Accomplishments in 2000

The foresters of Louisiana have a lot to be proud of in the year 2000.  The professional organization that represents all foresters was very active this year, trying to spread the gospel of forest management, while fighting off misinformation and media hype that was designed to alarm the public.

    Nationally, the Society of American Foresters commented on the proposed Regulatory Rule change by the EPA, criticizing the agency for not using good science and ignoring the role forestry has played in protecting and improving water quality.  The SAF, in coordination with the National Association of State Foresters, exposed the EPA's faulty data that was used to include silviculture in the list of activities to be included as point source pollutants.  They found that the EPA had misinterpreted data provided by the states, relied on inadequate and unscientific data, and ignored the effectiveness of state programs to ensure water quality.  As a result, the EPA removed silviculture from its proposed list of activities considered point source pollutants, and called for more studies by the states on the effects of Best Management Practices.

    SAF Executive Vice-President Bill Banzhaf wrote a letter to the editor of the Washington Times and the Times Standard in Ogden, Utah after the Los Alamos fire, supporting controlled burning on federal lands, as well as mechanical thinning and other harvesting techniques as a means of reducing fuel loads in hazard-prone forests.   Banzhaf declared the western fire situation a result of policy gridlock that prevented forest managers from doing what it takes to address the forests' condition.  Specifically, he said that logging must be allowed in National Forests to reduce fuels and remove dead material left standing.  He also sent a letter to President Clinton after the devastating western wildfires, urging him to develop a comprehensive strategy for restoring fire-damaged areas that would involve communities, firefighters and forestry experts.  Clinton responded with a proposed $1.6 billion increase in funding for firefighting and presuppression work.  The proposal calls for aggressive prescribed burning and mechanical thinning on federal lands.   $257 million of the total is targeted for fuels reduction, $130 million is for burned area restoration, $88 million is for community education programs, and $770 million is to replace funds used this year to fight wildfires.

     The National SAF also commented on the Forest Service's proposed Land and Resource Management Planning rule, stating that the proposal was too philosophical, with not enough clear direction to land managers.

However, the SAF did support the Forest Service's Long-Term Transportation Policy, but was concerned that the agency was still not requesting enough road maintenance funds.

For more information on SAF position statements and comments on federal proposals, visit the website at www.safnet.org.

On a local level, the Louisiana Society of American Foresters has been promoting good forest management around the state.  Local chapters continued the tradition of Forestry Awareness Week in approximately 15 parishes around the state, teaching 5th and 6th grade classes in the woods about natural resource management in Louisiana.  This is not a small job, as it requires the help of many, many people who work in these fields for government agencies, industry, universities, and landowners.  At this time, we would like to thank the employers of these people for allowing them the time and resources to participate in Forestry Awareness activities.   It is important that everyone continue to help sponsor this very effective program.  As these students are exposed to forestry professionals, they learn the benefits of forest management and connect the message with a real person.  No amount of educational material can make that kind of impression.

In the year 2000, over 1500 forestry videotapes and workbook manuals were hand delivered to every 5th and 6th grade class in the state of Louisiana by SAF members and their partnerships.  The video was produced last year by the Pineywoods Chapter of LASAF and Twin Valley RC&D Council in Natchitoches, LA.  Contributions from forestry and logging organizations, individuals, and grants from the National SAF and the US Forest Service, enabled the state chapter to reproduce the video and create an accompanying workbook for teachers.  A partnership between the Louisiana SAF, Resource Conservation & Development Areas, Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service enabled the LASAF to deliver this educational material to the classrooms.  With the help of many SAF members, foresters, loggers, and RC&D council members, the videos and workbooks were hand delivered to the teachers or principals of the schools. 

Also, in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry, the Louisiana Forestry Association, and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, the Louisiana SAF helped with a Teachers' Tour of mills and forestlands.  The comments that were received from the teachers were very complimentary of the tour, and reaffirmed what most of us already knew:  most people have an incorrect perception regarding the timber industry, and they don't realize just how big the industry is in Louisiana.  These teachers are now committed to teaching the true facts, and educating others on the importance of the industry.

Also in 2000, our Policy Chair, Terry Haines, wrote a very good statement on why the LASAF is against the proposed EPA rule change for non-point source polluters and the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).  She pointed out that silviculture is a very minor contributor of non-point source pollutants  about 3 to 9% of the total in the nation's waters  and in fact, forestry is often prescribed as a remedial land management activity on erodible crop and pasture lands to improve soil stability and water quality.  This being the case, how could the EPA claim that forest management activities should become point source polluters, requiring permits to perform beneficial activities?

Winding up the year, the LASAF celebrated the 100th anniversary of the national organization with a big party at the Annual Meeting in Alexandria, recounting the events that led to modern forestry here in Louisiana.  As part of the conference, attendees helped build a house in Martin Park with the Habitat for Humanity project.  It was a wonderful chance to use the products we all contribute to manufacturing when we practice forestry.