Good Neighbor Authority Legislative Presentation Senate Resources and Environment Committee February 8, 2017 David Groeschl State Forester Idaho Department of Lands 1
Content Background – How did we get here? What is GNA? What’s been done so far? Next Steps Challenges & Opportunities Question & Answer 2
2014 Farm Bill Magnitude of issue HFRA I&D Designation Proposed Treatment Areas Additional designations 3
What is Good Neighbor Authority? Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) allows states to enter into cooperative agreements with federal agencies to achieve restoration and resilient landscape objectives across ownership boundaries. 4
3350 3200 Why are “we” doing GNA? 3050 2900 To Increase Pace & Scale of 2750 USFS Annual Mortality in Idaho Forest & Watershed 2600 Restoration on Federal Lands 2450 through Active Management 2300 2150 Benefits : Million BF 2000 Improves forest health 1850 Reduces fuels and threats to 1700 communities and watersheds 1550 from catastrophic wildfires 1400 Creates more jobs and 1250 economic benefits by providing more fiber to Idaho 1100 forest products markets 950 800 650 USFS Timber Harvest in Idaho 500 350 200 50 5 1979 1985 1990 1995 2001 2006 2011 2015
What has been done? HFRA Designations Accepted (May 2014) Passage of SCR 126 (March 2015) 2017 GNA Funding/Decision Unit (FTEs & Spending Authority) Signed Master GNA Agreement & 3 Supplemental Project Agreements (SPAs) (2016) Sold First GNA Timber Sale – Wapiti Other GNA Project Work Completed 6
Next Steps? Additional SPAs? Evaluate & Select Additional GNA Projects Administer Wapiti Timber Sale 2018 GNA Decision Unit 7
Challenges & Opportunities Focus on “End Results” Defining “Additive” Sustainability and Growth of Program Sustained Commitment NEPA Bottleneck & Legal Challenges Director’s “Moon Shot” 8
Thank You! Questions? 9
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