NASF elected a new slate of officers to its governing Executive Committee and agreed on several national policy positions at the association's 89th Annual Meeting last week in Baltimore, Maryland. Policy positions passed by resolution include goals for enhancing the U.S. share of global wood production, enhancing collaborative landscape-scale forest management, and use of Forest Action Plans in budget allocation decisions for Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act programs.

From both environmental and economic perspectives, State Foresters believe it is important that wood products, and particularly products derived from U.S. forests, play a substantial role in the U.S. green building movement. NASF passed a resolution in 2008 recognizing the value of wood from certified, sustainably managed U.S. forests as a green building material.

NASF supports the intention to authorize a state perogative to increase gross vehicle weight standards on respective Interstate Systems and provides comments and observations on the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2009 (HR 1799).

The National Association of State Foresters is committed to helping this administration provide the forestry leadership needed for our country.  Our recommended actions reflect the most pressing challenges facing our nation's forests and should be incorporated into an integrated approach to ensure healthy and sustainable forests for us and for future generations.