Director Tony Ferguson values learning, communication, and safety
Tony Ferguson, the new Director of the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, spoke to the NA S&PF staff in an all-hands conference call shortly after taking the reins. He used the opportunity to share his management style, expectations, and commitment to safety, and to put a long-standing rumor to rest.
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Fire Prevention Month Coincides with the Start of Fall Fire Season
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.-In most of the Northeast and Midwest, Fire Prevention Month coincides with the start of fall wildfire season. The Forest Service and the State agencies it serves take the opportunity at this time to help the public become more aware of how to prevent forest fires and protect homes from wildfires. Fall is also a great time for outdoor recreation and yard work. Since 9 out of 10 wildfires are started by people, it is important to be mindful of your actions and to enjoy the outdoors safely. Be aware of local weather and wildfire conditions and never leave a campfire unattended. While doing your fall yard clean-up, inspect the outside of your home for hazards that could carry fire to your home: Leaves that gather in the outside corners of the home, and debris that accumulates in gutters and valleys. Also make sure vents and eaves are covered to prevent embers from entering, and stack firewood away from buildings. Visit these Web sites for more information: www.smokeybear.com and www.firewise.org. Back to Top |
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WERC Awards Grant for Renewable Heating and Cooling of Commercial Buildings WASHINGTON-The Biomass Thermal Energy Council and Resource Professional Group were awarded a $70,000 grant by the Forest Service's Wood Education and Resource Center. The project will promote energy cost savings and environmental improvement of commercial buildings by educating building architects and biomass appliance manufacturers on wood energy. Read more. Back to Top |
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Forest Legacy Grant Helps to Preserve Woods in Northwest Wisconsin
ST. PAUL, Minn.-A partnership of several Federal agencies, including the USDA Forest Service, has protected nearly 18,000 acres of private forest land near Hayward, WI. The almost $4.5 million purchase of this easement keeps the land from being converted to nonforest uses. The easement benefits the State and people of Wisconsin in a number of ways: allows permanent access for recreation, ensures that the land remains a working productive forest, supports Wisconsin tourism and jobs in the forest products industry, and remains on the tax rolls. The land is surrounded by the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Lac Courte Oreille Band of Chippewa lands, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources lands on the Chippewa flowage.
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Inaugural Forest Champion Awards Presented at Chesapeake Watershed Forum MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-The Forest Champion Awards were sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay for the first time this year, in recognition of the United Nations' declaring 2011 as the International Year of Forests. The award recognized these individuals who made a difference to the Chesapeake Bay or to people by promoting trees and forests: Adam Downing, Michael Santucci, David Wise, Michael LaChance, Susan Benedict, and Carole Bergmann. The awards presentation was held at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV, during the Chesapeake Watershed Forum. Read more. Back to Top |
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New York Department of Environmental Conservation Recognizes NA S&PF
DURHAM, N.H.-The New York Department of Environmental Conservation recognized the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry for their efforts to reduce population densities and local dispersal of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in Kingston, NY. At an awards ceremony held in Albany, Commissioner Joe Martens singled out Forest Entomologist Nathan Siegert of the Durham, NH, field office for his leadership and guidance in support of the EAB delimitation survey that DEC conducted in winter and spring 2011. The effort allowed the U.S. Forest Service to provide hands-on training in recognizing signs of infestation and how to effectively debark ash trees to identify life stages for detection, delimitation, and survey of low-density EAB populations. Forest health personnel from over 30 different organizations took part in the training and assisted with the project, including members of State forestry and agriculture agencies, tribal governments, and managers of federally administered lands in New York and New England. Read more. Back to Top |
Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Has November Application Deadline
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-The American Association on Health and Disability is accepting applications for its 2011-2012 Scholarship Program for students with disabilities who are pursuing higher education. Preference will be given to students who plan to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies in public health, health promotion, or disability studies. For more information and the application visit www.aahd.us.
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