Providing Leadership

The Current Landscape of Federal Forest Policy for the Northeast

Center webinar explores the current wins and losses for the Northern Forest in recent policy packages.

In our September webinar on Federal Forest Policy: Impacts on the Northern Forest – part of our Building the New Forest Future series – Center Vice President Joe Short joined four forest policy experts from across the region for a panel discussion. Panelists included:

Dana Doran, Executive Director, Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast
Steven Roberge, Extension Forestry Specialist and Professor, UNH Cooperative Extension
Danielle Fitzko, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
Mandy Warner, Senior Director of Policy, Appalachian Mountain Club

We recorded the conversation for you to revisit or share with others.

Looking Back

The webinar began with an overview of federal policy issues that each panelist has been monitoring since President Trump and a new Congress took office in January. The discussion then took a closer look at various levers for policy change, including executive orders, administrative actions, new legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the President’s Skinny Budget and appropriations and their associated impacts on our region’s forests and forest products industry.

Across the region, organizations, institutions, and businesses have experienced interruptions, recissions, and cancellations of grant programs that support land stewardship, forest monitoring, and industry – further compounded by federal staffing cuts and early retirements. Tariffs, duties, and international relations with Canada have increased the cost of harvesting equipment, doubled the cost of Canadian softwood lumber, and impacted tourism respectively. While the residential modern wood heat sector has lost its federal tax credit, other tax reforms will benefit forest products businesses by reducing their taxable income.

Looking Ahead

Federal funding for various programs remains in flux during budget and appropriations negotiations. Various executive actions, administrative actions, and new legislation could lead to massive federal agency reorganizations and consolidations as well as regressive changes to the management of our federal forest lands. Areas to keep an eye on include the:

Proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule which would open land to road construction, timber harvesting, and mining
Proposed rescission of the 2009 Endangerment Finding which would eliminate the legal basis to regulate greenhouse gas emissions
Proposed reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture which would further decrease staff, close offices and forest research stations, and consolidate Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) to a Colorado hub
Proposed consolidation of wildland fire service delivery under one agency called the U.S. Wildland Fire Service to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs
The H.R. 471 Fix Our Forests Act which would streamline forest management by expediting environmental review with the overall goal of reducing wildfire risks
Implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation which directs large EU businesses (starting on December 30, 2025) and small EU businesses (starting on June 30, 2026) to prove that imported wood products do not contribute to deforestation

Click here for a full set of notes from the webinar

Federal policy is complex and at times fast moving, resources for keeping up include:

Providing Leadership

Regional Knowledge and Presence is Critical to an Effective USDA

USDA agencies are crucial partners in active and locally relevant stewardship of public and private forests to maintain the many benefits nature provides, and in supporting thriving rural economies and resilient lands. Maintaining these essential benefits depends on a well-resourced, experienced, and locally rooted USDA. Any reorganization should strengthen – not weaken – these capacities.

Private Forests Provide Public Benefits – and are Under Threat

All USFS programs focused on state, private, and tribal forestry; forest research; and wildfire management are slated for deep reductions or complete elimination in the president’s FY26 budget proposal. These cuts will severely impact the state forest agencies that assist private forest landowners responsible for managing millions of acres of forest.

Rural Places Need Federal Partnership

The Center calls on the Administration to reconsider its slashing of rural funding programs and the federal staff who deliver them, and on the members of the Congressional delegation serving this region to be vocal and active in defending these resources.

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Staff Contacts

Joe Short

Vice President

Cell: 603-491-2651

Kendall Gray

Program Manager

Cell: 443-841-5201