The Cohesive Strategy for the Northeast U.S.

Northeastern Area Association of State

ForestersState College, PAJuly 15, 2014

The FLAME Act2009 Federal Land Assistance, Management and

Enhancement (FLAME) Act directs Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to develop a Cohesive

Wildland Fire Management Strategy

Three Biggest Challenges

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National Goals• Restore and Maintain Landscapes:

Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related disturbances in accordance with management objectives

• Fire-adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure can withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property

• Wildfire Response: All jurisdictions participate in making and implementing safe, effective, efficient risk-based wildfire management decisions

Phase lll Work in 2014• Science Data & Analysis• The National Strategy• National Action Plan• Barriers & Critical Success

Factors

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• Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC)

• National Strategy Committee (NSC)

• Regional Strategy Committees (RSC)

Wildland Fire Leadership Council

National Strategic Committee

RSC RSC RSC

Status of New National Cohesive Strategy Implementation Structure

19 Management Options in the CS

Cohesive Wildland Fire Management StrategyNon-fire Fuel Treatments

Non-fire fuel treatments supportedby active timber industry

Non-fire fuel treatments in non-forested areas supported by grazing or mowing

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Non-fire fuel treatments are preferredoption but supporting markets are weak

CT DC DE IA IL IN MA MD ME MI MN MO NH NJ NY OH PA RI VT WI WV0%

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Cohesive Wildland Fire Management StrategyReduce Accidental Ignitions

High Ignitions, Low Area Burned

Low Ignitions, High Area Burned

High Ignitions, High Area Burned

Low Ignitions, Low Area Burned

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Cohesive Wildland Fire Management StrategyProtect Structures and Target Ignition Prevention

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High Buildings Involved, Low Accidental Ignitions

Low Buildings Involved, High Accidental Ignitions

High Buildings Involved, High Accidental Ignitions

Low Buildings Involved, Low Accidental Ignitions

CT DC DE IA IL IN MA MD ME MI MN MO NH NJ NY OH PA RI VT WI WV0%

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Suggested Uses:• Updating State Forest Action Plans• Revisions of Federal Land & Resource Management Plans• County Land Use Planning• Community Wildfire Protection Plans• Priority Setting/Project Planning• Grant Application Criteria

The National Strategy is based on extensive science information and analysis – found at: http://cohesivefire.nemac.org/node/26

Implementation Priorities for 2014 Interest Areas (groups of related actions):1. Resilient landscapes in the Northeast2. Collaboration with non-traditional partners,

agencies, governments, and NGOs 3. Prescribed fire and wildfire response

organizations4. Strengthen the wildland community

relationships5. Communications/Technology/Infrastructure

What Can Success Look

Like?

Embrace the Goals

A Way of Doing Business

• Framework for a culture of “working better together”

• Collaboration is the key

FIRE ADAPTED COMMUNITIES LEARNING NETWORK COMES TO ELY, MINNESOTA

• The FAC Network is a pilot project funded through the US Forest Service’s (USFS) Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) program.

• Dovetail Partners is facilitating this effort.

Dovetail Partners

, Inc.

Mashpee (MA) Collaborative

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How do we…• Restore and Maintain Landscapes?• Create and Maintain Fire Adapted

Communities?• Ensure Safe & Effective Wildfire

Response?

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Keys to Success• Challenges in Common• Willing Partners • Compatible Objectives• Collaborative Planning &

Implementation• Mutual Benefits Realized

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What the CS is doing for you• Provide tools, data and training for planning and

priority setting• Facilitate/Support collaboration and communication

externally and nationally• Help document and communicate success stories• Work on regional barriers and critical success

factors

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What you can do for the CS• Seek additional internal program/project

integration opportunities• Expand collaborative planning and implementation

with CS partners (Feds, NGOs, IAFC, Industry, etc.)• Contribute staff expertise to work on NE regional

priority actions and barriers to success• Incorporate CS goals, actions, data into state forest

action and project planning, grant applications and narratives

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Key Expectations• Agency Engagement and Leadership• Develop Strategic and Accountable

Partnerships • Set Priorities based on Cohesive Strategy Goals

and your particular goals, challenges, and needs• Maintain a Focus on Results supported by Data• Invest In and Build Organizational Capacity• Align resources to a unified Cohesive

Strategy

www.forestsandrangelands.gov

The National Website www.forestandrangelands.gov

Questions