Policy Priorities

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Overview of NEPA and Appeals

This paper was originally prepared in November 2003 by Jesse Abrams for Understanding Appeals and NEPA: A Workshop for Community-Based Forestry Groups that Sustainable Northwest convened in cooperation with the Pinchot Institute for Conservation and Wallowa Resources.

Community and Workforce

Supporting collaboration, community capacity building, and improving the quality and quantity of employment opportunities for forest workers are essential elements of Sustainable Northwest and RVCC's work on community and workforce issues.

Ranching and Rangeland Restoration

Sustainable ranching practices are a key element in rangeland restoration and rural economic viability. RVCC has been exploring policy-related opportunities supporting rangeland restoration and sustainable ranching.

Climate Change

Rural communities, landscapes and economies will be affected by climate change. RVCC has recently begun to investigate what these impacts will be and the role that rural communities can play in climate change policy and mitigation.

Woody Biomass Utilization and Forest Restoration

Integrated woody biomass utilization supports forest restoration, hazardous fuels reduction and rural economic community development. RVCC's work on woody biomass focuses on appropriately scaled and supplied biomass facilities, as well as value added uses of woody biomass and the creation of rural jobs.

Contracting on Public Lands

Stewardship contracting and best value contracting are important tools for completing restoration work and allowing rural communities to benefit from it.

Restoration Funding and Accountability

Funding for natural resource restoration is a key element in creating and maintaining healthy ecosystems and communities. RVCC's work in this area includes advocating for restoration funding, Federal land managment agency performance measures, and multiparty monitoring.

Forest Stewardship Research

SNW partner, the Ecosystem Workforce Program, has released many papers related to the economic impacts of forest and watershed restoration.

Private Lands

Private forests are rapidly being converted nationwide. RVCC's work on this issue includes creating and supporting incentives to maintain working forests including the idea of community owned and managed forests.

2009 Annual Policy Meeting Recap

Summary information from the 2009 Annual Policy Meeting coordinated by Sustainable Northwest.

2009 RVCC Policy Platform

2009 vision and priorities for the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition.