National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

Forestry Notes

August 2009
Volume XIV, Issue 9
| PDF version | Archive of Previous Issues |

  1. Strength in Numbers
  2. House Passes Waxman-Markey Climate Legislation
  3. Senate Delays Committee Consideration of Climate Bill
  4. Loudenslager named NACD CEO
  5. Mills Named NRE Deputy Under Secretary
  6. PLN Offers Useful Online Resource
  7. Forestry Briefs
  8. Conservation Calendar

1. Strength in Numbers
The partners of BURN-UP have made a case for woody biomass utilization in the U.P.
Many biomass utilization success stories come from the east coast, the southwest or areas of the west. But a group in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is making biomass work for its region, and thanks to its strong and diverse partnership, it recently received one of the prestigious Two Chiefs' Partnership awards.

A few years ago, U.P. RC&D Council coordinator Marilyn Shy was encouraged to revive a partnership that had previously been investigating forest management issues in the region. The group of partners slowly was re-assembled. During the group's on-going discussions, Shy learned of a U.S. Forest Service announcement in the summer of 2007 welcoming proposals for woody biomass projects. The group jumped at the opportunity.

The grant request, said Shy, was serendipitous.

"It's as if the grant was written for us," she said. "We had all of the partners in place, and we were working on woody biomass."

By August of 2007 the group had received word that their proposal had been accepted, and work began in October. The $100,000 Forest Restoration Working Partnership grant required a $20,000 match, which the group was able to provide in in-kind funds. The U.P. RC&D Council acted as the lead agency.

Thanks to that grant, the organization was able to form BURN-UP (the Biomass Utilization and Restoration Network for the Upper Peninsula), whose purpose is to stimulate the development of a sustainable woody biomass industry in the U.P.

One possible fit was obvious to those at the table of discussion: starting up a Fuels for Schools program in the U.P.. For more than a decade several of schools in the region had utilized wood fuel successfully, which suggested many other districts might be in a position to make the conversion. It helped that Messersmith Manufacturing, which builds the wood-fired systems used by a number of Fuels for Schools participants on the east coast, is based out of the U.P. And, unlike many other areas throughout the country, one advantage to biomass conversion in the U.P. is proximity.

"Biomass is something we have plenty of in the U.P.," said Linda Howlett, who took over as BURN-UP's project director in 2008, "and it's usually located close to our communities."

Since its inception, BURN-UP has completed seven feasibility studies for school districts interested in exploring biomass-fueled boilers. At the beginning of 2008 the group received another U.S. Forest Service grant for $50,000.

Partners on the steering committee include members from Michigan State University's Extension office, the U.P. RC&D Council, the Marquette County Conservation District, a local logging company, The Nature Conservancy and several others groups.

Said Howlett, "We've got a diverse group of partners, both in the public and private sector, that are all interested in trying to find ways to utilize woody biomass in the U.P., create new markets for producers and contractors in the area, and provide energy alternatives."

BURN-UP is nearing completion on the second phase of its plan, and is now exploring other possible ways to create markets for biomass use in the U.P.. One method of design is to identify clusters of buildings that might be willing to share an energy source. Said Howlett, one city has considered this as a source of energy for its municipal building, city hall and high school, while another possible fit is Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba. Those options are currently being examined.

In September of the past two years, BURN-UP has held field demonstrations of biomass harvesting equipment and techniques, and BURN-UP is also using its Web site as a biomass exchange where producers and consumers can connect.

All of this work led to the Two Chiefs' Partnership award.

Said Shy, it was wonderful for BURN-UP to receive the award. More than the recognition, she appreciated how the award has provided BURN-UP with a platform to speak to people about the many benefits of woody biomass.

"There are still misconceptions on the part of the public that utilizing woody biomass might not be the environmental way to go," said Shy. "It's given us the opportunity to talk about why woody biomass is responsible and environmentally-safe."

BURN-UP's diverse group of partners, said Howlett, is the reason for the group's success.

"We have a lot of expertise sitting around the table," she said. "There are people at the agency level with ties to resources and funding, we've got people on the ground managing and harvesting lands, and there are research folks with a ton of knowledge and expertise."

Said Renee Leow, administrator for the Marquette County Conservation District, "The old saying 'Many hands means light work' is true in this case. This is a great program. Our partners only make us stronger."

To learn more about BURN-UP, visit the Web site at http://www.upwoodybiomass.org, or contact Linda Howlett, project director, at 906-428-4192 or via email at lhowlett@chartermi.net.

2. House Passes Waxman-Markey Climate Legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) (H.R. 2454 or better known as Waxman-Markey "Climate Change" or "Cap and Trade") on June 26. ACES includes significant new provisions for nonindustrial forest owners to participate in energy and carbon markets. However, what follows below is final only for the House version of "Climate Change" legislation. The Senate has yet to pass its version of a companion bill to ACES. Current indications point to a tougher road in the Senate. If a companion bill does make it through the Senate there will still be some tough "horse trading" in a House and Senate Conference Committee before final passage and signature by the President.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act includes three key provisions:

More specifically, for non-industrial forest landowners, this legislation would:

In addition to the improvements in the carbon offset market provisions, the bill includes incentives for management activities that sequester and store carbon, incentives for replacing existing woodstoves with high-efficiency wood and pellet stoves, and incentives for urban forestry programs to help effect carbon storage.

3. Senate Delays Committee Consideration of Climate Bill
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Cali.) has announced that work on the climate bill has been delayed until after Congress returns from their August recess that ends in early September. The Senate committee Chair had previously stated her plans to complete work on a bill by early August.

The Administration wants Congress to complete new climate legislation before the December talks in Copenhagen on a new U.N. climate change treaty. The Senate Finance Committee also has a significant role in developing the climate legislation and Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), the senior Republican on the committee, has stated he does not expect it come up this year.

4. Loudenslager named NACD CEO
Doug Loudenslager became the National Association of Conservation Districts's new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 13.

"We are very fortunate to have Doug joining us as CEO of the National Association of Conservation Districts. We are certain that he has the experience, vision and energy needed to lead NACD and represent the nation's 3,000 conservation districts," said NACD President Steve Robinson.

Loudenslager brings extensive association and financial management experience to the table. He most recently served as the COO for the National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation in Indianapolis. Prior to that, Loudenslager had a 17-year career in sales, management and training for Edward Jones Investments. He also served as executive director of the Ohio Soybean Association and was a vocational agriculture educator.

His involvement in forestry issues has primarily been on a personal level. As a landowner, he has been part of reforestation efforts, and he is currently battling the emerald ash borer on his property in Indiana.

Added Robinson, "We expect he will bring new direction to the Association, providing strengthened services to our members while continuing to serve as America's voice for conservation."

"These are exciting times for conservation in this country. NACD has a long tradition of providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation. Landowners will be looking to their local conservation district even more to provide the technical expertise and support in meeting the conservation and natural resource challenges ahead," said Loudenslager. "The perspective of the men and women who serve as directors of the 3,000 local conservation districts must be heard in the development of future conservation policy. I am excited to have the opportunity to join the NACD team in making sure their story is understood by national policy makers."

Loudenslager was raised as part of a conservation-minded family on a crop and swine operation in central Ohio.

5. Mills Named NRE Deputy Under Secretary
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of Ann Mills as USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). In this position, Mills will have responsibility for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the federal agency with primary responsibility for working with private landowners in conserving, maintaining and improving their natural resources.

"Ann Mills brings 20 years of policy and management experience with government and nonprofit conservation advocacy that will be an asset at USDA," said Vilsack. "Her expertise will advance science-based policy solutions that balance the needs of human and natural communities."

Most recently, as a senior executive at American Rivers - the nation's leading river conservation organization - Mills directed day-to-day operations, led the expansion of regional offices and directed a team of senior policy staff.

6. PLN Offers Useful Online Resource
The Private Landowner Network (PLN) is a good source of conservation information and contacts that many may already be familiar with. For anyone with questions regarding the future of their forest, this resource is available to assist in navigating the ins and outs of conservation planning. PLN is a project of Resources First Foundation.

PLN has been supported for the past few years by both the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.

A new feature has been added to the NACD Web site helping to locate local conservation district offices. The tool uses Google mapping with markers at each location. Users can find this new tool at http://www.nacdnet.org/about/districts/locate.

When a marker is clicked, a bubble appears with the name and address of the selected conservation district, and a link to view its listing on the Private Landowner Network.

PLN is organized into six primary categories: conservation yellowpages, tax and estate planning, conservation library, toolbox, land conservation grant and assistance programs, and the conservation exchange.

PLN's Conservation Yellowpages contain more than 60 resource categories including: conservation districts, foresters, lawyers, biologists, land trusts, and state conservation programs.

Many conservation districts have listings in PLN. Those not listed can click the "Add me to PLN" link at the top of each page on PLN and email the administrator to start a listing.

7. Forestry Briefs
Bark Beetle – Are Your Trees at Risk?
This updated, 12-page publication takes a comprehensive look at bark beetles, tree I.D., susceptibility, signs and symptoms, treatments, prevention, challenges for land managers, insect I.D. and more. It is published by the US Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, Intermountain and Northern Regions. It can be downloaded at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1-r4/spf/fhp/publications/byregion/BarkBeetle_Brochure_09.pdf.

Report Examines the Success of Fuel Treatments in the WUI
The effects of fuel treatments on fire severity in an area of wildland–urban interface, Angora Fire, Lake Tahoe Basin, California was recently published online by the journal Forest Ecology and Management. The U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region just released this report statistically detailing the effects of pre–fire forest fuel treatments. To download, visit http://www.wflccenter.org/news_pdf/336_pdf.pdf.

EESI Releases Policy Paper on Sustainable Forest Biomass
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute's (EESI) Sustainable Biomass and Energy Program has released a new policy paper, Sustainable Forest Biomass: Promoting Renewable Energy and Forest Stewardship. The paper summarizes the most important issues surrounding the current use of woody biomass as a renewable energy resource, and identifies policy solutions that will promote sustainable harvesting of woody biomass resources as part of a larger effort to steward our nation's forests for a diversity of values, products, and ecosystem services.

Abbey Nominated for BLM Director Post
Robert V. Abbey has been nominated for Director, Bureau of Land Management. Abbey is a partner at Abbey - Stubbs - Ford, LLC which specializes in western land and resource strategies. Prior to this Abbey was the Nevada State Director for the DOI's Bureau of Land Management. Abby's confirmation hearing was on July 9 and he now awaits confirmation from the full senate.

8. Conservation Calendar