The Council of Forest Resource Organizations 2011 Brochure

2011

Affiliated Organizations

• Audubon New York • Adirondack Landowners Association • Catskill Forest Association • Empire State Forest Products Association • The Nature Conservancy • New York Farm Bureau • New York Forest Owners Association • New York Society of American Foresters • New York State Tree Farm • New York State Urban & Community Forestry Council • New York (SFI) State Implementation Committee • Watershed Agricultural Council’s Forestry Program • SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry

CFRO Legislative Agenda - 2011Without attention to the business climate in the State where many forest industry firms are located, the viability of many rural communities is in jeopardy. Without correction of some land use and taxation policies, many forest owners will lose their lands and forests and many of these will be converted to less desirable uses that degrade the environment.

The Council of Forest Resource Organizations urges executive and legislative branches to encourage and legislate (when necessary) the State’s Agencies to take the following actions to support employers and land-owners in contributing to the health of the economy of New York and local communities as well as ensur-ing that forests continue to provide all of the State’s residents with “Open Space”, clean water and recreation:

• Develop property tax and assessment legislation that is fair and equitable, that encourages long term forest management, and prevents forest owners from being put into a position of having to parcelize, liquidate or convert their forest resources. (This is occurring now at an alarming rate.) Do not cap the tax rate on public lands. This will only redistribute the tax burden to the rest and put additional incentives on private landowners to parcelize and convert the land use away from forest.

• Provide DEC with the necessary resources to sustainably manage the State Forests in line with the April 2007 State Comptroller’s report (especially in the areas of meeting recommended harvest levels) and support the DEC’s service forestry program to encourage private forest owners to responsibly manage their forests (through dispersal of funds to contract out much of this work).

• Provide budget support for forest-related programs especially the Department of Agriculture and Market’s, Department of Environmental Conservation’s and Empire State Development’s newly created Wood Products Development Council & the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Forest Utilization & Marketing program. Also promote & expand local use of locally produced forest products through favorable policies & financial incentives.

• Aggressively combat invasive pests, especially insects and pathogens, which are compromis-ing the health and economic viability of our forestlands and urban forests through coordinated efforts with State and Federal agencies.

2011 – The UN International Year of the Forest

Along with Celebrating the Forests in New York State, the Council of Forest Resource Organizations would also like to recognize the United Nation’s International Year of Forests. This resolution, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006, provides a

global platform to celebrate people’s action to sustainably manage the world’s forests. The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests

to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.

Council of Forest Resource Organizations

The Council is an ad hoc committee of representatives from a very wide range of organizations who share the common interest of perpetuating and improving New York’s forest resources. Our goal is to promote the management of healthy, productive trees and forests for a variety of sustainable benefits for current and future generations.

Forest History and Current Challenges

New York’s forests have experienced tremendouschanges over the past four centuries. The rich,diverse forests we see today stand as a testamentto nature’s resilience. In 1770, approximately90% of the state was covered by forests. But by1870, following decades of clearing for new farms,heavy cutting, and burning, forests were reducedto just 22% of the total area. Today, forests areback and now occupy about 63% of the state’s land area.

However, today’s forests are under new threats, these include: invasive pests and diseases that are threatening entire species of trees such as northern white ash; parcelization and fragmentation of the forest; and timber harvesting that does not use the best scientific methods for sustaining a healthy, sustainable supply of fiber to the forest products industry and society as a whole. Urban forests also make a major contribution to our quality of life. For example, the establishment of 100 million mature trees around residences in the US is calculated to save about $2 billion annually in reduced energy costs. However, urban street trees are susceptible to fast spreading pests and diseases.

Trees are Important to All of Us!

Forests currently cover almost two thirds of the landscape, and trees are found in every community. In both urban and rural areas they provide economic, environmental, and recreational benefits including:

Watershed protection• Timber products, pulpwood, and biomass • for energy productionWildlife habitat • Beautification of homes, streets, roadsides • and parksIncreased property values• Tourism & recreation• Improved air quality• Storage of atmospheric carbon•

New York Forest Resources & the Council of Forest Resource Organizations | 1

The Working Forest

Wood is renewable, recyclable, biodegradable and far more energy efficient in its manufacture and use than are products made from steel, aluminum, plastic or concrete. Furthermore, grow-ing forests and the lumber they provide store large amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere, adding to the potential for global warming. With proper silviculture, forests can sustainably grow high value timber that is in demand worldwide. Forests are also managed for a variety of other products including firewood and maple syrup which, along with timber, are important sources of income and employment in rural areas.

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The Urban Forest

The term “urban forestry” may sound contradictory and yet our streets, parks, yards and greenspaces are where most people learn to appreciate trees and their many benefits. Numerous studies show the mental, physical and educational benefits of trees: Patients recuperate faster with views of trees from their window; stress levels are lower in treed environments; children learn better after they spend time outdoors surround-ed by greenspace. However, in order to survive and make positive contributions, trees must be properly selected, planted, and maintained.


The Challenges Ahead

Although forests made a “come-back” in the 20th century, new pressures are being placed on them. These include:

Invasive Insects & Tree Diseases

New non-native pests have been introduced which threaten to damage or destroy millions of trees in communities and woodlands across New York State if they cannot be controlled. These threats must be promptly & effectively dealt with to protect our trees and forests.

Timber Theft, Vandalism, & Illegal Dumping

Forest landowners sometimes discover that valuable timber has been cut and stolen from their woodlot, or that their property has been damaged or vandalized by trespassers. Consequently, it is very important that law enforcement personnel at every level have the proper training and expertise to enforce existing laws to deter these crimes.

Property Taxes

Ever higher property taxes discourage long term investments in forestry because returns are relatively low if the land is only used for growing timber. Property tax abatement for managing and maintaining working forest land is an important financial incentive to encourage sustainable forest management. However, only 8% of all forests in New York are enrolled in the current tax abatement programs (RPTL 480 and 480a) even though these programs have been in place for decades. Qualifications for enrollment are outdated in that they do not recognize the current trend in average forest parcel size, as well as other benefits and services the forest provides besides industrial timber production.

Poor Markets for Low Grade Wood

There is an abundance of low quality timber in most woodland - usually because the valuable trees were cut years ago. These poor quality trees slow or prevent the growth of better trees, but because values are low it is often difficult to find a buyer. New markets for low grade trees would give landowners a new opportunity to improve future productivity by utilizing scientific methods of tending the forest to provide growing space for desired species and regeneration for future generations.


Parcelization and Development

Suburban sprawl, with its accompanying infrastructure development and urban/rural interface conflicts, continues to encroach upon farms and forests all across the state – accelerated by high taxes and low forest productivity. This means a loss of open space and wildlife habitat. When woodlands are subdivided, tim-ber harvesting becomes more expensive because of the cost of moving equipment and preparing a job site.


The Need For Silviculture

Silviculture is the art and science of tending trees. Although forestry and silviculture wereintroduced in New York over a century ago,most landowners do not use a professional forester when managing their woodland and selling timber. The application of scientific forestry principles and methods is often ig-nored. Landowners do not understand theimportance of leaving enough desirable treesfor the next harvest. Consequently, timberproductivity per acre is one third of Europe’swhere silviculture is widely used. Woodlandowners need good information and marketbased incentives to encourage greater invest-ments in silviculture. The health of the forestproducts industry is directly related to timberresource quality, and silviculture is the bestway to improve both value and productivity.

Air Quality and Urban Forests

Trees improve air and water quality, reduce flooding, reduce cooling and heating energy needs, increase property values and improve the quality of life for people and wildlife around them. Trees remove air and water pollutants through their root systems and their leaves. Tree canopies shade buildings, sidewalks, streets and other structures keeping them cooler which reduces air conditioning and other energy needs in summer. Strategically placed trees, and correct tree species selection, can shelter buildings from cold winds in winter, reducing heating costs.

Forests Sequester Carbon

Forests play a huge role in mitigating the effects of climate change. Growing forests store carbon. The age and vigor of forest vegetation affects the rate of carbon sequestration in a forest ecosystem and the overall inventory of stored carbon. Maintaining large tracts of unbroken forests and connectivity between these forests is important for conserving biodiversity in the face of a changing climate.


Programs which are focused on improving forest stewardship and urban forest manage-ment, such as Cornell Cooperative Extension, DEC Private Forest Management, DEC ReLeaf and volunteer citizen tree commissions, are an effective non-regulatory way to help improve the management of trees and forests through-out NYS. Professional management can also be accessed by contacting professional for-estry associations such as New York Society of American Foresters and the DEC Cooperating Consulting Forester Program.

The Need for Information & Technical Assistance

Audubon New YorkAudubon New York ’s mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats to benefit humanity and Earth’s biological diversity. Using internationally accepted criteria, Audubon New York has identified 136 Important Bird Areas across New York State , many of them in the forested landscapes. Building on several ye ars of original research, we and our partners are reaching out to forest landowners through workshops, printed materials, and our website, with a goal of helping them to integrate bird-friendly management into new or existing management plans for their forested properties.

Adirondack Landowners AssociationThe ALA’s cornerstone then and now, was and is, good stewardship. Membership in the Adirondack Landowners Association is open to individuals and organizations owning land in the Adirondacks who support its goals of protecting private property rights and promoting good stewardship

Catskill Forest AssociationThe Catskill Forest Association promotes forest stewardship in the Catskill Region by forest landowners, timber harvesters, foresters and the general public. CFA advocates quality forest management to improve the health of the forest, preventing threats to the forest ecosystem, and supporting conservation efforts.

Empire State Forest Products AssociationESFPA is a nonprofit organization for businesses and individuals dedicated to improving the business climate for the forest products industry while promoting management of New York’s forests to meet the resource needs of today and for future generations.


The Council of Forest Resource Organizations is made up of the following members:

The Nature ConservancyThe mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. In order to achieve our mission the Conservancy works with partners to protect priority conservation areas throughout the state. During the Conservancy’s 59 year history, we have supported conservation alongside sustainable forestry and recreation through the protection and easement of nearly 700,000 acres of lands and waters in New York.

New York Farm BureauFarm Bureau is a non-governmental, volunteer organization financed and controlled by member families for the purpose of solving economic and public policy issues challenging the agricultural industry.

New York Forest Owners AssociationThe New York Forest Owners Association is a not-for-profit organization which promotes sustainable forestry practices and improved stewardship on privately owned woodlands in New York State.

New York Society of American ForestersThe mission of the Society of American Foresters is to advance the science, education, technology and practice of forestry; to enhance the competency of its members; to establish standards of professional excellence; and to use the knowledge, skills and conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health and use of forest ecosystems and the present and future availability of forest resources to benefit society.

New York State Tree FarmTree Farm recognizes forest management on small, family-owned forests, and certifies that the practices meet internationally recognized Standards of Sustainability. The mission of or volunteer foresters and Tree Farmers is to put more good forestry on more acres and keep it there.

New York State Urban & Community Forestry CouncilNew York State’s Urban and Community Forestry program is a partnership of public, private and volunteer organizations and individuals that fosters comprehensive planning, management and education throughout New York to create a healthy urban and community forest and enhance quality of life.


NEW YORK STATEURBAN AND COMMUNITY

FORESTRY COUNCIL

New York (SFI) Sustainable Implementation CommitteeSFI Inc. is a fully independent, charitable organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management. We work with conservation groups, local communities, resource professionals, landowners, and countless other organizations and individuals who share our passion for responsible forest management.

SUNY College of Environmental Science & ForestryCelebrating 100 years of leadership and excellence! The mission of the College is to advance knowledge and skills and to promote the stewardship of both the natural and designed environments.

Watershed Agricultural Council’s Forestry ProgramThe Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) is a nonprofit organization with the mission to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City watershed region.

With your help, New York’s Forest Resource could be the answer to:

• Clean Air and Water

• Job Creation

• Replacing Dependence on Outside Energy

• Providing Dependable, Renewable Energy Sources

• Better Recreational Opportunities

• Enhanced Wildlife Habitat


Jim Waters, CFRO Chair (845) 586-3054

[email protected]

©2011

The Council of Forest Resource Organizations 2011 Brochure

Documents

state forests

forest resources

private forest owners

economy of new york

produced forest products

forestrelated programs

forest industry firms

state comptrollers