NEWFC Principles
Created 8.20.24
The NEWFC principles fall into three main categories, Resilient Communities and Economies, Resilient Silviculture, and Ecologically Resilient Landscapes. These are the three core areas that best represent the interests of the collaborative. The NEWFC Principles are the high-level expression of NEWFC values. They are not intended to convey a formal position, only the importance of the subject as a distinct item of concern that will be further addressed by a guideline.
Resilient Communities and Economies
1. Economics and Infrastructure
The local infrastructure of Northeast Washington effectively utilizes primary and secondary wood products in an interdependent supply chain. These industries support forest health, tourism, culture, renewable energy and stable economies through sustainable management.
2. Implementation and Contracting
Proper contracting can ensure effective execution of management plans, maintenance of infrastructure, and engagement of stakeholders in sustainable resource use and conservation efforts. The limitations of implementation may not always align with forest treatment designs
3. Recreation
Recreation provides opportunities for public enjoyment and connection with nature, which can enhance physical and mental well-being, support local economies, and promote conservation awareness and stewardship of natural resources. Diverse recreational opportunities and increased visitation may have negative impacts to forest ecological health and warrants intentional consideration.
4. Roads
A functional transportation network is necessary for access to forest treatments, recreational opportunities, emergency response, safety, and cultural resources. Roads can have significant ecological impacts to aquatic systems, soil, natural vegetation and terrestrial wildlife.
5. Scenic Management
The rich diversity of the Colville National Forest, which includes the Kettle River Range and Selkirk Mountains; sage-steppe, dry & wet forests, wetlands, rivers and lakes, creates the scenic beauty of Northeast Washington. Public values are fundamentally anchored in these scenic aesthetics which are the foundation for the enjoyment and stewardship of our public lands.
Resilient Silviculture
6. Forest Management
After decades of fire exclusion, old-growth and clear-cut logging, grazing, and other land management activities, many forest types have shifted fire regimes, forest structure, fuel loads, and resilience to natural disturbances. These changes could increase the magnitude and severity of fire and other disturbance events in an uncharacteristic fashion.
7. Late-successional Forests
Late-successional and old forest habitats are generally below their historic range of variability (HRV); there is considerably less old forest and associated habitat on the landscape than would have previously occurred. Late-successional forests provide disproportionately high ecological value such as wildlife habitat, carbon storage, and resilience to natural disturbance.
8. Stand Heterogeneity
Natural disturbances promote multi-aged and unevenly spaced trees primarily dominated by older, drought and fire-resistant trees. Stand heterogeneity helps maintain forest structure and ecosystem function while reducing the probability of high-severity stand replacing disturbances.
9. Strategic Fuels Treatments
Combined effects of logging old-growth and fire prevention have significantly increased the vulnerability of eastside landscapes and communities to catastrophic disturbances. Strategic fuels treatments promote forest resilience to wildfire and other disturbances to move stands closer to historic fire regimes.
10. Post Disturbance Management
Disturbances can provide important ecological functions such as recycling nutrients, regulating the density and composition of trees, and creating and maintaining wildlife habitat. Uncharacteristic disturbances significantly alter natural recovery processes and resilience to future disturbances.
11. Hazard Tree Management
When the integrity of trees is disturbed, it can lead to hazardous conditions for fire personnel and visitors. Appropriate hazard tree management practices contribute to forest health by promoting ecosystem resilience.
Ecologically Resilient Landscapes
12. Spatially Explicit Landscape Evaluations
Major ecological processes that are the focus of restoration actions are driven by large-scale patterns of vegetation structure and composition. Utilizing spatially explicit landscape evaluations are a valuable tool for appropriate forest management.
13. Species of Greatest Conservation Need
Forests provide habitat for a variety of iconic, imperiled, and culturally significant species. These species have evolved to maintain symbiotic relationships with their natural landscape to mutually benefit biodiversity.
14. Big Game Habitat
Summer and winter range for big game species is vital for maintaining wildlife populations and ecological balance within forests. The abundance and sustainability of ungulate populations maintain complex ecosystem structures.
15. Soil Management
Healthy soils enhance ecosystem resilience and promote robust tree growth, ultimately contributing to the long-term viability of forest ecosystems. Soils mitigate erosion and regulate nutrient cycles while improving water flow and quality
16. Aquatic Management
Aquatic areas maintain biodiversity, support ecosystem health, provide crucial habitats for various species, and offer recreational opportunities while ensuring sustainable, clean and cool water quality
17. Prescribed Fire and Cultural Burning
Prescribed and cultural burns are often used to mimic low-intensity fire that would have naturally occurred on the landscape. This forest management practice benefits vegetation and wildlife while reducing fuel loading and restoring historic fire regimes. There are inherent risks in implementing this management tool which can be mitigated.
18. Wildlands
Wildlands, such as Wilderness areas and Inventoried Roadless Areas, exemplify the least human-disturbed forests and stream systems, and are refugia of ecological diversity. These areas provide unique recreational opportunities, cultural resources, and critical wildlife habitat
19. Monitoring
Multiparty monitoring brings people with different views and expertise together to understand broad landscape-level issues. It provides a way for interested groups to discuss, reach agreement, and collaboratively engage around proposed action and adaptive management deliverables.