A publication by the Southeast Region Strategy Committee to highlight progress within the context of the Cohesive Strategy and demonstrations of success across the Southeast. Stories are always welcome and can be sent to gwood@southernforests.org.
Agencies in Arkansas combine efforts to restore shortleaf pine
The U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service have partnered with the Western Arkansas Woodland Restoration Project and the Shortleaf Pine Initiative to revive and increase the range of shortleaf pine forests in Arkansas. While it I home to more acres of Shortleaf Pine forests
than any other state in the southeast, Arkansas has seen a loss of about 80,000 acres of Shortleaf habitat from 1980 to 2012. Founded in 2014, the Western Arkansas Woodland Restoration Project provides technical assistance and funding for reforestation efforts, including Shortleaf Pine restoration, on both public and private lands in 29 counties across the state. Through the project, nearly 290 private landowners have received $5.7 million in federal contracts. An additional $3.6 million has been used for restoration projects on the Quachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests.
Florida Forest Service restores, maintains Northwest Florida's longleaf ecosystem
2017 Wildfire Mitigation Awards Nominations Due October 30th
The International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Association of State Foresters, National Fire Protection Association and USDA Forest Service are now accepting nominations for the 2017 Wildfire Mitigation Awards. The Wildfire Mitigation Awards are the highest national honor one can receive for outstanding work and significant program impact in wildfire preparedness and mitigation.
Three award categories:
National Wildfire Mitigation Award
National Mitigation Hero Award
National Special Recognition Mitigation Award
These awards are designed to recognize outstanding service in wildfire preparedness and safety across a broad spectrum of activities and among a variety of individuals and organizations. By honoring their achievements, the award sponsors also seek to increase public recognition and awareness of the value of wildfire mitigation efforts. The 2017 Wildfire Mitigation Awards will be presented in March at the Wildland-Urban Interface Conference in Reno, Nevada. Submit a nomination by October 30th. For more information, contact Meghan Rhodes at MRhodes@iafc.org or 703-896-4839.
Additional 5 Percent Initiative fact sheet released
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has released a fact sheet for the Additional 5 percent Initiative in order to provide recipients of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds with additional information on how to use the funds to help communities enhance disaster resilience related
to building codes. FEMA’s intention in supporting the adoption and enforcement of building codes is to promote resilience through disaster-resistant building practices, such as adopting the current International Building Code® and improving a community’s Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) score. A building is considered disaster-resistant when it not only protects its occupants but can also be quickly repaired and re-occupied due to the minimized risk of damage.
The purpose of the HMGP program is to help communities implement hazard mitigation measures following a presidential major disaster declaration. Hazard mitigation is any action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural disasters.
EPA’s Exceptional Event Final Rule Released
On September 16, 2016, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy signed the 2016 revisions to the Exceptional Events Rule. Steve Page, the OAQPS Director, signed the final Guidance on the Preparation of Exceptional Events Demonstrations for Wildfire Events that May Influence Ozone Concentrations. The rule revisions, final guidance, response to comments document and a fact sheet are now available on the EPA’s web site at http://www2.epa.gov/air-quality-analysis/treatment-data-influenced-exceptional-events
Florida Forest Service restores, maintains Northwest Florida’s longleaf ecosystem
More than 1,000 acres of the Blackwater River, Pine Log and Point Washington state forests have increased in biodiversity during the past three years due to an ongoing Florida Forest Service reforestation project. Click here to read more.
Cohesive Strategy at Work
Meet Crew 64, a 20-person hand crew comprised of volunteers from North Carolina and Tennessee who worked together to combat the Pioneer Fire on the Boise National Forest for 14 days. Nine crew members were temporary employees, two of whom had never flown before and another who had never been west of Tennessee. While in Idaho, the crew took the time to speak with landowners about defensible space and the protection the agencies would help provide.
Upcoming Workshops and Webinars
Webinar - October 11, 2016 – 1:00pm Eastern - How Important Is It to Mimic Natural Fire Regimes in the Southeastern Coastal Plain? http://reednoss.eventbrite.com/ to register.
November 4, 2016 at 10:00 am Eastern - Southeast Prescribed Fire Council Meeting – Savannah, Georgia SERPPAS is funding the meeting and there is no cost to attend, but you can register for this meeting through the registration site for the Longleaf Alliance meeting website http://www.longleafalliance.org/events/11th-biennial-longleaf-conference .
