SEAFWA 2018

AUTHORS: James F. Bullock, Jr., Senior Vice President Forest Sustainability, Resource Management Service, LLC

ABSTRACT: One of the greatest areas of risk for large, privately owned working forests is having forest management or harvest activities modified or restricted by decisions made under the auspices of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With court ordered listing decision evaluations and petitions for listing continually being submitted, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will evaluate and make decisions on approximately 500 species by the end of 2023.Member companies of the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) are working proactively with the USFWS, state wildlife agencies, and other partners to position actively managed forests as contributing the the conservation of at-risk species, particularly species that need young forest, open canopy or riparian and aquatic habitats. This collaboration is based on mutual trust and the desire of all parties to build a lasting partnership that transcends administrations, personnel changes, and time.While arguably a still developing partnership, progress towards affecting species conservation and lasting change is already being demonstrated. Most importantly, the NAFO and USFWS led initiative is being touted as a foundation pillar for a national collaborative conservation initiative “Conservation without Conflict”.This presentation will discuss the founding and evolution of the NAFO member company led at-risk species initiative, and briefly discuss examples of conservation activities relative to specific species or habitats for a suite of species. It will conclude with a look to the future, and to “Conservation without Conflict” as the future model for species conservation on private working lands across the United States.