Wildfire Crisis Implementation Strategy Industrial Roundtables
Lick Fire on the Umatilla National Forest burning at night. Photo Credit: USDA Forest Service photo by Brendan O’Reilly
Background
In January 2022, the USDA Forest Service released Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: A Strategy for Protecting Communities and Improving Resilience in America’s Forests. Between February and June 2022, the National Forest Foundation (NFF), together with the USDA Forest Service, hosted a series of virtual roundtables across the country for employees and partners of the Forest Service to gather input on the Wildfire Crisis Strategy Implementation Plan. As follow-up to those roundtables, the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and the Forest Service are conducting industry-specific roundtables in each Forest Service Region to address the challenge of biomass utilization, markets, and waste disposal.
Details
A National Planning Team that consists of Forest Service, Endowment, and Resources for the Future employees are organizing and hosting approximately 10-12 roundtables to represent each region, as well as a specific tribal and national roundtable. The roundtables are a mix between virtual and in-person, depending on the region. Private sector partners, local and state government, and cross industry sector representatives are invited to identify critical barriers and opportunities to utilize biomass removed from the high fire risk landscapes. Information and commitments developed from the roundtables will be used to develop an investment and partner strategy to utilize biomass waste and capture benefits to both communities and the environment through carbon capture.
PostFire Monitoring Sequoias Hypsometer Use in Pacific Southwest. Photo Credit: USDA Forest Service photo by Jamie Hinrichs
Regional Roundtable Information
A series of Industry Roundtables are being held from January – May 2023 in various regions with various partners. Regional Reports will be available after the roundtable and will be posted to this website. Please check back frequently for updates.
National
The National Roundtable will be facilitated by Resources for the Future following the completion of all Regional Roundtables. Please check back frequently for a set date and time.
Tribal
The Industry Tribal Roundtable will complement the Wildfire Crisis Implementation Plan – Tribal Workforce Capacity Dialogue Series hosted by the Intertribal Timber Council (ITC) and the Forest Service held from February – April 2023. The industry roundtable will specifically focus on industry related discussions coming out of that dialogue series and national industry roundtable discussions. This roundtable will be held virtually on Thursday, April 27th. You can register by clicking the link here.
Environmental/Non-Governmental Organizations
Please check back frequently for a set date and time.
Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands
The roundtable focused on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be facilitated in Spanish. Please check back frequently for a set date and time.
FS Region 1 – Northern
This roundtable was held virtually on January 23 at 1pm (MT). A regional report will be available on this website shortly.
FS Region 2 – Rocky Mountain
This roundtable was held in person on January 26 at 10am (MT) in Lakewood, Colorado. A regional report will be available on this website shortly.
A tribal roundtable is also being held for this region at the request of regional staff. Please check back frequently for a set date and time.
FS Region 3 – Southwestern
This region will hold separate roundtables by state.
The Arizona Industrial Roundtable will be held virtually on Thursday, April 13 at 9am (AZ time). You can register by clicking the link here.
The New Mexico Industrial Roundtable will be held virtually on Friday, April 14 at 1:30pm (MT). You can register by clicking the link here.
FS Region 4 – Intermountain
This roundtable was held on February 27 at 12pm (MT). A regional report will be available on this website shortly.
FS Region 5 – Pacific Southwest
This roundtable was held virtually on January 19 at 10am (PT). A regional report will be available on this website shortly.
FS Region 6 – Pacific Northwest
This roundtable will be held virtually on Friday, April 14 at 10:30am (PT). You can register by clicking the link here.
FS Region 8 – Southern
This roundtable will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 5 at 1pm (ET). You can register by clicking the link here.
FS Region 9 – Eastern
This roundtable will be held virtually on Thursday, April 20 at 10am (ET). You can register by clicking the link here.
FS Region 10 – Alaska
Please check back frequently for a set date and time.
For more information, please contact Michael Goergen at michael@usendowment.org or Delie Wilkens at delie@usendowment.org.
