Restoring forests means less fuel for wildfire and more storage for carbon

More fuel for our continuing discussion of forest restoration (and active management in general), CO2, and wildfires. Mentions the USFS’s Four Foerst Restoration Initiative. Note that “simulations show that despite early decreases in the ecosystem’s stored carbon, a rapid restoration plan increases total carbon storage by 11-20%.”   News Release 5-Aug-2019 Restoring forests means less fuel … Read more

“Wild Buck” Timber Sale Undercuts Forest Restoration

By Jay Lininger http://www.azcentral.com/opinions/articles/20140202old-growth-logging-undercuts-forest-restoration.html The old “yellow-belly” ponderosa pines anchoring the majestic forests of the Grand Canyon’s North Rim grew up long before European settlement. Precious few remain. More than 1,000 of them will be lost forever in the “Wild Buck” timber sale later this year, undercutting U.S. Forest Service claims that it is restoring … Read more

Up In Smoke: Is the Forest Service killing the last best chance to save the Southwest’s forests?

The following article, written by Claudine LoMonaco, appeared in the Santa Fe Reporter recently.  The article provides a number of details about a series of alleged lies, deceits and questionable business practices concerning Pioneer Forest Products, described as an “under-the-radar company from Montana” that “lied about its work history in its proposal to the federal … Read more

Restoration by the Numbers.. What Are They?

One more post before I leave..also if you sent me something to post and I forgot, please email [email protected] and I will get to it after my Solstice break. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ If this article is correct… Forest Service Failing to Create Jobs, Stimulate Economy in Forest Management Practices Crystal Feldman House Natural Resources Committee During the … Read more

4FRI Update: Arizona Forest Restoration Products Inc. Statement

Yesterday, Arizona Forest Restoration Products Inc. released this statement regarding the Forest Service’s decision to award a massive 300,000 acre timber harvesting contract as part of the Four Forests Restoration Initiative (4FRI) in Arizona to an under-the-radar Montana timber corporation represented by a retired Forest Service official. A collection of all the posts and comments … Read more

4FRI Update: CBD’s Statement on FS Contract Award to Pioneer Forest Products

This statement was release yesterday: The Center for Biological Diversity is a founding member of the Four Forests Restoration Initiative. The Center co-founded, participates in and supports the Initiative as a vehicle for corrective ecological restoration treatments that lead to the re-establishment of climate-entrained fire regimes and native biological diversity across landscapes dominated by ponderosa … Read more

4-Forests Restoration Initiative Update: A sinking feeling the Forest Service has done it again

There’s more fall-out from the Forest Service’s questionable decision to award a massive 300,000 acre timber harvesting contract as part of the Four Forests Restoration Initiative (4FRI) in Arizona to an under-the-radar Montana timber corporation represented by a retired Forest Service official.  The 4FRI is a showcase forest restoration project for the Obama administration under … Read more