MAGIC 2005 Legislative Package

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Considering the easy access logging companies seem to have to Maryland State forests, many taxpayers wonder who really owns them - the timber industry and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), or the public?
Public forests are being managed in a way that hardly reflects the beliefs of the majority of the state's citizens. A survey of Maryland citizens in October 2001, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, showed that 82% of Maryland's citizens felt that protection of state forests should have a higher priority than logging. Similarly, the public supported additional Wildland designations - which permanently preserves special areas from logging and other destructive activities.

Do you feel

Logging should be given higher priority than protection of forest land?
Protecting forest land should be given higher priority than logging?
Logging and protection of forest land be given equal consideration?

Do you support or oppose designating more areas in Maryland's State Forests as "wildlands", where logging and motorized vehicles are banned?

Despite a clear message from the public, public funds are still being used to acquire land that is being logged. The public has better purposes for their money, and for public lands, than logging. Other purposes including sightseeing, hiking, fishing, cleaning the air, and protection of streams and water sources.
Maryland's DNR earns more than $3 million dollars annually by logging public forests. Counties with state forests receive a cut of the logging revenues, and that seems to be the major reason why both the counties, and the agency charged with preserving public forests, vigorously defends logging practices and the timber industry. Until this incentive program is changed, DNR will likely continue to aggressively log public forests.
Other revenue sources can replace the funds derived from logging state forests. In 1991, the Maryland Department of Economic & Employment Development published a report showing the recreational value of the Savage River State Forest was worth four times what was produced from timber operations, and it is well recognized that timber operations severely degrade the land for most other public uses. People do not often choose to recreate in a forest of stumps when they have other choices available.

Considering the easy access logging companies seem to have to Maryland State forests, many taxpayers wonder who really owns them - the timber industry and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), or the public? Public forests are being managed in a way that hardly reflects the beliefs of the majority of the state's citizens. A survey of Maryland citizens in October 2001, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, showed that 82% of Maryland's citizens felt that protection of state forests should have a higher priority than logging. Similarly, the public supported additional Wildland designations - which permanently preserves special areas from logging and other destructive activities.
Do you feel Logging should be given higher priority than protection of forest land? Protecting forest land should be given higher priority than logging? Logging and protection of forest land be given equal consideration?
Do you support or oppose designating more areas in Maryland's State Forests as "wildlands", where logging and motorized vehicles are banned?
Despite a clear message from the public, public funds are still being used to acquire land that is being logged. The public has better purposes for their money, and for public lands, than logging. Other purposes including sightseeing, hiking, fishing, cleaning the air, and protection of streams and water sources. Maryland's DNR earns more than $3 million dollars annually by logging public forests. Counties with state forests receive a cut of the logging revenues, and that seems to be the major reason why both the counties, and the agency charged with preserving public forests, vigorously defends logging practices and the timber industry. Until this incentive program is changed, DNR will likely continue to aggressively log public forests. Other revenue sources can replace the funds derived from logging state forests. In 1991, the Maryland Department of Economic & Employment Development published a report showing the recreational value of the Savage River State Forest was worth four times what was produced from timber operations, and it is well recognized that timber operations severely degrade the land for most other public uses. People do not often choose to recreate in a forest of stumps when they have other choices available.