Conservation Northwest protects and connects old-growth forests and other wild areas from the Washington Coast to the British Columbia Rockies, vital to a healthy future for us, our children, and wildlife. Since 1989, Conservation Northwest has worke
Issue link: http://conservationnw.uberflip.com/i/122699
Roads and wildlife David Heflick Conservation associate, dhefllick@conservationnw.org Derrick Knowles Columbia Highlands campaign director, derrick@conservationnw.org Advances for wildlife Restoring dry-side forests In early February, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced special, first-year funding of nearly $1 million for forest restoration on the Colville National Forest. The collaborative proposal faced stiff competition from across the country for Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program projects, so we are particularly excited by this win. The Colville National Forest and the Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition (Forestry Coalition) jointly submitted the proposal, with strong support from the Colville Confederated Tribes, Stevens and Ferry Counties, and the state Congressional delegation. Over the past decade, Conservation Northwest and the Forestry Coalition have worked together, balancing ecological, wildfire protection, and economic objectives to improve forests and make them less prone to fire, largely in forests near homes and communities. The new funding will help us Fire-dependent ponderosa pine forests dominate the lower valleys of the Kettle River Range in northeastern Washington. Photo © James Johnston Building natural resistance Wilderness legislation and protection is an ongoing goal for places like the Kettle Crest—the crown jewel of the Colville—but it remains further out on the political horizon, while the new funding for critical restoration for wildlife is happening now. This on-the-ground restoration work is a major step forward in our Columbia Highlands Initiative. To date, 147,000 acres of the westWilderness legislation and protection is an ongoing ern Colville National Forest, much of goal for places like the Kettle Crest—the crown jewel it dry-side forest, have been restored to of the Colville. This $1 million funding for on-thebreak up uniform stands, reduce risk of uncharacteristic fire, foster the growth ground restoration work is a major step forward in our of fire-resistant trees such as larch, ponColumbia Highlands Initiative. derosa pine, and large-diameter Douglas fir. These restored forests lie within what Forestry Coalition has identified as the "Active Management Area." Here, build on work already completed, to improve habitat and sustainable management provides a flow of forest products to connectivity for wolverine, lynx, mule deer, and other wild- the rural economy and helps sustain local forestry infrastruclife, largely in the Kettle River Range adjacent to proposed ture, like mills and harvest equipment, while at the same time increasing the forest's resilience. It is widely agreed that these wilderness. Additional good news is that this grant will likely occur ev- logged-over forests, where fire has been suppressed unnatuery year for the next nine years! Restoration work in the next rally for too many years, benefit from this type of restoration. Current, ongoing projects in the Kettle River Range will decade in the nearly 500,000-acre project area on the Colville National Forest is expected to generate up to $70 million for restore 40 miles of unneeded roads. Many of these roads are local communities. How? Restoring forests is not only good harming aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. The highest priority for wildlife, it brings jobs—good, steady, skilled, local jobs— for restoration is given to roads no longer needed (many already closed to vehicle traffic) within the Forestry Coalition's to people living in northeastern Washington. "Restoration Area." These are areas with an altered forest