Division of Forests and Lands Update

Blackfly Breakfast

April 27th, 2010

A broken sprinkler pipe resulted in flooding throughout DRED

Budget and Staffing Latest budget reductions:

Additional 2% reduction in the current fiscal year

8% reduction starting July 1st

Loss of two more positions: Forest Ranger and Forest Technician 10 vacancies out of 53 positions (19%)

Additional reductions in fire tower funding, seasonal employees, vehicle replacement, etc.

Increase in demand for services

Legislation

SB 382- Natural Heritage

HB 1422- Study committee for creating a Department of Natural Resources

HB 1544- Enhanced penalty for habitual forestry offenders

HB 1378- Adopt a Fire Tower program

Saturday May 1, 2010 from 9 am to 3 pm Demonstrations, Tours, Food, Conservation Organization Booths, Tree ID, Smokey Bear, etc.

Low SF DRED South 113

Dumpling Brook WMA FG South 49.5

Farrar Marsh WMA FG South 60.5

Pisgah SP DRED South 78

Rhododendron SP DRED South 87

Fox Forest DRED South 36

Vincent SF DRED South 145

Bear Brook SP DRED South 150

Pawtuckaway SP DRED South 60

Bear Brook SP DRED South 125

Soucook SF DRED South 50

Franklin Falls USACE South 37.5

Franklin Falls USACE South 16.5

Everett Lake USACE South 85

Hopkinton USACE South 114

Nash Stream DRED North 200

Annie Duncan DRED Central 76

Belknap DRED Central 104

Alton Bay DRED Central 83

Kearsarge DRED Central 116

Pine River DRED Central 48

Hamel DRED Central 40

Cardigan DRED Central 40

Hemenway DRED Central 96

Cardigan DRED Central 100

Total 2110

All products 22,734 cords

Forest Ranger Activity

First four months of 2010: 143 cases/investigations Top three areas:

Timber tax (28%) Wetlands (21%) Deceptive Forestry Business Practices (13%)

Total for 2009: 618

Current Projects

Good Forestry In the Granite State State Assessment and Resource Strategy Pisgah Management Plan Keeping Forests as Forests Forest Products Industry Report Action

Items BCAP meeting and response to proposed

rules

Keeping Forests as Forests Initiative NEGC Commission on Land Conservation Three primary goals:

Maintain and strengthening markets for forest products Provide incentives for capital investment in new technology for wood product

manufacturing Develop strategic alliances between government and the forest product

industry Regional wood products marketing and manufacturing technical support Encourage retail links from producers to customers in “buy local” campaigns.

Minimizing Forest fragmentation, parcelization, and conversion Improving forest stewardship (incentives)

State Assessment and Resource StrategyThe Forest Resource Assessment & Strategy project was initiated in response to a mandate

from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and contained in the Forestry Title of the 2008 Farm Bill (P.L. 110-234). The 2008 Farm Bill Requires State Foresters to develop and submit:

State-wide assessment of forest resource conditions A long-term State-wide forest resource strategy Annual report on use of funds Identify priorities and foster greater leveraging of resources to address them. Complete by June 2010 to remain eligible to receive Federal funding

In addition, the Farm Bill states that in allocating cooperative forestry funds the Secretary shall focus on the 3 national private forest conservation priorities – or National Themes:

Conserve Working Forest LandsProtect Forests from HarmEnhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests

The Strategy document (plan) uses these themes as a framework for the report.

Upcoming Projects

Revision of BMP’s for erosion control Rulemaking work group for Prime

Wetlands Four-state Wood Availability Study Update of NEFA’s Economic Importance

and Wood Flows from New Hampshire’s Forest