Meeting Information

Agenda

Hotel and Registration Info

Support

Support for WGA's Enlibra program is provided by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and by Region IX of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Background Information on Enlibra

Examples of Enlibra in Action

Policy Resolution Outlining Enlibra Principles

Frequently Asked Questions

Advisory Committee

Publications, Press Releases and Speeches

Meetings

Resource Guide


Environmental Summit
on the West II

Plenary Session III
Applying the Enlibra Principles:  
Case Studies and Introductions to Current Opportunities 

Presentations of Enlibra success stories and an introduction to current issues that will be addressed in breakout sessions using the Enlibra principles to develop specific recommendations.  

Proposed Case Studies and Issues:  

Community-based Forestry Efforts to Reduce Wildland Fire Risks while Restoring Forest Ecosystem Health

Evidence of declining ecosystem health in the West is showing up in the growing numbers of species at risk, the spread of noxious weeds, unnaturally large outbreaks of insects and disease in Western forests, and perhaps most visibly, the increase in severe wildfires in the last decade. In many parts of the West, communities, federal land managers, and collaborative groups of many partners, have been working to restore ecosystem health for the community benefits as well as ecological benefits it brings.

This presentation will review how a community in northeastern Oregon has worked with its local national forest to make collective progress in ecosystem restoration. The relevance of their work is heightened with current national attention on finding ways to reduce the threat of wildfire to communities and ecosystems.

Presenters

  • Karyn Wood, Forest Supervisor on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
  • Diane Snyder, Executive Director, Wallowa Resources

Background

Cooperative siting of interstate energy infrastructure 

At their annual meeting in June 2002, Western governors intend to sign an interstate protocol to expand collaboration among state permitting agencies in the review of proposed interstate electric transmission projects. Although no state in the Western Interconnection has ever denied a permit for an interstate transmission project, the governors believe that the increasing regionalization of electricity markets will require a proactive process to ensure closer collaboration among permitting agencies. 

In response to the governors' direction, Western states have developed a draft protocol. However, because of the vast ownership of lands in the West by the federal government and tribes, success in improving the review of interstate transmission proposal will require the collaboration of federal agencies and tribes. 

This presentation will introduce the draft protocol, which will be addressed in detail in a subsequent breakout session.

Presenters

Roger Hamilton, Governor Kitzhaber’s Office 

Roger Fragua, Council of Energy Resource Tribes

Ted Zukoski, Land and Water Fund of the Rockies 

Ed Fox, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation

Background Information

Creating and Capturing Value from Industrial Wastes: By-product Synergy (A presentation CH2M Hill)

By-Product Synergy (BPS) is about creating and capturing value through matching producers of under-valued waste streams with users, and working with regulators to establish support for the process. BPS promotes a shift from a waste disposal system to a reuse methodology, saving energy and cutting emissions.  The State of New Jersey has verified BPS as an innovative environmental technology.

Outcomes

  • A clear understanding of the potential environmental, energy and economic benefits of implementing the BPS process on state and national levels;
  • An overview of the barriers and opportunities facing BPS;
  • An examination of incentives from government and industry that could stimulate the adoption of the BPS approach;
  • How the Technology Acceptance Reciprocity Partnership can help bring BPS to Western states.

Presenters

Background

Partnerships and New Tools to Conserve Open Lands in the West

The Evergreen Forest Trust announced in January 2002 that it had signed a purchase and sale agreement with the Weyerhaeuser Company for the acquisition of approximately 100,000 acres of forestland.  These forests are located between the greater Seattle metropolitan area to the west and the national forests to the east.  The Trust is using a new forestland ownership and financing concept that has been pioneered by US Forest Capital, LP. 

The concept brings regional business, environmental and community leaders together in the formation of a private nonprofit conservation company.  The company will continue to harvest timber from the land, but it will also preserve sensitive areas and ratchet up lighter forest management practices over time. A permanent conservation easement will be donated to the Cascade Land Conservancy – a regional land trust – to assure that these forestlands will not be converted to other uses.  The Trust plans to finance the $185 million transaction by selling Community Forestry Bonds™. 

Presenter

E. Thomas Tuchman, U.S. Forest Capital LP, a forestry and financial services company

Background

US Forest Capital (www.usforestcapital.com)
Purchase of Development Rights (report) 
Evergreen Forest at Snoqualmie

 
April 22, 2002