protecting - forestry association of south carolina. mtg. 2016 a gene kodama.pdf · federal funding...

Protecting The resource

Developing The resource

GROWTH IN MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT

NEW GROWTH FOR SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY 2 0 1 6 S O U T H C A R O L I N A F O R E S T RY A S S O C I AT I O N A N N U A L M E E T I N G

–AND–

STAFFING AND FUNDING

Staffing restoration 2008 – 380 employees 2012 – 280 employees 2017 – 362 FTEs (95% of 2008)

State funding changes 2008 - $19M 2012 - $10M 2017 - $15.6M (82% of 2008)


FIREFIGHTING vs. OTHER PROGRAMS

Firefighting Capacity 160 manned bulldozer goal will be reached in 2016.

41% new enclosed cab dozers in 2016. Act 271 renewed with S973 ($1.5M vs $3+M).

Other Programs Still need restoration

Federal funding dependence is a challenge


SEIZING THE MOMENT TO RESTORE FIREFIGHTING Record low wildfire numbers

FY 2016 ∙ 989 Fires for 5,445 acres ∙ Average of 5.5 acres/fire ∙ Record lows in last two years

• 5-year average ∙ 2,067 fires for 13,130 acres

Extremely variable over the past 25 years: • 1981: 13,980 fires/94,970 acres • 2009: 1,744 fires/29,593


GROWTH IS CHALLENGING WITH DECLINING FEDERAL FUNDING


• Federal Excess Property Programs (USFS) 100% $20M inventory • Wildland Urban Interface for wildfire prevention and control (USFS) 100% $438,766 • Forest Health (USFS) 100% $218,532 • Forest Stewardship (USFS) 100% $218,330 • Urban and Community Forestry (USFS) 100% $200,000 • Incident Command Team for wildfire/disasters (Homeland Security) 100% $100,000 • Conservation Reserve Program (FSA) 100% $61,149 • Forest Inventory Analysis (USFS) 75% $338,937 • Best Management Practices Program (EPA/DHEC) 60% $185,000 • Southern Pine Beetle, control, management, etc. (USFS) 50% $270,000 • Volunteer Fire Department Support (USFS) 50% $190,352 • Wildfire Assistance Funding (USFS) 10% $833,020 • TOTAL $3,054,086

GROWTH REQUIRES PARTNERSHIPS


Rural Resource Coalition SC

SUCCESS IN AGENCY EFFECTIVENESS • Senate Oversight review “Favorable” (A+ rating). • State financial audit “Favorable” • SAF leadership roles: Chapter, Division, and meeting chairmanships,

presentations, and the Gifford Pinchot Medal. • State and National State Forester organization leadership. • Dillon County Supervisor: “SCFC IMT is the best of the best!” • Governor’s Budget Staff: “SCFC is by far the most prepared agency

thus far.” • SC Forestry Commission’s 90th anniversary in 2017.


GROWTH IN PROTECTION and EMERGENCY RESPONSE

• Upgraded volunteer fire department assistance. • Conducting wildfire prevention campaign blitzes. • Provided state-wide Incident Management Team service. • Upgraded and expanding network of fire weather stations. • Invested in new radio system for dispatch. • Evaluating automated vehicle locator equipment to increase

firefighter safety. • Dedicated equipment funding source. • Provided region-leading Best Management Practices program. • Responded to new insect and disease threats.


GROWTH IN OUTREACH

• Staffed Commission Communications Department - upgrading publications, branding, and forestry media visibility.

• Wood Magic and Teachers’ Tour with partners – promoting forestry to general public and thought leaders.

• Continued support of county forestry associations. • Provided military appreciation hunting and fund raising: SC National

Guard, NWTF, QDMA, and related groups.


LEADERSHIP IN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

• Hosted a national FIA conference in Charleston. • Completed the 11th cycle of FIA plot measurement and was the first

state to do so. • Hosted an international Forest Products Export Conference in

Charleston (10 countries represented). • Created a forest products marketing program to help existing

companies grow (unique among southern state forestry agencies).


LEADERSHIP IN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

• Created an online mill directory. • Attained third-generation seedling production. • Partnered with SC Dept. of Commerce and Clemson University WU+DI and

Extension to retain and grow forest industry. • Acquired Project Forester economic impact study from Clemson University. • Completing 20/15 Forestry Project with partners to retain and grow. • Initiated SC Forestry 2020 Vision to help continue growth. • Responded to Hurricane Matthew with assistance and assessments.


GROWTH IN INDUSTRY SUPPORT


SC FORESTRY’S 2020 VISION Ensuring a brighter future for South Carolina

• Retention and growth of primary manufacturing: - Recruiting into low wood demand regions. - Growing more timber to increase supply - Addressing small pine timber scarcity

issue. - Expanding sawmilling - Retaining pulp & paper manufacturing - Increasing exports through marketing - Restoring SCFC service capacity

• Increased secondary manufacturing: - Partnering with SCFA, Clemson, SC DOC,

others - Identifying and recruiting targets, e.g.

Attracting first producer of Cross-Laminated Timber from Southern Yellow Pine to SC.

• Improved public perception and understanding of forestry as an “Ideal Industry.”


SC FORESTER’S COUNCIL AND PARTNER SUMMIT IDENTIFIED INDUSTRY CHALLENGES

• Pulp & paper mills leaving the US; • Low tree-planting rates; • Protecting “Right to Practice Forestry”; • Roads and bridges; • Smaller tract sizes • Markets for bi-products (sawdust and shavings) • Limited hardwood fiber markets; • Relatively low stumpage prices; • Slow domestic wood demand; • China log ban; • Strong US dollar.


INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES

• Strong pine pulp demand; • Oriented strand board rebound; • Housing numbers improvement; • Abundant sawtimber; • Competitive wood costs; • World-class sawmilling.


INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES

• Global growth and exporting opportunities; • Excess hardwood growth; • Bioenergy; • Increased mass timber use (CLT); • Forest and industry resilience; • Pro-forestry and forester communications; • Forestry-friendly environment.


RESILIENT FORESTS and FORESTRY

Forest Challenges: Clearing, wildfires, ice storms, flooding, hurricanes, and beetle outbreaks. Results: More forest acreage and volume now than ever recorded and record timber volumes and healthy ecosystems.


Forestry Challenges: Economic downturns Political changes. Results: A bigger, healthy, and growing industry today.

Tree cross section from hurricane cleanup. A reminder that trees and forests are renewable.

So, be happy!

SC FORESTRY COMMISSION CHALLENGE COINS


protecting - forestry association of south carolina. mtg. 2016 a gene kodama.pdf · federal funding...

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