Forest Service State and Private Forestry

Forest Service State and Private
Forestry

Alaska Region

Alaska Department of Natural Resource

Division of Forestry

AK DNR Logo

Forest Stewardship

2002

Introduction	This nationwide Forest Stewardship program is funded by Congress, administered nationally by the Forest Service and delivered to local landowners by the State of Alaska-Division of Forestry (DOF). The Forest Stewardship program seeks to bring the benefits of a stewardship perspective to non industrial private forest landowners. The State Forester takes an action oriented, multi-disciplinary approach to program delivery. Private sector professional consultants are also employed in program delivery.
Goals	· To assist non industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners to more actively manage their forest and related resources. · Promote managing these lands in a productive and healthy condition for present and future owners. · Increase the economic and environmental benefits of these lands. · Assist in placing 3 million non industrial private forestland acres in Alaska under forest stewardship management. · To improve the wildfire defensibility of private forestland.
Budget	Major program funding is provided by the USDA Forest Service-Region 10, State and Private Forestry. Additional funding is provided by the Alaska DOF through personnel services, office support, grant administration, and transportation.

**Title II Dollars Only

Forest Stewardship/Stewardship Incentive
FY 1997	FY 1998	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002
$272,700	$248,000	$368,000	$326,000	$359,000	$459,000

Issues

Approximately 30 million acres of forestland are in private ownership in Alaska. The majority of these lands are held by Alaska Native Corporations, many of which are beginning active forest management. The State Forestry administers grants and provides advice to Alaska Native Corporations for developing Forest Stewardship Plans for their lands.

Driven by steady population growth, numbers of private forest owners are growing in many regions of Alaska. Land transfers from public to private ownership continue, and subdivision of large homesteads to smaller rural tracts is ongoing.

Spruce bark beetles have impacted over 3 million acres in Alaska, including many private ownerships. The Forest Stewardship Program has provided technical assistance to private landowners for recognizing spruce beetle, salvaging infested timber, and restoring spruce forests.

The urban-rural interface is increasing in the Municipality of Anchorage, and the Matanuska-Susitna, Fairbanks, and Kenai Boroughs, and this is resulting in fuels and vegetation management challenges on private forestlands.

Comprehensive watershed planning has been proposed for the Kenai River where subdivision and community development are affecting habitat of 4 species of salmon.

Program Highlights

Ż     Forest Stewardship plans were prepared for 40 individual landowners covering 2,487 acres, including two landowners affected by the Clear Fire. Planning for home-site defensible space and fuels treatment is part of the forest stewardship planning efforts.

Ż     One Alaska Native Corporation completed a Forest Stewardship plan covering 100,003 acres, of which 30,022 acres are forested.

Ż     Private landowners were given help in acquiring tree seedlings.

Ż     Forestry assistance was provided to Kenai Peninsula Borough Spruce Bark Beetle Task Force and other local governments.

General service forestry assistance was provided to landowners, associations, conservation districts, public schools, regional fairs, and community groups.


United States Department of Agriculture	Steve Bush State & Private Forestry 3301 C Street, Suite 202 Anchorage, AK 99503-3956 Phone: 907-743-9451 Fax: 907-743-9479 Email:sbush@fs.fed.us	Jeff Graham Alaska Division of Forestry 42499 Sterling Hwy Soldotna, AK 99669 Phone: 907-260-4215 Fax: 907-260-4263 Email: jeffg@dnr.state.ak.us	State of Alaska