SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 34

(By Senators Plymale, Scott, Ross, Helmick,

Love, Schoonover, Wagner, Chafin, Anderson,

Bailey, Kimble, Walker, Minear, Oliverio and Sharpe)


Requesting the joint committee on government and finance to conduct a study of the West Virginia's timberland policy.

Whereas, The ultimate challenge facing the rapidly increasing human population is to meet its material needs while maintaining a diverse, productive and resilient living environment; and
Whereas, Forests cover twelve point four million acres or seventy-nine percent of the total land area of West Virginia; and
Whereas, This major renewable resource is the basis for a rapidly expanding forest product industry in West Virginia that has created thousands of jobs and has accelerated investments in wood product manufacturing facilities that exceed one billion dollars for the decade; and
Whereas, Economists in the United States are predicting that demand for wood products will increase by more than fifty percent over the next four decades while world demand is expected to double; and
Whereas, Professional forest management results in greatly increased yields of timber, better wildlife habitat, improved outdoor recreation, cleaner water and other forest benefits while protecting and enhancing the soil and other aspects of the overall environment; and
Whereas, These are major current concerns regarding forest health due to the gypsy moth, wildfire and various tree diseases; and
Whereas, This study shall include a review of the laws, regulations, policies and land management programs used in immediately adjacent and other competitive states to achieve public awareness of the science of forest management as a way of enlisting the private sector as partners in promoting increased activities and uses of private timberlands including taxation and special incentive programs; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the joint committee on government and finance is hereby requested to conduct a study of West Virginia's timberland policy; and, be it
Further Resolved, That professional forest management is a key part of the state's healthy environment and continued economic expansion and all aspects, both private and public, should be reviewed in order to keep West Virginia competitive with other states and to achieve public awareness of the science of forest management in order to increase activities and uses of timberlands; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the joint committee on government and finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1997, on its findings, conclusion and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from the legislative appropriations to the joint committee on government and finance.