On forest issues in our region, “collaboration” is the latest buzzword. Can long-standing issues be resolved by local or regional stakeholder discussions? Or is it more complicated than that? Or much more complicated? Some readings:
The complexities of collaboration by the Forest Service — High Country News and a response from a newish blog A New Century of Forest Planning. The comments to the blog postings are also well worth reading.
The official blog for the Forest Planning Rule — USDA Forest Service
Snowpack, not temperature, may be most critical to sub-alpine forest carbon capture — Science Daily via Yale 360.
How to cut the costs of fighting wildfire — Headwaters Economics via Idaho Conservation League
Collaboration in Eastern Oregon — about a project in the Bend Bulletin, about legislation in the New York Times
Too bad that the leaders of KEA have so far refused to participate in the local collaboration efforts with the US Forest Service. Your views and input and observations are needed.
Thanks Ed, you’re right that we’re not involved with the Coeur d’Alene forest coalition, but we are involved in preliminary collaborative discussions around the Shoshone County WUI, and have been attending the early discussions sponsored by Rep. Minnick regarding landscapes in Bonner and Boundary counties.
We’re following the local CdA collaboration, but so far we haven’t been convinced of its conservation benefits. Its first project, the Blue Alder timber sale, was a disappointment to past and present leadership here at KEA.
Bottom line, though, is that we’re taking a careful look at each collaboration and making case-by-case determinations. And we’re now working more closely with conservation partners to be sure that broader views, input, and observations are reflected in their collaborative efforts.
Glad to hear that you are becoming involved in the WUI process in Shoshone County. Actually both the Kootenai and Shoshone County WUI boundaries need critical review. You should realize that the Blue Alder Project that you condemn was somewhat influenced by existing WUI maps and plans. This whole process seems to have been heavily influenced by parties that desire to use the wildfire threat on communities as a means for further roading/logging on the national forests, regardless of any real risk.
With tongue in cheek I can’t resist reminding you that the name Kootenai Environmental Alliance infers a higher priority for environmental challenges closer to home rather than the extreme fringes of north Idaho. So your high interest in a collaboration effort “way up north” is curious. Has Congressman Minnick’s interest influenced this new interest?
Hmmm. Maybe we should try to get this Congressman’s blessing on our ongoing Coeur d’Alene Coalition efforts. I still believe the KEA should get directly involved and not depend on the Spokane folks to represent you.