WoodCentral’s Post

🔥 New Projects to Protect NSW’s Timber Plantations from Bushfires 🚨 In response to the ongoing threat of bushfires, the NSW government is stepping up its efforts to safeguard critical timber assets through a comprehensive $13 million Plantation Fire Protection funding package. With 15 innovative projects set to enhance fire protection across the Murray region, including Greater Hume, Snowy Valleys, and Wagga Wagga, this initiative aims to protect vital resources for the future. 🔎 Key Highlights: 1️⃣ Strategic Investment: The funding will support a range of projects, from upgrading fire trails to enhancing aerial firefighting capabilities at Tumut Aerodrome. These initiatives have been carefully selected by a panel from the NSW Rural Fire Service, Department of Primary Industries, and industry stakeholders, ensuring a targeted approach to fire management. 2️⃣ Importance of Timber: Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, emphasizes the significance of these timber plantations, stating, “We can’t afford to lose more.” The projects are designed not only to protect existing resources but also to ensure a sustainable supply of quality timber for the housing sector now and for generations to come. 3️⃣ Community Collaboration: Local leaders, including Dr. Joe McGirr, underscore the importance of collaboration between government, industry, and communities. The upgrades and enhancements made through this funding will bolster the region’s firefighting capacity and support the local economy reliant on the softwood industry. 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How can similar initiatives be implemented in other regions to protect vital natural resources from the threat of bushfires? What role does community engagement play in successful fire management strategies? 🔗 To learn more about the NSW government’s projects to safeguard timber plantations from bushfires, click here: https://lnkd.in/gsRyrkiM #bushfireprotection #timberindustry #firemanagement #nswgovernment #sustainability #communityengagement #environmentalprotection #plantationmanagement #firesafety #agriculture #forestprotection #naturalresourcemanagement #disasterpreparedness #fireprevention #localcollaboration #economicresilience #sustainableforestry #communitysafety #softwoodindustry #firefightinginitiatives

Denver’s suburbs — the center of housing sprawl — continue to boom, creating a scramble for sustainable water supplies as they realize that they’re running out of water. Communities such as Aurora, Arvada, and Castle Rock are taking serious steps to meet current demands, recognizing that water supplies are likely to worsen. They face higher water prices, dwindling supply, plus older collection and treatment systems. Lastly, a new turf replacement program is set to roll out statewide this year. It will pay homeowners to convert some of the grass in urban and residential yards into more water-efficient landscaping. It is the first time the State of Colorado had dedicated funds expressly to turf replacement. The bottom line: Denver and Colorado are focusing on turf replacement programs as the city-state’s next reservoir of water. For the foreseeable future it is likely to be the cheapest, fastest, and most reliable form of new supply. #waterconservation #climatesolutions #xericlandscapes #nativeplants #gardening

How will upgraded waterbombing infrastructure impact bushfire management? The Albanese Government (Kryeministria), in partnership with the District Council of Grant, has co-funded a $415,000 investment to enhance aerial firefighting capabilities in Australia’s Green Triangle. This initiative includes a new 144kL water tank and a dual diesel/electric water pump installation at Mount Gambier Airport, which will support over 334,000 hectares of forest plantations. These assets are expected to significantly improve bushfire response across South Australia’s Limestone Coast and Victoria’s Western Districts. Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister highlighted the importance of these improvements for protecting the region's forestry industry, while South Australian Minister for Emergency Services Dan Cregan emphasized the impact on local communities and timber resources. Mayor Kylie Boston of the District Council of Grant underscored the critical role of Mount Gambier Airport’s infrastructure in fire response efforts. With the new waterbombing system scheduled for completion in 2025, the region will be better prepared to safeguard both land and livelihoods. What role do you think aerial firefighting upgrades will play in modern bushfire management? For more details, visit our blog: https://lnkd.in/ghtnghCd #AviationNews #AerialFirefighting #BushfireProtection #GreenTriangle #MountGambier #DisasterReadyFund #ForestryProtection #FireSafety #EmergencyManagement #AvfoilNews

Homeowners are often concerned that retrofitting their homes to protect them against wildfires will be too expensive. This excellent report breaks down the different home hardening and property management strategies with their associated costs. This information helps them understand what mitigation provides the biggest bang for the buck and prioritize steps to better protect their homes. Thanks for sharing Seth Schalet!

Do you live and work in the West? Read this then consider how you can incorporate this knowledge into your business!

Field work always brings inspiration and clarity. Especially on election week. The work of watershed restoration brings people together. I kept being reminded of that point while visiting five work sites across Washington last week. All these projects were funded to restore floodplains, recover streamflow, and bring back salmon. But each one of these projects will also create direct benefits for rural landowners and communities, people who aren’t considered your typical environmentalists. Throughout my tour, we talked about solutions to build irrigation efficiency, reduce operations and maintenance, upgrade infrastructure, add agricultural resilience, and reduce fire risk. These projects bring real benefits that go beyond their primary stated purpose. Over the long-term, I think the process is just as important as the outcome. **The work of** watershed restoration brings people together. Meeting landowners and community members. Talking through options. Hearing concerns and viewpoints on the land and water. That’s where magic happens. That’s where people of differing perspectives form bonds of collaboration. We’re in a unique position in the restoration community. We can (do) set an example of working together, of bridging divides. We can (do) go beyond platitudes, and actually work across the aisle. There are signs we’re doing this at the macro-level too. Washington’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board keeps an online database of funded restoration projects (PRISM). I did a little query of completed grants that were active from 2020-2024. Those grants funded $306M in projects, of which: • $182M went to projects in counties whose majority voted for Harris. That’s $32 per capita • $124M went to projects in counties whose majority voted for Trump. That’s $61 per capita I’m not saying watershed restoration should be politicized. But let’s keep celebrating and elevating our efforts to come together on these real issues. It benefits us all. #WatershedRestoration #WaterResources #SalmonRecovery #CommunityResilience

🌲 National Associations Urge Congress to Prioritize Disaster Relief for Private Forest Landowners 🌲 The Forest Landowners Association (FLA), alongside key national organizations in the forestry and forest products sector, is calling on Congress to include robust disaster relief for private forest landowners in upcoming legislation. In a coalition letter sent to Senate and House Appropriations Committee leaders, these groups stressed the need for federal support to help landowners recover from the growing impact of wildfires, hurricanes, floods, pests, and diseases. As Scott Jones, CEO of the Forest Landowners Association, pointed out, “Private forest landowners manage the majority of our nation’s forests, which are essential to the forest products value chain. The health of these forests is vital to rural economies and achieving our nation’s environmental goals." However, private forest landowners face unique challenges when it comes to disaster recovery. Unlike other agricultural sectors, they do not have access to the safety net programs that can help stabilize their livelihoods after a disaster. Without federal support, many landowners may be forced to convert their land, risking the loss of critical benefits such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity, clean water, and rural jobs. This coalition is advocating for: 1. Federal disaster assistance to help landowners recover. 2. Support for the Disaster Reforestation Act, which would enable landowners to fully deduct losses from disasters. 3. Improvements to the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to provide upfront funding for replanting and recovery. FLA and its partners highlight the success of past disaster relief packages, such as those provided after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Michael, and urge Congress to allocate targeted relief funds to help ensure the sustainability of our forests, mills, and rural economies. Now is the time for action. The health of our forests—and the future of rural America—depends on it. 🌳 #ForestManagement #DisasterRelief #ClimateAction #RuralEconomies #SustainableForestry #EnvironmentalStewardship #PrivateLandowners #Congress

Excellent article by The Lookout https://lnkd.in/gtmcHXWM When homes are densely packed in alignment with the direction of strong fire-season winds, it is nearly almost impossible to cut enough brush to make the homes defensible. Fire burns from house to house, no longer a ‘brush fire’, rather it is referred to as an ‘urban conflagration’ or simply a ‘conflagration’. Wind-driven brush fires cast burning embers long distances, so it can be difficult to define the ‘edge’ of a neighborhood, as spot fires can leap from the wildland far into adjacent neighborhoods, starting many houses on fire at once. lack of easements to access the back of residential lots makes it nearly impossible to do tree work or other major vegetation management which could lower wildfire hazards.   A neighborhood is only as strong as the weakest link between the wildland and the built environment. Once a wildfire is into the community and spreading house-to-house, it is almost impossible to stop until the winds die.   Urban planning needs to better align with local climate conditions including building codes, fire prevention, firefighting, vegetation management, water management, and forestry management.   My work- https://lnkd.in/gBjeAGQ2

Problem Solving 101: It is rare to have a single cause to one effect. It pains me to see/hear people argue about whether this situation is down to Climate Change or poor Forestry Management practices. Because it's both. #climatechange #systesmsthinking #problemsolving #wildfires #jasper #alberta #canada https://lnkd.in/g_4czC_b

In December of 2023, Straughan had the unique opportunity to supervise and monitor the installation of 0.61 acres of Critical Area tree mitigation plantings and 0.24 acres of nontidal forested wetland tree and shrub plantings at Masonville Cove. Straughan Natural Resources scientists performed landscape inspections to ensure plants were installed per specification and in the areas identified in the planting plan, created in conjunction with Straughan Water Resources engineers. Due to the time of year, emergent wetland vegetation was not planted. Later this month, 0.06 acres of emergent wetland plants will be installed on site. Although the wetland mitigation site is relatively small, the value that it provides cannot be overlooked. Located right along the Patapsco River, this wetland helps to provide flood control, habitat for countless species, and improve water quality. Wetlands provide many ecosystem services and are important to preserve whatever the size. We’re excited to go back out to see how the site has developed over the past few months and to oversee the emergent wetland plant installation which will only increase the ecological value. Look out for an update later this month with progress photos as the current plantings continue to grow and the emergent wetland plants are installed! In the meantime, check out these photos of the site before, during, and after installation, and head over to our website to check out the full project description! https://lnkd.in/em4xh5B9 #AmericanWetlandsMonth #wetlandmitigation #plantinstallation #naturalresources