National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy

1. National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Background and Progress Update – March 2012 Dan Smith, Fire Director, National Association of State Foresters Ann Walker, Forest Health Program Director, WGA

2. What is the Cohesive Strategy? A national, collaborative approach to addressing wildland fire across all lands and jurisdictions Developed with input from wildland fire organizations, land managers and policy-making officials representing all levels of governmental and non-governmental organizations

3. Why is it Important? • Wildland fire management is complex and involves a wide range of stakeholders • Risks to communities and firefighters are increasing • Effectively addressing these issues requires a united, comprehensive effort

4. Background • 2009 FLAME Act: • Directs Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to develop Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy • Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations: • Articulate potential approaches • Estimate costs of each approach • Describe trade-offs associated with each approach

5. Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) • WFLC provides oversight and governs the Cohesive Strategy effort • Intergovernmental committee of federal, state, tribal, county and municipal government officials • Wildland Fire Executive Council • Delegation from WFLC for completion of FLAME Act tasks & Cohesive Strategy • Cohesive Strategy Subcommittee

6. Governance and Engagement

7. Vision “Safely and effectively extinguish fire, when needed, use fire where allowable; manage our natural resources; and as nation, live with wildland fire.”

8. Cohesive Strategy Principles • Engages stakeholders, managers, and scientists • Based on best available science • Emphasis on partnerships and collaboration • Balances long-term goals and near-term outcomes • Approach needs to be a “from-the-ground up” effort

9. National Goals: • Restore and Maintain Landscapes: Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related disturbances in accordance with management objectives. • Fire-adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure can withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property. • Wildfire Response: All jurisdictions participate in making and implementing safe, effective, efficient risk-based wildfire management decisions.

10. A Phased Approach

11. Phase I – National Strategy • Fourteen forums were held nationwide • Building upon previous reports: Call to Action; Mutual Expectations; “Missions” Report; 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy; 2009 QFR • Developed foundational documents: • A Pathway Toward a National Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy • Report to Congress: The Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act of 2009

12. Regions • Three regions have been identified for Phase II and III by WFLC • Northeast • Southeast • West

13. Phase II • National Report developed from the three Regional Assessments • Implement a collaborative planning process and analytical protocol • Regions identify for themselves alternative management strategies • Regionally determined alternative strategies will be utilized in Phase III

14. Phase III • Identify Specific Regional Alternatives • Continue and Expand Outreach within and among the Regions, utilizing the Communications Framework • Continue to identify immediate opportunities • Complete Regional & National Science-based Risk Analysis Reports • Complete Regional and National Action Plans • Risk analyses will inform a national strategy to mitigate wildland fire risks to communities and landscapes.

15. Phase III • Public Outreach • Regional & National Action Plans (Earlier referenced as the National Trade-Off Analysis &Implementation) • Risk analyses will inform a national strategy to mitigate wildland fire risks to communities and landscapes. • Implement National Cohesive Strategy

16. National Science and Analysis Team Leadership & Representation: Danny Lee – Team Lead (USFS) Tom Quigley – Contractor (USFS) Cheryl Renner – WGA delegate Keith Smith – NASF Jim Smith – The Nature Conservancy

17. Information & Resources • WGA Cohesive Strategy Workshop • WFLC Support document • Web podcasts: NASF, WGA, & IAFC • Cohesive Strategy updates available at: www.forestsandrangelands.gov Dan Smith desmith@blm.gov Ann Walker awalker@westgov.org

18. Questions