PPRC Position on Forest Health
Wood Products Industry Workers Support Active Forest Management
Forest health defines the capacity of a forest to
sustain values while maintaining ecosystems. A healthy forest has the
vitality to perpetually provide clean air, clean water, wood products,
wildlife and fisheries habitat, and scenic values.
A healthy forest continues to provide for living species today without
compromising its ability to do the same for future generations.
Forest Health Management Requirements:
- Restoration of site specific tree species.
- Thinning in forests to maintain species composition and stand density.
- Consideration of impacts of insect infestation, root disease, wildfire, and actions necessary to sustain forest health and long-term productivity.
- Workable management approaches and strategies to sustain forest ecosystem for Federal, State and Local foresters.
- Encouragement of local public involvement in forest health decisions.
- Manage forests to reduce fuel loads.
The Pulp and Paperworkers' Resource Council supports change and proposes that Congress act to do the following:
- Make thinning a top priority when the safety of home owners and communities are threatened.
- Direct the Forest Service to treat or remove diseased, dead and dying timber to reduce the potential release of hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide and other green house gases into the atmosphere as the timber decays.
- Protect timber harvest programs from lengthy delay by appeals and litigation.
- Direct the Forest Service not to deviate from forest plans without proper analysis, public involvement, and documentation.
- Pass legislation to give the needed funding to expand forest health and salvage sales. This combined with thinning, pest suppression, and fuel load treatment programs are environmentally and economically responsible.
- Run the Forest Service as intended - to provide multiple use and sustainable forestry to meet America's wood product needs now and for future generations.
If the Forest Service operated as a business, its net assets would
make it a top five United States company. Managed as it currently is,
the business would be financially bankrupt.
The PPRC is a grassroots organization representing the interests of the
Nation's pulp, paper, solid wood products, and other natural resource
based workers. The U.S. forest products industry is vitally important
to our nation's economy, employing 1.5 million people.
We rank among the top 10 manufactures in 46 states with annual sales
exceeding $230 billion, which accounts for 7% of the U.S. manufacturing
shipments. We are people dedicated to conserving the environment while
taking into account the economic stability of the workforce and
surrounding community.
Position Paper Page
Rev. 02-02-08
