Release No. = 0383.09

=20


You = are=20 here: Home=20 / = Newsroom=20 / Latest=20 Releases / Release No. 0383.09


=20

	Release No.=20 0383.09 Contact: USDA Office of=20 Communications (202) = 720-4623 =20 Printable = version=20 Email=20 this page

	AGRICULTURE SECRETARY = VILSACK=20 ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTION AND VISION FOR = AMERICA'S=20 FORESTS

	See: Full Transcript = and Audio SEATTLE, August 14, 2009 - = Agriculture=20 Secretary Tom Vilsack today outlined his = vision=20 for the future of our nation's forests. = In his=20 first major speech regarding the U.S. = Department=20 of Agriculture's Forest Service, Vilsack = set=20 forth a new direction for conservation,=20 management, and restoration of these = natural=20 treasures. "Our nation's forestlands, both = public and=20 private, are environmental and economic = assets=20 that are in critical need of restoration = and=20 conservation," said Vilsack. "By using a = collaborative management approach with a = heavy=20 focus on restoring these natural = resources, we=20 can make our forests more resilient to = climate=20 change, protect water resources, and = improve=20 forest health while creating jobs and=20 opportunities." Climate change, catastrophic fires, = disease=20 and pests have all led to declining = forest=20 health in recent decades. The resulting = impact=20 on watersheds, the climate, local = economies,=20 wildlife, and recreation, has led the = USDA to=20 offer a new vision for our nation's = forests. By=20 taking forest management in a new = direction, the=20 Department will emphasize the role our = national=20 forestlands play in contributing to the = health=20 and prosperity of the country and = reverse the=20 trend of declining forest health. "Declining forest health and the = effects of=20 our changing climate have resulted in an = increasing number of catastrophic = wildfires and=20 insect outbreaks," said Vilsack. "It is = time for=20 a change in the way we view and manage = America's=20 forestlands with an eye towards the = future. This=20 will require a new approach that engages = the=20 American people and stakeholders in = conserving=20 and restoring both our National Forests = and our=20 privately-owned forests. It is essential = that we=20 reconnect Americans across the nation = with the=20 natural resources and landscapes that = sustain=20 us." In addition, the new approach to = managing our=20 forests aims to secure the nation's = water=20 supply. Watersheds with a large = proportion of=20 forest cover are more likely to be = associated=20 with good water quality, with forests = protecting=20 soil, moderating streamflow, supporting = healthy=20 aquatic systems, and sustaining good = water=20 quality. President Obama's American Recovery = and=20 Reinvestment Act is one component of = this new=20 direction that USDA has already begun to = implement. Through the Recovery Act, the = Obama=20 Administration is funding 512 projects = that will=20 create jobs restoring our nation's = private,=20 state and national forests through = hazardous=20 fuel reduction, forest health = protection,=20 rehabilitation, and hazard mitigation=20 activities. Nearly 170 of these projects = will=20 help maintain our forests to reduce the=20 potential for fires. Meanwhile, thirty = of these=20 projects, funded at $57 million, will = promote=20 the development of biofuels from woody = biomass=20 to help private sector businesses = establish=20 renewable energy infrastructure, create = green=20 jobs and build a new, green economy for = the 21st=20 century. The U.S. Forest Service manages = national=20 forests and grasslands encompassing 193 = million=20 acres of land, which is an area = equivalent to=20 the size of Texas. With over 80% of the = forest=20 area in the United States outside of the = National Forest System, the new vision = seeks to=20 increase public-private cooperation = regarding=20 the conservation and restoration = practices to=20 non-federal forests - state, tribal and = private=20 forest lands. The Administration's plan = calls=20 for the U.S. Forest Service to play a = leading=20 role in the development of new markets = to=20 sustain the economic viability of forest = stewardship and provide landowners with = economic=20 incentives to maintain and restore = forests. National forestlands produce economic = benefits from a diverse range of sources = including recreation and more than 200=20 hydroelectric plants operated in = national forest=20 watersheds. With more than 192 million = visitors=20 to National Forests in 2008, local = communities=20 throughout the country benefit = economically from=20 those who recreate on and near = forestlands and=20 high-quality water bodies protected by = forested=20 watersheds. A healthy and prosperous America = relies on=20 the health of our nation's forests: Nearly 87% of all of the country's = fresh=20 water supply originates from forests and = agricultural lands and more than 200 = million=20 people rely on their drinking water from = public=20 and private forests and grasslands; 53% of the Nation's total water = supply=20 originates from public and private = forest=20 lands; More than 900 cities rely on = national forest=20 watersheds; 3,400 public water systems serving = 66=20 million people in 33 states are supplied = by=20 watersheds with Forest Service = land; Public and private forests in the 20 = Northeastern and Midwestern States help = to=20 protect more the 1,600 drinking water = supplies=20 supplying more than 4 trillion gallons = per day=20 to households of more than 52 million=20 Americans; 80% of the forest area in the United = States=20 is outside of the National Forest = System; The estimated annual value of water = from=20 national forests for in-stream uses is = at least=20 $3.7 billion. # " See excerpts of = Secretary=20 Vilsack's speech online:" USDA is an equal opportunity = provider,=20 employer and lender. To file a complaint = of=20 discrimination, write: USDA, Director, = Office of=20 Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, = SW,=20 Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800)=20 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 = (TDD).=20


	News=20 Releases

			Latest=20 Releases

			Transcripts=20 and Speeches

			Agency=20 News Releases

			Radio=20 and TV Broadcasts

			How to Get=20 Information

			Subscriptions

			RSS=20 Feeds

	Reports &=20 Publications

			Agency=20 Reports

			USDA=20 Publications

	Image and Video=20 Libraries

			Secretary's=20 Photo Gallery

			Broadcast Media = &=20 Technology Center

USDA=20 Home

Site=20 Map

Policies=20 and Links
FOIA

Accessibility=20 Statement

Privacy=20 Policy

Non-Discrimination=20 Statement

Information Quality = |

USA.gov

White House=20