position statements: commodity production on washington's forests
In the post-World War II years between 1945 and 1970, forest management grew from humble beginnings to a technologically advanced profession and business. Computers, genetic enhancement, sophisticated reforestation and stand management prescriptions, satellite imagery and mapping all combined to create complex management systems mainly targeted at growing better trees faster to satisfy the nation's - and the world's - ever growing forest products demand.
From the 1970s to the present, a new demand, forest protection, is being made on our forests and forest managers. Ecosystem management, watershed planning, federal mega-plans and land withdrawals, endangered species management, fisheries protection and water quality concerns all combine to require new ways of thinking, new management models and research agendas, and new regulatory standards to better protect the environment.
In our efforts to understand and implement these new challenges, commodity production forest management is not perceived publicly to be an important aspect of forest management.
The forest industry notes that 36 percent of the lumber used in the United States is imported from other countries (WWPA Statistical Yearbook. 1998. pg 33.). As a nation, we have the same socio-economic dynamics for wood products as the energy production industry: if one or two nations were to suddenly end forest products shipments to the United States, forest products shortages would equal power blackouts as the crisis du jour. While it might be satisfying to say, "We told you so," we must learn from the political unrest and rampant accusations accompanying other natural resource shortages.
It is not in the public's or the professional forester's interest to ignore current supply/demand dynamics.
The Washington State Society fully supports reasonable forest protection efforts. We are concerned, however, that the nation is losing its ability to produce forest products to substantially meet demand. We support the following five steps to recognize and deal with the potential hazards of becoming heavily dependent on foreign countries to supply our nation's forest products.
- The Washington State Society of American Foresters will work to educate the public at large about the expanding demands for and development of forest products and the benefits society receives from those products;
- The Washington State Society will promote a technical and political agenda that encourages forest management to provide a perpetual output of forest products and services;
- The Washington State Society of American Foresters recognizes the public's concern over forest harvest and will take appropriate steps to deal with those concerns;
- The Washington State Society of American Foresters encourages development of forest products that replace or ease depletion of non-renewable resources; and
- The Washington State Society of American Foresters recognizes that expanding demand for forest products exceeds the productive ability of non-federal forestlands.
The Society supports reasonable and sustainable forest products' commodity production from Washington State's federal lands.
Adopted with 93% approval by member referendum of the Washington State Society of American Foresters (WSSAF) on December 4, 2002. This statement will expire on December 4, 2005, unless after thorough review it is renewed by the WSSAF Executive Committee.