Virginia Department of Forestry
Strategic Plan and Performance Measures
2000-2002

Mission: "We Protect and Develop Healthy, Sustainable Forest Resources for Virginians"

GOAL 1: PROTECT THE FOREST RESOURCE FROM WILDFIRE.

Critical Issue 1: DOF is not at a desired level of fire readiness.

Objective 1: Provide forest fire suppression equipment to ensure protection of the Commonwealth.

• Strategy 1: Incorporate DOF Fire Risk Analysis into forest protection plan.
• Strategy 2: Update analysis every five years to coincide with woodland home survey.
• Strategy 3: Determine and implement primary fire response areas as identified in risk analysis.
• Strategy 4: Secure funds to ensure aerial suppression coverage within one hour to all areas of Commonwealth.
• Strategy 5: Incorporate available technology to determine equipment needs of the Wildland Urban Interface.
• Strategy 6: Ensure adequate tools and equipment to combat Interface fires.
• Strategy 7: Evaluate the Federal Excess Property Program’s effectiveness. Increase use where appropriate.

Performance Measures:

The Forest Protection Team will analyze the states fire readiness and address the following:

1. Identify ICS qualifications and fitness level of full-time employees, equipment needs and availability, quantity and location of fire fighting resources, etc.
2. Complete a statewide risk assessment, including all available forest fire fighting resources, on a GIS mapping system. Integrate the Woodland Home Survey into the risk assessment.
3. Determine an acceptable response of available resources to maintain a fire readiness such that 85% of the forest fires occurring on a class three day (at a Cumulative Severity Index of 600 and below) will be contained in the first burning period.
4. All data will be incorporated into a state forest readiness plan by 2003 and implemented by 2005.

Objective 2: Establish sufficient personnel resources to provide adequate forest fire protection to the Commonwealth.

• Strategy 1: Develop cooperative agreements with other agencies to provide personnel resources.
• Strategy 2: Provide forest fire training for fire departments, cooperators and other part-time firefighters.
• Strategy 3: Expand resources through agreements with local cooperators and fire departments.
• Strategy 4: Develop formal training and organization for "Hot Shot" crews.

Performance Measures:

1. Train each fire department annually in woodland fire suppression tactics. Measure results and evaluate additional training needs by July 1, 2001.
2. Maintain agreements with state and federal agencies as required and establish additional agreements as necessary.
3. Design a training program for local hot shot crews by July 1, 2001.

Objective 3: Provide a DOF communications system that is adequate for emergency response communications.

• Strategy 1: Improve quality and range of radio coverage.
• Strategy 2: Actively participate with the State Police in the development of a consolidated statewide radio system.
• Strategy 3: Determine radio communication needs between DOF and county fire services and provide adequate radio communications to meet those needs.
• Strategy 4: Provide adequate phone and pager communications to supplement radio communications.

Performance Measures:

1. Define "adequate" communications system and identify gaps between existing system and an "adequate" system by November 1, 2000.
2. Develop and implement a plan to close the gaps by January 1, 2002.

Critical Issue 2: There is a lack of public awareness regarding fire prevention and fire protection.

Objective 4: Implement an innovative long-term fire prevention and public awareness program.

• Strategy 1: Design program to coincide with Strategic Plan while addressing the needs of Virginia’s diverse demographics.
• Strategy 2: Promote incorporation of fire prevention message into Standards of Learning to be included as part of curriculum.
• Strategy 3: Utilize volunteer "Hot Shot" crews for community awareness projects.
• Strategy 4: Utilize modern technology to develop and distribute fire prevention message.
• Strategy 5: Provide program material for public television.
• Strategy 6: Develop an interactive Web page on fire prevention for DOF home page.

Performance Measures:

1. Utilize PLT as an avenue for prevention in the schools. Working with DOF PLT Coordinator, evaluate the effectiveness of current resources and programs by September 1, 2000.
2. Expand fire section of the DOF home page to include additional fire prevention and protection information. Working with the DOF web master, learn how to further develop and manage this section of the home page. The Forest Protection Team will assume responsibility of the management of the fire section by September 1, 2000.
3. Utilize DOF Fire Prevention Team as needed prior to a serious fire situation developing.
4. Working with DOF Fire Prevention Team and PLT Coordinator, evaluate current prevention program for effectiveness and revitalize where necessary. Implement necessary changes by July 1, 2001.
5. Establish a committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the DOF’s law enforcement and make any necessary changes by January 1, 2002.
6. Where appropriate, incorporate a "fire" message, text or graphic, into DOF publications.

GOAL 2: CONSERVE THE FOREST LAND BASE.

Critical Issue 1: Lack of strategies to conserve the forest land base.

Objective 2.1: Develop and implement strategies to conserve the forest land base.

• Strategy 1: Define DOF’s role in conserving the land base. Communicate agency’s role and direction to DOF employees.
• Strategy 2: Implement the Forest Legacy Program.
• Strategy 3: Investigate and evaluate past and present land conservation efforts in Virginia and other states.
• Strategy 4: Define what "forest land base" means. Communicate that definition to all interested parties.

Performance Measures:

1. Facilitate a meeting with forest landowners who are potential candidates for the Forest Legacy program and/or working forestry easements by November 1, 2000.

Objective 2: Increase the State Forest and other public forest reserves.

• Strategy 1: Develop and implement criteria for increasing the State Forest reserves.
• Strategy 2: Investigate alternative sources of funding for state forest operations.
• Strategy 3: Create a State Forest Foundation.

Performance Measures:

1. Develop criteria and strategies for state forest acquisition by September 1, 2000.
2. Working with the Conservation Foundation, seek additional funding for State Forest acquisition and "working forest" conservation easements annually.

Critical Issue 2: Lack of current and understandable forest resource information to give to target audiences.

Objective 3. Obtain information necessary to promote forest land base conservation.

• Strategy 1: Convert and link our current data bases to a GIS data base.
• Strategy 2: Ensure adequate funding and staffing for Forest Inventory Analysis.

Performance Measures:

1. Develop a comprehensive training program on tools and strategies for conserving the forest landbase, to all DOF foresters by January 1, 2001.
2. Foster a growing understanding and knowledge of implementation of GIS among DOF foresters by May 1, 2001.

Objective 2.4: Provide information necessary to promote forest land base conservation.

• Strategy 1: Package information in a format that is understandable to our targeted audiences.
• Strategy 2: Train appropriate DOF personnel in land use planning.
• Strategy 3: Conduct targeted workshops for local government associations and partners to explain the importance of conserving the forest land base.

Performance Measures:

1. Forest Management Team develop a promotional program on forest land base conservation.
2. All foresters will complete a land use planning course similar to one given to planning commissions.
3. Provide workshops and forest resource information to local governments in order to ensure more informed planning and decision making about Virginia’s forest resources by July 1, 2002.

Objective 2.5: Provide inventory and assessment of forest resources to assist forest products companies in determining the feasibility of expanding or locating forest products businesses in certain areas of Virginia.

• Strategy 1: Provide interpretation of forest inventory assessment data and other forest resource information to forest industry.
• Strategy 2: Distribute forest resource assessment information to foreign and domestic economic development agencies and potential industries.
• Strategy 3: Establish a database of buyers, producers, products, and raw materials associated with forest products.

Performance Measures:

1. Make easily understood resource data available to customers and stakeholders within six months of receiving the USFS survey report.

Critical Issue 3: DOF lacks strategic alliances with other parties to support the goal of conserve the forest land base.

Objective 2.6: Form partnerships to promote conservation of the forest land base.

• Strategy 1: Designate partners and formulate Memorandums of Understanding to promote interest in conserving the forest land base.
• Strategy 2: Target grant funds to support forest land base conservation.
• Strategy 3: Promote and explore innovative forest conservation programs and mechanisms (e.g. the Nature Conservancy’s Forest Bank Program in Southwest Virginia).

Performance Measures:

1. In partnership with local land trusts, American Farmland Trust, Farm Bureau and other partners, provide a series of workshops on tools and strategies for conserving the forest landbase to forest landowners by October 1, 2001.
2. Provide workshops and interactive field trips to land trust staff members by March 1, 2001, in order to ensure a thorough understanding of forest management, working forestry easements and the importance of informing landowners of all their options.

Objective 2.7. Increase the acres of forest land under "working forest" conservation easements or other appropriate legal protection.

• Strategy 1: Work with alliances to draft conservation easement language for "working forest".
• Strategy 2: Establish base line data of existing easements.
• Strategy 3: Secure dedicated funding for additional conservation easements.
• Strategy 4: Support land conservation coalition efforts and other legislative initiatives to secure funding for land base conservation.
• Strategy 5: Provide higher cost share rate for landowners placing their land in working forest conservation easements.
• Strategy 6: Work with forest industry and other large landholders to obtain conservation easements on forest land they own.
• Strategy 7: Investigate the desirability of the DOF holding conservation easements.
• Strategy 8: Promote the value of working forest to the economy of Virginia.

Performance Measures:

1. Develop conservation easements on the State Forest.
2. DOF will increase the number of acres in conservation easements to 6,200 of which at least 20 easements will be greater than 100 acres.

GOAL 3: PROTECT WATER QUALITY ASSOCIATED WITH SILVICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND RIPARIAN AREAS.

Critical Issue 1: The Silvicultural Water Quality Law is ineffective at protecting water quality.

Objective 1: Improve the effectiveness of the water quality law.

• Strategy 1: Study water quality laws and enforcement programs nationwide and make recommendations for DOF.
• Strategy 2: Modify existing enforcement procedures to streamline the current process.
• Strategy 3: Propose a revision to the silvicultural water quality law to reduce implementation time and simplify the process.

Performance Measures:

1. Develop a committee to assess water quality laws and procedures nationwide. Committee will make recommendations on any necessary revisions to the existing law and/or DOF procedures by July 1, 2001.

Critical Issue 2: Inadequate data and analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of the water quality program.

Objective 2: Establish and maintain a credible water quality data management system.

• Strategy 1: Develop uniform method of data interpretation.
• Strategy 2: Identify and provide for data/information needs for tracking water quality accomplishments and enforcement.
• Strategy 3: Establish a usable water quality database.

Performance Measures:

1. By October 1, 2000, determine the appropriate water quality information to monitor.
2. By January 1, 2001, design and implement a proto-type database of water quality information that can be integrated into the agency’s new information system in the future.
3. Write internal procedures for implementing data collection and entry by January 1, 2001.

Objective 3: Develop and implement criteria to evaluate the effects of silvicultural operations on the quality of water.

• Strategy 1: Have Forest Hydrologist form Task Force to research and develop standard criteria. Criteria will establish adequate level of compliance.
• Strategy 2: Implement standard process and criteria.

Performance Measures:

1. By 6/30/2002, the Forest Hydrologist will have water quality reference data for at least two basic stream types and will have developed field procedures for using these data to assess water quality associated with silvicultural operations.

Objective 4: Assess consistency of water quality law by using regional audits.

• Strategy 1: Redesign current audit system.
• Strategy 2: Deal with inconsistencies on a regional basis.

Performance Measures:

1. Develop and implement a process for regional reviews of water quality law enforcement activities by August 1, 2000.

Critical Issue 3: Insufficient personnel or organization make up to properly conduct silvicultural inspections.

Objective 5: Enhance DOF resources to properly conduct silvicultural inspections.

• Strategy 1: Study the feasibility and create a compliance division within the DOF if appropriate.

Performance Measures:

1. Determine the effectiveness of present methods of inspection, including percentage of tracts inspected, degree to which inspectors comply with DOF procedures, etc. by September 1, 2000.
2. Develop silvicultural inspection standards by October 1, 2000.
3. Establish a working group to identify and study various options, including increased specialization among personnel responsible for conducting silvicultural inspections. Provide a comprehensive report to SMT by January 1, 2001.

Objective 6: All harvest inspections will be conducted by certified inspectors (includes DOF and non-DOF).

• Strategy 1: Develop standards and training for certification of water quality inspectors.
• Strategy 2: Implement certification and training program.
• Strategy 3: Develop a follow-up evaluation procedure of certified inspectors.

Performance Measures:

1. Water Quality Team to develop standards and training plans for certification of inspectors by October 1, 2000.
2. Water Quality Team to provide training, certification and testing for all inspectors by July 1, 2001.
3. Develop and implement system of audits and evaluations to monitor certified inspectors – include standards for acceptance and decertification by July 1, 2001.

Critical Issue 4: Lack of resources to implement riparian forest buffer initiative.

Objective 7: Implement Riparian Forest initiative.

• Strategy 1: Initiate riparian training for DOF and cooperating agencies.
• Strategy 2: Promote the economic values of Riparian initiatives through public education.
• Strategy 3: Acquire grant funds to implement riparian protection demonstrations and research areas.
• Strategy 4: Develop contractors for establishment of riparian forest buffer areas.
• Strategy 5: Utilize or organize volunteers and non-profit groups to help implement riparian forests.
• Strategy 6: Produce an appropriate quantity of riparian tree species grown at DOF and private Virginia nurseries

Performance Measures:

1. Provide technical assistance for planting riparian areas.
2. Establish 35 miles of forest buffers by December 31, 2000, 55 miles by December 31, 2001, 70 miles by December 31, 2002 and 80 miles by December 31, 2003.

GOAL 4: IMPROVE AND RENEW FOREST RESOURCES.

Critical Issue 1: Lack of implementation of proper silvicultural practices is having detrimental effects on the forest resource.

Objective 1: Implement a Hardwood Management Program to increase the quality of hardwood forests.

• Strategy 1: Create new and fully utilize existing incentives that encourage scientifically based hardwood management.
• Strategy 2: Identify and enlist partners in advancing hardwood management.
• Strategy 3: Develop a "Forest Contractor" Program with logging contractors to conduct silvicultural improvements.
• Strategy 4: Identify appropriate sites for hardwood forestry emphasis using GIS data layers to direct resources to most appropriate sites.
• Strategy 5: Design and conduct aggressive public information and education program for landowners that promotes the economic value of hardwood management.
• Strategy 6: Promote better utilization and marketing of low grade hardwood resources for forest products in an environmentally safe manner.
• Strategy 7: Continue hardwood silviculture research.

Performance Measures:

1. Provide Forest Stewardship plans and project plans as appropriate.

Objective 2: Increase landowner implementation of pine silvicultural options to improve productivity and health.

• Strategy 1: Research types of incentives necessary for continued pine resource management.
• Strategy 2: Provide and promote appropriate information and education for pine management.
• Strategy 3: Increase white pine plantings to meet projected specialized demands for this species.

Performance Measures:

1. The Resource Information Team will publish two papers during the year dealing with various aspects of pine research.
2. The DOF will annually conduct management information activities equal to its three-year accomplishment average.

Objective 3: Create a forest practices guide for landowners.

• Strategy 1: Study such forest practice guides in other states.
• Strategy 2: Create a Task Force to get stakeholder input.

Performance Measures:

1. Working with the Virginia Forestry Association, distribute the existing forest landowners guide and promote implementation of the guidelines provided in the publication. Evaluate the necessity for more comprehensive guide for landowners by November 1, 2000.

Critical Issue 2: The health and sustainability of the forest resource is threatened.

Objective 4: Determine present and projected forest resource needs.

• Strategy 1: Produce an inventory analysis of the hardwood and pine resource.
• Strategy 2: Utilize forest products tax and other information to develop current utilization levels.
• Strategy 3: Monitor fragmentation trends.
• Strategy 4: Inventory forest lands needing special protection because of unusual habitat conditions.
• Strategy 5: Construct an analysis model to assess the potential impact of a new or expanding forest products mill on the surrounding forest resources.

Performance Measures:

1. Produce an interim forest inventory analysis report by December 2000 and a final analysis by January 1, 2001.

Objective 5: Improve the health of forest resources.

• Strategy 1: Increase research in improving health of forest stands.
• Strategy 2: Utilize appropriate pest management techniques to maintain forest health.
• Strategy 3: Continue Forest Health Monitoring Program.

Performance Measures:

1. By 6/30/2002, DOF will successfully have completed all of the activities recommended by the working group to implement objective 4:2:5.

Objective 6: Improve the quality and volume of wood available.

• Strategy 1: Fully utilize genetic improvements in tree seed production.
• Strategy 2: Increase research in improving quality of forest stands.
• Strategy 3: Increase the percentage of harvested sites reforested properly.
• Strategy 4: Utilize intensive Silvicultural practices (Fertilizers, Herbicides).
• Strategy 5: Ensure adequate nursery resources to meet the demands for quality seedlings.

Performance Measures:

1. By 6/30/2002, DOF will have implemented a system, of established statistical confidence, for estimating changes in the quality and volume of available wood in Virginia.

Objective 7: Provide assistance to enhance new and existing forest industry.

• Strategy 1: Assist primary and secondary forest product operations to increase their efficiency in processing and utilizing the wood resource.
• Strategy 2: Assist local and state governments in recruiting and establishing forest based value added industries to improve local economies, especially in areas with high unemployment and limited opportunities.
• Strategy 3: Coordinate and manage the Forest Harvest Festival to promote the forest industry in the state.
• Strategy 4: Complete periodic economic analyses of the importance of the forest industry to the state’s economy.
• Strategy 5: Assist forest industry in managing and promoting their Tree Farm and Sustainable Forestry Initiative Programs.

Performance Measures:

1. Publicize assistance DOF can provide to new or existing forest industry by January 1, 2001.
2. Publish update of "Virginia’s Forests Our CommonWealth" by November 1, 2000.

Critical Issue 3: Suburban expansion presents many challenges for continued forest renewal and improvement.

Objective 8: Improve DOF’s effectiveness in addressing issues in transitional rural/suburban interface.

• Strategy 1: Develop a DOF marketing plan to expand outreach and inreach.
• Strategy 2: Develop and implement a specialized silvicultural program for small wood lot management.
• Strategy 3: Seek alternative sources of funding.
• Strategy 4: Obtain and utilize resource assessment data for planning and developing strategies in transitional areas.
• Strategy 5: Maintain the DOF home page and other electronic mediums.
• Strategy 6: Clarify DOF’s role in urban and community forestry.
• Strategy 7: Utilize urban and community forestry assistance grants to develop sustainable community forestry programs at the local level.
• Strategy 8: Encourage and assist with the development of local and regional Urban Forest Councils.
• Strategy 9: Work with local forest industry to improve utilization of specialty forest products removed in land clearing operations instead of disposal.

Performance Measures:

1. Provide workshops, or formal presentation for local governments to explain resource assessment data and trends by July 1, 2003.
2. Utilizing information compiled from focus groups and the regional assessment conducted by the Southern Forest Urban Interface Council and the Southern Group of State Foresters, develop and implement strategies to address interface issues in Virginia by July 1, 2001.
3. Target Urban and Community Forestry Assistance grants to address interface issues by June 30, 2001.

Goal 5: Create an organizational environment that enables employees to effectively protect and develop healthy, sustainable forest resources.

Critical Issue 1: The organization is not aligned to work effectively and efficiently to accomplish its mission and goals.

Objective 1: Align the organization’s priorities to support strategic plan implementation within diverse demographic areas of Virginia.

• Strategy 1: Conduct assessment of DOF programs, services and activities to ensure alignment with mission and goals; and determine what should be retained, eliminated or outsourced.
• Strategy 2: Conduct external customer survey to ensure feedback.
• Strategy 3: Ensure systems and processes support DOF’s mission, goals, and priorities.Strategy 4: Conduct a job analysis of time vs. function of DOF programs/services.
• Strategy 5: Establish and maintain team expectations utilizing the Strategic Plan and Annual Improvement Plans.

Performance Measures:

1. Decide which activities (by geographic area) to retain, eliminate, or outsource using the results of the internal and external surveys as part of the criteria by January 1, 2002.

Objective 2: Identify and implement privatization options.

• Strategy 1: Implement privatization opportunities for forestry services.
• Strategy 2: Implement privatization opportunities for support efforts.
• Strategy 3: Review and revise privatization plan.

Performance Measures:

1. Private contractors will provide aerial site preparation on 1300 acres of NIPF land during the 2000 spray season.

Critical Issue 2: Insufficient resources.

Objective 3: Implement staffing plan.

• Strategy 1: Develop staffing criteria and assess staffing needs.
• Strategy 2: Reassign existing staff as necessity dictates.
• Strategy 3: Align positions according to staffing criteria and DOF strategic plan.

Performance Measures:

1. By July 1, 2001, develop and implement a comprehensive staffing plan for DOF.

Objective 4: Provide comprehensive forest resource information.

• Strategy 1: Expand technological resources to maintain and disseminate forest resource information (Internet, Intranet, e-mail and support).
• Strategy 2: Ensure continuation of Southern Annual Forest Inventory System (SAFIS).
• Strategy 3: Enhance GIS capabilities in cooperation with VGIN.
• Strategy 4: Provide adequate support and resources to gather and disseminate information.

Performance Measures:

1. Working with SMT and the IT Team using an enterprise approach, develop a proposal for a new information system by December 1, 2000.
2. Investigate the potential of using private sector involvement in certain phases of the development of the new information system by January 1, 2001.
3. Begin development of the new information system by March 1, 2001.

Objective 5: Manage equipment more effectively.

• Strategy 1: Establish a fleet management system.
• Strategy 2: Determine data and information needs.

Performance Measures:

1. DOF will identify and recommend an appropriate fleet management data collection program, budget, and implementation plan for DOF's vehicles and equipment which clearly provides DOF management and mechanic teams with the ability to make better repair decisions, purchasing decisions, and rotation schedule decisions by March 1, 2001.

Objective 6: Continually provide updated technology resources.

• Strategy 1: Determine data and information needs.
• Strategy 2: Provide the necessary technology to support data and information needs.
• Strategy 3: Assess new technology and evaluate appropriateness for DOF.
• Strategy 4: Develop a comprehensive marketing plan to provide resource information to constituents in an efficient manner.

Performance Measures:

1. Working with the IT Steering Committee, assess the effectiveness of existing technology, determine present and future needs and secure the necessary funding to implement the identified solutions annually.

Critical Issue 3: Inadequate workforce development/training.

Objective 7: Implement a career advancement plan for all DOF position classifications and implement advancement program for three position classifications.

• Strategy 1: Pending available funds, implement Forest Technician career advancement program.
• Strategy 2: Develop career advancement program plan for all DOF position classifications.
• Strategy 3: Identify position classifications that may be grouped together into similar career advancement program.

Performance Measures:

1. Working with the Human Resources Director, align principles of DOF Career Advancement program with new state classification system by November 1, 2001.

Objective 8: Implement comprehensive training program.

• Strategy 1: Establish Training Coordinator position dedicated to developing, improving, and tracking DOF Training Program.
• Strategy 2: Develop minimum skills, knowledge and abilities for all positions to maintain proficiency.
• Strategy 3: Establish continuing education program utilizing internal and external sources for training.

Performance Measures:

1. Develop and implement new comprehensive training program by January 1, 2001.