FOREST OWNERS TO BENEFIT FROM INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION

COLUMBUS, January 24, 2008 – A pioneering Memorandum of Understanding, the first of its kind in the country, was signed by three agencies responsible for forest conservation in Ohio.  The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the USDA Forest Service, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry will explore ways to provide additional financial and technical assistance to landowners bordering the Wayne National Forest for management of forest resources.  This agreement will also increase efficiency by enhancing collaboration between the agencies, facilitating the exchange of technical expertise, and developing an annual work plan to improve forest lands. 

Over 30 percent of Ohio’s 26.4 million acres is forested, and 90 percent of this forest land is held by private individuals or forest industries.  The Wayne National Forest, Ohio’s only national forest, is located over a 12-county area in southeast Ohio.  The ODNR manages 20 State forests and has over 20 service foresters to provide assistance to private landowners.   

 “The MOU mirrors a national initiative by USDA, State forest representatives, and other conservation groups,” explains Terry Cosby, NRCS State Conservationist.  “Our national leaders established a Joint Forestry Team in December 2007, which will focus on policy development and decision-making to coordinate more effective delivery of assistance to private landowners.”   

Wayne National Forest Supervisor Reddan explained how this collaboration will be felt by forest owners.  “The things we practice as a routine matter on the Forest we want to spread them to private landowners in and among the Forest. That’s the value of having all three of us working together seamlessly, so you don’t have to worry about who to call in order to accomplish the practice that you want to have.”   

Dave Lytle, state forester and chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry said, "We are pleased to work with NRCS and the Wayne National Forest to identify high priority forest conservation needs, and to coordinate our efforts to achieve the most beneficial outcomes for our forests and forest landowners.  This partnership will allow each agency to draw upon its strengths, and will be of great benefit to Ohio." 

Increasingly, forestry issues are in the spotlight, both in Ohio and nationally.  Pests, such as the emerald ash borer, and natural disasters, like the recent wildfires in California, have forest owners searching for help to protect their forest land.  With this MOU, technical and financial assistance will be prioritized and targeted to meet Ohio's most pressing forestry needs.