Bipartisan approach to forest management

The state legislature gaveled to a close last week, a couple days shy of the 90 days maximum set by law. Even though there were numerous media articles regarding the hot button topics of taxes and tax reform, pay bands and pensions, Medicaid expansion and so forth, legislation pertaining to forestry and forest management (not being the issue de jour) never made the press.

Nonetheless, several bills passed with overwhelming bipartisan support having immediate and long-range positive impacts for Montana’s forest products industry. A couple bills also serve to support national congressional efforts as well.

I would venture to say that this was the first session since Montana joined the union in 1889 that state officials were so keenly interested in the management of federal timberlands within our borders. Our electorate witness year after year how well state lands are managed, which has led to a mounting dissatisfaction regarding the lack of management on federal forests.

We all notice the mile after mile of dead and dying timber stands and are fed up with our summer outdoor activities getting cut short due to wildfire season. We used to have four distinct seasons — winter, spring, summer and fall. Now we have five — winter, spring, summer, fire and fall.

This is simply not OK anymore. State and federal officials alike are banding together to find solutions to some very complex challenges. Our representatives understand that allowing the same management scenario to continue — and to expect a different outcome — is crazy. We need new and radical solutions, or the 6 million acre death toll in Montana will undoubtedly rise.

A couple state bills transmitted to Gov. Steve Bullock specifically state that catastrophic wildland fire has the potential to jeopardize Montanan’s constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment and thus instructs the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to advocate for the inclusion of Montana in federal legislation by establishing a “good neighbor policy.”

This policy would allow the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to enter into a cooperating agreement with the state forester. Engagement in forest management and education activities will reduce wildland fire risk and intensity on federal land designated as wildland-urban interface.

This “good neighbor” authority includes the treatment of insect-infested trees, reduction of hazardous fuels, and any other activities to improve the overall diversity and vigor of forested landscapes.

This authority mirrors a recently introduced bill by Sen. John Barrasso, of Wyoming, authorizing the secretaries to enter into similar cooperative agreements with state foresters concerning watershed restoration and protection services.

Complimentary to state and national “good neighbor” authorities is a bill introduced by Sens. Max Baucus, Michael Bennett, Mark Udall and Ron Wyden, titled the “National Forest Insect and Disease Treatment Act of 2013.”

This bill aims to remove dead and dying trees damaged by disease, bark beetle and other insect infestations. The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with state governors, to designate as part of an insect and disease treatment program one or more sub-watersheds in at least one national forest in each state that is experiencing an insect and disease infestation, while maximizing the retention of old-growth and large trees.

The idea of expediting such treatments is popular in the Western states of Colorado, Montana and Oregon. Colorado is ground zero for massive pine beetle infestations and recent catastrophic wildfires. Over the past decade, Montana has experienced ever increasing wildfire severity — and without intervention is not far behind.

The U.S. House of Representatives has been busy crafting legislation as well. Rep. Doc Hastings, of Washington, introduced a bill which is meant to restore active management on national forests and provide timber revenue to counties. The bill directs the Forest Service to actively manage commercial timberlands to produce revenues by harvesting at least 50 percent of the sustained yield of timber and provide 25 percent of the receipts to local counties.

Several other forest management-related bills have been introduced into Congress over the past couple of months. The common theme is to authorize state involvement of federal forest management. Governors recognize the importance of healthy watersheds within their state jurisdictions and the cost to the tax payer when these watersheds are at risk.

The activity and interest on both the state and national level is welcomed. It is a sign of the deep frustration that is apparent in both legislative bodies, and the need to find solutions in a bipartisan manner.

That is also most welcomed.

Julia Altemus is the executive vice president of the Montana Forest Products Association.