ESFPA E-News

Six Rules for Logging Safety Kit 

The THATS Foundation is excited to debut a safety initiative: the "Six Rules for Logging Safety Kit." This kit addresses six high-risk areas in logging that have historically led to serious injuries or fatalities. While not exhaustive, these rules serve as crucial reminders to loggers about the inherent dangers of their work and the importance of staying vigilant.

The "Six Rules for Logging Safety" kit includes:

Safety Poster: One 28”x19” all-weather, safety green poster outlining the Six Rules for Logging Safety, suitable for display on logging sites, in scale houses, workshops, etc.

The Six Rules for Logging Safety:

1. Awareness
2. Safety Training and Discussions
3. Personal Protective Equipment
4. Felling
5. Machine Operation
6. Repair and Maintenance
   (Details for each rule are provided on the poster.)

Key Chains: Five key chains, each representing one of the six safety rules, to be shared with loggers.

Stickers:

Ten orange, triangular stickers to remind loggers to use three points of contact when getting on or off equipment.

Ten sky blue, round stickers with the words “Look Up” to remind loggers to check for overhead hazards, whether cutting trees, securing loads, or moving around equipment.

Availability and Pricing
These kits are available for purchase on the THATS website for $60, with a special launch price of $50 for the first 60 days (08/15/24).

Take a Proactive Role in Safety!
While no safety initiative can completely eliminate accidents, our aim is always to move the needle forward. We hope these kits will be widely adopted within logging communities, serving as constant reminders of critical safety protocols.

Ready to make a difference? Click the link below to get your Six Rules for Logging Safety kit today and help lead the charge toward a safer logging environment:

Keuka Unit Management Plan

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) is accepting public comments on a draft management plan for nearly 10,000 acres of public lands in Steuben and Schuyler counties.  

An information session is planned in Hammondsport, New York on June 27, and comments will be accepted until July 31.

Click the link below to learn more:

Old Growth in the Northeast

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, European settlers cleared more than 99 percent of the forests in New England and New York. Today, roughly 80 percent of the region is again shaded by trees. But most modern forests are fairly uniform, with trees roughly the same size and age, and unnaturally young. Ecologists generally consider such forests unhealthy, susceptible to disease and lacking in the complexity that makes old-growth forest so ecologically rich.

For generations, most people assumed that old growth simply no longer existed in this part of the world. However, over the past few decades, enthusiasts and scientists have identified tens of thousands of acres of old-growth forest in the Northeast. 

Scientists, conservationists, and government agencies are working to identify, study, and protect the ancient forests of the Northeast. Although there is dispute about how forests should be managed, "the patchwork of management styles in the Northeast may ultimately be a boon...a variety of approaches may result in a more diverse - and thus resilient - forested landscape."

Click the link below to read more:

"DEC Does What?!" Podcast Episode 6 Now Available

Spread the Word, Not the Species

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released the latest episode of “DEC Does What?!”, the biweekly podcast that features conversations with DEC experts about the agency’s wide-ranging efforts to protect New Yorkers and the environment.  

Episode Six— “Spread the Word, Not the Species”—looks at the critical work of DEC scientists to understand and combat invasive species and their impacts on the environment, economy, and human health. 

 Invasive species—including beetles, round goby, kudzu, and hydrilla—are one of the greatest threats to New York’s biodiversity, causing habitat degradation, loss of native species, crop damage, and much more. In this episode, hosts Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald are joined by Research Scientists Cathy McGlynn and Jessica Cancelliere from the Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health to discuss how DEC plays a critical role in research, monitoring, prevention, and management of invasive species across the state, including using eDNA as a tool to track down the presence of an invasive in the environment. They also provide tips to listeners on how everyone can help prevent the spread of species in our communities. 

Episode Six also includes an update on environmental news and recent DEC initiatives, including reminders for New Yorkers to help identify and report invasive species (Know It, Avoid It, Report It), the agency’s efforts to combat aquatic invasive species and protect New York waterways (Clean, Drain, Dry, and the Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz). The episode closes with an update on the terrestrial invasive Joro spider and whether New Yorkers should be concerned about its potential arrival.  

All episodes of “DEC Does What?!” are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. 

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $66M for Conservation Work with States, Tribes, Private Landowners as Part of Investing in America Agenda

During a meeting of the Western Governors' Association last week, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is investing nearly $66 million for projects to reduce wildfire risk, protect water quality and improve forest health across the nation as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

Deputy Secretary Torres Small also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Western Governors’ Association, reestablishing the framework for cooperatively responding to the many challenges faced across western landscapes. The MOU, signed on behalf of the USDA alongside Governors Brad Little of Idaho, Joe Lombardo of Nevada, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Doug Burgum of North Dakota, and Mark Gordon of Wyoming, amplifies the scale of shared stewardship work between participating states and the USDA. It also fosters better integration of forest and rangeland health and wildfire risk reduction projects across different land ownerships.

Click the link below to read more: