Top Ten Private Forestry Issues

Every year, the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA) develops a list of the top ten private forestry issues. The list is determined by an alliance of 32 state forestry associations. The perennial topics of highest importance continued to dominate the top three spots this year, as taxes, the right to practice forestry, and private property rights continue to be of concern. Tax issues have been the top issue 16 of the last 18 years, and are number one this year despite improvements in death taxes and capital gains treatment for lump sum timber sales.

Extension education and service forestry jumped from number six to number four, possibly indicating the impact of the budgetary limitations placed on state and federal natural resource agencies and their ability to continue these programs. Concerns over the duties imposed on Canadian lumber are reflected in Markets, Mills and Fair Trade (#5). Last fall’s devastating wildfires in the west boosted this issue as debate continues on the President’s Healthy Forests Initiative. Landowner liability dropped from number four to number eight as other concerns took more prominence. The issue of certification also dropped considerably (from number six to number nine) as more states adopt logger training programs such as Virginia’s SHARP Logger Program.

For more information, contact Shawn Baker at 540/231-6391 or forester@vt.edu.