ESFPA E-News

Log-A-Load for Kids T-Shirts Available

Over the years your donations have helped create miracles for countless local children and their families, some of whom are part of our forest industry family. This year, Log-A-Load for Kids is selling Log-A-Load/ Children’s Miracle Network t-shirts for only $20! T-shirts are available sizes M-2XL.

Please make all donations to the Empire State Forestry Foundation (ESFF) and mail them to:  47 Van Alstyne Dr. Rensselaer, NY 12144 Or you can VENMO your donations to @ESFF-LogALoad. Donations through the Empire State Forestry Foundation are 100% tax deductible. We greatly appreciate your help in making even more miracles possible this year.

ESFPA 2023 Tentative Regional Meeting Schedule

This year we are changing the format of our fall regional meetings. We want to spend less time talking and more time listening.  We want to hear from you!  What you like, what you dislike, suggestions for how to do things differently- we want to hear all of it. Each meeting will have a brief rundown of the association's past year, a vote for the board of directors, and plenty of time for networking and fellowship. There will also be the opportunity to attend tours of both the Gutchess Cortland Mill and the Wagner Owego Mill.

Registration is required. To register, please call Dorian Johnson at (518) 463-1297 ext. 224. The overview of the meetings are as follows:

Meeting #1- Saranac Lake

• Date: September 21^st
• Location: Mt. Pisgah.
• Info:
  • 10:00-10:30- SIC Meeting
  • 10:30-12:30- Adirondack Committee Meeting and ESFPA Regional Meeting
  • 12:30-1:15- Lunch
  • 1:15-4:30- Guest Presentations
  • After- Reception

Meeting #2- Cortland

• Date: September 27^th
• Location: Gutchess Cortland Meeting Room
• Info:
  • 4:30- 6:00- Mill Tour
  • 6:15-7:30- Dinner

Meeting #3- Owego

• Date: September 28^th
• Location: Wagner Owego Meeting Room
• Info:
  • 1:00pm-3:00pm- Mill Tour
  • 3:30pm- 5:00pm- Dinner

Meeting #4- Lake George

• Date: October 25^th
• Location: Courtyard Marriott Lake George
• Info:
  • 5:00pm- 8:00pm- Dinner

 NYLT Fall Schedule of Workshops Now Available

The updated fall 2023 New York Logger Training schedule of workshops is now available. View all of the courses by clicking the link below:

New Study Questions Wood Product Sustainability

The entire wood products industry sector has long fought an uphill battle to better inform the general public, the media, and government policy makers about the sustainability and environmental friendliness of using wood in all its amazing applications.  Unfortunately, just when we seem to be making progress, another questionable report comes out that is touted by those who would prefer that our forestlands remain untouched and unmanaged. The World Resource Institute (WRI) is the latest organization to strike.  The WRI recently released a study challenging scientific and public policy claims that the wood products industry is a low or neutral emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG).  

Fortunately advocates of wood products have begun to rebut the WRI study, noting it reiterates earlier studies which have been rebutted with good science.  Brent Sohngen from Ohio State University published an article on August 8^th addressing the problems with the WRI study.  Our friends at the Hardwood Federation also wrote an article that further elaborates on the flaws of the WRI study.  Hopefully in the long run science will prevail and we won’t always need to be on defense. 

DEC Announces $3 Million in Grants Available for Invasive Species Projects

Grant Applications Now Being Accepted Through Nov.1, 2023

This week, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that $3 million is available in the third round of the State's Invasive Species Grant Program (ISGP). This grant program, supported by the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), is designed to advance projects that target both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species across the state, with six funding categories that address invasive species spread prevention; early detection and rapid response; research; management planning; and education and outreach. DEC is accepting applications for these grants through Nov. 1, 2023.

"These grants are part of New York State's significant investment to combat invasive species through control, removal, research, and prevention," said Commissioner Seggos. "As an international center for trade and tourism, New York is extremely vulnerable to the threat of invasive species. Once established, species such as hydrilla, oak wilt, emerald ash borer, and Japanese knotweed spread rapidly, causing harm to our environment, agriculture systems and economy. With climate change fueling the spread of invasive species, these grants are an important tool to advance on-the-ground projects and educational initiatives to combat this urgent threat and we urge all eligible entities to take advantage of this opportunity."

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "The Invasive Species Grant Program is a critical part of the State's commitment to combating the spread of invasive species that can cause significant damage to our farms and agricultural crops, as well as our natural resources, wildlife, and ecosystems. Now in its third round of funding, the program funds projects that prevent the spread of these pests from all sides. We're grateful for DEC's partnership in our shared mission of keeping New York's environment safe."

Municipalities, academic institutions, and not-for-profits may submit applications for funding for eligible projects in up to two of the following categories:

• Aquatic Invasive Species Watercraft Spread Prevention, Boat Steward Education and Outreach/Voluntary Inspection;
• Aquatic Invasive Species Watercraft Spread Prevention - Stewards - Boat Decontamination Programs;
• Invasive Species Early Detection/Rapid Response and Control;
• Lake Management Planning and Implementation;
• Invasive Species Research; and
• Invasive Species Education and Outreach.

Grant awards range from a minimum of $11,000 to a maximum of $200,000, with a required 25 percent match. Project locations must be located wholly within New York State and priority will be given to projects that include opportunities for public participation, are on or close to public lands or waterbodies, and emphasize long-term success. For full details about the grant opportunity including eligible projects and scoring criteria, visit the Invasive Species Grant Program Page on DEC's website.

Among the many environmental victories in the 2023-24 State Budget, Governor Hochul maintained EPF funding at $400 million, the highest level of funding in the program's history.

The EPF included $18.55 million targeted specifically for invasive species related initiatives. The EPF also provides funding for critical environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, enhanced recreational access, water quality improvement, and an aggressive environmental justice agenda.

Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Nov. 1, 2023. All grant applicants must register in the NYS Grants Gateway System before applying. Not-for-profit applicants are required to prequalify in the Grants Gateway system, so DEC recommends that applicants start the process in advance of the grant application due date.

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $150M to Connect Underserved and Small Acreage Forest Landowners to Emerging Climate Markets as part of Investing in America Agenda

This week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is making $150 million from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history, available to help underserved and small acreage forest landowners connect to emerging voluntary climate markets. These markets can provide economic opportunities for landowners and incentivize improved forest health and management. Secretary Vilsack announced the funding opportunity at the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Conference on the heels of the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act. This builds on investments in the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for forest health treatments, including through the creation of competitive grants to non-Federal forest landowners.

Forests are powerful tools in the fight against climate change, and emerging voluntary private-sector markets are now creating economic incentives to keep forests healthy and productive through reforestation, improved forest management, and other sustainable practices. However, high acreage requirements and prohibitive start-up costs have caused many small-acreage and underserved private forest owners to be left behind. The investments being announced today will expand access to markets that were previously out-of-reach, allowing underserved and small-acreage forest landowners to address climate change while also supporting rural economies, maintaining land ownership for future generations, and protecting private forestlands from increasing development pressure.

“Healthy, resilient forests store carbon, provide critical habitat for wildlife, and grow forest resources that are the lifeblood of communities across the country,” said Secretary Vilsack. “So much of our nation’s forest land is privately owned, and, thanks to historic resources made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, these private landowners will have an opportunity to be part of the solution to the climate crisis, no matter their background and no matter their means.”

“Working forests are the cornerstone of local economies and play a key role in mitigating the effects of climate change,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “As private forest landowners face increasing pressures to convert their forests to other uses, we are helping underserved and small acreage landowners to access new economic opportunities to ensure working forests remain intact. “Without financial incentives, underserved and small-acreage landowners may not have the resources to manage forests for long-term health and resilience. Without proper management, forests are more susceptible to pest, disease, catastrophic wildfire, loss of wildlife habitat, and reduced water quality for downstream users.”

Without financial incentives, underserved and small-acreage landowners may not have the resources to manage forests for long-term health and resilience. Without proper management, forests are more susceptible to pest, disease, catastrophic wildfire, loss of wildlife habitat, and reduced water quality for downstream users.

The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in climate action and resilience in history. The law is part of the Biden-Harris Investing in America agenda to grow the American economy from the middle out and bottom-up up by rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, driving more than $500 billion in private sector manufacturing investments, creating good-paying jobs, and building a clean energy economy to tackle the climate crisis and make our communities more resilient.

The Inflation Reduction Act also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal of delivering 40% of the overall benefits of federal climate, clean energy, and other investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.

Eligible entities include Tribal governments and organizations, states, local governments, public and private non-profits, and for-profit entities. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for details on eligibility, deadlines, and proposal requirements for the first phase of the Forest Service’s new Landowner Support for Forest Resilience Program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.