfire house

protection, scoring firewise communities


16

The 2011 - International Year of Forests celebration, was a unique opportunity to promote forests and

educate the society about its importance. The awareness effort must carry on 2012, bringing a wider

information on the forest vital role to the society for students and the community. As Mr. Jay Farrel,

executive director of the National Association of State Foresters, stressed on the lessons from 2011 - the

Year of Forests “we must not weaken our resolve to focus on forests, protect them from devastating

fires, insects and disease and uphold their vital place in our lives”.

So, in the future, will be GREEN the new Red, White and Blue?

In a different perspective, after the visit I concluded that Portugal has a still a long way to go to achieve

the level of organization in the Forest Service, partnership with private stakeholders (industry,

production, research and society organizations) and forest regulation (eg. Forest taxation).

Large wildfires and mega-fires are a major concern to the sustainability of the Portuguese forests and

consequently to our national forest industry, especially taking in consideration the future scenarios of

global warming to Southern Europe. Therefore, in my opinion, a mission of Portuguese selected wildfire

commanders to the NIFC – Boise could dramatically contribute to improve ICS in Portugal.

The Prescribed Burning technique is another issue that Portugal needs to develop in a more structural

basis in a short term, due to the high accumulation of fuels in the Portuguese forests, especially in

maritime pine stands and in shrublands on the mountainous areas. In 2006, a mission of five USFS Rx

fire experts went to Portugal and some important improvements were made then. Although, there is

still the need for the development of a National Program for Prescribed Burning, that also take into

consideration a multi-level skill training scheme, like in the US. There is also a need to improve the

professional accreditation system (certified foresters program), as actually in use by the Society of

American Foresters.

A “National Firewise Program” is another key-issue that Portugal needs to develop. Supported by the

Governmental and Municipal funds, this cost-share program could use of the Municipal Forest Offices

network to promote planning and awareness campaigns in the most fire prone wildland/urban Interface

zones.

In my opinion, there is an opportunity to establish a stronger technical interaction with the USDA Forest

Service or with State Forest Agencies, like CALFIRE or the Texas Forest Service. Portugal could support

the development of some policies or actions in the US, such as:

- A National Forest Volunteering Action Program as a solution to involve young people in forest

awareness and protection (Portugal has this program since 2005);

- The establishment of a pilot area for Integrated Management of small private forest owners;

- The development of a high technological solution to disseminate public information on the fire danger

rating (automated fire danger information system).

Lisboa, 31.12.2011

Miguel Galante (Forester, Former advisor to the Portuguese State Secretary of Forests and Rural Development)


17

Acknowledgements

US Embassy at Lisbon for the invitation and especially to Mr. John Jacobs (Political and Economic Affairs

Officer) and Ms. Madalena Veloso (Cultural Assistant) for the preparation of the visit outlines and all the

necessary administrative arrangements.

US Department of State, Ms. Noami Feigenbaum for the establishment of this IVLP and Meridian

International Center15

(MIC), Mr. Frank Justice and Mr. Micah Winograd, who made an excellent work in

the global coordination within the local agencies to achieve the full success of the IVLP visit.

The ELO, Mr. John Zins, who developed a very professional support during the visit and had a key-role

play for its success, both in the “back-stage”, providing the final arrangements for the local programs

and also in the “front-line”, regarding the logistical aspects and especially the cultural part of the visit.

USDA Forest Service personnel and all the people that shared their experience and knowledge during

the visit, both in technical meetings and in the field visits. To finish, a special word of gratitude to my

friends Art Torrez (USFS, Riverside CA) and Mark Beighley (USFS Retired, Consultant, Boise ID) for their

hospitality and support in the meetings and guided visits.

Useful Web links

2010 National Report on Sustainable Forests - http://www.fs.fed.us/research/sustain/

American Forests Association - http://www.americanforests.org/

American Forest Foundation - http://www.forestfoundation.org/aboutus

American Tree Farm System - http://www.treefarmsystem.org/

CALFIRE Firescope Program - http://www.firescope.org/

National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) – http://www.nifc.gov/

FIRESCOPE program - http://www.firescope.org/

Firewise program - http://www.firewise.org/

Fire Safe Council initiative - www.firesafecouncil.org

Idaho Forest Products Commission - http://www.idahoforests.org

Joint Fire Science program - http://www.firescience.gov/

National Association of State Foresters – http://www.stateforesters.org

National Interagency Fire Center – http://www.nifc.gov

National Wildfire Coordination Group - http://www.nwcg.gov/

Society of American Foresters - http://www.safnet.org/

Sustainable Forestry Initiative – http://www.sfiprogram.org/

Texas Forestry Association - http://www.texasforestry.org/

Texas Forestry Museum - http://www.treetexas.com/

United States Forest Service - http://www.fs.fed.us

15

The lecture on the USA political system provided by Professor Eric Langenbacher at MIC offices in Washington, DC, revealed

to be very useful for a deeper and better understanding of the relations among the forest & wildfire policies and programs at

the Federal, State and County level.

ivlp miguel galante_us forests technical report_dez2011

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