West Wide Forest Planning
The West Wide Forest Planning strategic initiative is an exciting endeavor by the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition that focuses on priority outcomes, addresses landscape scale issues, and will help us tell the story of western forest values, threats, and conservation priorities. State and Federal forestry organizations have a long history of working with our nation’s forests and supporting sustainable forest management.
Forest Action Plans
Critical tools for achieving sustainable forest management, Statewide Forest Resource Assessments and Strategies were submitted to and approved by the US Forest Service, on behalf of the Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, in June 2010. These “Forest Action Plans” provide a clear road map to guide investments to conserve, protect, and enhance our forests. They are the foundation upon which States apply for and receive funding under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act in support of State and Private Forestry Programs.
The Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) commissioned a review and analysis of all western state and territory Forest Action Plans. Focused largely on the assessments, the resulting seventy page report contains detailed findings, trends, partnership information, data issues, national relevance, and future opportunities concerning the natural resources of western and pacific island forests and the people who depend on them.
A summary report is being prepared that seeks to share and capitalize upon the priority issues, strategies, and landscapes identified by western states. This document, Across the Western Landscape: Priority Issues and Strategies for Western Forests, unites the issues highlighted in western Forest Action Plans with those deemed priority by the entire federal and state membership of the WFLC, and serves as a high level communications piece and strategic planning document.
Telling Our Collective Story
Our priority issues span the entire western region and are of particular interest across all land ownerships. The issues are inter-linked and caused by an interacting set of drivers that include climate change, shifting economic conditions, and changing demographics and social values. These drivers place stress on ecological, economic, and social systems that result in the loss of forest land and the benefits those lands provide. This concept and recommendations are also explored in the WFLC initiative and report, Threats to Western Private Forests . Successfully addressing these priority issues will form the foundation of strategic activities undertaken by the WFLC members in the coming years.
Information and Resources
National Association of State Foresters Information regarding the State Assessments and Strategies including links to each states' Forest Action Plan
