Forest chief thanks Senator for legislation, leadership on forest issues
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Senator Jon Tester today told the nation's top
forest manager that "stewardship contracting" provisions in his Forest
Jobs and Recreation Act are necessary tools to more effectively create
jobs and improve the health of national forests across the country.
Tester questioned U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell today during a
Senate hearing on how the Forest Service is addressing the goals of
expanded stewardship contracting nationwide.
The Forest Jobs and Recreation Act is the first legislation to mandate stewardship contracting on Forest Service land.
Stewardship contracting requires workers to assess the needs of a given
acre of a national forest, from harvesting trees to watershed
restoration work such as repairing culverts and roads. Stewardship
contracting lowers the risk of wildfire, restores watersheds and
guarantees jobs and supply for timber companies.
Stewardship contracts also ensure that money from timber sales goes
back to those same local communities through restoration projects,
which in turn create more jobs.
"In Montana just a few days ago, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
talked about how The Forest Jobs and Recreation Act provides the tools
the Forest Service needs to achieve the goal of better forest
management," Tester told Tidwell today. "He and I both believe that
timber production and restoration are tools to create and save jobs in
rural communities and ultimately save those rural communities. What is
the agency doing about addressing the goals of increased stewardship
contracting?"
Tidwell-formerly the Regional Forester based in Missoula-agreed and
responded by saying that the Forest Service is changing several
practices to strengthen and expand stewardship contracting
opportunities.
"I want to thank you for your leadership," Tidwell added. "And your
support for us to be able to do more restoration work on the landscape
and provide more jobs."
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack-whose jurisdiction includes the
Forest Service-voiced support for the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act on
a tour through Montana with Tester earlier this month.
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