IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS
Stewardship Contracting
Over the past two decades, the federal timber sale program
has declined. However, the need for restorative or maintenance work in ecosystems
remains. Some of the project work includes: watershed restoration and maintenance,
road obliteration for sediment control, wildlife habitat improvements, fuel
load reductions, timber stand improvements, and insect/disease protection.
To accomplish the Forest Service's stewardship responsibilities, creative
approaches are needed to complete the necessary work and simultaneously
contribute to the economic growth of local and rural communities. "Stewardship
End Result Contracting" is one solution to this problem. Stewardship
contracting includes natural resource management practices seeking to promote
a closer working relationship with local communities in a broad range of
activities that improve land conditions. These projects shift the focus
of federal forest and rangeland management towards a desired future resource
condition. They are also a means for federal agencies to contribute to the
development of sustainable rural communities, restore and maintain healthy
forest ecosystems, and provide a continuing source of local income and employment.
In February 2003, Congress authorized the Forest
Service (FS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to implement
stewardship contracting for a period of 10 years. Some of the features
of the authorizing legislation includes allowing FS & BLM to
apply the value of timber or other forest products removed as an
offset against the cost of services received, apply excess receipts
from a project to other authorized stewardship projects, select
contracts and agreements on a "best value" basis, and
award a contract or agreement up to ten years which may stimulate
long term investment in the local community. The authorizing legislation
is found in the 2003
Appropriations Act (16 U.S.C. 2104 Note).
Flowchart
For determing
if Stewardship Contracting is the right tool to use.
Resources
|
PARTNERING WITH THE FOREST SERVICE
