Section_C-_Statement_of_Work_Tree_Mortality_FINAL.docx

Section C – Description/Specification/Statement of Work

TREE MORTALITY COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS

Background

Since 2010, an estimated 66 million trees have died in California’s national forests due to a combination of climate change, an unprecedented drought, bark beetle infestation and high tree densities. An estimated 29 million trees died in 2015 alone, which was the driest of the four years of drought currently affecting California. High numbers of dead trees are having significant effects on the people who live and work in and/or visit affected areas. Most visible and immediately concerning are the high number of hazard trees in and around communities and campgrounds and along roads, trails, and power lines.

To date, 11 counties have declared local emergencies due to the effects of drought and tree mortality. Governor Brown declared a state of emergency in 2015, which prompted the Office of Emergency Services and CAL FIRE to establish a Tree Mortality Task Force comprised of state and federal agencies, local governments and utilities. The Forest Service is an active member of the task force, which is designed to bring as many resources as possible to address hazard and safety concerns, focusing efforts around the urban interface, major facilities/infrastructure, and transportation corridors.

Three California forests are currently at the epicenter of the tree mortality situation: the Stanislaus, Sierra, and Sequoia National Forests. Elevated tree mortality is occurring on the Los Padres, Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests.

The U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) has been working with the Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5) to address the tree mortality issue by using existing science and identifying future research opportunities.

STATEMENT OF WORK

Contractor shall develop, create and produce communications products to educate a variety of audiences about the role that the Pacific Southwest Research Station’s science plays in informing land managers as they address tree mortality in California and Hawaii. Different forms of communications, such as multimedia (video, photography) and print, will be used to convey the information, depending on audience and messaging.

Contractor shall distill and translate complex scientific research and concepts into layman’s terms and deliver the information via various communications products. These concepts will discuss the phenomenon of tree mortality – how the situation came to be, and what may be done in the future. Examples may include: Healthy forests need to be heterogeneous; harvesting can be viewed as a forest disturbance that can be good for forest health if done right. Audiences for the products include general public, media, local, regional and national legislators and policymakers and land managers (Forest Service and state/private land owners).

Contractor is expected to review his/her work before handing material for final revision. If mistakes are found contractor is required to amend the packages and or reports. If material is not amended properly contractor will forfeit payment for assignment.

Contractor does not owned the copyright to any work produced for any products produced under this contract.

Contractor will provide a list of equipment that will be used in producing all products. This is to ensure high-quality products.