View source for RE-FOREST/Regions/United States/Alaska/Stakeholders


== Throughout: '''Informing''' the Strategy with Local Knowledge ==

=== Core Question: ===

* What questions do we ask each stakeholder group to inform the overall strategy and action plan with local knowledge?

=== Dialogue Questions: ===

# '''What questions do we ask specific stakeholder groups, and what have they contributed to the collective thinking?'''
## Local and Indigenous peoples
### How does forest and watershed renewal align with your values and lifeways?
### How can newer, more efficient, diversified approaches to forestry further your values or interests?
### What threats to your values and lifeways are occurring from the existing dynamics?
### How do threats from previous or potential wildfires impact your culture and lifeways?
### What opportunities, threats, or disadvantages do you see from a regional forestry strategy?
## Landowners
### Forest management
#### What are the primary land stewardship issues landowners face?
#### What quality of life goals do we want front and center in a regional forest-to-market approach?
#### What environmental concerns do we want to address in a regional forest-to-market approach?
#### What assistance is needed to relate to Alaska and federal government effectively?
##### What are the issues in accessing Alaskan and federal funds?
##### What are the management plan challenges?
##### What are the issues in assessing loss?
##### What are the issues in implementing fire recovery approaches?
##### How can we relate most productively with other landscape cooperatives?
#### What is the status of each landowner’s forest management plan?
#### What is the total forestry harvesting volume needed to be done annually?
#### How much new labor is needed?
#### What are the opportunities to establish shared equipment pools?
##### Burn wagons
##### Firewood processing gear
##### Trucks
##### Biochar production equipment
#### What are the opportunities to establish collective forest treatment contracts?
#### Which log roads need maintenance?
#### How do we better integrate stewardship of public and private lands?
##### Connect with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) Division of Mining Land and Water
#### How can smaller landowners participate in this Action Plan?
#### How do we integrate federal recovery funding granted to individual landowners into a coherent strategy?
### Market development
#### What challenges identifying contractors need to be addressed?
##### Bonding and legitimacy of payroll protocols render many small contractors ineligible for government funding.
#### What challenges in identifying markets for materials need to be addressed?
#### For which forest materials have it proven easier to find contractors?
#### What issues with contractors need to be addressed?
#### What issues with processors need to be addressed?
#### What types and volumes of material need new local processing capacity?
#### Which forest material needs a costs-for-service agreement?
#### Where should new milling capacity be established?
#### What entity and organizational structure best supports this overall forest-to-market system?
##### What involvement of the large landowners should be considered?
###### Volume guarantees
###### Investment in facilities and infrastructure
###### Short-term advances against costs, then reimbursed by product supply
#### What concerns for privacy, confidentiality, and appropriate treatment of information need to be addressed within a collaborative planning process?
#### What education for landowners is needed?
#### How can we establish a fair and impartial process for timber valuation?
#### What elements comprise a productive and fair regional forest material “exchange”?
#### What is the condition and use of area wood-fired boiler systems?
### Fire prevention and mitigation
#### How can prescribed fire be used productively and safely as a management strategy?
##### How is fear of fire handicapping overall effectiveness?
##### How can we improve the process for obtaining burn and smoke permits?
##### How can we coordinate a regional fire management strategy?
###### How do each landowner’s priorities fit into the larger landscape approach?
#### How do we use geospatial information to guide fuel break locations and related strategies?
##### What are the optimal uses of fuel breaks within the overall forest management strategy?
##### What factors need to be incorporated into a fuel breaks strategy?
###### Where are the prevailing winds?
###### What is the optimal scale of prescribed burns?
###### What are the associated costs at various scales?
###### How can we best coordinate multi-landowner approaches to fuel breaks?
#### Where are the optimal locations to focus forest thinning activities?
### Burnt forest issues
#### What has to happen for soil and erosion control?
#### What can be done with the forest slash safely and viably?
#### What are the uses of burnt forest material?
#### What is needed to restore the roads?
#### What is needed to restore the acequias?
#### What is needed to restore the fences?
#### What is needed to restore the water system?
## '''What are the trespass issues that need to be addressed?'''
### ATVs
### Poaching for game
### Taking firewood
### Partying
### Vandalism
# '''Questions for individual landowners'''
## Is the high density of burned or unburned trees a severe challenge on your lands?
## What concerns do you have about how adjacent forests to your lands are managed?
## What harvesting activity are you doing now, and how?
## What is your on-staff and available contracting capacity for forest harvesting?
## How many acres would you treat if a viable approach were developed within this comprehensive forest-to-market strategy?
## In what timeframe do you want to have this acreage treated?
# '''State and federal forestry staff'''
## Administrative
### How does the U.S. Forest Service Planning Rule 2012 inform the local work?
### What Forest Plans have been completed?
### What other legal guidelines have to be recognized?
### What is the best way to coordinate with these plans and guidelines?
### What funding or other support opportunities can we tie into, and how can state and federal agencies assist?
### How do we assist Alaska and its and agencies in attaining funding and logistical support?
### What misinformation challenges you?
#### What information do you need to spread?
#### How can we use our networks at OTNA to inform and educate the public and decision-makers?
## Current efforts assessment
### What other large landscape and ecosystem planning efforts are underway?
### How can RE-FOREST collaborate with other forest conservation efforts?
### Specifically, which programs do you suggest building on, and what models do you suggest we emulate among local initiatives and national programs?
### What pitfalls should be avoided - what has worked and what has not?
### What can we learn from the experience of prior fire mitigation and recovery efforts?
#### How can ADNR Division of Forestry & Fire and the U.S. Forest Service improve their collaboration toward shared goals?
### What is the most appropriate balance between post-fire recovery and future fire mitigation?
### What assessments of existing industry barriers and needs have been completed, and when?
## Private land coordination
### How can private lands be served by Alaska and federal planning efforts?
### How can progress on private lands assist the overall forest management and stewardship goals?
### How can the USFS and ADNR Division of Forestry & Fire assist in the stewardship of private lands?
### How can we better synthesize public and private land stewardship?
# '''Forestry and forest products business leaders'''
## How can we improve how federal agencies handle forest material?
### Implement material bid process before harvesting so timber can be cut to suitable lengths.
#### FEMA, in post-fire situations, has little connection to forest companies and landowners and is chopping material into 4’-6’ pieces with limited utility.
## How do we level the playing field between large national and local contractors?
## How can we improve communications between the local forest industry and state and federal agencies?
### Close the timber sales promptly on state and private lands.
## What federal policies concerning forest management need to be re-evaluated?
### NEPA needs to be streamlined
### NEPA exception in devastated landscapes and Federal Disaster Zones
### Archaeological sites are already known and have typically already been damaged
### 1990 Roadless Act, passed during the Clinton administration, requires using main roads only
#### Carson National Forest and the Bridge Road area had 100,000+ latillas that could have been harvested in the aftermath of the 2022 Hermits Peak/Calf’s Canyon Fire, but for the closure of the roads
### They need to take a whole forest management approach
### The prohibition against salvage alongside forest treatment has to be removed
### The federal agencies that are involved in forest management, recreation, fire recovery, environmental issues, wildlife, and transportation aren’t coordinating
### Need equipment loans to cover operating capital, FSA loans are capped, stringent requirements, 150% collateral
## How can we improve communications and understanding with the environmental community?
### Recognize loggers as environmentalists.
## How can we improve how landowners relate to forest treatment and local logging and mill management?
### Need to address small landowners’ burned trees near their homes
### Communication and education
### Forest treatment for material contracts
### Utilize the logging and mill owners to educate the landowners and others
### Establish a local marketplace hub for pricing, supply, and offers on forest treatment services and material disposition
## What other challenges in doing your work do we want to address?
## What capacity increases would you like to be capitalized for?
### What shortcomings do you find in how banks relate to you?
#### Need new low-interest/reasonable-interest equipment loan fund
#### Banks don’t understand the non-equipment capital needs
#### Need a new source of collateral and guarantee
#### Need a method for valuing wood inventory
#### Need to be considered an ag industry
## In addition to capital, what else do you need to grow?
## What are the opportunities to share and coordinate equipment across your businesses?
## What are the opportunities to share and coordinate wood supply contacts and relationships across your businesses?
## What are the opportunities to coordinate forest activity across your businesses?
## What concerns about this cooperation do you want to make sure are addressed?
## What are your other concerns about the current system, and how can it be improved to better assist you in expanding your work?
## How can we address the need for more skilled labor, operators, and managers?
### Environmentalists have to stop stigmatizing logging
### Invite equipment providers like Ponsee to participate in training
## How can we address the need for additional employee housing in emergencies?
## How can state and federal financial and logistical support better serve your needs?
# '''Local public sector and community leaders'''
## How do fires impact your community and your work?
## What goals would your community want to see advanced from RE-FOREST?
## What concerns do you want to ensure are addressed in this Action Plan?
## What resource limits need to be addressed for this initiative to be successful? Potential issues include, but are not limited to:
### Housing
### Labor force
### Road capacity
### Transportation networks
### More effective and relevant state and federal support
## What adjustments to your current role or mission would enable you to focus more on long-term collective benefit?
# '''Environmental groups'''
## How do you define and conceive forest and watershed health?
## How does forest and watershed health impact your work and programmatic mission?
## How have fires impacted your mission and operations?
## What are the significant barriers to improving forest and watershed health?
## What are the significant opportunities for improving forest and watershed health?
## What concerns for the vitality of the environment, watersheds, and wildlife do you want to have a role in addressing within this forest-to-market strategy?
## How can your organization support a positive view of forest workers as environmental stewards?
# '''Foundations and philanthropists'''
## What forest and watershed issues are the most significant challenges?
## How have fires impacted your actions and role?
## What needs are not being addressed under the current system?
## What would help you make your work more effective?
## What resources can you provide to RE-FOREST, and what questions and guidance do you have toward applying those resources?
# '''New technology developers'''
## What technology could be productively included in this initiative?
## What is the current status of your technology and its deployment?
## What capital or support is needed to advance your technology?
## What forest materials' supply issues need to be addressed for your business to succeed?
# '''Foundational questions for all stakeholders'''
## What resources do you have in your control that may be helpful to this Initiative?
## What resources are you familiar with that you want to ensure we are aware of?
## What resources do you want assistance accessing?
## What is your vision for how the federal government, Alaksa, and the region should relate to this Initiative?
## Based on your understanding of this initiative, do you want the state and federal governments to embrace and support the project?
## How do you want to participate in the development of the RE-FOREST Action Plan?
## How do you want to participate in the implementation of the Action Plan?
## What is your political influence, and how can we activate that influence for the success of this initiative?
## Will you engage with RE-FOREST to make a case for this Action Plan with decision-makers?
## Will you contribute financially to this effort?
## Will you agree to this participation agreement?
### I promise to respond to the RE-FOREST emails or phone messages within 48 hours or sooner when time is crucial.
### I promise to invest up to 1-2 hours a week in reading and writing when requested so that my input effectively contributes to this effort.

=== Check out the next phase: [[RE-FOREST/Regions/United States/Alaska/Material Supply|Material Supply]] ===