New Hampshire Forest Resource Strategies A Component of the 2010 Forest Resources Plan Division of Forests and Lands Department of Resources and Economic Development in cooperation with the New Hampshire Forest Advisory Board 2010 Table of Contents Overview 1 Introduction 3 History of Forest Resource Planning in New Hampshire 3 USDA Forest Service Requirements 4 The 2010 Forest Resource Planning Process 4 Desired Outcomes 8 2010 Forest Resource Strategies 15 Priority I ­ Conserve New Hampshire’s Forested Landscape 15 Focus Area A ­ Good Forest Stewardship in New Hampshire’s Forests 16 Focus Area B – Enhancing Urban and Community Forestry 33 Focus Area C ­ Sustainable Forest Based Economy 41 Priority II ­ Protect New Hampshire’s Forests from Harm 51 Focus Area A ­ Protect Forest from Threats 51 Focus Area B ­ Maintain Ecosystem Health 56 Focus Area C ­ Response to Forest Damage 60 Priority III ­ Enhance Benefits from New Hampshire’s Trees and Forests 65 Focus Area A ­ Sustaining Economic Benefits from New Hampshire Forests 65 Focus Area B ­ Sustaining Environmental Services from New Hampshire Forests 70 Forest Resource Strategies Matrix 73 State Forestry Programs to support the 2010 New Hampshire Forest Resource Plan 93 Fire 95 Forest Health 101 Forest Legacy 108 Forest Stewardship 109 Urban and Community Forestry 120 Appendix A – NH Forest Legacy Program Summary 130 Appendix B – Public Input Questionnaire 139 Appendix C – Contracted Services for the 2010 Forest Resource Strategies 145 2010 Forest Resource Strategies Overview The New Hampshire Forest Resource Plan – which includes both the Statewide Assessment and Resource Strategy documents ­ is a compilation of the results of the input provided by individuals and groups within the New Hampshire natural resource community and from the public; and review of existing plans and assessments. No sharply divided controversial issues surfaced, apparently the result of the on­going collaboration among the forestry­related people and groups in New Hampshire. There is much common ground, fostered by the open atmosphere, and while there are different perspectives on some issues, the desired outcomes in this plan reflect as much as possible the consensus that was found through the input process. The USDA Forest Service National Priorities have been used as the basis for organizing the plan. The three Priorities are Conserve Working Forest Landscapes: Conserving and managing working forest landscapes for multiple values and uses. Protect Forests from Threats: Protect forests from threats, including catastrophic storms, flooding, insect or disease outbreak, and invasive species. Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests: Including air and water quality, soil conservation, biological diversity, carbon storage, forest products, forestry related jobs, production of renewable energy, and wildlife. Issues presented in the New Hampshire input process are organized under each of the Priorities. Strategies are presented for each of the issues. Some strategies may be found to address more than one issue. Strategies that apply to more than one issue are listed under each appropriate issue. Those strategies, which are presented more than once, are noted with an asterisk (*). The organizations that have been recommended to participate in a strategy are identified in this plan, based upon the results of the participants’ suggestions. A matrix, which summarizes the issues, is included in this document. Each strategy and those groups who are recommended to participate in the implementation of each strategy can be found in the matrix. This provides you an efficient way to view the depth and breadth of the plan and for participants in the implementation to identify their responsibilities. Strategies that are a part of State Forestry Programs are included among the other strategies to address each issue. A separate section provides a more detailed narrative of the State Forestry Program Areas. 1 2 Introduction The New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development, Division of Forests and Lands has developed the New Hampshire Forest Resource Strategies under the guidance of the New Hampshire Forest Advisory Board. History of Forest Resource Planning in New Hampshire Planning is an essential and inescapable part of our lives, whether it is personal, family, career, or business. Every so often, each of us takes stock in where we have been, where we are at the present, and where we think we want to go. This is what planning is all about. The odds are stacked against any achievement of success without reflecting on the past, the present, and the future. Forestry is no different. New Hampshire officially recognized this fact in 1952, when a group of citizens, appointed by former Governor Sherman Adams, conducted the State’s first statewide forest resources planning project. A similar project followed in 1964 under former Governor John King. In 1974, the U.S. Congress gave momentum to forest resources planning with the passage of the Resources Planning Act (RPA). This act provided technical assistance, funding, and coordination to states on a national basis. The RPA process gave New Hampshire the necessary resources to initiate its current Forest Resource Planning Program, by the passage of the New Hampshire Forest Resource Planning Act, RSA 220, in 1981, requiring resource assessments and periodic plans based on those assessments, with five­year updates and reports to the Legislature. RPA and this new law were the impetus for New Hampshire to undertake its third citizen­based planning project, culminating in 1982 with a document “Forests and Forestry in New Hampshire – Action Program for the Eighties”. In 1986, the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands published an interim report addressing emerging problems and changing opportunities. In 1996 the New Hampshire Forest Resource Planning Act, RSA 220 was recodified to RSA 227­I Forest Resources Education, Promotion, and Planning. At about the same time, New Hampshire began its fourth forest resource planning process, a two­year effort involving representation from the forestry community across the spectrum of interests. It looked at how people valued and used New Hampshire’s forests and the forest's role in our economy, and the ecological condition of our forests. The 11 objectives that were used in the public input questionnaire for this plan came from those assessment reports. In 2002, an Interim Status Report was prepared to update the 1996 Forest Resource Plan. The outcome of that effort was the starting point for the development of this document. Continuing the tradition begun in 1952, the 2010 New Hampshire Forest Resource Strategies presents a set of actions to address the sustainability of New Hampshire’s forests, ecosystems, and a healthy forest­based economy. 3 USDA Forest Service Requirements The 2008 Farm Bill requires States to complete a Statewide Assessment and Resource Strategy in order to receive cooperative forestry assistance funds. In this way, the USDA Forest Service ensures that funds provided to the state will be used for things designated by the people of New Hampshire in a plan. The State of New Hampshire will look to the Forest Service to approve this document so that support through the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands for plan elements will be possible. Knowing that this process was required and that guidelines for the plan would be forthcoming from the Forest Service, the development of this document the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands postponed the process beyond the usual 10­year period to accommodate the federal needs. In this way, The Division could meet the state and federal requirements simultaneously, with greater efficiency and with a common purpose. The 2010 Forest Resource Planning Process Public Input New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands contracted with the Natural Resource Institute, LLC (NRI) to gather statewide public input, compile and document the results within the context of New Hampshire Forest Resource Plan tradition and USDA Forest Service standards. The Division of Forests and Lands also had the NRI garner the forestry agency program plans that will address the identified issues. The New Hampshire Forest Advisory Board served as the overseeing body for the development of this document. Susan Francher, Forest Resource Planner, served as the principal person responsible for the production of this document, working with State Forester, Brad Simpkins, Interim Director, New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands. The Division of Forests and Lands thank the following stakeholder groups for their time discussing the New Hampshire Forest Resource Plan and for their input: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Appalachian Mountain Club Community Forestry Advisory Council Forest Legacy Committee Forest Stewardship Committee GRANIT ­ Complex Systems Granite State Division – Society of American Foresters Harris Center Land Conservation and Heritage Investment Program Land Trusts Natural Resource Conservation Service New Hampshire Arborists Association 4 New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts New Hampshire Audubon New Hampshire Farm Bureau New Hampshire Fire Chiefs Association New Hampshire Forest Advisory Board New Hampshire Landscape Association New Hampshire Sierra Club New Hampshire State Conservation Committee New Hampshire Timber Harvesting Council New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association