Forests in the News : What's New for March 1-8, 2010

TODAYS EDITION - complete list

Recreation Fees Big Part of Public Land Privatization Plan, New West

Bighorn forest's first trailhead 'amenity fee' draws fire, Billings Gazette

Bighorn NF: West Ten Sleep Trailhead Users Shouldn't See New Fees -- Just Yet, Sheridan Media

Chief Tidwell discusses right-sizing the Forest Service road system, Wildlands CPR

Statement of Tom Tidwell, Forest Service Chief Concerning The President's Budget Request for the USDA Forest Service in Fiscal Year 2011 , House Appropriations Committee

Local officials press for federal aid - County commissioners tell White House staff that an end to timber payments will bring major cutbacks, Eugene Register-Guard

Drug gangs taking over US public lands, including Sequoia National Forest:, Google AP

In Utah, a move to seize federal land - The state House passes a bill allowing the use of eminent domain to take protected land from the federal government, Los Angeles Times

Hatch Votes for Amendment to Bar Use of Antiquities Act to Create National Monuments - The amendment was defeated by a 58-38 margin, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch

A gathering in the forest - Bringing together an eclectic mix of people, the Rainbow Family reunites each year in the Ocala National Forest for a communal camp-out, Gainesville Sun

GAO: USFS Fuel Reduction Projects 98% Litigation-Free, New West

Information on Appeals, Objections, and Litigation Involving Fuel Reduction Activities, Fiscal Years 2006 through 2008 , GAO [pdf]

Bingaman: Collaboration Appears to Be Leading to Healthier Forests, US Senator Jeff Bingaman

Chopping Down an Urban Myth About Litigation, U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

USDA Forest Service CCC Training Underserved Youth for Today's Green Jobs, USDA

Researchers want to know: Will sound put bark beetles on the run?, Riverside Press-Enterprise

Report: Battling Forest Beetles May be Counter-Productive, The National Center for Conservation Science and Policy

Logging Won't Halt Beetles, Fire, Report Say, New West

Report: climate, not beetles, main cause of forest fires, GJ Sentinel

CSU educators help create bark beetle pesticide, The Coloradoan

CSU researchers say shell serum could save trees from bark beetles - Pine bark beetle-control mix uses crab and shrimp shells, Denver Post

Pine Beetles Only One Threat According to 2009 Report on Health of Colorado's Forests, Colorado State University

Update on the Status of the Merchantable Timber Contracting Pilot Program, GAO [pdf]

Northern Region's top forester discusses challenges agency faces, Missoulian

Pacific Northwest forests act as massive carbon banks, Los Angeles Times

Burn up the biosphere - And call it renewable energy?, Biofuelwatch [ppt]

Risks posed by the WECHAR (Water efficiency via Carbon Harvesting and Restoration) Bill, Biofuelwatch [pdf]

Is Wood Biomass Electric Generation Renewable and Carbon Neutral?, Montana Public Radio

The Wrong Kind of Green, The Nation

The Green Building Battles, E magazine

Many maple bats get banned in minors - USDA Forest Service's Forest Products Laboratory studied the issue, Alva Review/Courier

WORLD NEWS

Finding a new way in the woods - Ailing forest economy unites first nations and businesses in B.C.'s northwest to create value from low-quality wood, Vancouver Sun

Forestry Commission - News - forest research scientists to contribute to key conference on tree diseases, Great Britain Forestry Commission

Uganda Fails to Meet the Highly Growing Demand for Timber, Kampala Monitor

CONGRESS & WASHINGTON

Hearing on S. 2895, and other Forest Service related legislation, U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests

S.2895 - Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection, and Jobs Act, Library of Congress

Chopping Down an Urban Myth About Litigation, U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

In Utah, a move to seize federal land - The state House passes a bill allowing the use of eminent domain to take protected land from the federal government, Los Angeles Times

Hatch Votes for Amendment to Bar Use of Antiquities Act to Create National Monuments - The amendment was defeated by a 58-38 margin, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch

Climate Centers Will Aid Regional Efforts To Responsibly Manage Public Lands, The Wilderness Society

Local officials press for federal aid - County commissioners tell White House staff that an end to timber payments will bring major cutbacks, Eugene Register-Guard

NORTHERN REGION (Region 1)

Northern Region's top forester discusses challenges agency faces, Missoulian

New regional forester discusses agency challenges, Grand Forks Herald AP

Ag Secretary to tour Montana beetle-killed forests, The Clark Fork Chronicle

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Promotes Collaborative Approach to Forest Restoration and Job Creation in Montana, USDA

Ag secretary Vilsack sees "tremendous opportunity" in forest bill, Billings Gazette

Forest Service slowly embraces Tester plan to log 10,000 acres a year for 10 years, Missoulian

Tester's bill would help Forest Service do its job, Billings Gazette letter

Bitterroot forest walks fine line between ponderosa health, campground aesthetics, Ravalli Republic

Custer National Forest studies Crooked Creek plan, Billings Gazette

Flathead National Forest: A Tale of Two Maps, Flathead Beacon

Thinning shouldn't disrupt ski trails, Independent Record

Hikers protest new uphill policy, Whitefish Pilot

Lolo releases State of the Rattlesnake report, The Clark Fork Chronicle

Act Now to Protect Bull Trout Habitat, Wildlands CPR

Environmentalists to honor Koehler this Saturday, The Clark Fork Chronicle

Is Wood Biomass Electric Generation Renewable and Carbon Neutral?, Montana Public Radio

ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION (Region 2)

Report: climate, not beetles, main cause of forest fires, GJ Sentinel

CSU educators help create bark beetle pesticide, The Coloradoan

CSU researchers say shell serum could save trees from bark beetles - Pine bark beetle-control mix uses crab and shrimp shells, Denver Post

Pine Beetles Only One Threat According to 2009 Report on Health of Colorado's Forests, Colorado State University

2009 Report on the Health of Colorado's Forests, Colorado State University [pdf]

Gems bid makes sense - A time will come when there no longer will be pristine areas like those covered by the Hidden Gems, Vail Daily letter

Ranger cites snowmobiler for allegedly poaching Aspen Wilderness, Aspen Times

Forest Service to discuss Vail Valley logging project, Vail Daily

Forest Service open house Thursday for Upper Eagle River Beetle Salvage Project, Summit Daily

Risky trees in Shoshone campgrounds get the ax, Powell Tribune

Risky trees in Shoshone NF campgrounds get the ax, KIFI

Bighorn forest's first trailhead 'amenity fee' draws fire, Billings Gazette

Bighorn NF: West Ten Sleep Trailhead Users Shouldn't See New Fees -- Just Yet, Sheridan Media

SOUTHWESTERN REGION (Region 3)

Cibola Forest Plan Seeks Public Input, Albuquerque Journal

Valles Caldera's new science center offers unique opportunity to students, Santa Fe New Mexican

Valles Caldera opens new center, Santa Fe New Mexican

Valles Caldera: Programs at Risk, Albuquerque Journal

Trust Argues for Status Quo , Albuquerque Journal editorial

Preserve Better Under Park Service, Albuquerque Journal letter

Men settle illegal logging case, Santa Fe New Mexican

Biomass Plant Could Lose Tax Credits, Mountain View Telegraph

Lee to lead NM Federal Lands Council, Ruidoso News

Coronado National Forest Plan Revision Meetings Announced, UTV Weekly

Alpha Group member installs high-tech solar system at the U.S. Forest Service office in Tucson, Bellingham Herald

Prescott National Forest Bradshaw Vegetation Management Project: Notice of intent to prepare an EIS, Federal Register

Questions remain for Kaibab Forest Travel Management Plan, Williams News

INTERMOUNTAIN REGION (Region 4)

In Utah, a move to seize federal land - The state House passes a bill allowing the use of eminent domain to take protected land from the federal government, Los Angeles Times

Hatch Votes for Amendment to Bar Use of Antiquities Act to Create National Monuments - The amendment was defeated by a 58-38 margin, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch

Bridger-Teton National Forest won't bar big box - Official rejects idea of easement restricting North Cache development, Jackson Hole News&Guide

Wyo. regional forester rejects big box store ban, KTRV

Sawtooth National Forest head to retire April 2, Twin Falls Times-News

Humboldt-Toiyabe NF: Court hears forest grazing permit suit, Capital Press

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST (Region 5)

Drug gangs taking over US public lands, including Sequoia National Forest:, Google AP

Mendocino National Forest OHV Program seeks public input on grant proposals, Lake County News

Conservancy looks toward forests' future - The Sustainable Sierra Initiative at least tries to solve the riddle of forest management, Redding Record Searchlight

Unspotted spotted owl in way of chairlift, San Bernardino County Sun

Men get fines, probation for illegal off-roading, Tahoe Daily Tribune

Researchers want to know: Will sound put bark beetles on the run?, Riverside Press-Enterprise

Forest Aid Year II Launches in San Bernardino Nat'l Forest March 4, PR Newswire

PACIFIC NORTHWEST (Region 6)

New Colville forest supervisor chosen, Omak Chronicle

Forest Road Repair Dollars, Jobs Arrive in Oregon, Public News Service

Pacific Northwest forests act as massive carbon banks, Los Angeles Times

Pacific Northwest Forests Top at Storing Carbon - Wilderness Society analysis names top ten national forest "carbon banks", The Wilderness Society

Biomass energy generating coming to Eugene, KMTR

Local officials press for federal aid - County commissioners tell White House staff that an end to timber payments will bring major cutbacks, Eugene Register-Guard

SOUTHERN REGION (Region 8)

A gathering in the forest - Bringing together an eclectic mix of people, the Rainbow Family reunites each year in the Ocala National Forest for a communal camp-out, Gainesville Sun

Chattahoochee-Oconee NF: Hunters Shoot, Kill Forest Service Officer, WSB Atlanta

Forest Service ranger, mistaken for coyote, shot and killed, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Statement by Secretary Vilsack on Death of Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer, USDA News

Trout Unlimited Opposes Gas Drilling in the Monongahela National Forest - Marcellus Shale drilling would destroy native Eastern brook trout habitat, Huntington News Network

Earth First! plans demonstration outside Asheville Forest Service offices, Mountain Xpress

Local forest products co-op seeking project proposals, Asheville Citizen-Times

Land-of-Sky taking apps for timber-biz grants, Mountain Xpress