ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Restoration of the Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP)

BACKGROUND:

The Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) and the Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP) are the essential core of our rural outreach efforts and need revitalization. There is clearly a shift in ownership patterns towards smaller forest land holdings and the majority of the productive forest land is still perfectly fitted to FSP and SIP. In fact, there is more demand now than ever for traditional forest products from private forest lands. The Forest Stewardship Program and Stewardship Incentives Program are very well suited to meet the demand.

There is also an increase in small forest holdings that are increasingly unlike older, larger forest ownerships, but are not quite suburban or strictly residential in character. We believe that FSP and SIP have the potential to meet the demands of these unique new ownerships. We also believe that these programs are very young and should be supported as they continue to grow.

RESOLUTION:

The USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry branch and the National Association of State Forester must commit to focus on restoring and increasing investment in programs such as Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP) and the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP). This should include an increase in staff emphasis by the Forest Service to ensure that program delivery for these and other landowner assistance programs can be effective.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99