Changes ahead for Forest Stewardship

James R. Geiger

Two thousand years ago Ovid, a Roman poet, already knew the significance of change. He said:  "All things change.  Yet nothing is extinguished...there is nothing in the whole world which is permanent.  Everything flows onwards and all things are brought into being with a changing nature."  And so it is with the Forest Stewardship Program, more changes are coming that I want you to be ready for.  But first...

Where We've Been

It all began ten years ago when the 1990 Farm Bill created the Forest Stewardship (FSP) and Stewardship Incentive Programs (SIP). These Federal programs gave non-industrial private forestland owners (NIPFs) like you financial assistance to help you improve the management of your forestland and enhance its valuable resources. The FSP provided funds for technical assistance to prepare stewardship plans and SIP was there to help fund cost-share projects like pre-commercial thinning or tree planting.

Funding for these programs is provided by the USDA Forest Service and administered by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). Initially FSP was funded at approximately $200,000 per year and SIP was at approximately $250,000.

Changes

By 1995, SIPs success had peaked. Funding had increased to $364,700 and over 200 California NIPFs had taken advantage of the financial incentives for various projects from tree planting to stream restoration. However, the very next year SIP experienced more than an 82% reduction in funding, and by 1999 the funding for cost-share projects was totally eliminated. Cost-share projects had lost favor with Congress. Today, SIP is still unfunded.

This dramatic reduction in SIP funding became an opportunity for FSP to demonstrate a better way of doing business. Until 1996, FSP had concentrated on helping individual landowners with planning and other management issues. Now it was evident that FSPs strength would be in leveraging dollars to assist Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) and other watershed groups prepare community watershed plans and conduct multi-owner projects. The shift from individual landowner plans to multiple owner plans and projects was a more efficient use of the federal dollars and demonstrated a benefit to the larger watershed community. Plans and projects must still be conducted by individual landowners, but until they are incorporated into the larger picture of a watershed level plan or project the real benefits to the community are not realized.

Yet To Come

It is obvious that more changes in forest stewardship will come. I can't say with certainty what they will be, but they will fall in the following general areas:

Funding

• SIP will probably never receive Federal funding again.
• The California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP), a state-funded cost-share program, will continue to be available to NIPFs.
• You will see more emphasis on programs that are delivered at the watershed level.
• CFIP will coordinate with FSP to place more emphasis on multi-owner plans and projects.
• You can expect water quality to be the driving force behind many future requests-for-proposals, regardless of the agency or organization.
• Financial assistance will be more available and accessible to you as we create one-stop shopping in local watershed communities.

Watersheds

• There will be increased emphasis on the following:
  1. Watershed planning
  2. Biological studies
  3. Watershed assessments
  4. Baseline monitoring
  5. Satellite mapping

• You will see increased availability of this information on the internet.
• The use of conservation easements will be linked more closely to the watershed level planning process.

Partnerships

• You will see an increased emphasis on shared responsibility between agencies, NIPFs and the community for fixing watershed problems.
• Agency roles will shift from one of working for communities to one of working with communities.
• You can expect leadership and responsibility to come from within the community (FireSafe Councils or watershed organizations) rather than from agencies such as CDF.
• The increased utilization of pre-fire fuels will depend on the development of new partnerships to create the solutions that will work for each unique watershed.

Communication

• You will see less reliance on paper communication and more on electronic communication. We will still produce a newsletter but fewer copies will be mailed. It will primarily be produced for the internet.
• You will find most new stewardship information on the internet.
• The adoption and diffusion of new ideas in your community will primarily be through one-on-one contact; you talking to your neighbor and your neighbor talking to you, etc.

What Does This Mean For You?

As you can see, I expect a number of significant changes to occur in the future. They will probably be subtle changes for the most part, and yet these changes could be frustrating to you if you're not prepared. By doing a little planning and preparation you will be able to take these changes in stride.

Here is what I suggest you do:

Seek sources of funds for your forestland projects from a number of different sources. Don't just rely on your favorites because they won't last forever. There are a lot of grant dollars available right now, but it will take some time and energy on your part to find the right one for you. Start with the Forest Stewardship website and our Helpline.

1. If you don't already have a computer, buy one and get connected to our website and communicate with us by email.
2. Rely on the 1-800-738-TREE Helpline. Call anytime you have a forestry question.
3. Become a member of a watershed or forestland owner organization. Call the Helpline to find out which one is best suited for you.
4. Don't rely on just one agency or organization to solve all of your problems. Agencies and organizations have become too specialized. Seek out the one that best meets your needs. Call the Helpline or try different websites.
5. And last, but definitely not least, rely on your neighbors. This is the key to successful communities, especially watershed communities. Together you have strength and power and can solve your watershed problems.

And Yet Another Change

Jim Geiger is leaving us. Jim has taken a new job beginning August 7, 2000. He will be working for the USDA Forest Service, and will be assigned to the Western Center for Urban Forestry Research and Education in Davis, California. Jim will be the technology transfer specialist serving the 17 western states. He will assist with the development of cutting-edge technologies and training programs from science-based information, as well as extend the Center's research expertise to solve local problems and build community capacity.

Jim brings nearly 25 years of experience working with individuals and community organizations to this new position. He is leaving his current job as the Forest Stewardship Program Manager at CDF. From 1978-1993 he served as the Urban Forestry Program Manager with CDF and prior to that he worked as a City Forester for the City of Chicago.

Jim assures us he will continue to climb mountains. His next adventures are to Everest Base Camp in April/May 2001, Machu Picchu, Peru, in 2002, Aconcagua, Argentina in 2003.