National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL February 2, 2010

1. The Next Generation of Conservation National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting, Orlando, FLFebruary 2, 2010 Steven W. Koehn, MD State Forester President, NASF

2. Investing in America’s Forests • All-lands Policy approach • State Forest Resource Assessments and Strategies • Leadership via the Joint Forestry Team

3. NASF All Lands Policy Platform • USDA Secretary Vilsack’s vision of an “All-lands approach” to managing the nation’s forests • Forests are a strategic national resource "The conservation of natural resources is the basis, and the only permanent basis, of national success. There are other conditions, but this one lies at the foundation." Gifford Pinchot, 1911

4. Federal Agency Leadership & Collaboration • Stand up the Forest Resource Coordinating Committee • Continue supporting the Joint Forestry Team • Ensure inter-agency collaboration with federal agencies

5. Priority Landscapes & Forest Resource Needs • State Assessments and Strategies • State Forestry Agencies Will Need Help • Forest Inventory and Analysis • National Wildland Fire Framework and Cohesive Strategy

6. Targeted Funding for Essential Infrastructure Increase Boots-On-The-Ground Capacity Next Generation of Federal Funding Support Meaningful Increases in Federal Funding for Forestry Programs in the 2008 Farm Bill

7. Market Contributions to Forest Health & Restoration No markets, no management; no cash flow, no conservation USDA Office of Ecosystem Services New Comprehensive Forest Markets Program (similar to the Economic Action Program)

8. Climate Change, Renewable Energy, & Water Connect Forests to High-Profile National Priorities 2011 International Year of Forests

9. Legislation & Policies that Sustain Trees & Forests 2008 Farm Bill / 2009 FLAME Act 2010 Climate, Biomass and Renewable Energy, and Water Quality National Framework for Sustainable Forests Eliminating Process Gridlock & Barriers to Forest Management Revise U.S. tax policies

10. Proof of Concept Demonstrations on Priority Landscapes High-profile Projects from Across the Nation Wildland Urban Interface Fire Assessment (Hazard, Risk, Sensitivity)

11. Redesign of State & Private Forestry • Focus on national issues and sustaining diverse public benefits. • Prioritizeusing the best available information to assess conditions & identify opportunities. • Outcomes are achieved through collaboration, partnerships and working at appropriate scales.

12. State Assessments/Strategies

13. National Themes Community Forestry Tree Production Information and Education Conserve Working Forest Landscapes Conserve Working Forest Landscapes Protect Forests from Harm Sustainable Forestry Enhance Benefits From Trees and Forests

14. http://jointforestryteam.org/

15. Moving Forward “We must be more than careful stewards of the land; we must be constant catalysts for positive change.” - Gifford Pinchot

16. Thank You Steven W. Koehn, MD State Forester (410) 260-8501 skoehn@dnr.state.md.us Jay Farrell, NASF Executive Director (202) 624-5976 jfarrell@stateforesters.org http://www.stateforesters.org/