Technical Service Provider Training to Improve Services for Family Forest Landowners

2012 Annual Report for EW12-026

Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2012: $43,874.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2015
Region: Western
State: Washington
Principal Investigator:
Lindsay Malone
Northwest Natural Resource Group

Technical Service Provider Training to Improve Services for Family Forest Landowners

Summary

In the first quarter of our new SARE project, NNRG focused on increasing landowner awareness about cost-share opportunities that can assist them in implementing conservation practices such as pre?commercial thinning, stand release, culvert replacements for fish passage, management plan creation, wildlife habitat enhancement, and other practices important to improving and maintaining the health of natural resources.

Objectives/Performance Targets

NNRG will continue to focus efforts in the second quarter of this project on recruiting additional forest owners to sign up for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) in advance of the 2013 deadline of mid-February. NNRG will also begin to address the barrier of a lack of Technical Service Providers (TSPs) by coordinating with NRCS staff in developing program materials for a web-based TSP course.

Accomplishments/Milestones

NNRG promoted EQIP through direct mailings, newsletters, and social media. To date, 26 landowners have applied for/are considering applying for 2013 EQIP.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Promoting EQIP in this first quarter of the project is an important step for removing barriers to sustainable rural economic development. These efforts engage forest owners in seeking conservation assistance in a program, that in turn, engages professional foresters to become TSPs. This nexus will result in landowners having the resources and services to conduct needed restoration and conservation activities from a broader network of TSPs with specific skills to respond to the demand for EQIP projects and the overall need for forest conservation assistance.

Collaborators:

Rick Helman

rick@nnrg.org
Staff Forester
Northwest Natural Resource Group
1917 1st Ave, Level A
Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98101
Office Phone: 2069713709
Lindsay Malone

lindsay@nnrg.org
1917 1st Avenue, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98101
Office Phone: 2069718966
Dan Stonington

dan@nnrg.org
Executive Director
Northwest Natural Resource Group
1917 1st Ave, Level A
Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98101
Office Phone: 2069713709
Kirk Hanson

kirk@nnrg.org
Director of Northwest Certified Forestry
Northwest Natural Resource Group
1917 1st Ave, Level A
Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98101
Office Phone: 3603169317