The
Lookout
Information,
Observations and Comments from the
National Association of Forest Service
Retirees
Sustaining the Heritage
Volume 4 Issue 4
April 23, 2009
New Deputy Under Secretary Named
After much speculation the Administration has announced its nominee for Deputy Under Secretary to oversee Forest Service activities. The official announcement is below, lifted from the Department of Agriculture web site.
Several NAFSR board members have worked with Jay over the past years, and have high respect for his knowledge of forestry issues, his ability to listen carefully to various viewpoints and to craft problem solutions that work. He has been a very successful leader of the Council of Western State Foresters/Western Forestry Leadership Coalition.
Jay is probably the best “briefed” person to fill this key position in years because of his work as executive of CWSF/WFLC. He has daily contact with federal and state forestry issues, and the ability to literally look out his office window and see a major forestry issue, the insect epidemic that is decimating the Colorado Front Range. He also has a good understanding of forestry issues in the East from his work with the National Association of State Forester.
NAFSR congratulates Jay, wishes him well in this assignment and offers its support to him.
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AGRICULTURE
SECRETARY VILSACK NAMES JAY JENSEN AS DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR NATURAL
RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT |
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The NRE mission
area includes the FS and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
NRCS is the federal agency with primary responsibility for working with
private landowners in conserving, maintaining and improving their natural
resources. "Jay Jensen
brings the combination of on the ground and government experience that we
need in this role," said Vilsack. "He is a forester and wildland
firefighter with an extensive background in policy, management, and
legislation. I'll be looking to Jay's leadership as we address the health of
our forests. This is a top priority for USDA because it relates to several
critical challenges—the intensity of forest fires, climate change, biomass
and renewable energy, clean water and revitalizing forest-dependent
communities." Since May 2005,
Jensen has been Executive Director of the Council of Western State
Foresters/Western Forestry Leadership Coalition. The Coalition is a
federal-state governmental partnership. Jensen had served earlier as the
Coalition's Government Affairs Director. He has also served
as Senior Forestry Advisor for the Western Governors Association, where he
was responsible for the biomass energy program. Before that, as lead forestry
advisor for the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, Jensen helped develop
programs under the 2002 Farm Bill. He has also served as lead policy analyst
for the National Association of State Foresters. Jensen holds a
B.S. degree from the A southern |
Fire Committee Action
Members have been asking when the NAFSR Fire Committee, chaired by Al West will issue a report. A release date has not been set, but it will be as soon as Al and the committee members feel they have produced a report that has identified and analyzed critical fire issues, discussed the findings with Forest Service leadership, and can offer constructive suggestions for resolving issues.
Other Issues:
There are a number of other issues such as budgets, legislation and activities on the National Forests. However, I have to do a lot more work on gathering information before I can be comfortable I am giving you good stuff. I have sat on the new Under Secretary news too long, so I am sending this abbreviated newsletter to you, and will try to get an expanded up date to you by mid May.
John
The Lookout, published by National Association of
Forest Service Retirees. Editor John Marker, jf37m@aol.com,
6681 Highway 35, Mt