National Association of Conservation Districts

Forestry Notes

October 2008
Volume XVII, Issue 11

| PDF version | Archive of Previous Issues |

1. A Sustainable Partnership
2. Bringing Conservation to Growing Areas through U&CF
3. Tree Farm Given PEFC Certification for Sustainable Forestry
4. Free Copies of the Hidden Treasure Comic Book Available
5. USDA Holds Hearing on Farm Bill Energy Title
6. Conference: Wood a Viable Option as Sustainable Energy Source
7. Forestry Briefs

1. A Sustainable Partnership
Maine district plays key role in sustainable forestry project
In early 2008, Gordon Moore was reading through NACD’s eNotes when he noticed a sustainable forestry grant that was available through the Hardwood Forestry Fund. Moore, the Piscataquis County district forester for the Maine Forest Service, made executive director Joanna Tarrazi aware of the grant, and the district worked diligently to draft a proposal.

“Immediately I identified who might be the strongest partners for us to work with,” said Tarrazi. “I was told in January about the grant and by May we were planting trees. It happened that fast.”

The mission of the project was clear: to create forest conditions that will help local industry remain viable and sustainable. It was also important, said Moore, that the species chosen would be adaptable to climate-changing conditions. The group chose to help to restore the American chestnut population in the area, as well as plant red and burr oak trees.

The partnership included the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Central Maine Chapter of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine (SWOAM), Lumbra Hardwoods, Incorporated, the Maine Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation and a teenage program through the Charlotte White Center social service agency called Lifejackets.

“SWOAM was thrilled to work on this project with us and involve some of their small woodland owners,” said Tarrazi. “Not only was it a chance for them to assist us with a sustainable project for this region, but it also was an opportunity for those landowners to receive an education in tree planting and establishing a small forest.”

Because of this partnership, the district has also worked with SWOAM on a number of educational seminars. Lumbra only focuses on hardwoods, and their participation was important for the sustainability of the project, said Tarrazi.

“We were trying to create a legacy of sustainability for future generations,” said Tarrazi. “Lumbra supported the project with a financial donation knowing that for the success of their mill they need to be looking at sustainable hardwood plantings.”

In all, more than 2,000 trees were planted thanks to the efforts of a number of volunteers. The Lifejackets teenagers worked to earn their junior guide certification. “Their energy and enthusiasm for the project was just wonderful,” said Tarrazi.

In time, the group plans to plant an additional 700 trees, and will monitor the plantings in one-, two- and five-year intervals to replace any trees that haven’t survived.

One key to the winning grant proposal, said Tarrazi, was their ability to sell the small, but active local community. “People around here feel pride in the projects they work on together,” she said. “It’s one of the beauties of living in a small community like this.”

For more information on this project, contact Joanna Tarrazi, executive director for the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District at 207/564-2321, ext. 3, or email info@piscatatquisswcd.org.

2. Bringing Conservation to Growing Areas through U&CF
Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) is the proper management of trees and plants in developed and developing areas. This ‘green infrastructure’ provides numerous benefits. It helps clean our air and creates pure oxygen. It absorbs rainfall, prevents erosion, and reduces stormwater. It cools our cities and saves energy, and helps store carbon and fight climate change. It shelters and nourishes birds and wildlife. And it adds beauty and dignity to our surroundings, increasing property and community values. These natural systems require proper care in populated areas if they are to continue to provide these vital functions adequately. Providing this care, both the planning and the maintenance of this green infrastructure, is Urban and Community Forestry.

Urban and Community Forestry assistance is provided through a federal, state and local partnership. The U.S. Forest Service U&CF program provides technical, financial, research and educational services to local government, non profit organizations community groups, educational institutions, and tribal governments through its legislative partners, the state forestry agencies. State U&CF coordinators, working with their urban and community forestry advisory committees, typically coordinate programs and provide grant funding to local entities. Currently, Forest Service programs are being redesigned for more focus on issues and landscapes of national importance, prioritized through state and regional assessments. 

While the forestry partnership has an excellent system, the demand for technical assistance and services greatly exceeds current resources and capabilities. And while larger cities have their own forestry department, many communities lack the tools, technical expertise and financial resources needed to do the job properly. Volunteer, nonprofit groups and individuals have played a significant role in meeting this need.

Conservation districts, too, can and should play a key role in helping advance the nation’s urban and community forestry efforts. Where programs already exist, districts can join the team and offer their outreach and technical expertise. Where programs are struggling or non-existent, districts can be instrumental in pulling together the necessary players to build the plan and seek resources to implement it. If they haven’t already, the first step districts should take is to ask their state association to seek representation on the states’ U&CF advisory committee/council. This representation will put districts into the loop where they can learn how they can best help.

The NACD Urban, Community and Coastal Conservation Inventory, a survey of districts’ activities conducted last fall, indicated that a number of districts are engaged in urban and community forestry. Much of their work in this area is focused on education, awareness, and tree sales. Some districts provide technical assistance to homeowners in tree protection and to developers on broader approaches such as low impact development.

To help broaden districts’ involvement in urban and community forestry, NACD is looking for specific district stories to showcase on the NACD website and share with federal agencies and national organizations. Send information about your district’s work in urban and community forestry to Debra Bogar at deb-bogar@nacdnet.org.

For more information about the U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program, visit its Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf.

3. Tree Farm Given PEFC Certification for Sustainable Forestry
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) has formally recognized and endorsed the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) as an internationally credible sustainable forest management certification system.

The Geneva-based PEFC made the announcement after a 14-month review designed to provide assurance to purchasers that certified wood and paper products are produced from sustainably managed forests.

ATFS is the oldest and largest forest conservation, certification, and advocacy program in the United States. The 67-year-old program is sponsored by the American Forest Foundation and today represents more than 90,000 family forest owners in 45 states, most of whom manage woodlots of less than 100 acres.

Forest landowners who voluntarily commit the extra time and expense to produce wood sustainably under the ATFS system will now qualify for access to the international markets.

Only about 10 percent of the global wood market currently comes through forest certification systems. Now with ATFS, PEFC has 500 million certified acres, the largest global program for certifying sustainable forests. Canada, Norway, Finland, Spain, Brazil, the Malaysian Republic, and many other European countries are among those with PEFC-approved forest certification systems. This is the second such approval for the U.S.

For more information on the American Tree Farm System, visit its Web site at
http://www.treefarmsystem.org.

4. Free Copies of the Hidden Treasure Comic Book Available
The Hidden Treasure comic book on woody biomass has been very popular.  Starting August 1, people can order copies of it for only the cost of shipping. Those interested may order the booklets in quantities of 200, 400, 500, 1,000 or 2,000. An invoice will be sent with the order for shipping. All invoices must be paid within 30 days of receipt of the booklets. To preview the booklet and download the order form, visit http://www.nacdnet.org/education/hiddentreasure. Educators can also see the correlations to the national standards at the site.

The Hidden Treasure helps children and parents understand the real worth of our valuable forest resources so their treasure can be fully revealed. The Hidden Treasure provides an engaging and educational story for children in late elementary to middle school to help them understand that forest renewal improves the health of forests and provides biomass for many productive uses and how wood biomass will play an important role in our nation's future, including energy security through the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and other sources of energy.

For more questions about the comic book, send an email to forestrynotes@email.nacdnet.org.

5. USDA Holds Hearing on Farm Bill Energy Title
The U.S. Department of Agriculture held a public forum to solicit comments on implementing the energy provisions contained in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). The Department will use these comments as it prepares rules and administrative guidance for the energy programs. Forestry organizations offered perspectives on what they consider important considerations in making these programs successful.

The perspective from the forest industry was presented by The American Forest and Paper Association and Boise Incorporated. Both stressed the importance of woody biomass coming from new sources and that it should not be simply drawn from existing mill woodshed. They also stated that federal pilot projects and any subsidies should be for starting projects in areas with an abundance of under utilized material, such as from public lands. The wood industries have a significant history in efficient utilization of biomass for energy in running their current mill operations, and if there are to be subsidies for others to start doing this then they too should be eligible for subsidies. Rick Grant of Boise cautioned, “Subsidized industry behaves differently than non-subsidized,” meaning that they work on less than efficient or cost effective models. Bill Imbergamo of AF&PA pointed out that we “must have a working balance” between current and future users of wood and fiber. 

Concerns over what qualifies as usable woody biomass in these programs was brought up by several presenters. Representatives from both the American Forest Foundation and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute made strong statements that the definition included in the Farm Bill is what should be used and not the more limiting definition that disqualifies most forests as sources of woody biomass that was used in the 2007 Energy Act that set the Renewable Fuel Standard. Bart Ruth from 25x25 said, “Woody biomass should come from across all sources of wood.” Jesse Caputo of EESI pointed out that any feasibility study for a project must not be just an inventory, but also must include the willingness of the landowners to make their wood available; the project must be economic and also supported by the local community.

6. Conference: Wood a Viable Option as Sustainable Energy Source
In August, leaders from around the world discussed how trees, such as poplar and willow, could become a viable bioenergy source. The Short Rotation Crops (SRC) International Conference, held in Minneapolis, featured three days of lectures, discussion and field tours. Sponsored by a number of organizations, including NACD, the event provided an opportunity to share information on technology development and ideas for short rotation practices.

The discussion about using wood has gained momentum in recent months due to increased prices for corn and the realization that our future will likely depend on the need for several energy feedstocks, and not just one.

Argued Jake Eaton, the managing director for global acquisitions and resource planning for GreenWood Resources, Inc., corn was an important first-generation biofuel because it increased the level of discussion on alternative options. But, said Eaton, corn’s weaknesses have been exposed – limited available land, small net energy gain, rising cost – and the attention is shifting to more efficient sources such as poplar. According to research quoted by Eaton, poplar can produce 12 units of energy for every unit going in; corn’s ratio is only about 1.3 to 1.

Said Eaton, “It’s a higher biomass, more efficient crop to grow with less fertilizer needed and more convertible sugar.”

Eaton likes the general direction he sees the public’s interest shifting. “I’m very encouraged,” he said. “It seems the federal and state governments are starting to get behind biofuels and there are certainly a lot of opportunities in that space.”

In areas across the country and elsewhere, wood is receiving a closer look.

In Canada, for example, the country’s large inventory of aspen trees has become difficult to manage and transport. According to Cees van Oosten of SilviConsult Woody Crops Technology, Inc., roughly 3.5 million cubic meters of poplar could be harvested as a short rotation crop, and it’s readily available in the Alberta and Saskatchewan provinces.

In upstate New York, willow is a potential biomass source. According to a study conducted by several State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry scientists, a 20-acre short rotation willow plantation would be economically viable with a biomass productivity of four oven-dried-tons per acre per year. Said senior research associate Tim Volk, “The rising cost of energy is making biomass more competitive.”

Volk believes increasing input costs for traditional agriculture will also help to shift what crops farmers will rely on in the future. “Land that is marginal but can be attractive with added fertilizer will become less attractive due to those increasing costs,” said Volk. “That will create more opportunities for energy crops.”

Added Volk, the most sustainable tree farms, with the most reliable supply, will be those that do not rely on the woody crops alone. “That material can be blended with the lower-value material in the forest.”

Many of the speakers at the SRC conference agreed that what must first be required before change can occur is that landowners start to think of wood differently.

“The trick is to get the farmers to treat it like a crop,” said Nils-Erik Nordh of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. “Many just plant it and wait for the biomass. That doesn’t work, you have to manage it.”

7. Forestry Briefs
New DOE genome sequencing projects include Loblolly pine
Loblolly pine is the most commonly planted tree species in America—accounting for about 75 percent of all seedlings planted each year—and will be the focus of one of 44 DNA sequencing projects the DOE’s Joint Genome Institute will undertake in the coming year.

IRS re-works energy tax credits
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can start providing tax credits for the renewable electricity generated by the forest products industry. Currently, paper mills generate 64 percent of their own energy, and wood products mills generate 74 percent. Congress amended Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code in 2004 to include open-loop biomass as eligible for the tax credit for electricity produced from renewable resources intending to encourage additional production of renewable energy by the forest products industry. The IRS established a netting rule in 2006 which restricted the tax credits for energy generated by open-loop biomass—the very method utilized by wood and paper mills. This summer the IRS announced it is withdrawing the netting rule which will again allow tax credits for this electricity production.

Minnesota develops new landowner guide for participating in carbon credits
A new Minnesota landowner guide offers a path for local landowners to earn additional income while helping diminish adverse effects of global climate change through implementation of carbon sequestration and other stackable incentives. The document offers background information on carbon sequestration and global climate change; current methods of sequestration, including forestry, conservation planting, methane capture and others; and steps a land owner must take, including contracts, verification, and implementation, once they have made the decision to enroll their lands in a sequestration project. To view the guide, visit http://www.cinram.umn.edu/publications/landowners_guide1.5-1.pdf.