May 27, 2016

Hey Everyone,

Here is an important update on the budget/advocacy/politics culminating around Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds right now in Sacramento, which include urban and community forestry funding for CALFIRE programs.  

The text below is penned by our friends at California ReLeaf, who we have been working with on this issue/opportunity.  We concur with the thinking but let the information be your guide.  

There is no action needed at this time but if that changes we will let you know.  Also, please see the letter that went to the State Senate and Assembly leadership, with over 100 groups signing on, that supports this approach.  Feel free to be in touch if you have any questions.

Have a wonderful, safe and relaxing holiday weekend!

Nancy Hughes, Executive Director
California Urban Forests Council

Letter to Senate and Assembly Leadership – Click here
 

5/27/16

Hi All,

“We have  a mixed bag to report from, so I’ll just dig in.
 
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee for Natural Resources and the Senate Budget Committee both met earlier this week and unveiled their proposed alternatives to the Governor’s Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan for Fiscal Year 2016-17.  The very good news is that both houses put forth $30 million for CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, which aligns exactly with the Governor’s proposal.  Only 20% of all proposals for Cap-and-Trade spending have consensus from all three bodies going into Conference, so we are in as good of shape as we can be at this time.
 
The Senate also proposes augmenting the new Green Infrastructure Program that would be housed at the Natural Resources Agency by 400% to $100 million.  While this new program will also provide tremendous opportunity for additional greening projects such as local parks, green alleys and bioswales, the Senate has suggested another adjustment in the Governor’s natural resources proposal that eliminates all Forest Health funding proposed for CAL FIRE ($25 million would remain for the Wildlife Conservation Board).  This is a $125 million cut that ultimately leaves the Senate proposal $45 million short of what was recommended by Governor Brown for natural resources.
 
Finally, news came in this week regarding the May Cap-and-Trade auction, which did not generate the significant revenues expected to help support the 2016-17 Expenditure Plan.  This shortfall (of up to $500 million) could dramatically impact the final spending package agreed upon by the Legislature and Administration, resulting in potential cuts to existing proposals.
 
California ReLeaf’s (and CaUFC’s) advocacy efforts over the next two weeks will be very focused with a clear and unwavering message:
 
1.            We support the $30 million for urban forestry proposed by all parties.  As this is one of only six items where there is consensus, it should not get caught up in the larger Cap-and-Trade negotiations.
2.            Additional funding proposed for Green Infrastructure investments is needed, but absolutely cannot come at the expense of forest health.
3.            We cannot see a repeat of what happened in 2015.  Communities across California are expecting these allocations to be part of the State Budget signed by July 1st.
 
We know the second point may challenge some of our Network groups as it could result in seeing the Green Infrastructure Program funded at a lower level than proposed by the Senate.  That is not the intent.  However, an analysis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in January 2016 estimates that up to 58 million trees have been adversely affected by the current drought.  Coupled with a changing climate and past management, our forests are facing an unprecedented crisis.  We see evidence of this crisis in recent history, with catastrophic wildfires and pest infestation spreading across the Sierra, potentially shifting our natural and working forests from carbon sinks to net emitters.  This is not the time to cut CAL FIRE funds for this purpose by 100%.
 
Since other stakeholders are circulating letters on both of these issues, California ReLeaf will be focused on distributing the attached letter to legislative leaders urging continued support for the Governor’s Budget.  Many thanks to all of you who signed on to this effort.  It has been well-received in the Capitol so far, as well as by the Administration.
 
If your organization would like to sign on to the attached natural resources letter, please reply ASAP and I will update the letter.  If your organization would like to sign on to the forest health protection letter (spearheaded by The Nature Conservancy), or the Urban Greening augmentation letter (spearheaded by the Trust for Public Land), please let me know and I will get those to you.
 
The next couple of weeks will be bumpy, but we will keep you posted and continue to support urban forestry funding and public policy as the process moves forward.”

Chuck Mills
California ReLeaf