RCD, AFF partnership helping to remake post-fire forestlands

RCD, AFF PARTNERSHIP HELPING TO REMAKE POST-FIRE FORESTLANDS

June 17, 2020

The Butte County Resource Conservation District (RCD) has partnered with American Forest Foundation (AFF) to replant nonindustrial, small privately-owned timberland areas within the Camp Fire burn scar in California.

Although the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic shortened the number of volunteer outings for the project, the conservation district was able to get a volunteer planting in during March, as well as a large-scale planting in with AFF and the Arbor Day Foundation, with nearly 135,000 seedlings planted to help restore the burned landscape.

While plantings are also planned for 2021, there will be areas that will not be restored, in some cases deliberately, Butte County RCD Forest Health Watershed Coordinator Wolfy Rougle said .

“There’s not enough money, and not a lot of landowners are willing to put in the work needed to manage their lands to do this,” she said . “And that’s okay. In many places, natural regeneration is okay.”

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EDUCATION BY FIRE:

SWCD INSTALLS FIRE SIGNS

The Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is collaborating with other agencies to install interpretive fire signs along Bear Creek Greenway riparian corridor, where 100-plus acres were burned in Oregon’s 2018 Peninger Fire.

The signs will provide detailed information about the fire, wildland ecology, native and invasive species, pollinators, riparian habitat, fire safety, the coho salmon life cycle, and what the district and other agencies have done to recover.

“A lot of times with wildfire, we think, ‘Oh, it happens in the forest. If you’re in an urban setting, in a park, you don’t have to worry about it,’ but that’s not the game anymore,” Jackson SWCD Education and Outreach Coordinator Karelia Ver Eecke said .

Within eight weeks of the fire, which decimated an urban interface area, a coalition formed with agencies including Jackson SWCD, the city of Central Point, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the fire district. Restoration efforts, including erosion control, began by fall with native pollinator plantings following. The group also wanted to get in front of misinformation and fear, Ver Eecke said. The interpretive signs developed from there.

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NACD FORESTRY RPG RELEASES TOPICS FOR SUMMER VIRTUAL MEETING

The NACD Forestry Resource Policy Group's (RPG) summer meeting in New Hampshire was canceled due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). To replace it, the Forestry RPG has organized a two-day virtual meeting to explore relevant forestry topics and conduct annual RPG business.

A series of seven Zoom discussions will be held on Aug. 11. Each 50-minute session will feature a panel of presenters and a Q&A session with participants. Sessions are open to all conservation districts and forestry partners interested in attending. To reserve a spot in one of the sessions listed below, contact NACD Forestry Specialist Mike Beacom at mike-beacom@nacdnet.org .

Topics for Aug. 11:

How conservation districts can support female forest landowners

Data suggests women are a growing demographic among forest landowners. Groups like Women Owning Woodlands (WOW) aim to support female forest landowners. This session will examine ways conservation districts may help.

Is biochar a growth area for conservation districts?

A number of conservation districts have been involved in the production and use of biochar, which is believed to enhance soil health. This session will provide insight on the product and its uses and how conservation districts may become involved.

Nailing down the right approach

How conservation districts connect with landowners and communicate with community leaders is critical in their ability to have an impact on the land. This session will explore what has worked (and not worked) and how to better prepare conservation district professionals on beginning those conversations.

A closer look at American Tree Farm System (ATFS) standards

The American Forest Foundation proposed updates to ATFS standards last year. This session will explore how those changes, if adopted, may affect small woodland owners, particularly in the northeast region.

Supporting the NWTF National Forestry Initiative

In a number of states already, National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) foresters are part of multi-partner efforts that include conservation districts. In recent years, with funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the number of NWTF foresters has grown, and with it, a need for support and collaboration.

Making the case for strong forest economies

A healthy wood products market helps allow for healthy forests. Conservation districts and state associations are well positioned to educate legislators and community leaders on how the two are linked.

Conservation districts provide a boost to pre-fire efforts

This session will demonstrate how conservation districts are helping communities reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire through planning, partnering and implementation.

Illinois

District sends home 'summer camp in a bag'

The Vermilion County Conservation District (CD) canceled its all-day summer fun camps because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Vermilion County CD's Environmental Education Supervisor Lara Danzl understands the importance of keeping young minds busy and learning, especially since children haven’t been in a classroom since mid-March, so she and the other conservation district educators have created “Summer Camp in a Bag.”

The bags come in three themes, and each bag is full of crafts, games and activities about the great outdoors. The activities cover a wide age range and are adaptable for children ages 5-12.

Kids all receive a tree cookie, a slice of wood that they can count the rings on to find out how old the tree is.

"If the rings are close together, it means there was a drought,” Danzl told Commercial-News.

“We also encourage them to make a tree ring of their life,” she said. “For example, if they are seven years old, they would mark seven rings on their tree cookie.”

California

RCD using program

to help landowners implement

defensible space

Tehama County homeowners are taking action in preparing for this year's fire season by participating in a Wildfire Awareness program hosted by the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County (RCDTC) and its nonprofit, the Tehama Conservation Fund (TCF).

With the help of a grant, RCDTC and TCF can give free program services for treating vegetation around homes, woody vegetation and ladder fuels along heavily-used rural roads.

The defensible space assistance program is one of the services that they are offering to help residents participate in creating a tinder smart Tehama.

The program helps those who are 65 years old or older, or for those that physically cannot manage a 100-foot buffer of defensible space around their homes.

FORESTRY NEWS

Is biochar the latest and greatest in forestry innovation?

Scientists find genes to save ash trees from EAB

Tree census data “tells a story”

U.S. wood markets are varied during COVID-19 response

CALENDAR

Aug. 11 – NACD Forestry RPG Summer Meeting l Virtual Meeting

Sept. 21-24 – NASF Annual Meeting l Pittsburgh, Pa.

Oct. 28-Nov. 1 – SAF National Convention l Virtual Meeting

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