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NASF News
Smokey Bear Award winner chosen for exceptional dedication to wildfire prevention [ NASF Newsroom ]
This year’s Silver Smokey Bear Awardee is Mark Wiles, a wildfire mitigation specialist for the Georgia Forestry Commission. Throughout his 31-year career, Mark Wiles has been dedicated to wildfire prevention awareness.
Over 80 organizations send letter to Congress hailing the benefits of FIA [ NASF Newsroom ]
The National Association of State Foresters was among more than 80 organizations that have penned a letter to Congress in support of the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program.
In Your State
Texas A&M Forest Service publishes "Statewide Assessment of Urban Forest Ecosystem Services" [ TFS ]
This report includes a comprehensive analysis of services provided by Texas' urban and community forests. Data informing this edition covers all of the work on all of the urban and community forests in Texas.
More from Texas:
(Submitted) Wildfire potential continues, more than 10,600 acres burned this week [ Southwest Farm Press ]
Disaster declared in Texas county as wildfire destroys over 50 homes, swells to over 9,000 acres [ NBC News ]
Crews monitor two biggest Texas 71 fires as another starts [ Daily Trib ]
Invasive tree-killing beetle continues march across Texas [ Black Chronicle ]
From Arkansas: Drone latest tool for forest health [ Arkansas Democrat Gazette ]
The drone has a flight time of about 45 to 55 minutes depending on whether it carries a payload. It has thermal, zoom, wide-angle and distance finder capabilities.
More from Arkansas:
(Video) What do you want to know about timber and forestry? Ask a farmer! [ RFD TV ]
In Louisiana: How Kisatchie Forest rangers are helping an endangered species thrive [ Town Talk ]
The longleaf pines of the Southeast are the prime habitat for the red cockaded woodpeckers. They need old growth trees over 100 years old in order to make their own natural cavities but there aren't many; so humans have learned to help the birds by putting artificial cavities in young trees.
How Florida became the leader in fighting fire with fire [ Christian Science Monitor ]
“You’ve got to fight fire with fire,” says Mr. Van Hook, a respected burn boss with five decades of experience. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Even as other places struggle to catch up with Florida, prescribed fire is getting harder in the state.
More from Florida:
12 new towers being built to improve public safety communications in rural areas of Okaloosa [ NWF Daily News ]
Climate change is heating up Florida. That could bring more wildfires, new report warns [ Miami Herald ]
Meet Georgia's State Forester Tim Lowrimore [ Southern Group of State Foresters ]
(Blog post) Tim Lowrimore is a registered forester with the Georgia Board of Foresters who has more than 20 years of forestry and professional experience. Most recently, he served as public affairs manager for Interfor, one of the largest lumber producers in the world.
The swift march of climate change in North Carolina’s ‘ghost forests’ [ Washington Post ]
Few examples of climate change are as unmistakable and arresting as the “ghost forests” proliferating along parts of the East Coast — and particularly throughout the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula of North Carolina.
More from North Carolina:
Family logging business forced to close after nearly 40 years due to inflation, gas prices [ WCTI ]
From Kentucky: More land added to state forest with endangered bat habitat [ Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet ]
(Blog post) “We are grateful for the partnership with KNLT and the USFWS that made this acquisition possible,” said State Forester Brandon Howard. “With this acquisition, we will continue to demonstrate good forest management practices while, supporting bat conservation.”
Virginia Tech alumni fuel a burning desire to fight wildfires [ Virginia Tech ]
(Blog post) With GIS, firefighters can analyze physical features through geographic layers that can be weighed, examined individually or collectively, and modeled to understand potential wildfire threats and treatments to reduce impacts.
Maine Forest Service: Stop browntail moth hitchhikers [ Times Record ]
“Now through late June, browntail moth caterpillars become expert hitchhikers,” the Forest Service stated in a press release. “When they catch a ride, the browntail moth may set up house in a new area and cause irritation to people and destroy foliage on trees and shrubs at their new location.”
More from Maine:
(Editorial) Maine isn’t the West, but wildfires still a risk [ Central Maine ]
(Video) A controlled burn in Nashville Plantation could help the future of Northern Maine’s logging industry [ WAGM ]
New Hampshire firefighters respond to second wildfire in one week [ NHPR ]
Rain has helped to minimize the spread, wetting the ground. But officials say dry conditions later in the week could make the fire grow again. Underneath the wet ground is a deeper layer of organic material that’s still dry, allowing the fire to keep burning.
More from New Hampshire:
Officials say northern New Hampshire fire is 45% contained [ WCAX ]
For wildfire as with everything else climate related, ‘unprecedented’ is the new normal [ Concord Monitor ]
Spongy moth caterpillars could put Connecticut trees in danger [ FOX 61 ]
“2021 was the first year of widespread defoliation in northwest Connecticut and most healthy trees refoliated in part due to sufficient summer rains. The energy required to refoliate places significant stress on trees increasing the risk of tree mortality in 2022,” said State Forester Christopher Martin.
More from Connecticut:
Phantom trees of Cape May County, New Jersey [ South Jersey Climate News ]
(Blog post) Atlantic White Cedars have been dying at a faster rate over the last 30 years due to sea-level rise exacerbated by climate change.
How will Maryland plant 5 million trees? It's complicated [ Patch ]
Even with so many stakeholders involved with implementing the state's new tree planting law, there are sure to be some skeptics. For farmers, the issue is how and where the 5 million trees will be planted, and what kind of acreage of arable land will be involved.
From Michigan: MSU Forestry partnering with Ecotek Labs to promote K-12 science learning [ Michigan State University ]
(Press release) Ecotek Lab, a recruiting partner of MSU Forestry since 2019, is a research and innovation laboratory made up of aspiring student scientists and engineers from major urban centers. Watch this short video to learn more.
More from Michigan:
World’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge coming to Boyne Mountain [ 9&10 News ]
Michigan DNR prepares for U.P. wildfire season [ Upper Michigans Source ]
Prescribed burns: Why Wisconsin is behind on the trend [ FOX 6 ]
In the last 150 years, Wisconsin has been the site of some of the most extreme fires and land-use changes in United States history. Prairies, woodlands, wetlands, and even farm edges were historically burned with prescribed fire but why did that all stop?
More from Wisconsin:
Fighting Wisconsin’s wildfires: DNR crews bring skills to wildland fires [ Spectrum News 1 ]
(Submitted) Success: Oak seeding restores forest after derecho [ Agri-View ]
(Blog post) Spring cleaning: Storm damage cleanup brings oak wilt risk [ Wisconsin DNR ]
'A treasure hunt': Iowans of all ages scour the ground in search of morel mushrooms [ Ames Tribune ]
Like many morel hunters, the family worried that cold temperatures this spring might impact the growing season of the mushrooms, which prefer warm, moist conditions. However, the harvest this year did not disappoint.
Invasive jumping worms spreading throughout Missouri, Kansas and more [ FOX 2 ]
The U.S. Forest Service says Asian jumping worms eat a lot. “They are never satiated,” the agency writes. And in the end, after feeding their unending appetites, the Missouri Department of Conservation says established populations of jumping worms can make the soil look like coffee grounds.
In South Dakota: Areas in the Black Hills previously damaged by wildfires show signs of recovery, restoration [ News Center 1 ]
“Those nutrients are locked up in that carbon that’s laying on the ground. As that material burns, turns into ash, it’s fertilizer.”
More from South Dakota:
Emerald ash borer confirmed near Crooks, SD [ KXLG ]
(Editorial) Black Hills faces fire danger with proposed halving of timber sales [ Tri-State Livestock News ]
In Wyoming: Two years in, forest management plan making a positive impact [ Rawlins Times ]
The Wyoming Forestry Division reports that beetles have damaged more forests than any other pests in Wyoming, killing more than 4 million acres over the past 20 years. The LaVA project decision authorizes “flexible management of forest vegetation,” allowing for removal and utilization of beetle-killed timber while it is still marketable.
Governor Pete Ricketts: When disaster strikes, Nebraskans show up [ Nebraska.gov ]
(Blog post) On the evening of April 22nd, 16 fires broke out throughout Nebraska. They were brought on by a combination of drought, low humidity, and gusty winds. These dangerous conditions caused the wildfires to spread quickly and unpredictably.
More from Nebraska:
(Submitted) Iron chlorosis in trees [ News-Press ]
As Colorado wildfire season heats up, low pay and slow reforms could spell staffing trouble for federal firefighting efforts [ CPR ]
It’s still spring, but wildfires are already burning in Colorado and other Western states like New Mexico, where a 2,000-person crew is racing to contain the largest wildfire in that state’s history.
More from Colorado:
Colorado knows the steps to take that could reduce the destruction of wildfires. It just hasn’t taken them [ CPR ]
Wildfire season begins on a dry note [ Gunnison County Times ]
Fueled by drought, a beetle that kills pinyon pines is expanding into new areas of Southwest Colorado [ Aspen Public Radio ]
Why you shouldn't trim or cut down trees in spring [ Treehugger ]
Washington State district explores forest farming opportunities [ NACD Forestry Notes ]
(Blog post) Agroforestry has made its way into Snohomish Conservation District (WA), with landowner interest flourishing and new programs specific to forest farming in the works.
More from Washington:
(Opinion) Here’s how WA state is using forests to store carbon and fight climate change [ Tri-City Herald ]
(Press release) Spokane neighbors work together to protect homes, properties from wildfires [ Washington DNR ]
Over 500 firefighters training for potentially busy Oregon wildfire season [ KGW ]
Many who are participating in the training have been fighting wildfires for more than two decades, and that includes Kanoff. He’s worked on some of the most destructive wildfires the West Coast has seen over the past several years.
More from Oregon:
Timber company and nonprofit team up to support wildland firefighters at risk of suicide [ KREM ]
Makeover proposed for Big Butte Springs watershed [ Mail Tribune ]
Study provides long-term look at ways to control wildfire in sagebrush steppe ecosystem [ Phys.org ]
Gov. Brown signs Private Forest Accord legislation to ‘strike the right balance’ on protection, jobs [ KTVZ ]
Nearly $1 million are on their way to help fight wildfires in Central Oregon [ Central Oregonian ]
So. Oregon adds wildfire detection cameras [ FOX 26 ]
Vehicles can and do cause wildfires, ODOT says — so make sure yours doesn’t [ KTVZ ]
Mega-drought has Oregon mega-worried about wildfires [ Albany Democrat-Herald ]
California’s famous redwoods growing special leaves to combat historic drought, scientists find [ Independent ]
California’s famous redwood trees grow leaves specifically designed to suck in enough water from the air around them, according to a new study.
More from California:
(Press release) Governor Newsom deploys additional firefighting resources to New Mexico to combat multiple large-scale fires [ CA.gov ]
Utilities need to do more to improve power grid, reduce wildfires, state audit finds [ Mercury News ]
PG&E's sale of lumber taken from around power lines on public property doesn't sit well with activists [ Redheaded Blackbelt ]
(Blog post) Laser imaging reveals how fire renews Sierra Nevada forests [ Yale.edu ]
California wine grape growers eye millions in federal aid for 2020 wildfire losses [ North Bay Business Journal ]
Additional evacuations lifted as firefighters report 90% containment of Coastal Fire [ CBS ]
Most Nevada wildfires sparked by humans; here's what you can do to help change that [ Reno Gazette Journal ]
In 2018, illegal fireworks set off near Winnemucca started the largest fire in Nevada's history, burning 439,000 acres. Other significant causes of human-started fires include arson, power lines that brush against vegetation, chains dragging behind trailers causing sparks, target shooting and campfires.
More from Nevada:
NDF, National Guard firefighters train for wildfire season [ KOLO ]
Nevada receives $20 million for wildfire research [ NEWS 4 ]
From Arizona: Forests often regenerate after wildfires. Why the climate crisis could change that [ AZ Central ]
After the year 2000, it's like a switch was flipped. Wildfires are 10 times as large. We are seeing ecosystems change, and I would say that the pace of change has really picked up. We're seeing a lot of mortality of trees, from wildfire and just because it's getting too hot and dry for the kinds of forests that we used to have to survive.
One month in, New Mexico’s largest-ever fire fuels anger and despair [ Washington Post ]
Despair and frustration are simmering throughout this rural, low-income area as the megafire, which Monday became New Mexico’s largest ever and is now at more than 299,000 acres.
More from New Mexico:
New Mexico wildfire sparks backlash against controlled burns. That's bad for the West [ NPR ]
(Press release) NM state forester strengthens statewide fire restrictions due to extreme fire danger [ NM Fire Info ]
As feds stay quiet on state’s largest-ever wildfire, theories circulate about its cause [ Ruidoso News ]
Governor: Fire could destroy over 1,000 NM homes [ Santa Fe New Mexican ]
Wildfire dangers force Santa Fe, Carson national forests to close to public [ RR Observer ]
Understories
As wildfires fueled by warming climate grow in size, homeowners face greater risk [ USA Today ]
Jim Karels, fire director for the National Association of State Foresters and retired Florida state forester, says “the more tools the better.” For him, the big question is how to persuade people to take action once they learn about their risk and to get them past the point of thinking a wildfire won’t happen to them.
More related to wildfire:
As development surges in wildfire-prone regions, experts stress hardening on a community level [ KCRA ]
Is your house at risk of a wildfire? This online tool could tell you [ KPCC ]
These are the places with the highest wildfire risk in the US [ CNN ]
How climate change is fueling more intense global wildfires [ Bloomberg ]
Americans don't trust one of the best methods to control wildfires [ Time ]
Human-ignited fires result in more extreme fire behavior and ecosystem impacts [ Nature ]
Modeling the systemic risks of COVID-19 on the wildland firefighting workforce [ Nature ]
Work schedule and seasonal influences on sleep and fatigue in helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft operations in extreme environments [ Nature ]
Air quality impacts of PNW wildfires reach as far as New York [ Crosscut ]
Biden forest plan stirs dispute over what counts as "old" [ ABC ]
President Joe Biden's order to protect the nation’s oldest forests against climate change, wildfires and other problems devastating vast woodlands is raising a simple yet vexing question: When does a forest grow old?
More from Washington, D.C.:
Analysis: How earmarks will affect energy, enviro projects [ E&E News ]
(Blog post) USDA NRCS opportunity for selecting NWQI Watersheds and Source Water Protection Areas [ Source Water Collaborative ]
US forests provide 83 million people with half their water [ Phys.org ]
Some urban communities obtain more than 50% of their surface drinking water from forested lands through inter-basin transfers, extending some of the benefits of forested lands to urban communities.
Forest Service Eastern Region distributes $4.1M in grants to support healthy forests and clean water [ Forest Service Region 9 ]
(Press release) Through the Landscape Scale Restoration competitive grant program, the Forest Service provides funding to states and partners working on non-federal lands to improve watershed health for people and wildlife and to reduce wildfire risk, and the spread of invasive plants, insects, and diseases. This year, 17 projects will be funded.
More Region 9 news:
(Press release) Forest Service awards $3.24M in fire grants [ Forest Service Region 9 ]
Beyond flora and fauna: Why it’s time to include fungi in global conservation goals [ WBUR ]
It’s no secret that Earth’s biodiversity is at risk. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, 26% of all mammals, 14% of birds and 41% of amphibians are currently threatened worldwide, mainly due to human impacts such as climate change and development.
More related to biodiversity and climate change:
Foresters hope 'assisted migration' will preserve landscapes as the climate changes [ NPR ]
Waste wood chemically recycled to produce material stronger than steel [ New Scientist ]
The nanofibrils bind to create what the researchers call a “healed” piece of wood. Although this no longer looks like natural wood, it has better mechanical properties. Tests show it is more resistant to breaking than stainless steel or titanium alloys.
More related to wood innovation:
Seven biochar companies you should know [ Green Biz ]
Job Board
Select a term of employment, enter a keyword, or choose a location to begin searching open forestry-related positions on NASF's Job Board .
To submit a job announcement, please send a summary of the position (two paragraph limit), a link to the full announcement and/or full job description, and a closing date to nasf@stateforesters.org .
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