File Code: / 2100 / Date: / May 7, 2010
Route To:
Subject: / Tapash - CFLR Proposal
To: / Regional Forester, R-6

We greatly appreciate this opportunity to submit a full proposal to the Regional Office on behalf of the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative. The Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative landscape encompasses 401,202 acres of dry forest, of which a significant portion is in need of some type of restoration treatment. Although this coalition of public, non-profit and tribal land managers has been independently implementing aggressive dry forest management activities, we are only treating a small portion of the landscape each year; and planning and implementation of treatments occur using an ownership-by-ownership approach. Though significant resources are being directed toward these efforts, the real concern is the need to use an “all lands approach” to restore these forests to conditions that are more sustainable, more resilient and adaptable to climate change. In this regard, it is imperative that we not only proceed without delay using the best available science, but accelerate management to restore forests, enhance sustainability, and reduce the effects of uncharacteristically severe wildfires.

The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program provides the means to accomplish these objectives by leveraging local resources with national and private resources; facilitating the reduction of wildfire management costs through reestablishment of natural fire regimes and reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire; and encouraging the utilization of forest restoration by-products to offset treatment costs to benefit local and rural economies and to improve forest health.

If you have any questions about our proposal, please feel free to contact Jodi Leingang at (509) 653-1450 or .

/s/ Clinton D. Kyhl for
REBECCA LOCKETT HEATH
Forest Supervisor

cc: Becki L Heath

Clint Kyhl

Jodi L Leingang

William Aney

Tracy B Beck

Margaret Petersen

Tom DeMeo

Irene L Davidson

Judy Hallisey