West Wide Forest Planning
The West Wide Forest Planning strategic initiative is an exciting endeavor by the Council of Western State Foresters and the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition. In addition to assistance to states as they completed their first State Assessments and Strategies document, the effort consists of a synthesis of western State Assessments & Strategies that will help us tell the story of western forest values, threats, and conservation priorities.
State Forest Resource Assessments and Strategies
The western state and pacific island territories have completed State-wide Assessments of Forest Resource Conditions (Assessments) and long-term State-wide Forest Resource Strategies (Strategies) per the deadline established under the 2008 Farm Bill. These Assessments and Strategies are also a critical component of State & Private Forestry Redesign, and will form the foundation on which States receive funding under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act in support of State and Private Forestry Programs. They will also serve as important documents for developing state level approaches as well as multi-state efforts to addressing resource concerns.
Please refer to the links below for more information, or contact Dana Coelho: WFLC Program Manager, dcoelho@fs.fed.us, 303-445-4364.
Telling Our Collective Story
Having a western compilation of state and island Assessments and Strategies (and the rich datasets they contain) will help identify multi-state priority areas and opportunities for collaboration on critical issues. This big-picture synthesis will also help make the case for sustainable forestry in the West and contribute to decision making at state, regional, and national levels.
The WFLC has entered into a contract with Sanborn Map Company to complete this element of the West Wide Forest Planning strategic initiative. Through this contract, the WFLC proposes to create a report synthesizing State Assessments & Strategies and develop recommendations to address shared issues among western states and USFS Regions. The project will involve compilation and review of all 17 western State and 6 Pacific Island Territory State Assessments & Strategies as well as the inclusion of additional data appropriate for west-wide analysis. The report and recommendations will be used by the WFLC to inform its Strategic Plan and Business Plan, as well as to support priority member activities. It will facilitate a high level cross-walk with the West Wide Wildfire Risk Assessment, a concurrent project supported by the WFLC, and add depth to the analysis and recommendations in the WFLC Threats to Western Private Forests.
Information and Resources
Contacts and Websites for Western State Assessments and Strategies from the western states, islands, and US Forest Service Regions. (Updated August 2010)
State & Private Forestry State Assessment and Strategy Resource Center created and maintained by the US Forest Service, Washington Office
National Association of State Foresters Information regarding the State Assessments and Strategies communicating the value and use of these documents.
