The AFRC Podcast: Sustainable Forests. Healthy Communities

The National Wild Turkey Federation has a proven track record of getting work done on National Forests. The NWTF has long partnered with the U.S. Forest Service on projects to conserve and restore wildlife habitat, improve forest health, and reduce severe wildfire risks. In recent years the organization has taken an even greater role in federal lands management. In 2022, the NWTF signed a National Master Stewardship Agreement with the Forest Service that invests some $50 million in forest restoration work over the next 20 years. More recently, NWTF signed an additional agreement to help implement elements of the Forest Service's Wildfire Crisis Strategy. NWTF's Molly Pitts joins the AFRC Podcast to discuss their partnership and explains why the timber industry is vital to conservation efforts.

In just the past few months, three sawmills in western Oregon have announced closures or curtailments. All three facilities are surrounded by some of the most productive public forestland in the country. All three purchase and rely on public timber to operate and sustain workforces. And all three cited the lack of timber supply as a significant factor in the decision to close or curtail operations. In March, AFRC urged the Pacific Northwest's congressional delegation to take action to address challenges to the region’s forest and wood products sector that supports more than 150,000 private sector jobs in Oregon and Washington. The sector also provides critical infrastructure for the federal government to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risks on federal lands, and to help meet the growing demand for carbon friendly wood products. In this month's AFRC Podcast, we speak with one of the companies forced to make this painful decision. Our guest is Doug Cooper of Hampton Lumber.

In December, Congressman Cliff Bentz of Oregon led a coalition of U.S. Representatives and Senators in filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, urging the Court to hear two important and critical cases challenging the President's misuse of the Antiquities Act. These cases, American Forest Resource Council v. United States of America and Murphy Company v. Biden, present a clear opportunity for the Court to establish limits on presidential authority and uphold the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine. It also presents an opportunity to restore responsible management to 2.6 million acres of western Oregon O&C lands, which are critical to the social and economic well-being of rural counties. As the Supreme Court nears a decision point on these cases, Congressman Bentz joins The AFRC Podcast to discuss the Antiquities Act and the importance of curbing executive overreach.

In December the Biden Administration announced its policy to conserve old growth forests on lands managed by the federal government. The policy caps a nearly two-year process after Biden signed his Earth Day executive order in 2022, including defining, inventorying and assessing the greatest threats to the nation’s old growth. Under the administration's direction, the U.S. Forest Service is now proposing an amendment to the land management plans of every National Forest in the country that will create new standards and guidelines regarding the management and recruitment of old growth forests across the country. To help us understand this new old growth policy, and what it means for forest management and wood products industry, AFRC Federal Timber Program Director Andy Geissler joins the podcast.

2024 promises to be another eventful year for public lands management and the forest products industry. It's a big election year, and the Biden Administration, Congress, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and perhaps even the U.S. Supreme Court could make major changes to federal forest policy. Meanwhile, the industry is navigating multiple challenges including limited wood supply in the Pacific Northwest. What will the new year bring? AFRC President Travis Joseph joins us to discuss the key issues, challenges and opportunities in 2024.

When it comes to severe wildfire, Montana's Lincoln County has the most acres at risk of any county in the state. Lincoln County is also the home of the 2.2 million-acre Kootenai National Forest, where efforts by public lands managers to restore forest health and reduce fire risks have been met by an endless string of anti-forestry lawsuits that has brought management to a standstill. Many of these lawsuits focus on Grizzly bears, which despite their abundance in western Montana, remain protected as a threatened species. The narrative behind these lawsuits that is that humans and grizzlies can't co-exist. But they can, thanks to adaptive forest management. On this episode of The AFRC Podcast, we talk to Bruce and Chas Vincent, father and son from a legendary Montana logging family that is putting adaptive management into action, and proving we can co-exist with nature.

Wood products made by AFRC members are shipped throughout the United States. It's common to find lumber on the East Coast that's sustainably harvested and manufactured here in the Pacific Northwest. But Western Forest Products' operation in Vancouver, Washington is unique. They make wood products for the Japanese housing market, tailor-made for that country’s traditional architecture and aesthetic - described as simple, elegant, dignified and dominated by natural wood. In fact, wood is highly valued in Japan. In Japanese homes you'll often find it uncoated as a show of respect for the material and its natural beauty. In this episode of The AFRC Podcast, we chat with Western Forest Products' David Bartholomew and how our industry meets the needs of wood lovers in Japan and across the world.

As wildfires rage, the media frequently reports the devastation to ecosystems, air quality, and other values. However, the public often doesn't hear about cases where forest management, including fuels reduction and timber harvest, successfully worked to limit the damage to forests and communities. Such is the case with the Southwest Oregon's Flat Fire that directly threatened the small community of Agness, and gained strength in July as it burned through snags and other heavy fuels left over from the monstrous 2002 Biscuit Fire. Thankfully, firefighters enjoyed a few advantages, including a key ridgeline and a series of timber sales and fuels reduction projects that were implemented starting in 2006. In essence, the fight against this year's Flat Fire started decades ago. And similar efforts throughout the Pacific Northwest are often developed with the support of AFRC's monitoring team. In this episode, we chat with Corey Bingaman- our Western Oregon Field Coordinator- about the Flat Fire and the important work of protecting our forests green.

In 1937, Congress approved the O&C Act reserving 2.4 million acres in western Oregon for “permanent forest production,” requiring that timber "shall be sold, cut, and removed in conformity with the principle of sustained yield” timber harvest. For decades, the O&C Act facilitated a successful partnership between the Bureau of Land Management and the 18 counties that receive half of the timber revenues from O&C lands. The meaning of the O&C Act came into question when President Clinton- under the Antiquities Act- created the 52,000-acre Cascade Siskiyou National Monument on O&C Lands in 2000. And later, when President Obama expanded the monument by another 48,000 acres in his final hours in office. Does the O&C Act mean what it says? Can a president use a proclamation under the Antiquities Act to repurpose thousands of acres of federal lands that Congress had already designated as working timberlands? These are questions that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court. To help provide some answers, AFRC Legal Counsel Sara Ghafouri joins the podcast.

U.S. Senator Steve Daines of Montana has been fighting for commonsense forest management since Day 1 in Congress. He recognizes the importance of the state's natural resources to its rural communities, and as a member of key committees in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, Sen. Daines has fought to support Montana's timber industry and reduce the risks of severe wildfire. In this Congress, he has worked across the aisle to advance critical reforms, such as reversing the disastrous Cottonwood decision and ensuring firefighters have the tools they need to keep Montana's communities safe. To discuss these efforts, Senator Steve Daines joins the AFRC Podcast.

As part of debt ceiling negotiations, Congress and the Biden Administration agreed to reform federal permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act. Like many other agencies, NEPA has a major impact on operations inside the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, where compliance often requires considerable agency staff time and money. Its implementation also serves as a potent hook for lawsuits that stymie active forest management. These recent NEPA reforms in the debt deal were included in the so-called "Fiscal Responsibility Act." While most news coverage and analyses have focused on energy and infrastructure permitting, these changes also affect federal forest management. As the federal government seeks to address the nation's forest health and wildfire crisis, these changes may be good...or bad. To discuss how the 'Fiscal Responsibility Act' may (or may not) improve forest management, AFRC General Council Sara Ghafouri and AFRC Government Affairs Director Heath Heikkila join the AFRC Podcast.

In April the Bureau of Land Management announced a proposed rule it says will lead to better management of public lands, waters, and wildlife. Critics of the BLM 'conservation rule counter it will end multiple use management on the 245 million acres of public lands in the west. Some say the rule gives the BLM more tools to implement land conservation and mitigation projects such as thinning overstocked forests. Others say it allows environmental groups to lease public lands in order to close them to the public. There also concerns the rule's proposed expansion of "Areas of Critical Environmental Concern" could be used as de facto wilderness designations to further restrict multiple uses. The BLM is seeking public comments on the proposed rule by June 20, 2023. Andy Geissler, AFRC's Federal Timber Program Manager, joins the AFRC Podcast to help us better understand the BLM conservation rule.

Roseburg Forest Products has announced what's considered to be the largest investment in manufacturing in rural Oregon ever. The company says it will spend $700 million in two new manufacturing plants and two existing plants, benefitting the Dillard, Coquille and Medford communities. The investment will fortify Roseburg's ability to keep its integrated Oregon operations competitive for the long term. Eric Geyer, Roseburg's Director of Government Affairs, joins The AFRC Podcast to discuss this historic investment.

As U.S. Representative for Oregon's 2nd Congressional District, Cliff Bentz represents Oregon's largest district, and the seventh largest district in the nation. It is home to wide swaths of federally-owned forests that have been heavily impacted by severe wildfire, insects and disease. Rep. Bentz is determined to improve federal forest management, and as an experienced attorney specializing in water law, is well equipped to tackle water issues that are important to the people of eastern and southern Oregon. In February 2023, he was named Chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries. Rep. Bentz joins The AFRC Podcast to discuss forestry, water and wildfire in the 118th Congress.

In February, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) announced plans to make major new investments at the company's existing Eugene, Oregon manufacturing site, including building a new cutting mill and a state-of-the art-stud mill to replace existing facilities. SPI has had a growing presence in Oregon since it acquired Seneca just two years ago. Once complete, the expansion will nearly double the company's production capacity to a total of 650 million board feet. The facility will continue to employ over 300 people, though the economic impact of this expansion will be felt throughout Lane County and the entire state. Todd Payne, SPI's President of Lumber, joins the podcast to provide details on the expansion, and what it means for the company's workers, communities and Oregon's economy.

Montana- like many states across the west- is facing a forest health and wildfire crisis that needs urgent action. Most of Montana's forests are managed by federal agencies, yet its forests span different ownerships that come with different management objectives and policies. Fortunately, Montana has strong leadership that recognizes that no one government or agency can address this crisis alone. Cross-boundary forestry has emerged as a key innovation in accelerating and expanding forest health treatments. And the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is playing a central role in bringing land managers and stakeholders together to get more work done on the ground. Policy tools like Good Neighbor Authority has empowered DNRC to partner with the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to plan and implement more forest restoration projects that address many shared priorities. To discuss the agency's efforts and successes with cross-boundary forestry, DNRC Director Amanda Kaster joins The AFRC Podcast.

In Northeast Washington, a collaborative of conservationists, local leaders and industry have accelerated forest restoration through a concept called "A to Z" - a public-private partnership that is showing real progress on the ground.  Not only is the Colville National Forest making progress in achieving its restoration goals, it has also been one of the top producers of sustainable timber in the region. For Vaagen Brothers Lumber, making A to Z work meant putting its own business on the line to achieve positive outcomes, not only for itself, but for local public lands and the communities where they operate. To discuss A to Z, Duane Vaagen, CEO of Vaagen Brothers Lumber joins The AFRC Podcast.

The 2022 mid-term elections have concluded, and divided government is returning to Washington D.C. Republicans have gained a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, while Democrats will retain a slim majority in the U.S. Senate.  The make-up of the next Congress and its leaders will have a major impact on forestry and federal land management in 2023. What does the new Congress mean for forestry, timber and issues like wildfire mitigation? To help us understand the meaning of the 2022 elections, what to expect on Capitol Hill, and which leaders to watch, our resident political expert, AFRC Government Affairs Director Heath Heikkila, joins the podcast.

The Pacific Northwest's forests sector is facing strong headwinds in timber supply. USFS Region 6 timber outputs declined again in FY 2022, registering its lowest output in nearly 20 years, at the same time the agency is receiving record funding for forest management and hazardous fuels reduction. In Olympia, the Washington DNR is moving forward with a carbon offset scheme on state trust lands that will reduce timber volume by 400 MBF and result in $500 million in lost economic activity and reduced funding for public services. Meanwhile, anti-forestry groups are pressuring the Biden Administration for a new Roadless-style rule to set aside more federal land from active management, under the guise of "protecting" mature and old growth trees. What does this squeeze in timber supply mean for forest management, wildfires, climate change and our Pacific Northwest forest sector?  To help us understand these challenges, AFRC President Travis Joseph joins the podcast. 

Wildfires in California represent a national emergency with far reaching public safety and national security implications. Since 2020, more than 3.4 million acres of U.S. Forest Service land have burned across the Golden State, a figure that includes the destruction from this year's Mosquito and McKinney Fires. Fueling these fires are increased tree mortality, insects and disease- a situation made worse by the driest conditions California has experienced in 1,200 years. Our partners at the California Forestry Association are urging federal and state agencies to react more quickly to these fires, with more resources and with more efficiency than ever before. Matt Dias, CalForests’ President and CEO is our guest in Episode 12. Matt made national news by calling on the government to use military resources to fight fires when needed. But that is just one part of a comprehensive strategy Matt says is necessary to respond to this wildfire and forest health crisis.

On Earth Day, President Biden issued an Executive Order (EO) on “Strengthening the Nation’s Forests, Communities, and Local Economies” focused on protecting “mature and old-growth forests on Federal lands.” The EO followed months of pressure by anti-forestry groups seeking to end logging on public lands. However, instead of identifying logging as a threat to older trees on federal lands, the EO identified “climate impacts, catastrophic wildfires, insect infestation, and disease” as the primary threats to all forests, including older forests. Nonetheless, the Administration directed the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to initiate a process to define and inventory old-growth and mature forests on federal lands within one year. In August the agencies issued a Request for Information from the public to inform how to proceed with meeting this direction. Joining us to discuss this process is Bill Imbergamo, executive director of Federal Forest Resource Coalition in Washington DC. FFRC is the national non-profit representing purchasers of federal timber, conservation groups, and county governments. 

In recent years severe wildfires have killed up to a fifth of the world's Giant Sequoia trees. Those who live and work near the famed Sequoia groves in California have warned for years that overstocked conditions and high tree mortality on federal forests would someday threaten these iconic trees. Approximately 85 percent of pine in the Southern Sierra Nevada have died due to insects, disease and fire. As 2022 brings more severe wildfires to the region, the federal government is taking action to implement forest management treatments in Yosemite National Park and surrounding national forests. Kent Duysen of Sierra Forest Products is a longtime advocate for forest health in Southern Sierra Nevada and recently testified to Congress in support of the Saving Our Sequoias legislation, which would expedite management activities including thinning and prescribed fire. Kent joins the AFRC podcast to discuss the crisis and what's needed to save our forests for the future.

Celebrating 100 years as a family-owned business, Tyler Freres joins The AFRC Podcast to discuss his company's history and its focus on sustainability and innovation for the future. In addition to manufacturing advanced, engineered wood products, the company is supporting Microsoft's Carbon Removal Program and provided building materials for the new Portland International Airport terminal, which utilizes wood salvaged from the 2020 Labor Day Wildfires.

At all levels of government, policymakers are seeking ways to regulate carbon and greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change. Several states have adopted cap-and-trade systems as a way to lower emissions. These systems have created markets for so-called “carbon offsets.” And thanks to the ability of our forests to sequester and store carbon, both public agencies and private interests are increasingly looking at buying and selling carbon offsets on public and private forestlands. What are carbon offsets? Are they effective? How do they impact the forest products industry? To help answer these questions, AFRC President Travis Joseph joins the AFRC Podcast. 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis, with thousands of causalities and millions of refugees. It has also generated economic shockwaves that are disrupting the global economy. In the weeks after the invasion, prices for a wide range of commodities have spiked, including wood products. In recent years American consumers have been buying more finished wood products from Russia.  The invasion is prompting American consumers and policymakers to consider where our wood products come from. AFRC President Travis Joseph joins the AFRC podcast to discuss how the invasion might impact forestry and timber in the West.

In January the Biden administration announced a new 10-year strategy called “Protecting Communities and Improving Resilience in America’s Forests.” To reverse the west's growing wildfire crisis, the strategy seeks to treat an additional 20 million acres of National Forest System lands over current treatment levels. It also comes as the Forest Service is working to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill that includes about $6 billion for hazardous fuels reduction and forest restoration activities. Heath Heikkila, our Government Affairs director, joins The AFRC Podcast to discuss the strategy and what's needed for the Biden plan to be successful. 

The State of Washington is a top producer of softwood lumber and home to some of the most productive forests in the world. These include over 2 million acres of trust lands managed by the state Department of Natural Resources, which provides essential revenues for public school construction and county and community services.  AFRC fights to protect and grow this program in Olympia and throughout the state. Matt Comisky, our Washington State Manager joins us to discuss the benefits of these unique lands and the challenges to their management.

2021 was a year of political change, devastating wildfires, volatile wood markets and a continued pandemic. What will the new year bring? On this special episode, AFRC President Travis Joseph joins the podcast to discuss key issues, challenges and opportunities on timber, lumber and public lands issues in 2022.

When it comes to federal forest management, it often seems decisions are in the hands of judges- not public lands managers- as litigation ties up forest projects throughout the west. The role of the courts will continue to loom large, even as elected officials at all levels seek to accelerate active forest management to reduce the risks of wildfire. To help us understand the process and impact of forest litigation, we are joined by Sara Ghafouri, AFRC General Counsel. 

Wildfires burned over 2.4 million acres in California in 2021. In addition to taking lives and devastating communities, the wildfires burned through iconic National Parks, killed dozens of world-famous Sequoia trees, and shrouded much of the state in smoke throughout the summer. In this episode, we'll hear from Steve Brink of the California Forestry Association, who will recap the recent wildfire season and discuss state and federal efforts to accelerate wildfire prevention and forest management throughout the state.

For over 30 years, the Northern Spotted Owl has had a significant impact on federal forest management and rural communities in the Pacific Northwest. Yet decades-old policies are failing to recover the species, and researchers are learning more about the true threats to Northern Spotted Owl habitat and the species itself. AFRC Federal Timber Program Manager Andy Geissler discusses the latest science and how active forest management can provide better outcomes for owls and people.