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Bipartisan Efforts Target Forest Management and Wildfire Threat Post-Election

Bipartisan Efforts Target Forest Management and Wildfire Threat Post-Election

Following the November election, there is a renewed bipartisan push in Washington to address critical issues such as the growing threat of wildfire and the declining health of America’s federal forests. Lawmakers from both parties are seeking common ground to solve these problems, which have been exacerbated by decades of 'no-touch' management leading to overstocked forests. In January 2025, 64 House Democrats joined Republicans in supporting legislation to improve forest management and accelerate restoration work. Recent bipartisan cooperation has also led to legislation, supported by Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican Rep. Russ Fulcher, becoming law, expanding opportunities for counties and tribes to manage federal forests and reinvest timber revenues in restoration projects. Oregon Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley and Republican Congressman Cliff Bentz have also introduced legislation to expand opportunities for converting woody material from forest management projects into renewable ...

Drought Conditions Intensify Nutrient Imbalances in European Forest Trees, Threatening Forest Health

Drought Conditions Intensify Nutrient Imbalances in European Forest Trees, Threatening Forest Health

A comprehensive study analyzing European forest monitoring records over three decades reveals that summer droughts are exacerbating nutrient imbalances in major European forest tree species. Researchers Lena Wohlgemuth, Mathieu Jonard, Andreas Schmitz, and their colleagues examined over 4,100 foliar measurements from 279 forest monitoring plots across Europe, focusing on common beech, sessile and pedunculate oak, Norway spruce, and Scots pine. The findings indicate a decline in both foliar nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, with phosphorus decreasing at roughly twice the rate of nitrogen. Critically, dry summer periods significantly reduced foliar phosphorus across all four species, leading to increased foliar nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios. This imbalance is primarily driven by phosphorus depletion during droughts, as dry soil conditions impair phosphate transport into tree roots. The study utilized both atmospheric and soil hydrological drought indices, including the standardized precipitation evapot...

New Jersey's Wharton State Forest Implements Atlantic White Cedar Restoration Plan Amidst Concerns

New Jersey's Wharton State Forest Implements Atlantic White Cedar Restoration Plan Amidst Concerns

New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Forest Service has filed an application with the Pinelands Commission for a 10-year, 10,000-acre Atlantic White Cedar Restoration Project in Wharton State Forest. This initiative aims to restore Atlantic white cedar, a species that once covered approximately 115,000 acres in New Jersey but has dwindled to less than 30,000 acres. The plan for a 171-acre tract in Waterford Township includes selective harvesting with cedar retention, site preparation through mowing, drum chopping, and disking, and the use of herbicides via aerial broadcast and targeted spot treatment. Additionally, conditional deer fencing will be installed if annual monitoring shows fewer than 800 cedar seedlings per acre, a threshold indicating regeneration failure. The Pinelands Alliance has expressed concerns regarding the plan's use of herbicides, potential impact on threatened and endangered species, clear-cutting practices, and the perceived lack of adequate deer management, p...

U.S. Forest Service Announces Christmas Tree Permit Sales for Pike-San Isabel, Carson, and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests

U.S. Forest Service Announces Christmas Tree Permit Sales for Pike-San Isabel, Carson, and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests

The U.S. Forest Service has announced the availability of Christmas tree cutting permits for several national forests. Permits for the Pike-San Isabel National Forests will be available starting November 16, allowing cutting through December 31. Similarly, the Carson National Forest will begin selling its Christmas tree permits online on November 12. Looking ahead, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is scheduled to start selling permits for Christmas tree cutting on November 12, 2026. These permits allow individuals to cut down their own Christmas trees from designated areas within these national forests, providing a traditional holiday experience while also contributing to forest management efforts. The specific dates for permit sales and cutting periods vary by forest, indicating a localized approach to managing these recreational activities.

USDA Allocates $51.9 Million to Combat Feral Swine in 13 States

USDA Allocates $51.9 Million to Combat Feral Swine in 13 States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $51.9 million to 29 partnership projects across 13 states. This funding is specifically aimed at controlling and eradicating feral swine populations, which cause significant damage to agricultural lands and natural resources. Feral swine are known to harm plant and wildlife habitats, degrade soil and water quality, and carry diseases that can affect livestock and human health, such as brucellosis. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) estimates the annual cost of feral swine damage in the U.S. to be at least $3.4 billion. The projects, located in states including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, and Texas, will implement coordinated management strategies, including expanded surveillance, trapping, and removal operations. Funding for these initiatives comes from the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which supports Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation programs.

Pacific Northwest Partners Expand Prescribed Fire and Smoke Management Pilot in Central Washington

Pacific Northwest Partners Expand Prescribed Fire and Smoke Management Pilot in Central Washington

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of Fish & Wildlife, are expanding a collaborative effort in Central Washington. This initiative aims to increase the use of prescribed fire, reduce wildfire risk, and enhance public health protections from smoke. Building on a Pacific Northwest collaboration launched in 2024, this expansion focuses on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and nearby state-managed lands and communities. Agency partners are coordinating planning, outreach, air-quality monitoring, and public health protections through an incident command structure for multi-jurisdictional prescribed burns scheduled for fall 2026 and spring 2027. The pilot, which began in Kittitas and Chelan counties, will now extend into western Okanogan County and Yakima County.

Southeastern U.S. Tree-Planting Programs Fall Short of National Reforestation Goals

Southeastern U.S. Tree-Planting Programs Fall Short of National Reforestation Goals

A new analysis of tree-planting programs in the southeastern United States reveals that current federal and state initiatives are significantly underperforming compared to national and international reforestation targets. Researchers from North Carolina State University, in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service, found that these programs collectively plant approximately 349,239 acres per year across ten southeastern states, with an annual investment of about $42 million in cost-share funds. While this capacity is sufficient for modest pledges like the U.S. chapter's 2.8 million-acre commitment under the 1t.org initiative, it would take centuries to achieve more ambitious goals, such as the 330 million-acre restoration target outlined in the World Resources Institute’s CarbonShot Report by 2040. The study, published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, emphasizes that existing institutional frameworks for reforestation lack the necessary financial and operational capacity for large-scale expansio...

Ann Arbor Sustainability Director to Discuss Carbon Neutrality Plan

Ann Arbor Sustainability Director to Discuss Carbon Neutrality Plan

Dr. Missy Stults, the Sustainability and Innovations Director for the City of Ann Arbor, is scheduled to present at a Leelanau Energy meeting on November 13. Dr. Stults will discuss Ann Arbor's A2ZERO Plan, an initiative aimed at achieving community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. This presentation will highlight the developments and strategies Ann Arbor is implementing to reach its ambitious environmental goals. The event is free and will take place at the Old Art Building in Leland, offering an opportunity for community members to learn about progressive sustainability efforts within Michigan.

Environmental Justice Foundation Calls for Binding Targets to Reduce Plastic Production at COP31

Environmental Justice Foundation Calls for Binding Targets to Reduce Plastic Production at COP31

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is advocating for significant action on plastics at COP31, emphasizing the plastics industry's growing contribution to climate change. According to the EJF, the plastics sector currently accounts for 4-5% of global emissions, primarily during the production process. Projections indicate that by 2040, if the global plastics system were a country, it would be the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter worldwide, trailing only China and the United States. Major fossil fuel companies are increasingly viewing plastics as a growth strategy as renewable energy sources displace their traditional fuels. The EJF is urging for the inclusion of binding targets to reduce plastic production and consumption as a central component of countries' climate commitments and calls for the exclusion of fossil fuel and petrochemical interests from COP31 discussions.

COP31 Conference Highlights Need for Improved Climate Communication Strategies

COP31 Conference Highlights Need for Improved Climate Communication Strategies

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, is underscoring the urgent need for more effective climate communication. Despite decades of discussions and the Paris Agreement, the world is still not acting fast enough to prevent exceeding the 1.5°C warming threshold, which the U.N. Environment Programme warns is now almost inevitable. A new report from the Potential Energy Coalition, commissioned by The Rockefeller Foundation, analyzed over 83,000 survey responses to identify better ways to communicate about climate change to inspire action. Key findings suggest that direct communication about climate change consequences is effective, focusing on potential gains rather than just losses, making the issue personal, and avoiding jargon. The report emphasizes that while the science is serious, communication needs to be honest, useful, and hopeful to resonate with a broader audience.

IUCN to Engage Actively at UN Climate Change Conference COP31 Amidst Urgent Climate Crisis

IUCN to Engage Actively at UN Climate Change Conference COP31 Amidst Urgent Climate Crisis

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is preparing for active engagement at the UN Climate Change Conference COP31. This conference is set to occur at a critical juncture, as the global consequences of climate change have become increasingly evident, and the 1.5°C temperature rise goal is now considered unavoidable due to delayed action. The IUCN will emphasize the urgent need for significant emissions reductions, the protection and restoration of ecosystems, and the implementation of transformative adaptation strategies. Additionally, the organization will advocate for scaling up climate finance. A key focus for IUCN will be ensuring that the necessary energy and climate transitions are just, nature-positive, and foster stronger synergies across the Rio Conventions. The organization also stresses the importance of collaboration between State and non-State actors to achieve tangible outcomes that benefit climate, nature, and people.

Delaware Forest Service Promotes Urban Forestry Grants Through Lombardy Elementary Tree Planting

Delaware Forest Service Promotes Urban Forestry Grants Through Lombardy Elementary Tree Planting

The Delaware Forest Service (DFS) Urban and Community Forestry Program, in partnership with Lombardy Elementary School in Wilmington, planted eight new trees on school grounds. This initiative builds on a previous effort last fall, bringing the school's total to 20 new trees over two years. The project is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program, which provides federal funding via the USDA Forest Service for urban and community forestry initiatives nationwide. Taryn Davidson, Delaware Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager, emphasized that planting trees at schools creates healthier outdoor spaces and offers students firsthand learning opportunities about the importance of trees. DFS Education Specialist Ashley Melvin also provided an educational activity for students.