Climate Change and the National Forests

Climate Change and the National ForestsWayne National Forest and Scorecard Compliance

Peter B Williams, PhD

Ecosystem Mgmt Coord.USDA-FS, Washington Office

Interim Forest Supervisor, June-Sept. 2011

What: ◦ Five-Year Plan to Respond to the USDA Forest Service Climate

Change Scorecard Where: ◦ Wayne National Forest, Ohio

When: ◦ August, 2011

Who: ◦ Forest Ecologist, Forest Supervisor, Forest Leadership Team

How:◦ Let’s take a look…

Overview

Project Area for a Potential Central Appalachia Climate Change Response Framework

Wayne National Forest & Scorecard Compliance

Project Area Now Finalized


Part of broader network of ecological provinces and response framework projects


Broad Vision: ◦ Use scorecard as framework to organize relevant parts of our

program of work and to link our Forest Management Plan to appropriate national frameworks.

Example:◦ Approach would allow WNF to be especially responsive in the

area of broader scale assessments—which are an expected part of NFS monitoring program under the pending national planning rule—and to do so in an especially efficient way.


Policy Background:◦ National Forest Management Act (NFMA; 16 USC 1600), defines

the job of land management by the US Forest Service: … to be a leader in assuring that the Nation maintains a natural

resource conservation posture that will meet the requirements of our people in perpetuity (16 USC 1600).

◦ Today, addressing climate change is part of the FS job: It is no longer possible to conserve the nation’s renewable

resources without addressing climate change.


Policy Background:◦ NFMA requires FS prepare and update a Renewable Resource

Assessment every ten years. ◦ Social, economic, and ecological considerations are all key given:

…the vital importance of America’s renewable resources of the forest, range, and other associated lands to the Nation’s social and economic well-being, and of the necessity for a long term perspective in planning and undertaking related to national renewable resource programs administered by the Forest Service… (16 USC 1601(a)).


Policy Background:◦ The Scorecard is supported by all FS Deputy Areas.

Business Operations has led discussions regarding sustainable operations and greenhouse gas reductions.

Research & Development will deliver much of the science and has been instrumental in working with NFS staff in developing the guidance by providing background material and recommendations.

National Forest Systems applies the Scorecard on National Forests and Grasslands

State & Private Forestry is key to successful complianceScorecard is fundamentally collaborative


WNF Strategy for moving towards Vision: ◦ Begin work where we already have traction …◦ …and then build capacity where and how it makes sense as we

learn more about the newly emerging National Planning Rule and Climate Change Framework.


Built upon three principles:◦ Smart to Start: Select initial scorecard elements that build on

existing efforts and focus on those priorities.◦ Smart to Grow: Be responsive in the near-term by working

toward initial priorities while at the same time growing capacity to adopt a more robust framework at the eco-regional scale

◦ Smart to Change: When appropriate, validate or adjust elements and actions to recalibrate the WNF scorecard response with the finalized Forest Planning Rule and revised Climate Change Scorecard Guidance


What it looks like:


Expected operational benefits to WNF:◦ More coherent and consistent NEPA planning for landscape-scale

vegetation projects,

◦ A more informed and engaged workforce that understands sustainability as being about reducing operational costs, reducing overhead, and making more dollars directly available for projects,

◦ Increased capacity and resources to implement the 2006 Forest Plan and annual work plans,


Expected operational benefits to WNF:◦ Relevant, meaningful connection between the Climate Change

Scorecard and IM&A elements of 2006 Forest Plan,◦ Responsiveness & alignment with national efforts including:

Invasive Species Strategy, 2011/12 Planning Rule, Watershed Condition Framework, Priority Watersheds and Jobs Stabilization Initiative, Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program


Documents

Climate Change and the National Forests