State and Private Forestry
Redesign Competitive
Process
Jaelith Hall-Rivera
Deputy Area Budget Coordinator, SPF
202-205-1290
jhrivera@fs.fed.us
State and Private Forestry Overview
• More than 50% of America’s forests – 420 million acres- are privately
owned.
• America’s state and private forests provide public benefits such as clean
air, clean water – almost 30% of surface drinking water, wildlife habitat,
outdoor recreation, and about 70% of the nation’s wood supply.
• State and Private Forestry (SPF) programs help protect these forests and
provide support to keep working forests intact.
• The Federal investment leverages the capacity of State Foresters and
their partners to manage State and private lands.
• SPF Programs – authorized by the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act
of 1978; often reauthorized or added to in Farm Bills
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Forest Health Protection
Cooperative Fire
Forest Stewardship
Forest Legacy
Community Forests and Open Space Conservation
Urban and Community Forestry
What Exactly is “Redesign”?
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2007 – new approach to SPF programs - identify greatest threats and priority
areas through State Assessments and accomplish meaningful change in those
areas.
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Three themes: Conserving Working Forests; Protecting Forests from Harm; and
Enhancing Public Benefits from Forests
focus + priority = outcome
protect
forests from
harm
conserve
enhance
working forest
landscapes
public benefits from
trees and forests
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One component - begin competing a portion of the State and Private Forestry
allocation – about $20 million.
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Change from the traditional “formula based” approach to allocating all funds.
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The 2008 Farm Bill codified main components of Redesign - three national
themes are “national priorities”; State Assessments and Strategies are required for
each State; and a portion of SPF funds must be competed.
How does Redesign work?
• Competitive process guidelines were developed. Focused on:
Outcomes in priority areas identified in State Assessments.
Three “Themes”.
Landscapes or issues of national importance.
Cross-boundary work.
Diverse collaboration and
partnerships.
• Maximize SPF funding through
leveraging.
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• Each State Forestry Region manages their own competition
– Northeast, South and West.
• Joint FS and State process.
• Evaluate and rank projects; submit to FS WO for funding.
How does Redesign work? (con’t)
• January-April: “Regions” identify Team and develop RFP.
• Late April/Early May: “Regions” issue RFP.
• Summer: WO provides anticipated allocation: ͌ $7 million
West; $6.9 million South; $5 million Northeast.
• October: proposals due.
• November: Teams review and rank proposals.
• December: Regional leadership approves projects.
• December: Project lists submitted to WO.
• February/March: Funds provided (depending on
appropriation bills).
CONSERVE WORKING FORESTS
ENHANCE PUBLIC BENEFITS
PROTECT FORESTS FROM THREATS
Redesign Stats
• Since 2008, FS funded $93 million in Redesign competitive
projects.
• This funding leveraged over $111 million in non-Federal funds.
• Over 500 projects funded.
• On average, 45 States/Territories receive competitive project funding each
year.
• Projects have yielded numerous important outcomes in priority areas,
focusing on cross-boundary issues like invasive species in the Great Plains;
recovery of longleaf pine in the South; and protecting Colorado’s Front Range
from wildfire.
FS and State Foresters produce a yearly report on “Redesign”
formerly the “Redesign Report Card”, now the “SPF Annual
Report”. http://www.stateforesters.org/FY2011-SPF-Annual Report
Redesign website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/redesign/
Forest Action Plans website: http://www.forestactionplans.org/
Challenges
• Biggest challenge is matching funding to project needs.
• Also, delays in project funding due to timing of
appropriations.
• State resources (time and money) needed to apply for
grants.
• Choosing between State core programs of work and
dedicating specialized resources to applying for
competitive funding.
• Perception that larger States compete “better” than smaller
States.
• As State and federal budgets shrink,
concern that “core” program
capacity will be reduced due to
funds diverted for competition.
Next Steps
• NASF Review of competitive process beginning soon.
• “Evolution” of Redesign competitive process proposed in
FY 13.
• Forest Service budget proposed a new Budget Line Item –
Landscape Scale Restoration – as the “next phase” of Redesign
in FY 13 President’s Budget.
• $20 million of “no color” funding for projects that achieve
outcomes in States’ priority areas, focused on cross-boundary
work.
• Support on Hill, but no
final budget in FY 13 (CR).
Questions?