The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) is a non-profit representing state forestry agency directors, advocating for sustainable forestry, conserving forests (which cover two-thirds of the U.S.), and coordinating efforts on wildfire management, landowner assistance, forest health, and urban forestry to protect and manage state and private lands nationwide. They develop national strategies like Forest Action Plans and promote policies for resilient landscapes and fire-adapted communities.

Key Functions:

Advocacy & Policy: Represents state interests to federal agencies, promoting sound forest policy and legislation.

Wildfire Management: Leads on prevention, suppression, and mitigation, sharing resources and coordinating across jurisdictions.

Forest Conservation: Supports programs for forest health, water quality, urban forestry, and managing invasive species.

Landowner Assistance: Provides support and resources to private forest landowners.

Strategic Planning: Oversees Forest Action Plans (FAPs) that guide state-level forest management.

Education & Outreach: Informs the public, landowners, and groups about sustainable practices.

How They Do It:

Collaboration: Works with federal, state, and local partners, sharing resources like fire crews and equipment.

Research & Data: Collects data and creates reports on forest conditions and trends.

Training: Offers specialized training, like the Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC) for responders.

Public Awareness: Uses initiatives like the NASF Foundation's Photo Fellowship to highlight the value of state and private forestry.