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NJ Forestry Stewardship Bill Poised to Be Signed Into Law

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Trenton, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- The NJ Legislature took a major step forward in passing a piece of forest stewardship legislation that the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance has been supporting along with other conservation organizations. The Governor is expected to sign the bill into law.

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

(TRENTON) The measure (A3239) and (companion bill S713) would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a forest stewardship program for owners of forest land who prepare forest stewardship plans for five acres of land or more. Under the bill, plans would be required to meet the rules and regulations of sustainability, list the owner’s long term stewardship goals for the forest land and the annual activities that will be implemented in the forest.

The bill also would direct the DEP to:

• Establish a cost share incentive program, “New Jersey Forest Stewardship Incentive Program,” if funds are appropriated or otherwise made available for the support and funding of such a program, the DEP would award grants to local government units, non-profit organizations, and private owners of forest land to help subsidize their costs in implementing stewardship activities.
• Create a forest stewardship advisory council
• Prepare a report every seven years based on these forest sustainability criteria and indicators, with the first report required by February 1st of the third year following the date of enactment.

The bill would further provide that no local government unit may enact, on or after the date of enactment of this bill into law, any ordinance, rule, or resolution, as appropriate, that conflicts with, prevents or impedes the implementation of a forest stewardship plan or impose a fee in excess of $100 in any calendar year for the cutting of trees on any land that is the subject of an approved forest stewardship plan.

This bill would amend the “Landowner’s Liability Act,” which provides general liability protection to landowners (as well as lessees and occupants of the lands) under certain circumstances for defined sport and recreational activities including hunting, fishing and trapping. However, current law removes that protection when permission is granted in exchange for payment such as a fee or lease agreement. This bill would remove this inhibition on lands where the landowner is implementing an approved forest stewardship plan and the use of the forest land for sport or recreational activity is consistent with the plan for sustainability.

JOIN NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earth’s resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

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TRCP Supports Forest Jobs and Recreation Act
Senate bill would sustain public-lands sporting opportunities, fish and wildlife habitat
and jobs in the forest-products industry in Montana.

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

WASHINGTON, DC –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership has affirmed its support of Senate Bill 1470, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, legislation that would fulfill twin goals of sustaining traditional conservation values and fish and wildlife resources in Montana while upholding the forest-based jobs that form the economic bedrock of communities throughout the state.

The TRCP decision heightens the ongoing efforts by a number of prominent sportsmen-conservationist groups, including the Montana Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, the Mule Deer Foundation and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, to promote S. 1470 and furthers the TRCP’s aim of building consensus on natural resource policy issues affecting citizens in Montana and across the country.

Introduced by Montana Sen. Jon Tester, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act would sustain the economic development and recreational use of National Forest System lands and other public lands in Montana, add lands to the National Wilderness Preservation System, release certain wilderness study areas and designate new areas for recreation.

A letter sent to Sen. Tester by the TRCP reads, “This legislation represents a unique and sensible approach to resolve natural resource management conflicts by combining three distinct collaborative efforts – Three Rivers Challenge, the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership – among timber companies, recreation groups, sportsmen, and wilderness advocates to resolve natural resources gridlock.”

Bill Geer, director of the TRCP Center for Western Lands and a Montana resident, was quick to laud S. 1470 and the valuable public-lands conservation that would result from its passage. To illustrate, Geer pointed to data gathered from the TRCP’s Sportsmen Values Mapping Project, which captures sportsmen’s input to delineate important hunting and fishing areas.

“When a map of the geographic areas incorporated into the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act is overlaid on the TRCP Sportsmen Value Maps, we see that every area included in the bill is ranked by Montana sportsmen as ‘moderate to high value’ bread-and-butter hunting and fishing areas,” said Geer. “These are the areas in which sportsmen in 43 clubs in 32 towns across the state say they want the hunting and fishing values retained in the face of development. S. 1470 would enable that conservation.”

“The TRCP has deemed the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act a solid collaborative approach providing substantial benefits to sportsmen,” said TRCP President and CEO George Cooper. “We are pleased to lend our support to Senator Tester’s bill and look forward to continued opportunities to work together with our conservation partners to guarantee the future of America’s cherished hunting and fishing heritage.”

The Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests will convene a hearing on Dec. 17 to further consider S. 1470. Representatives of the sportsmen’s community will be in Washington to testify on behalf of the legislation.

Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions
of hunting and fishing.

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