Forests Forever Press Release

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, February 20, 2003
Contacts: Steve Hopcraft, 916/457-5546; Paul Hughes, Andria Strickley, (415) 974-3636

Forests Forever calls for timber harvest fees
"End Timber Industry Subsidy"

Sacramento, CA – Forests Forever Foundation, a nonprofit California forest education group, today called for the State Legislature and Governor Davis to embrace a proposal from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) to make timber harvesters pay for the cost of processing and enforcing their harvest plans.

The State spends $23 million each year for various state agencies to review timber harvest plans. "Taxpayers currently subsidize timber operators to the tune of $23 million each year," said Paul Hughes, Executive Director of Forests Forever Foundation. "Timber harvesters enjoy a unique privilege that no other California business gets. We all pay the tab for the timber operators."

All other Californians who undertake land use projects must pay virtually all the costs of agency review of their plans. The free ride given to timber operators increases pressure on the state agency charged with regulating the timber industry to continue its profitable, but increasingly controversial, massive logging of publicly-owned mature second-growth trees in Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF).

Forests Forever joined a growing number of organizations calling for timber operators to pay the fees to process and monitor their logging plans. Other proponents include Defenders of Wildlife, the California Public Interest Research Group and the Legislative Analyst. "By subsidizing a key cost of timber harvesting, the State is supporting the continued degradation of unique California natural resources. Other states, including Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Idaho charge fees," said Hughes. "Why should California subsidize timber operators?"

The LAO report stated: "We think that fees levied on timber operators should cover the total state agency costs to review and enforce (timber harvesting plans), including the cost of monitoring the impacts of timber harvesting on natural resources. This is because there is a direct link between the (plan) review and enforcement and those who directly benefit from it through their harvesting of timbers."

The Legislative Analyst’s Office proposed the timber harvest fee during last year’s budget crisis, but Governor Davis successfully opposed it during budget talks. The governor received more than $100,000 in timber operators’ contributions to his reelection campaign last year.

Not only do taxpayers provide a multi-million dollar subsidy for timber harvesting, but also the subsidy takes funds that might better be used to provide needed environmental restoration and public access to the state forests. "It’s time to end the welfare program for timber harvesters," said Hughes. "Timber operators should pay their own way like everyone else. Let’s put our public funds to better use improving our forests instead of subsidizing to cut them down."

According to the LAO, various fee mechanisms could be established to shift the economic burden of the shoulders of state taxpayers. One cited in the LAO’s report would establish a timber yield fee based on the value of the timber harvested. Such a fee could be collected using the existing timber tax collection system administered by the state Board of Equalization. "Currently, the State is harvesting millions of dollars of old-growth redwood trees from Jackson Demonstration State Forest while letting timber operators off scot-free," said Hughes. "The people of California overwhelmingly favor protecting our precious forest assets for future generations. It’s time for a change."

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Forests Forever:
Their Ecology, Restoration, and Protection
by
John J. Berger

NOW AVAILABLE
from Forests Forever Foundation
and the Center for American Places