The Joint Forestry Team (JFT) held its 2020 in-person meeting in Las Vegas as part of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Annual Meeting in February.
“Meeting face-to-face, to discuss our common goals and challenges, helps us identify critical needs that can be addressed most effectively by working together,” JFT Chair Susan Stein said. “There was a lot of energy in the room as we pulled together this year’s workplan; I think everyone is excited to move forward with the projects we’ve identified.”
In Las Vegas, the JFT selected its four priorities for 2020:
- Engage state-level partnerships – The JFT will assess existing forestry memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and distribute a partnership packet designed to build cooperation among state-level agencies.
- Align forest management plans – In an effort to streamline agency efforts and reduce confusion for landowners, the JFT will explore how current management plans satisfy the needs for all program opportunities.
- Reach underserved forest landowners – There is a common goal among the forestry community to better serve minority, female, intergenerational and tribal forest landowners, among others. The underserved communities often need resources to help make decisions, which will allow them to better manage their woodlands. This task will help identify existing resources and explore new opportunities.
- Strengthen cooperation with our partners – The JFT will identify mechanisms for strengthening cooperation between our agencies and other governmental and non-profit organizations, as well as private entities. This will include sharing examples of successful partnerships through webinars, newsletters and/or meetings.
Subcommittees consisting of four members (one from each organization) will work on these tasks throughout the year. A final report will be shared upon completion.
In December 2019, leaders from each of the four organizations met in Washington D.C. to identify priorities for the JFT to address. That same day leadership renewed its Charter.
The JFT consists of the U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Association of State Foresters and National Association of Conservation Districts. Its mission is to make recommendations that result in coordinated interagency delivery of forestry and conservation assistance for working forests, farms, and ranches. Team participants seek to improve the sustainability of the nation’s forests in order to provide optimum levels of public benefits and ecosystem services.