March 16, 2004

Environment Affairs Committee

Ref: Support SB789 Use of Revenues for Timber Harvesting

This testimony is given on behalf of the Maryland Alliance for Greenway Improvement and Conservation. MAGIC is an alliance of 36 environmental organizations in Maryland.

The public owns only 15% of the forests in Maryland. The public wants to see DNR held accountable for how these public forests are managed. Current laws do not require DNR to account for the money they derive from logging activities. By allowing DNR to keep the revenue from logging, with no oversight, the law creates a major conflict of interest within DNR and its mission of protecting natural resources in Maryland. Unless the incentive system that rewards DNR for cutting down the public forests in Maryland is changed, we see little chance that DNR will change its forest management philosophy. SB789 requires DNR to spend the revenues derived from cutting public timber in a manner that benefits the public, and the public forests of Maryland – not just DNR and the forest industry.

In 1973, an economic report was prepared by the Maryland Conservation Council and sent to DNR. It showed that the management of State Forests primarily for wood fiber could not be economically justified. The report revealed that even if the costs associated with growing trees was ignored; the return on investment from growing and logging trees was at best 2% per year.

If logging were the only reason we acquire public forests, then the public would be better off selling the land and putting their money in a bank. This also seems to be the conclusion of much of the forest industry since they seem to be rapidly selling off most of their income producing forested lands.

But, income from logging isn’t the only reason we have public forests. Other uses include recreation, habitat for wildlife and plants, watershed protection, clean air, and places where people can get away from the city to see nature. These are far more important uses than logging to the overwhelming majority of the public.

DNR refused to accept the arguments that MCC gave them thirty years ago, just as they have refused to accept arguments we give them today. They continue to log public forests as their primary management goal and every other use is secondary to their goal of making money. We need to reexamine the forest management practices of DNR.

At a minimum, the money derived from logging public forests should be used in a manner that restores the forests and benefits the public in Maryland. Please support SB789.

Bob DeGroot

President, MAGIC