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U.S. Forest Service Seeks Wood to Energy Projects
WASHINGTON--As part of the national observance of Earth Day, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it is seeking proposals that expand wood energy use and support responsible forest management. Also the Forest Service released a Wood Energy Financial App for use by community and business leaders seeking to replace fossil fuel with wood energy. Read the USDA news release.
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Hemlocks in Cranesville Swamp Preserve Treated for Adelgid
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(Photo: courtesy of USDA)
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ANNAPOLIS, Md.--Foresters, entomologists and ecologists from various partnering organizations joined forces to combat an invasive pest the size of a pencil tip that threatens to wipe out eastern hemlock forests-a loss that could be as ecologically significant as the loss of the American chestnut.
For the past several weeks, the USDA Forest Service partnered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Forest Pest Management Section, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), West Virginia Department of Agriculture's Plant Industries Division (WVDA) and the West Virginia and Maryland/DC chapters of The Nature Conservancy to treat a mature stand of hemlock trees for hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) on the Conservancy's Cranesville Swamp Preserve in Garrett County, Md. and Preston County, W.Va. Hemlock woolly adelgid is an exotic insect native to Japan that feeds on hemlock sap, ultimately killing the trees. Although it was first discovered in Virginia in 1951 and has been affecting hemlocks across the northern United States for years, it wasn't detected in Cranesville Swamp until 2012. Read the Maryland Department of Agriculture press release.
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New International Standards Slow Rate of Invasive Insects
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.--Robert Haack, a research entomologist with the Northern Research Station, co-authored a study published this month in the journal PLOS ONE. The study found the infestation rate of wood packaging material entering the United States drops as much as 52 percent following the implementation of new international standards for treating wood packaging. Read the journal article.
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New Kit Makes Learning About Invasive Insects Easy
WASHINGTON--Our forests are under attack. And the U.S. Forest Service is hoping that the Nation's fourth and fifth graders can help fight back.
The Forest Service distributed Insects Invade, a teacher's kit, to 25,000 teachers nationwide. The kit includes 30 copies of a 12-page full color magazine, a teacher's guide that has two lesson plans, as well as a comment card for feedback. The magazine was developed in conjunction with Scholastic Inc., a company that has delivered books, magazines, and educational materials to schools and families for 90 years. Read the USDA blog. Buy kits from the USDA Forest Service.
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Open Tree Map "Speaks for the Trees"
WASHINGTON--It may sound a little strange, but trees play a crucial role in creating a healthy urban environment by improving air quality, reducing energy costs for homeowners, and even enhancing property values. But with tight budgets and resources, it's hard for cities to keep track of the thousands of trees that reside within a community. Cities don't have a Lorax who is willing to speak for the trees.
But don't fret. Turns out, technology has created a digital Lorax, and it's called OpenTreeMap.
Read the GovLoop blog. See PhillyTreeMap for an example.
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Web Site Delivers Demographic Data for Forests and Grasslands
DURHAM, N.H.--A research project supported by the U.S. Forest Service and the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire resulted in a database that provides access to recent information on demographic change, related to National Forest System lands and social and economic characteristics for each U.S. county. Team members included demographer Ken Johnson of the University of New Hampshire, and U.S. Forest Service scientists Miranda Mockrin of the Rocky Mountain Research Station and Sue Stewart, who recently retired from the Northern Research Station. The database is available at the University of New Hampshire Web site.
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June Proclaimed as Great Outdoors Month
WASHINGTON-The seventh annual National Get Outdoors Day, coming up on Saturday, June 14, is sharing the month of June with other events like National Trails Day, National Marina Day, National Fishing and Boating Week, and the Great American Backyard Campout for Great Outdoors Month. You can use the Great Outdoors Month Web site to find fun recreation opportunities near you, how-to videos, and more. Proclaimed by the President and governors, the June events encourage outdoor recreation, as well as rededication to conservation efforts and volunteerism.
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National Climate Assessment and Teacher Resources Are Available
The U.S. Global Change Research Program has released the third National Climate Assessment. This authoritative and comprehensive report summarizes climate change and its impact in the United States. The assessment is a treasure-trove for educators and learners about climate research as it relates to specific regions of the United States and key sectors, including water resources, energy, and agriculture. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has created a special Web page on the climate assessment for teachers, as part of the Teaching Climate section of their Web site. The National Science Teachers Association's page on climate science contains other resources.
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New Book: Climate Change and United States Forests
 ASHEVILLE, N.C.--"Climate Change and United States Forests," a newly published book edited by U.S. Forest Service scientists Jim Vose (Southern Research Station), David Peterson (Pacific Northwest Research Station), and Toral Patel-Weynand (Washington Office), provides resource managers, researchers, and the interested public with a comprehensive science-based assessment of the effects of climate change and variability on U.S. forests.
Book chapters are derived from the assessment the editors developed to serve as the primary input from the Forest Service for the 2013 National Climate Assessment conducted by the U.S. Global Change Research Program. Read more at the CompassLive Web page of the Southern Research Station.
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New Census of Agriculture Is Out
WASHINGTON--The 2012 Census of Agriculture is now available. It contains information at a number of levels from national to county. This is the first update in 5 years. Access the report online.
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Yocum New Field Representative at Saint Paul Field Office
ST. PAUL, Minn.--Carleen Yocum has accepted the Field Representative position in the St. Paul Field Office of the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. She just completed an extended assignment in Peru and the International Programs for the U.S. Forest Service. Before that assignment, Yocum was a supervisory forester on the Wayne National Forest in Ohio. She has extensive experience in developing and maintaining partnerships. She graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Forestry. Her report date will be June 16, 2014. Please welcome Carleen Yocum.
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Jackson Assumes Lead for Forest Legacy Program
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Jada Jackson is the new program leader for the Forest Legacy Program, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry.
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NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.--Through our partnership with the States in the Northeast and Midwest, the Forest Legacy Program of the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry has made a remarkable contribution to the conservation of important forest lands. The program leader position has been vacant for more than a year since Deirdre Raimo retired. Director Tony Ferguson announced that our own Jada Jackson stepped into that role on May 18. Please congratulate and extend best wishes to her as she takes on this important position.
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Behind the Forest Service Shield--Vickie Caldwell 
Grants management specialist balances Forest Service, family, and dance roles for busy and fulfilling life.
Vickie Caldwell has gradually worked her way up the ladder of success during her 24 years with the Federal Government. Read full article.
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Mid-Atlantic Forest Fire Compact Offers Wildfire Training Academy
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.--The eighth annual Mid-Atlantic Wildfire Training Academy is scheduled for June 7 - 13, 2014, at West Virginia University in Morgantown. This year the academy has 11 courses essential to wildland firefighting, from basic to advanced levels. In addition to the usual courses, this year's academy will offer advanced Incident Command System, engine operator, task force leader, and ignitions operations. Registration is available through May 30 at the Academy Web site.
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Ohio Has the Most Tree City USA Communities
COLUMBUS, Ohio-The Plain Dealer reported that Ohio again leads the nation for Tree City USA designations. Learn more at Cleveland.com.
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Forest Service Releases Movie on Youth and Wilderness
MISSOULA, Mont.-As part of the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act, the U.S. Forest Service, Northern Region, has produced the film, "Untrammeled." The focus of the film is youth speaking to youth about wilderness and the passing of the baton to the next generation. The movie was produced in partnership with Back Country Horsemen of Montana, Bob Marshall Wilderness Outfitters, the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, the Wilderness Institute University of Montana, the Montana Wilderness Association, a teachers with Missoula County Public Schools, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Tribal Education Department, and others. A 3-minute trailer and the full-length 27-minute film are available on YouTube.
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Cooperative Extension System Celebrates 100th Anniversary
WASHINGTON--The Cooperative Extension System of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is celebrating a century of service. The system links research and educational resources with land grant schools and local organizations, to get information out to people who need it in a way that they can use it. Learn more and find the office nearest you at the Web site of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
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U.S. Forest Service Proposes New Management Practices for Stewardship of Water Resources
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Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont (Photo: USDA Forest Service)
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WASHINGTON, May 2, 2014--The U.S. Forest Service announced its intent to strengthen agency management direction for groundwater resources and the use of best management practices to improve and protect water quality on national forests and grasslands. This action is an integral component of watershed stewardship and land management.
"Water from national forests contributes to the economic and ecological vitality of communities across the nation and plays a key role in supplying 66 million Americans with clean drinking water," U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said. "The changes to our internal management practices that we are proposing ... will strengthen and support the Forest Service's ability to manage the National Forest System to protect water resources and support healthy and resilient ecosystems." Read the Forest Service news release.
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