FOREST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION AND FUELS MANAGEMENT IN THE GREATER FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA REGION

 

This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is hereby made and entered into by and between the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Inc., hereinafter referred to as Partnership, and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Southern Research Station, and Forest Products Laboratory hereinafter referred to as the Forest Service.  This Memorandum of Understanding with the Partnership is a Forest Service Research and Develop complement to a related National Forest System Memorandum of Understanding for forest management between the Partnership and the Coconino National Forest (03-MU-11030420-663).

 

A.  PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to provide a framework for continuing cooperation between the Forest Service and the Partnership to demonstrate new forest management approaches that improve and restore ecosystem health of the ponderosa pine forest ecosystem in the Greater Flagstaff Region.  The objectives of this cooperation are to:

 

• Develop, test, and demonstrate approaches to forest ecosystem restoration that are environmentally sound, economically sustainable, and socially acceptable,

• Involve multiple and diverse interests and viewpoints at the local level to identify, analyze, and reach consensus on practical and workable solutions to critical forest ecosystem health problems in the region,

• Monitor and document the ecological impacts, effects, and tradeoffs of different restoration forestry techniques,

• Monitor and document the economic and social impacts and tradeoffs of different restoration forestry techniques, including the development of new uses and products associated with small diameter trees, and

• Share lessons learned and workable solutions to critical forest ecosystem health problems with multiple and diverse interests at the local, area, and national levels.

The area of focus for this agreement is the Greater Flagstaff Region, an overall area of approximately 180,000 acres, of which 100,000 acres are administered by the Coconino National Forest.  Within the overall project area, several research and demonstration projects were completed during the past 5 years.  The Forest Service and the Partnership will continue to work together on additional forest restoration and fuels management research and demonstration projects within the Greater Flagstaff Region.

 

• STATEMENT OF MUTUAL BENEFIT AND INTERESTS:

 

The Forest Service is responsible for conducting research and development that contributes to the scientific basis for managing natural resources in the National Forests. Long-term disruption of the natural fire regime, loss of old growth trees, huge increases in the number of smaller trees, extensive road construction, grazing, and introduction of non-native species have resulted in growing landscape homogeneity and have created serious threats to biological diversity and forest ecosystem health in Northern Arizona and, in turn, to the human communities located near or dependent upon these forest ecosystems.  As a result, forests in the Greater Flagstaff Region have, in many areas, a forest structure that adversely affects the ecological health of the forest’s ecosystems and creates conditions conducive to the outbreak of severe and uncontrollable forest fires.  Such forest wildfires are extremely difficult to suppress and place an extraordinary risk of injury to persons seeking to control them.  These wildfires also jeopardize the environmental, economic, social, and spiritual values for which the National Forest system is managed.

 

The Forest Service conducts research studies in a wide range of forest types and conditions in order to generate information with broad application to current resource challenges.  Studies are developed in partnership with other research organizations, land management agencies, and interested parties.  Research partnerships are the best approach to developing multi-disciplinary studies that are relevant to users.

 

The Coconino National Forest interfaces at numerous points with significant urban and suburban development in the greater Flagstaff area.  This urban-wildland interface creates the potential for significant damage to property and loss of life in the event of a severe and uncontrollable forest fire.  These same conditions occur in other National Forests throughout the western United States. 

 

The Rocky Mountain Research Station conducts research in the areas of developing and understanding the consequences of alternative natural resource management strategies for restoring forest health and managing forest fuels in wildland urban interface areas in cooperation with several community-based partnerships in the southwestern United States. Focus areas of the research program include responses and interactions of ecological, biological, and physical systems associated with alternative forest vegetation and fire management strategies and insect, disease, and invasive species interactions and impacts. The research program also includes developing viable economics, marketing, and utilization opportunities related to alternative forest health restoration and fuels management activities.

 

The Ecologically Sustainable Production of Forest Resources (ESP) team at the Pacific Northwest Research Station has a research mission to serve all states west of the Mississippi River.  The team examines the fundamental relations among forest management alternatives and the availability and characteristics of the goods and services that humans desire from forested landscapes. Projects include assessing the technical feasibility of new technologies, of producing primary and secondary wood products, and producing non-timber forest products through empirical studies and simulation.  These projects aid natural resource managers in understanding how forest management activities at different spatial and temporal scales or through planned and unplanned disturbances can affect resource characteristics. Fostering innovation in matching resource characteristics to product opportunities is needed in dealing with restoration and fuel reduction treatments.  The ESP Team disseminates research findings and provides technical assistance to resource managers, technical organizations, users of natural resources, and others interested in the physical characteristics, processing, or marketing of forest products.

 

The Southern Research Station has a national research program to provide the scientific knowledge and technology development for economically and ecologically viable forest operations.  New management objectives such as restoration forestry and fuel reduction treatments present challenges to resource managers.  There are critical questions about how existing operations may be used effectively to implement new management approaches.  In addition, there are clearly new operational requirements and constraints that could be best addressed through the development of new operational tools.

 

The Forest Products Laboratory provides technical information on potential uses, markets, processing and manufacturing procedures for small diameter and underutilized forest thinnings.  Since 1993, FPL has focused on the issue of what to do with the significant amount of small diameter trees that are crowding the national forests and creating catastrophic wildfire conditions.  Potential uses include lumber, millwork, water filters, wood/plastic composites, roundwood engineered structures, and erosion control products.  The Forest Products Laboratory will provide technical information and assistance to address the forest thinning utilization issue around Flagstaff.

 

The Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership is a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of Arizona with an elected Board of Directors selected from diverse entities in the community.  The Partnership is dedicated to preserving and enhancing forest ecosystems within the greater Flagstaff area, including the Coconino National Forest.  As such, the Partnership recognizes the broad public interest in, and the benefit from, the restoration and hazardous fuels reduction activities, including development, testing, and demonstration of restoration forestry and consensus building approaches, and recognizes the need to bring private resources to bear in these efforts.  The Partnership works with a broad-based Partnership Advisory Board, consisting of national, state, and local public and private organizations with an interest in restoration of forest ecosystem health, hazardous fuels reduction, and creation of restoration-based economic opportunities.  Through this Board, and by working with the Forest Service and Coconino National Forest, the Partnership has available the expertise, advice, and resources of multiple partners with recognized expertise in restoration forestry, hazardous fuels reduction, and related issues.  All meetings of this Partnership Advisory Board are open to the public.

 

The Forest Service and the Partnership recognize the continuing need to develop and demonstrate potential restoration forestry management approaches that can improve the ecological health and reduce hazardous fuels in the Flagstaff Urban-Wildland Interface Area and that are economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sound.  Through these demonstration projects, the Forest Service and the Partnership can build consensus about restoration forestry and forest management among a wide range of interested parties at the local, area, and national level.  These restoration approaches and the results of the consensus building may later be applied to similar situations in other National Forests and communities. In addition, the basic scientific information developed through designed research studies will provide valuable knowledge that can be applied in other landscapes in the West. The Forest Service and Partnership recognize the broad public interest in, and the benefit from, forest restoration and hazardous fuels reduction activities, including development, testing, and demonstration of restoration forestry and consensus building approaches, and recognizes the need to bring diverse resources to bear in these efforts.

 

• THE FOREST SERVICE SHALL:

• Work with Partnership and Coconino National Forest to develop and implement scientific studies to test and demonstrate alternative restoration prescriptions, approaches and techniques that will incorporate ecological, economic, forest products, and forest operations research objectives.

• In cooperation with the Partnership and Coconino National Forest, examine the current ecological conditions on the selected landscapes, work with the Partnership to facilitate community discussions, and contribute to developing a broad range of prescriptions for the stewardship and restoration of the selected landscape.

• Prepare reports and publications and share research data for the benefit of all partners. Participate in community and regional knowledge and technology sharing forums, workshops, and field trips to effectively disseminate information to partners and the public.

• THE COOPERATOR SHALL:

• Work with the Forest Service to determine the areas where work is needed to implement the restoration forestry prescriptions on the ground, to test, develop, and demonstrate different approaches and techniques for implementation, and to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the treatments. Contribute resources and expertise to assist in accomplishing the approved restoration and monitoring activities.

• Provide public education, information, and support for Forest Service restoration and research projects through Partnership sponsored forums and field trips, and press releases concerning specific projects and forest restoration activities in general.

• Assure the Partnership and its agents, contractors and subcontractors comply with all the terms and conditions of this MOU and any subsequent Forest Service implementing instruments, such as but not limited to contracts, Cooperative or Joint Venture Agreements, or Domestic Grants, issued to the Partnership to carry out restoration activities, including development, testing, and demonstrating potential restoration forestry management approaches that improve the ecological health in the Greater Flagstaff Region.
  

• IT IS MUTUALLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED BY AND BETWEEN THE PARTIES THAT:

• PRESS RELEASES.  The Forest Service and the Partnership will coordinate on any press releases and other public statements concerning this MOU and any implementing instruments.

• ANNUAL REVIEW OF RESTORATION ACTIVITIES AND RESEARCH STUDIES.  The Forest Service and the Partnership will conduct and document a formal annual review of the restoration activities and research studies implemented under this agreement, and make modifications as appropriate and mutually agreed.  Identify projects for future years during the annual review based on anticipated completion of existing research studies and available funding. Update the Partnership Research Reference Guide available on the world-wide-web at http://www.gffp.org/monitor/ref_guide_2.pdf.

• FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA).  Any information furnished to the Forest Service under this instrument is subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

• PARTICIPATION IN SIMILAR ACTIVITIES.  This instrument in no way restricts the Forest Service or the Cooperator(s) from participating in similar activities with other public or private agencies, organizations, and individuals.

• MODIFICATION.  Modifications within the scope of the instrument shall be made by mutual consent of the parties, by the issuance of a written modification, signed and dated by all parties, prior to any changes being performed.  
  
  
• COMMENCEMENT/EXPIRATION/TERMINATION.  This MOU takes effect upon the signature of the Forest Service and the Cooperator and shall remain in effect until March 1, 2009.  This MOU may be extended or amended upon written request of either the Forest Service or Cooperator and the subsequent written concurrence of the other(s).  Either the Forest Service or Cooperator may terminate this MOU with a 60-day written notice to the other(s).

• RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTIES.  The Forest Service and the Cooperator and their respective agencies and office will handle their own activities and utilize their own resources, including the expenditure of their own funds, in pursuing these objectives.  Each party will carry out its separate activities in a coordinated and mutually beneficial manner. 
  

• PRINCIPAL CONTACTS.  The principal contacts for this instrument are:

 

            a.      FOREST SERVICE TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVES: 

 

RMRS Representative:	Carl Edminster
Forest Service Organization:	USDA FS, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Street Address:	2500 S. Pine Knoll Dr.
City, State & Zip:	Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Telephone:	928-380-5973
Fax:	928-556-2130
Email:	cedminster@fs.fed.us

 

PNW Representative:	Eini C. Lowell
Forest Service Organization:	USDA FS, Pacific Northwest Research Station
Street Address:	P.O. Box 3890
City, State & Zip:	Portland, OR 97208
Telephone:	503-808-2072
Fax:	503-808-2020
Email:	elowell@fs.fed.us

 

SRS Representative:	Robert B. Rummer
Forest Service Organization:	USDA FS, Southern Research Station
Street Address:	520 Devall Drive
City, State & Zip:	Auburn, AL 36830
Telephone:	334-826-8700
Fax:	334-826-0037
Email:	rrummer@fs.fed.us

 

FPL Representative:	Susan L. LeVan-Green
Forest Service Organization:	USDA FS, Forest Products Laboratory
Street Address:	One Gifford Pinchot Dr.
City, State & Zip:	Madison, WI 53726
Telephone:	608-231-9518
Fax:	608-231-9592
Email:	slevan@fs.fed.us

 

            b.      FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACTS:  

 

RMRS Contact:	Debra Jensen
Forest Service Organization:	USDA FS, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Street Address:	240 West Prospect Road
City, State & Zip:	Fort Collins, CO  80526-2098
Telephone:	970- 498-1177
Fax:	970- 498-1396
Email:	djensen@fs.fed.us

 

PNW Contact:	Margaret A. Hamilton
Forest Service Organization:	USDA FS, Pacific Northwest Research Station
Street Address:	PO Box 3890
City, State & Zip:	Portland OR 97208
Telephone:	503-808-2025
Fax:	503-808-3146
Email:	mahamilton@fs.fed.us

 

SRS Contact:	Kathy Hart
Forest Service Organization:	USDA FS, Southern Research Station
Street Address:	PO Box 2680
City, State & Zip:	Asheville NC 28802
Telephone:	828-257-4228
Fax:	828-259-0540
Email:	khart@fs.fed.us

 

FPL Contact:	John Bachhuber
Forest Service Organization:	USDA FS, Forest Products Laboratory
Street Address:	One Gifford Pinchot Dr.
City, State & Zip:	Madison, WI 53726
Telephone:	608-231-9282
Fax:	608-231-9592
Email:	jbachhuber@fs.fed.us

 

• COOPERATOR'S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVES:
  

Principal Investigator:	Hiram B. Smith, President
Cooperator Name:	Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Inc.
Street Address/PO Box:	1300 S. Milton Rd., Suite 218
City, State & Zip:	Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Telephone:	928-523-7502
Fax:	928-523-0296
Email:	Doc.Smith@nau.edu

 

Name, Title:	Steve Gatewood, Program Director
Cooperator Name:	Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership
Street Address/PO Box:	1300 S. Milton Rd., Suite 218
City, State & Zip:	Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Telephone:	928-226-0644
Fax:	928-779-7123
Email:	steveg@gffp.org

 

• NON-FUND OBLIGATING DOCUMENT.  Nothing in this MOU shall obligate either the Forest Service or the Cooperator to obligate or transfer any funds.  Specific work projects or activities that involve the transfer of funds, services, or property among the various agencies and offices of the Forest Service and the Cooperator will require execution of separate agreements and be contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds.  Such activities must be independently authorized by appropriate statutory authority.  This MOU does not provide such authority.  Negotiation, execution, and administration of each such agreement must comply with all applicable statutes and regulations.
  
  
• ESTABLISHMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY.  This MOU is not intended to, and does not create, any right, benefit, or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity, by a party against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any person.

• AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES.  By signature below, the Cooperator certifies that the individuals listed in this document as representatives of the Cooperator are authorized to act in their respective areas for matters related to this agreement.

 

 

THE PARTIES HERETO have executed this instrument.

 

___________________________________                                         ___________________

MARCIA PATTON-MALLORY                                                         Date

Director, Rocky Mountain Research Station

 

___________________________________                                        ___________________

THOMAS M. QUIGLEY                                                                  Date

Director, Pacific Northwest Research Station

 

___________________________________                                       ___________________

PETER J. ROUSSOPOULOS                                                           Date

Director, Southern Research Station

 

___________________________________                                       ___________________

CHRISTOPHER D. RISBRUDT                                                       Date

Director, Forest Products Laboratory

 

 

 

___________________________________                                       ___________________

HIRAM B. SMITH                                                                          Date

President, Board of Directors, Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Inc.

___________________________________

The authority and format of this instrument has been reviewed and approved for signature.

5/17/04

DATE

FS Grants and Agreements Specialist

 

 

(Revised 11-2003)