Friday, April 20, 2018

FLORIDA LAND STEWARD UPDATE 4/20/18

USDA FOREST SERVICE, ESRI, MARS, MCDONALD’S, STAPLES AND OTHERS TO PARTNER WITH THE AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION AND GREENBLUE ON NEW FOREST SUSTAINABILITY TOOL
From the American Forest Foundation and GreenBlue
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) and GreenBlue announced the collaboration of a diverse set of partners that will support the development of a new forest sustainability tool that complements forest certification. The digital mapping tool, called Forests in Focus, will assess the sustainability of family-owned forests at the landscape-level, or across a wood supply region, in the United States.

The USDA Forest Service Research and Development division, and the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri) will assist in the construction of Forests in Focus and populate it with authoritative data. Mars, McDonald’s, Staples and several other companies that source wood fiber from the U.S. will provide input in the tool’s development and, once complete, use the tool to inform their sustainability strategies.

“We have found that collaboration with a diverse array of partners, such as AFF, GreenBlue, the Forest Service and Esri, has provided us a deeper understanding into our supply chain and the importance of family-owned forests,” said Rachel Goldstein, Global Sustainability Director at Mars. “Collaboration and innovative technology solutions are essential for companies such as ours to better understand how we can support the sustainability of forests.”

Collectively, individual and family-owned land accounts for more than one-third of all forests across the United States, more forest land than the federal government manages on behalf of the public. These lands are owned by more than 21 million individual owners, in small tracts that average ten to 20 acres in size. According to the Forest Service, these lands collectively supply more than 50 percent of the wood harvested and flowing into supply chains in the U.S.

In order to provide a comprehensive view of family forestland, Forests in Focus will aggregate data from multiple sources, including from the Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA), which includes status and trends in forest area and location; in the species, size, and health of trees; in total tree growth, mortality, and removals by harvest; and more.

Forests in Focus is the result of a multi-year partnership led by AFF and GreenBlue’s Forest Products Working Group, a stakeholder group of more than 15 member companies including Staples Inc., Mars, McDonald’s, Havi, Sappi North America, Catalyst, Domtar Corporation, Georgia Pacific, Evergreen, International Paper and others. These stakeholders have prioritized the sustainability and health of U.S. forests, by collaborating with conservation organizations, federal agencies and more to identify and invest in new solutions for family-owned land.

More at: https://www.forestfoundation.org/partnership-building-forest-sustainability

Sponsored by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation and Florida Division Society of American Foresters, this year’s Symposium will explore the range of disturbances that are affecting forest health and management, and some of the proactive steps we can take to address these growing challenges. Agenda topics include: an update on breeding efforts to improve disease resistance, proactive management for extreme drought, the role of prescribed fire, spatial analysis strategies, current and future insect challenges, and more. This event has been approved for a total of 8.0 Category 1 SAF Continuing Forestry Education Credits. A special registration rate of $150 for current SAF members and certified Tree Farmers and Forest Stewardship landowners. Check out the full agenda here. Register online now at https://45-saf-sfrc-spring-symposium.eventbrite.com/

Would your business like to be a sponsor or exhibitor? Contact Kari Hurst, Spring Symposium Sponsor / Exhibitor Chair, at KariH@nrpsforesters.com

NEW UF/IFAS EXTENSION PUBLICATION ON BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF COGONGRASS IN SOUTHERN FORESTS NOW AVAILABLE
Among the most problematic invasive plants in the region and the world, cogongrass is a warn season, perennial grass that has spread and become naturalized in 10 states. Controlling the spread of cogongrass has become a priority for many private landowners and land managmenent agencies across the U.S. This new publication by Pat Minogue, Brent Brodbeck, and James Miller reviews the plant's introduction, modes of dispersal, and the latest integrated approaches that have been successful in controlling it in southern forests. The publication is available for viewing and pdf download at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr411.

FLORIDA LAND STEWARD PARTNERS INTRODUCE NEW WEB MAP TOOL
We in the Florida Land Steward Partnership continuously strive to provide better outreach and information on programs that can help landowners achieve their goals while improving the many environmental benefits they provide to society. To that end, the Partnership, in conjunction with the Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative (PFLCC), have launched a web-based map that allows landowners to identify specific programs available at the local level. The PFLCC website provides access to natural resource information, including an on-line, web tool that can be used to identify resources at a local watershed scale. The map is at this link: http://viewer.apps.pflcc.databasin.org/v1/index.html. More about this effort and how to use the tool here.

FLORIDA TREE FARM PROGRAM PREPARING FOR 2019 AUDIT
The Florida Tree Farm Program is preparing for a 2019 audit. The purpose of the audit is to verify that certified Tree Farms are compliant with the 2015-2020 Standards of Sustainability. The Program has been audited twice since 2010 without any issues. A relatively small sample of Tree Farms will be selected for the audit. The audit team will visit selected Tree Farms to review the landowners' management plans and conduct a brief interview. The inspector of the property and a Florida Tree Farm representative will accompany the auditor. We will begin the audit process in January 2019. Selected sample Tree Farm landowners will receive a phone call in early January 2019.

The Florida Tree Farm Program wants to make sure this audit goes well so it is extremely important for ALL certified Tree Farms in the state to have a current written management plan. Current means updated in the last 5 years. Contact your Florida Forest Service County Forester, consultant, or your Tree Farm District Representative if you need an update to your management plan, or if you have not been inspected since 2014. 



FLORIDA NRCS OFFERS SIGN-UP FOR TRI-STATE CONSERVATION PROJECT
Funding is for producers in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla and Washington Counties.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from agricultural producers until April 30 for a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project that that enhances climate resiliency.   

The Climate Resiliency for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia project in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint and Ochlockonee River Basins is led by the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District. The project area covers more than 15 million acres in eastern Alabama, western Georgia and the Florida panhandle.

NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible farmers and landowners toward conservation practices that improve natural resources in 11 Florida counties through the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP).

Producers in the following counties are encouraged to apply: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla and Washington.

Producers interested in more information about applying can contact their local USDA service center or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. 

FAMILY HEIRS PROPERTY IN FLORIDA: "CLOUDY TITLES" PROGRAM ANNOUNCED BY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
In awareness of the continual loss of property by African Americans in rural communities due to complicated legal hurdles, FAMU Cooperative Extension Program office has created the Family Heirs Property Program Workshop Series. The series is designed to show what happens to property that has been granted to either children or relatives of the original owners through heirship or by a will, and how families can clear the title of their family heirs property. The course continues on April 28, May 26, and August 28. Register here for the next Session.


ONGOING INITIATIVES / OPPORTUNTIES
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REPORT QUAIL AND OTHER WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
To help restore the state’s northern bobwhite quail populations, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking private landowners to report sightings of bobwhite quail on their land. Report northern bobwhite quail sightings at MyFWC.com/QuailSighting
The FWC also seeks reports of these species:

NEED A LOAN TO FUND CONSERVATION PROJECTS? CHECK OUT THE USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY'S GUARANTEED CONSERVATION LOAN PROGRAM
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) guarantees loans to promote conservation practices on farms and ranches that help protect natural resources. The goal of FSA’s Conservation Loan (CL) program is to provide access to credit for farmers who need and want to implement conservation measures on their land, but do not have the “up front” funds available to implement these practices. For more information see this Conservation Loan Program Fact Sheet. Also see this table summarizing FSA farm loan opportunities.
The Conservation Contract Program is a program for eligible landowners that protects important natural resources and other sensitive areas while providing a debt management tool. A conservation contract is available to people with Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct loans secured by real estate. These individuals may qualify for a reduction of their FSA indebtedness in exchange for a conservation contract with a term of 50, 30 or 10 years. The conservation contract is a voluntary legal agreement that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on portions of the landowner’s property. Contracts may be established on marginal cropland and other environmentally sensitive lands for conservation, recreation and wildlife purposes. For more information see this Conservation Contract Program Fact Sheet.
The FSA provides several types of farm loans. For more information on these opportunities, see the Florida FSA Website or contact your local FSA office to speak with a local representative

SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES? - CHECK OUT THE NEW DIAGNOSTICS FORUM
Hosted by a group of forest and tree health specialists with Southeastern universities and agencies, we are here to help identify pests and diseases in your forest or your backyard, and to recommend a solution, if appropriate. Join the group and report your tree health issue!
Visit the new Forest Health Diagnostic forum on Facebook:
FOREST STEWARDSHIP VIDEOS - VIEW AND SHARE!
All the latest videos are on the Florida Forest Stewardship Program home page:
GOT AN INVASIVE SPECIES PROBLEM?
Go to floridainvasives.org for information, assistance and partnership opportunities.
LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC?
Check the vast array of extension publications available through UF/IFAS on the EDIS publication site:  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/  Wow, there’s a publication about that?
FWC REQUESTS REPORTS OF WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS:
UF/IFAS SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION EXTENSION PROGRAMS
FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES WEBINARS
For a calendar of upcoming webinars in a variety of land management topics see:
SOUTHERN REGION EXTENSION FORESTRY
See http://sref.info/ for the latest news, tools and offerings.

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