National Association of Conservation Districts

Letters

Dear Congressman Walden:

On behalf of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and America’s 3,000 conservation districts, we strongly support your efforts in the passage of legislation to expedite the recovery of Federal forests following catastrophic events. Hurricanes, fires, windstorms and insect infestations on our national forests and adjacent properties devastate the land that shelters wildlife habitats, supports watersheds and provides aesthetic values to the public.

All too often, recovery efforts by Federal agencies are not implemented for two to three years which typically leads to further damage to the environment. H.R. 4200, the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act would give Federal land managers the tools they need to quickly begin recovery projects on forest lands damaged by catastrophic events. The legislation would also provide tools for non-federal land managers by enhancing agencies cooperative authority to help prepare cross ownership assessments of damages and needs following catastrophes when asked, which includes assistance in preparing Community Wildfire Protection Plans.

H.R. 4200 also authorizes and funds research on restoration projects to provide sound peer reviewed science to inform future management decisions.

NACD applauds the bipartisan efforts on this legislation and your continual commitment to stewardship on our nation’s forests. Again, we thank you for your efforts and offer our support in passing the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act this year.

Sincerely,

Bill Wilson
President

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