Focus
Through the Western Forest Actions Plans, the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition has identified the following five strategic areas to guide and focus the Coalition’s work. USDA Forest Service programs, including State and Private Forestry, Forest and Rangeland Research, and the National Forest System, are directly connected with the issues below, providing a collective foundation for which the Coalition members, staff and committees work in partnership.
Wildfire and the Wildland Urban Interface
The condition of our nation’s forest lands, both public and private, is a significant contributor to the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Efforts should – as identified in the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy – focus on restoring and maintaining landscapes, promoting fire-adapted communities, and more effectively responding to wildfires. A West Wide Wildfire Risk Assessment is being completed for the 17 western states and six Pacific Islands and will help focus activities and utilize resources wisely. Our goal is to reduce wildfire risk to communities and mitigate wildfire impacts across the landscape being mindful of firefighter and public safety.
Climate Change, Carbon Sequestration, and Biomass Energy
The science behind climate change is more compelling than ever, and the impacts to forests and pacific island sea levels have huge implications for nearly all other issues. Forest management for carbon sequestration and the production of biomass energy can create economic incentives for landowners to sustain forest health, reduce fuel loads (and avoid carbon emissions from wildfire), and provide alternative, sustainable energy. However, without markets for biomass and carbon, management expenses continue to present challenges. Within this complex web, our goal is to apply science-based forest management to improve forest ecosystem resilience in the face of a changing climate and to ensure that forests are recognized contributors to climate change solutions.
Forest Health & Invasive Species
Overly-dense, even-age forests are susceptible to both native and non-native insect and disease invasions, to extreme weather events, and to catastrophic fire. The increase and spread of exotic and native pests and disease within and between states is a growing management concern (e.g., the Mountain Pine Beetle outbreak in the Rocky Mountains, Emerald Ash Borer in the Great Plains). There is great value in working across boundaries to address forest health issues. Our goal is to reduce impacts to forest health from insect, disease, and invasive species threats.
Water Quality and Quantity
Clean and abundant water is a direct result of healthy, well-managed forests and a healthy forest is a direct result of sound policies and management actions. Water quality continues to be a shared management issue, and many surface and groundwater concerns and opportunities span state boundaries. The sharing of best practices throughout the West helps to use our resources wisely.Our goal is to secure clean and sustainable flows of water through sound and sustainable forest management.
