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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