CRITICAL CHOICES for OUR FORESTS Be Open to Active Management Managing National Forests Is About a Lot More Than Harvesting and Thinning Timber

Home , High forest

MANAGING NATIONAL FORESTS IN IDAHO THE ROAD TO HEALTHY, RESILIENT FORESTS What can we do to secure the future of OUR forests? CRITICAL CHOICES FOR OUR FORESTS Be Open to Active Management Managing national forests is about a lot more than harvesting and thinning timber. But where it’s allowed, logging could be the best option to reduce WHAT ARE NATIONAL FORESTS? fuels, improve forest health, provide environmentally National forests are federal lands owned by the American sound products, employ local people and generate IDAHO PANHANDLE NF PRIVATE 14% people and managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Who Runs the U.S. revenues to offset the cost to taxpayers. SOCIAL a management agency within the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Forest Service? Manage for Sustainability Acceptable Equitable STATE 6% The 20.4 million acres of USFS managed lands in Idaho are USFS 76% PRESIDENT In their current state, national forests in Sustainable CRITICAL CHOICES FOR OUR FORESTS Idaho do not meet sustainable criteria of divided between seven national forests. Five lie south of the OTHER 4% U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC Salmon River in the Intermountain Region headquartered in AGRICULTURE National forests are part of America’s heritage and being ecologically sound, economically viable Viable NEZ PERCE-CLEARWATER NF Secretary Ogden, Utah and two are part of the Northern Region based Under Secretary for Natural our future. How we choose to care for OUR forests and socially desirable. FOREST BY OWNERSHIP Resources and Environment in Missoula, Montana. Nearly 80% or 16.3 million acres of is important. There are critical choices to be made Support National Forest Restoration GROUP IN IDAHO to secure the health, vitality and sustainability of these lands are forested. OUR forests. Strategic forest restoration is essential to address uncharacteristic wildfire, insects, disease and changes in climate. “We estimate that up to 42 percent of the National Forest System is in need of MANAGEMENT FROM CONFLICT PAYETTE NF restoration- up to 82 million acres- and that 12.5 million acres need mechanical At the turn of the 20th century, few laws were in place to SALMON-CHALLIS NF treatments. Here in Idaho, about 15 million acres are in need of restoration work, HEADQUARTERS IN guide management on national forests. Conflicts between WASHINGTON, D.C. including 2 million acres of mechanical treatments.” USFS Chief Tom Tidwell, 2012 competing forest users led to laws focused on specific Chief REGION Commit Financial Resources and Expertise to Management interests, resulting in increased management requirements BOISE NF Regional Forester Addressing backlogs and focusing on projects that address unhealthy forest and costs and longer implementation timelines. Conflicting NATIONAL FOREST conditions are at a critical point. Increasing the on-the-ground expertise at the laws and requirements have contributed to gridlock through CARIBOU-TARGHEE NF Supervisor local district level would help implement projects. Committing to transparency RANGER DISTRICT lawsuits and appeals that delay or stop management activities. District Ranger in management activities will increase public trust and support. SAWTOOTH NF Increase Use of Management Tools “Good Neighbor Authority” allows the Forest Service to enter into NATIONAL FORESTS OCCUPY NEARLY 40% OF IDAHO’S cooperative agreements or contracts allowing States to help increase the pace LAND MASS, MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE. and scale of forest management and watershed restoration projects on 40% National Forest System lands. Projects may include treating insect and disease infected trees, reducing hazardous fuels and other activities to restore or improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health, as well as fish and wildlife CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES habitat. Timber sales are allowed and the Forest Service approves how the Unlike national parks created primarily to preserve “Caring for the Land and Serving People” Conflict and Litigation harvesting is done. natural beauty and outdoor recreation, our national Today, we want and expect a lot from our national Bitter conflicts and litigation over forest use in the “Categorical Exclusion” allows the Forest Service to streamline restoration forests were working forests established to provide forests. Management priorities have shifted from 1980-90s involved a range of issues from spotted projects by not requiring the agency to prepare an environmental assessment timber and water for the nation’s benefit. Federal mainly protecting timber from fire to providing a owls, old growth, fire, and Wilderness. This gridlock (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS). Categorical Exclusions expedite laws and policies outline how national forests are wide range of uses from Wilderness, recreation, set the stage for President Clinton’s 1994 forest restoration projects and greatly reduce costs to taxpayers. used and managed. wildlife habitat and timber production. These Northwest Forest Plan that re-designated forest use WHAT DOES RESTORATION MEAN? Nine locally-driven Collaborative Groups across Idaho are bringing In the mid-1800’s, many believed the wood supply management changes mostly came through conflict. and established a new ecosystem approach to Restoration aims to restore resiliency to together timber industry, community, and conservation interests to was unlimited. Large areas were logged for agriculture Numerous environmental laws passed in the resource management on federal lands. Policies disturbance. Restoration activities help re-establish resolve long-standing conflicts over land use on public forests. They seek or not replanted. As populations moved west, concerns 1960-70s vastly changed how federal lands were from this time drastically reduced timber harvest, the composition, structure, pattern, and ecological to balance the interests of forest ecology, local jobs, and long-term grew and Congress took action. After World War II, managed and increased public involvement in the resulting today in dense forests that are less resilient processes of damaged, degraded or destroyed stewardship of the national forests. All are committed to respect each national forests provided wood for our growing nation decision making process. to drought, disease, changes in climate and fire. ecosystems. Fuels reduction, reforestation, stream other’s interests in the search for practical on the ground solutions. and a place for expanding outdoor recreation. restoration, road decommissioning, replacing and Many collaborative groups are finding a promising level of agreement on improving culverts, thinning and harvesting, employing active forest management as a tool to achieve ecological goals prescribed fire are all management actions used to at a landscape level and provide local jobs. KEY FOREST LAWS & POLICIES OVER TIME restore forests to a more resilient condition. These 1876 Special Agent created in the U.S. Department of Agriculture to 1960-70s Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act, Wilderness Act, Wild and Scenic activities can be expensive. Where it’s possible, “Stewardship Contracts” provide a way to work with communities assess quality and condition of U.S. forests. Rivers Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, National Environmental logging can help offset these costs when trees that on longterm landscape projects that improve, maintain or restore 1881 “Division of Forestry” created. Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Forest need to be removed for forest restoration are national forests and offset costs with profits from timber harvested as 1891 Forest Reserve Act placed western public lands into “Forest Management Act, Resources Planning Act (RPA), Archaeological converted into wood and paper products. part of the project. Reserves” under the U.S. Department of Interior. Resource Protection Act Restoration creates healthy Other Considerations…. 1897 Organic Act established the purpose of Forest Reserves was to 1994 Northwest Forest Plan forests and provides jobs beyond 2001 Roadless Rule effectively prohibited road construction, road Public Land Law Review. More than 80 laws govern the national forests. improve and protect forests and water flows, and to provide a the forest industry. Every million continuous supply of timber for citizens. reconstruction, and timber harvesting on 58.5 million acres of Many of these laws conflict with each other, clouding management goals and dollars spent on restoration 1905 Lands renamed “National Forests” and transferred to the inventoried “roadless” areas on National Forests. projects generates from 12 – 28 contributing to legal challenges and appeals. It’s been nearly 50 years since Department of Agriculture’s newly created U.S. Forest Service. 2008 Idaho Roadless Rule finalized–Established management direction for 9.3 jobs and creates healthy forests public land laws and regulations were collectively reviewed to clarify 1911 Weeks Law authorized purchasing and reforesting private lands to million acres of designated “roadless” areas in Idaho including around 6.9 for outdoor recreation. management direction and provide for more efficient project implementation. regulate water flow and produce timber. million forested acres. Equal Access to Justice…for All. The Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) reimburses attorney fees and other expenses in actions against the federal government, but only to non-profit groups, individuals with a net worth less A LOT AT STAKE than $2 million or businesses with less than 500 employees and $7 PUBLIC ACCESS WATER WILDLIFE WILDFIRE HEALTHY FORESTS ECONOMICS FOREST INDUSTRY ROLE million in net worth. The Act, which passed in 1980 to help veterans, Jobs, Markets and Expertise now creates incentive for legal challenges to Forest Service proposed A vibrant forest industry helps national forests by management activities, but does not provide the same financial providing the infrastructure, workforce and know-how to opportunity for all forest stakeholders. EAJA payments are made from restore unhealthy forests and maintain healthy, resilient the Social Security Administration. In the past 5 years, payments for forests for the future. Wood markets provide a way to legal challenges to the Forest Service nearly doubled, costing taxpayers help pay for restoration projects, create living-wage jobs $38.1 million in 2015. The Forest Service currently faces a staggering and help develop new uses for green products. amount of litigation that often halts projects and increases management costs, and redirects staff priorities. RECREATION WATER HABITAT WILDFIRE REFORESTATION JOBS Each year, 6.6 million 68% of Idaho’s water Healthy forests of varied Around 65 million acres of SUSTAINABILITY Idaho has over 22,000 Buy and Invest Locally people visit national forests supply originates from ages provide habitat for National Forest System What will be passed on to forest-related jobs. Encourage government and private investment in market development and use in Idaho. national forests. “keystone” plants and lands are in high or very future generations? National forest visitors • 9 downhill ski areas FISHERIES animals. high risk of catastrophic spend $372 million annually. locally made products. Buying wood and paper products made with timber wildfires. SOIL HEALTH AND • 389 campgrounds Numerous native and ENDANGERED SPECIES Hunting, fishing and wildlife harvested on national forests can help spur national forest restoration and anadromous fish rely on National forests are home PRODUCTIVITY • 56 picnic areas AIR QUALITY AND Soils are the basis for watching bring $1.2 billion Each forest job supports two management by providing income and services FROM the land FOR the land. Idaho's streams and rivers. to many of the 20 species SMOKE to Idaho’s economy. • 256 trailheads ecosystems and can be additional jobs in other sectors. Restoration alone can cost up to $1,000 per acre. Using local products WATER QUALITY that are “Threatened” or “Endangered” in Idaho. FIREFIGHTER AND significantly altered by PRODUCTS stimulates the entire process. Developing new markets and uses for wood will • 12,838 miles of severe wildfires. motorized trails DRINKING WATER PUBLIC SAFETY The total 2015 impact in be vital to the future. National forests provide HOMES AND CARBON Idaho of turning timber • 10,349 miles of 20% of the nation’s into products was over $4 non-motorized trails PROPERTY Well managed, healthy, drinking water. growing forests “sequester” billion. WILDERNESS VALUES THREATS TO or hold carbon, preventing WASTEFULNESS Copyright 2017 by the Idaho Forest Products Commission. Over 4 million acres of WATERSHEDS its release into the Millions of acres of trees For more information about Idaho’s forests, visit www.idahoforests.org. designated Wilderness COST TO TAXPAYERS atmosphere. Older forests burn in national forests in in Idaho. release carbon at the same Idaho each year. rate they absorb it. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD THE MANAGEMENT PROCESS TRY AGAIN DOES NEPA PROTECT THE NO ACTION LOSE COURT WIN ENVIRONMENT? ADJUSTMENTS ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OBJECTION PROPOSED ACTION The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Proposed management projects on SCOPING ASSESSMENT NO OBJECTION was enacted in 1970 to protect resources on USFS lands come from a variety of ALL USFS PROJECTS YES federal lands by setting up a process to analyze sources such as Forest Plans, Community MUST GO THROUGH the impact of proposed management activities CATEGORICAL LEGAL PROJECT Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), AN ANALYSIS PROCESS FAST TRACK DECISION NO and procedures for public input. Despite the good Landscape Treatment Areas (LTA) and EXCLUSION CHALLENGE IMPLEMENTATION WHICH TAKES TIME intentions of this law, USFS forest lands in Idaho forest “collaborative” groups. Proposals DRAFT EIS FINAL EIS AND MONEY today have more mortality, more insects and reflect the ideas and input of local and ENVIRONMENTAL disease, more overstocked acres outside the range ANALYSIS ALTERNATIVIES PROPOSED NO OBJECTION state government, resource managers IMPACT STATEMENT SCOPING ALTERNATIVE of historic variability, more dead standing trees, and the public. OBJECTION ADJUSTMENTS more wildfire and more at-risk watersheds than PUBLIC all other forest owners. COMMENT TRY AGAIN

HOW FORESTS WORK NATIONAL FORESTS IN DECLINE What will we pass on to future generations – Forests go through distinct stages at different speeds 14% 23% depending on natural and human caused events such as rain, WHAT IS FOREST an ASSET or a LIABILITY? drought, wildfire, wind and disease as well as logging and Forests constantly MANAGEMENT? 29% • Forests are dying faster than they are growing on 17% national forests in Idaho. prescribed burns. Each stage creates conditions for the next change over Forests are managed for specific IDAHO FORESTS goals and objectives set by the step in the cycle. time though a BY OWNERSHIP 6% • 73% of national forests in Idaho and 42% of all dynamic natural landowner. Management ranges national forests need restoration. from “custodial” where little or Timber harvest is Conifers produce process called FOREST MANAGEMENT: no action is taken such as in National Forest – General 7% allowed on less • There is a $3 billion backlog of Forest Service millions of seeds “succession.” designated Wilderness to 4% every year in It’s Science and Common Sense than a quarter road maintenance. intensive active management National Forest – “Roadless” their cones. Forest management involves planned * of all national Some seeds survive, where timber is continually 3% • 13% of bridges on national forests are Eventually, trees die and germinate and actions that speed up or slow down grown, harvested and replanted. National Forest – ‘‘Wilderness” forest lands structurally deficient. decompose or are removed grow into seedlings. the stages of succession. Forest in Idaho. by disturbances such as • There’s been a 95% reduction in maintenance Seedlings are also management actions such as Bureau of Land Management wind, fire or logging. planted after harvest. 18% budgets for national forest campgrounds, water The cycle harvesting and prescribed burning begins anew. State of Idaho and wastewater systems, dams, recreation structures, interrupt the succession cycle for a and buildings since 2000. reason or objective such as Private Land Owners 44% • Three-quarters of the 158,000 miles of trails on ecosystem restoration, creating 35% habitat, providing wood and paper national forests currently need maintenance. products, or speeding up • Over 10.5 million acres of Idaho forests have regeneration. Even no action is a forest health problems, most of which are on Over time, sunlight in Some seedlings grow Outer Ring All “Forest Land” – 21.5 million acres [100%] the understory is limited. above surrounding management choice that has Inner Ring “Timberland” – Reported productive forests 16.5 million acres [76%] national forests. Growth slows and trees brush and grass which consequences. *Based on best available data on 9.3 million “Roadless” acres reserved from timber • 93% of forest mortality in Idaho is on national become weak or die from compete for sunlight, harvest by Idaho Roadless Rule (2008) overcrowding, injury, fire, water and nutrients. forest lands. or attacks by insects • 80% of national forest lands needing reforestation and disease have not been replanted. Once established, saplings grow quickly into mature trees.

IDAHO TIMBER HARVEST TIMBER HARVEST LIMITED ANNUAL GROWTH AND HARVEST IDAHO FOREST LAND INVENTORY IDAHO TIMBERLANDS ANNUAL MORTALITY IDAHO FOREST ACRES DISTRIBUTION BY BY OWNERSHIP 1975-2015 While 76% of Idaho’s productive timberlands lie within ON USFS FOREST LAND IN IDAHO* AND ANNUAL MORTALITY 700 AGE, OWNER & MANAGEMENT national forests, only 13% of the state’s 2010-2014 USFS vs. All Other Owners OVERGROWN harvest came from national forests. 50% 1000 3000 60 FORESTS HAVE 600 2,000 TREES KEEP GREATER GROWING 830 833 Annual mortality 40% 1,800 800 2500 50 MORTALITY 500 100% Forest DENSITY is nearly 30 1,600 There is as much standing dead 30% increased 70% times greater 2000 40 400 1,400 600 volume of trees on national 80% on national forest than annual harvest on USFS forests in Idaho as there are 20% 1,200 timberlands since 1954. Percent of Landbase 400 forest land. 1500 30 live growing trees on other 300 1,000 60% ownerships. Millions of Cubic Feet YOUNG 10% 800 Millions Cubic Feet per Year 200 1000 20 200 Cubic Feet per Acre - Inventory 40% TREES Sustained 120 Year Rotation 600 USFS has 29% 28 Cubic Feet per Acre Year - Mortality Why are there so 0% more volume of 500 10 CARBON & 100 0-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101+ 400 0 many young trees in

Million Board Feet Scribner Log Scale -3 20% trees per acre and DYING TREES AGE CLASS 200 336% more Wilderness areas? Fire -200 0 0 Dead trees don’t absorb 0 Open to Active Management annual MORTALITY USFS All Other Ownerships 1981 1991 2008 2014 has been the change 0 0% Gross Annual Annual Net Annual Harvest carbon, and take the space USFS* Other Federal State Private Reported 2010-2014 per acre than Growth Mortality Growth Inventory per Acre* Mortality per Acre agent starting the 2011 1991 1975 1979 1987 2015 1983 1995 1999 2007 2003 Harvest of growing trees that do. succession cycle anew. All Wilderness/Reserved from Active Management (“Roadless” not included) Timberland Acres all other owners. *Includes Wilderness/Reserved *Live volume of healthy commercial species USFS Other Public Private USFS State Private USFS All Other Owners (Includes State) * Includes “Roadless”

FIRE RISK “High forest mortality RUNAWAY COSTS FIREFIGHTING COSTS GROW STAFF SHIFTS IMPACT INCREASED TREE DENSITY Idaho’s forests evolved with fire, and in some cases, and low timber removal Wildfire suppression costs alone exceeded MANAGEMENT BUDGETS SHRINK FOREST STEWARDSHIP AND CHANGES IN SPECIES = fire can be used as a management tool. However, rates in the Western FIRE TRIANGLE $1 billion in 11 of the past 15 years. Wildfire States promise Congress currently allocates a fixed amount of money to put out Since 1998, fire staffing within the USFS has increased current forest conditions are not the same as in the Three elements are necessary protection and suppression costs have exceeded MORE SEVERE FIRES hazardous fuel wildfires. When these funds are spent, 114%, from around 5,700 employees in 1998 to over past. Wildfires today are larger, more severe and for a fire to burn. Fuel is the $3 billion annually for over a decade. In Idaho 12.7 million acres of public lands are accumulations and CARBON & FIRE the Forest Service is forced to take 12,000 in 2015. Over the same period, staffing levels more dangerous to watersheds and ecosystems due big fires.” U of I only one humans can impact at high risk, including 3.85 million acres of through management Much of current costs are spent protecting In an active fire year, wildfires money from other programs. This for those dedicated to managing National Forest in large part to overcrowded, unhealthy forests. “high water supply importance.” activities homes in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in Idaho emit the same impacts critical management activities, System lands has decreased by 39% from amount of carbon dioxide into Bigger wildfire seasons are associated with several factors: rising which comprises 10% of the West. This number restoration projects and forest users. approximately 18,000 in 1998 to fewer than HEAT the air as 4.7 million cars. levels of biomass fuels, changing climatic conditions, and an increase is expected to triple as more homes are built near 11,000 in 2015.

of homes near forest lands. Idaho’s fire season is 32 days longer than OXYGEN and in the forest. Lethal in 1984. FUEL Mixed WILDFIRES IN 11 WESTERN STATES* 1916-2015 PROJECTED COST OF FIRE SUPPRESSION 1995 2015 Nonlethal 6 2,000,000 Down the road, 2-5 National Forest System TIMES MORE AREA is $1,789,900 predicted to burn. 5 1,800,000 Research 4 1,600,000 Land Acquisition Capital Improvement 3 In $1,00 0 1,400,000 The Forest Service now State and Private Forestry spends more than 2 1,200,000 50% of its budget for

Millions of Acres Burned by Wildfire Wildland Fire Management $1,096,302 wildfire suppression. 1 1,000,000

0 800,000 1915 2015 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 *AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY MANAGING NATIONAL FORESTS IN IDAHO THE ROAD TO HEALTHY, RESILIENT FORESTS What can we do to secure the future of OUR forests? CRITICAL CHOICES FOR OUR FORESTS Be Open to Active Management Managing national forests is about a lot more than harvesting and thinning timber. But where it’s allowed, logging could be the best option to reduce WHAT ARE NATIONAL FORESTS? fuels, improve forest health, provide environmentally National forests are federal lands owned by the American sound products, employ local people and generate IDAHO PANHANDLE NF PRIVATE 14% people and managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Who Runs the U.S. revenues to offset the cost to taxpayers. SOCIAL a management agency within the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Forest Service? Manage for Sustainability Acceptable Equitable STATE 6% The 20.4 million acres of USFS managed lands in Idaho are USFS 76% PRESIDENT In their current state, national forests in Sustainable CRITICAL CHOICES FOR OUR FORESTS Idaho do not meet sustainable criteria of divided between seven national forests. Five lie south of the OTHER 4% U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC Salmon River in the Intermountain Region headquartered in AGRICULTURE National forests are part of America’s heritage and being ecologically sound, economically viable Viable NEZ PERCE-CLEARWATER NF Secretary Ogden, Utah and two are part of the Northern Region based Under Secretary for Natural our future. How we choose to care for OUR forests and socially desirable. FOREST BY OWNERSHIP Resources and Environment in Missoula, Montana. Nearly 80% or 16.3 million acres of is important. There are critical choices to be made Support National Forest Restoration GROUP IN IDAHO to secure the health, vitality and sustainability of these lands are forested. OUR forests. Strategic forest restoration is essential to address uncharacteristic wildfire, insects, disease and changes in climate. “We estimate that up to 42 percent of the National Forest System is in need of MANAGEMENT FROM CONFLICT PAYETTE NF restoration- up to 82 million acres- and that 12.5 million acres need mechanical At the turn of the 20th century, few laws were in place to SALMON-CHALLIS NF treatments. Here in Idaho, about 15 million acres are in need of restoration work, HEADQUARTERS IN guide management on national forests. Conflicts between WASHINGTON, D.C. including 2 million acres of mechanical treatments.” USFS Chief Tom Tidwell, 2012 competing forest users led to laws focused on specific Chief REGION Commit Financial Resources and Expertise to Management interests, resulting in increased management requirements BOISE NF Regional Forester Addressing backlogs and focusing on projects that address unhealthy forest and costs and longer implementation timelines. Conflicting NATIONAL FOREST conditions are at a critical point. Increasing the on-the-ground expertise at the laws and requirements have contributed to gridlock through CARIBOU-TARGHEE NF Supervisor local district level would help implement projects. Committing to transparency RANGER DISTRICT lawsuits and appeals that delay or stop management activities. District Ranger in management activities will increase public trust and support. SAWTOOTH NF Increase Use of Management Tools “Good Neighbor Authority” allows the Forest Service to enter into NATIONAL FORESTS OCCUPY NEARLY 40% OF IDAHO’S cooperative agreements or contracts allowing States to help increase the pace LAND MASS, MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE. and scale of forest management and watershed restoration projects on 40% National Forest System lands. Projects may include treating insect and disease infected trees, reducing hazardous fuels and other activities to restore or improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health, as well as fish and wildlife CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES habitat. Timber sales are allowed and the Forest Service approves how the Unlike national parks created primarily to preserve “Caring for the Land and Serving People” Conflict and Litigation harvesting is done. natural beauty and outdoor recreation, our national Today, we want and expect a lot from our national Bitter conflicts and litigation over forest use in the “Categorical Exclusion” allows the Forest Service to streamline restoration forests were working forests established to provide forests. Management priorities have shifted from 1980-90s involved a range of issues from spotted projects by not requiring the agency to prepare an environmental assessment timber and water for the nation’s benefit. Federal mainly protecting timber from fire to providing a owls, old growth, fire, and Wilderness. This gridlock (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS). Categorical Exclusions expedite laws and policies outline how national forests are wide range of uses from Wilderness, recreation, set the stage for President Clinton’s 1994 forest restoration projects and greatly reduce costs to taxpayers. used and managed. wildlife habitat and timber production. These Northwest Forest Plan that re-designated forest use WHAT DOES RESTORATION MEAN? Nine locally-driven Collaborative Groups across Idaho are bringing In the mid-1800’s, many believed the wood supply management changes mostly came through conflict. and established a new ecosystem approach to Restoration aims to restore resiliency to together timber industry, community, and conservation interests to was unlimited. Large areas were logged for agriculture Numerous environmental laws passed in the resource management on federal lands. Policies disturbance. Restoration activities help re-establish resolve long-standing conflicts over land use on public forests. They seek or not replanted. As populations moved west, concerns 1960-70s vastly changed how federal lands were from this time drastically reduced timber harvest, the composition, structure, pattern, and ecological to balance the interests of forest ecology, local jobs, and long-term grew and Congress took action. After World War II, managed and increased public involvement in the resulting today in dense forests that are less resilient processes of damaged, degraded or destroyed stewardship of the national forests. All are committed to respect each national forests provided wood for our growing nation decision making process. to drought, disease, changes in climate and fire. ecosystems. Fuels reduction, reforestation, stream other’s interests in the search for practical on the ground solutions. and a place for expanding outdoor recreation. restoration, road decommissioning, replacing and Many collaborative groups are finding a promising level of agreement on improving culverts, thinning and harvesting, employing active forest management as a tool to achieve ecological goals prescribed fire are all management actions used to at a landscape level and provide local jobs. KEY FOREST LAWS & POLICIES OVER TIME restore forests to a more resilient condition. These 1876 Special Agent created in the U.S. Department of Agriculture to 1960-70s Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act, Wilderness Act, Wild and Scenic activities can be expensive. Where it’s possible, “Stewardship Contracts” provide a way to work with communities assess quality and condition of U.S. forests. Rivers Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, National Environmental logging can help offset these costs when trees that on longterm landscape projects that improve, maintain or restore 1881 “Division of Forestry” created. Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Forest need to be removed for forest restoration are national forests and offset costs with profits from timber harvested as 1891 Forest Reserve Act placed western public lands into “Forest Management Act, Resources Planning Act (RPA), Archaeological converted into wood and paper products. part of the project. Reserves” under the U.S. Department of Interior. Resource Protection Act Restoration creates healthy Other Considerations…. 1897 Organic Act established the purpose of Forest Reserves was to 1994 Northwest Forest Plan forests and provides jobs beyond 2001 Roadless Rule effectively prohibited road construction, road Public Land Law Review. More than 80 laws govern the national forests. improve and protect forests and water flows, and to provide a the forest industry. Every million continuous supply of timber for citizens. reconstruction, and timber harvesting on 58.5 million acres of Many of these laws conflict with each other, clouding management goals and dollars spent on restoration 1905 Lands renamed “National Forests” and transferred to the inventoried “roadless” areas on National Forests. projects generates from 12 – 28 contributing to legal challenges and appeals. It’s been nearly 50 years since Department of Agriculture’s newly created U.S. Forest Service. 2008 Idaho Roadless Rule finalized–Established management direction for 9.3 jobs and creates healthy forests public land laws and regulations were collectively reviewed to clarify 1911 Weeks Law authorized purchasing and reforesting private lands to million acres of designated “roadless” areas in Idaho including around 6.9 for outdoor recreation. management direction and provide for more efficient project implementation. regulate water flow and produce timber. million forested acres. Equal Access to Justice…for All. The Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) reimburses attorney fees and other expenses in actions against the federal government, but only to non-profit groups, individuals with a net worth less A LOT AT STAKE than $2 million or businesses with less than 500 employees and $7 PUBLIC ACCESS WATER WILDLIFE WILDFIRE HEALTHY FORESTS ECONOMICS FOREST INDUSTRY ROLE million in net worth. The Act, which passed in 1980 to help veterans, Jobs, Markets and Expertise now creates incentive for legal challenges to Forest Service proposed A vibrant forest industry helps national forests by management activities, but does not provide the same financial providing the infrastructure, workforce and know-how to opportunity for all forest stakeholders. EAJA payments are made from restore unhealthy forests and maintain healthy, resilient the Social Security Administration. In the past 5 years, payments for forests for the future. Wood markets provide a way to legal challenges to the Forest Service nearly doubled, costing taxpayers help pay for restoration projects, create living-wage jobs $38.1 million in 2015. The Forest Service currently faces a staggering and help develop new uses for green products. amount of litigation that often halts projects and increases management costs, and redirects staff priorities. RECREATION WATER HABITAT WILDFIRE REFORESTATION JOBS Each year, 6.6 million 68% of Idaho’s water Healthy forests of varied Around 65 million acres of SUSTAINABILITY Idaho has over 22,000 Buy and Invest Locally people visit national forests supply originates from ages provide habitat for National Forest System What will be passed on to forest-related jobs. Encourage government and private investment in market development and use in Idaho. national forests. “keystone” plants and lands are in high or very future generations? National forest visitors • 9 downhill ski areas FISHERIES animals. high risk of catastrophic spend $372 million annually. locally made products. Buying wood and paper products made with timber wildfires. SOIL HEALTH AND • 389 campgrounds Numerous native and ENDANGERED SPECIES Hunting, fishing and wildlife harvested on national forests can help spur national forest restoration and anadromous fish rely on National forests are home PRODUCTIVITY • 56 picnic areas AIR QUALITY AND Soils are the basis for watching bring $1.2 billion Each forest job supports two management by providing income and services FROM the land FOR the land. Idaho's streams and rivers. to many of the 20 species SMOKE to Idaho’s economy. • 256 trailheads ecosystems and can be additional jobs in other sectors. Restoration alone can cost up to $1,000 per acre. Using local products WATER QUALITY that are “Threatened” or “Endangered” in Idaho. FIREFIGHTER AND significantly altered by PRODUCTS stimulates the entire process. Developing new markets and uses for wood will • 12,838 miles of severe wildfires. motorized trails DRINKING WATER PUBLIC SAFETY The total 2015 impact in be vital to the future. National forests provide HOMES AND CARBON Idaho of turning timber • 10,349 miles of 20% of the nation’s into products was over $4 non-motorized trails PROPERTY Well managed, healthy, drinking water. growing forests “sequester” billion. WILDERNESS VALUES THREATS TO or hold carbon, preventing WASTEFULNESS Copyright 2017 by the Idaho Forest Products Commission. Over 4 million acres of WATERSHEDS its release into the Millions of acres of trees For more information about Idaho’s forests, visit www.idahoforests.org. designated Wilderness COST TO TAXPAYERS atmosphere. Older forests burn in national forests in in Idaho. release carbon at the same Idaho each year. rate they absorb it.