Green Scissors Report

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Lake States Forestry

Alliance

IMAGE imgs/GSMI11.gif

Proposal & Savings
• Deny all future federal funding to the Lake States
Forestry Alliance
Savings Estimate: $540,000
over five years
($500,000 federal;
$40,000 state and local)

Photo: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Background:
The Alliance was created in 1987 to promote the economic use and maintain the environmental quality of
51 million acres of forest land in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The Alliance's Board is comprised of the State Forester from each of the three states, the Regional
Forester of the United States Forest Service (USFS), and other members appointed by the board. The Alliance
receives approximately $100,000 per year through the USFS's program on State and Private Forestry, and was
intended to become self-sustaining from timber industry money by 1990.
Recent Action:
The Alliance received almost $1 million in federal funding to assess the economic potential of the forests
in the tri-state area. In 1995, the Alliance released the Lake States Regional Forest Resources Assessment,
which endorsed a 25% increase in regional timber harvests.
Even though federal funding was secured on the basis that environmental considerations would be an integral part of the document, the Assessment does not contain a complete review of ecological implications. The Alliance has since spent $22,000 remaining from the million dollar federal grant for a public relations firm to publicize the endorsement of increased timber harvest rates.
Taxpayer Concerns:
Although the Alliance began with commendable intentions, it has not fulfilled its mission.
• The Alliance was supposed to be self-sufficient seven years ago, yet continues to seek taxpayer support.
• The Alliance was intended to promote a balanced approach and examine all perspectives, but it has
become a timber industry promotion program that should not be supported by taxpayers.
Local Concerns:
• Residents worry that the rugged and scenic nature of the forested areas will be dramatically altered by
extensive logging.
• Tourism could suffer, and the overall quality of life may worsen if the attributes that attract people to the
region are destroyed.
Environmental Concerns:
• The Assessment'sdetermination that increased logging will not harm the environment is not credible
since, as the report states, "environmental effects were not examined in detail."
• The Assessment notes that forests now are growing faster than they are being cut. The Forestry Alliance
claims this is an indication of robust forest health.
Environmentalists argue that the finding means the Lake State forests are only now recovering from the
extensive clearcutting of the late 1800s. They maintain that the forests would be seriously damaged by
increased timber harvests.
• The Forestry Alliance states it will harvest the forests sustainably. Environmentalists note that more
intensive timber practices will harm the long-term health and diversity of the ecosystem. A forest that can provide wood products sustainably does not necessarily provide for a sustainable ecosystem. Biodiversity and
other environmental factors may be seriously affected. $

Green Scissors Contacts:
Marvin Roberson, Sierra Club Consultant, 906/523-4428; Anne Woiwode, Sierra Club, 517/484-2372; Gayle
Coyer, Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, 906/942-7332.
Pro-Spending Contact:
Wendy Hinrichs Sanders, Lake States Forestry Alliance, 715/634-2006.



			Lake States Forestry
			Alliance
			Alliance
Proposal & Savings • Deny all future federal funding to the Lake States Forestry Alliance *Savings Estimate: $540,000* *over five years* ($500,000 federal; $40,000 state and local)
				Photo: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
	Background: The Alliance was created in 1987 to promote the economic use and maintain the environmental quality of 51 million acres of forest land in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Alliance's Board is comprised of the State Forester from each of the three states, the Regional Forester of the United States Forest Service (USFS), and other members appointed by the board. The Alliance receives approximately $100,000 per year through the USFS's program on State and Private Forestry, and was intended to become self-sustaining from timber industry money by 1990. Recent Action: The Alliance received almost $1 million in federal funding to assess the economic potential of the forests in the tri-state area. In 1995, the Alliance released the Lake States Regional Forest Resources Assessment, which endorsed a 25% increase in regional timber harvests. Even though federal funding was secured on the basis that environmental considerations would be an integral part of the document, the Assessment does not contain a complete review of ecological implications. The Alliance has since spent $22,000 remaining from the million dollar federal grant for a public relations firm to publicize the endorsement of increased timber harvest rates. Taxpayer Concerns: Although the Alliance began with commendable intentions, it has not fulfilled its mission. • The Alliance was supposed to be self-sufficient seven years ago, yet continues to seek taxpayer support. • The Alliance was intended to promote a balanced approach and examine all perspectives, but it has become a timber industry promotion program that should not be supported by taxpayers. Local Concerns: • Residents worry that the rugged and scenic nature of the forested areas will be dramatically altered by extensive logging. • Tourism could suffer, and the overall quality of life may worsen if the attributes that attract people to the region are destroyed. Environmental Concerns: • The Assessment'sdetermination that increased logging will not harm the environment is not credible since, as the report states, "environmental effects were not examined in detail." • The Assessment notes that forests now are growing faster than they are being cut. The Forestry Alliance claims this is an indication of robust forest health. Environmentalists argue that the finding means the Lake State forests are only now recovering from the extensive clearcutting of the late 1800s. They maintain that the forests would be seriously damaged by increased timber harvests. • The Forestry Alliance states it will harvest the forests sustainably. Environmentalists note that more intensive timber practices will harm the long-term health and diversity of the ecosystem. A forest that can provide wood products sustainably does not necessarily provide for a sustainable ecosystem. Biodiversity and other environmental factors may be seriously affected. $
		*Green Scissors Contacts:* Marvin Roberson, Sierra Club Consultant, 906/523-4428; Anne Woiwode, Sierra Club, 517/484-2372; Gayle Coyer, Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, 906/942-7332. *Pro-Spending Contact:* Wendy Hinrichs Sanders, Lake States Forestry Alliance, 715/634-2006.