THE FORESTRY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (FIP)
(retired by Resolution No. 2004-6)

WHEREAS: The Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) was authorized by Congress in 1973 to share the cost of tree planting and timber stand improvement with private landowners; and

WHEREAS: For the past several years there has been far more demand for FIP cost-share funds (FY '89 funding was $12,446,000) than the amount appropriated, causing a large backing of tree planting and timber stand improvement practices to accumulate; and

WHEREAS: Improving the management of privately-owned forestlands is a key to meeting projected demand for wood fiber in the Nation and to ensuring a continuing contribution to the national economy from timber and other forest products; and

WHEREAS: Recent Forest Service studies have documented that harvested timber stands, particularly pine, are frequently not naturally being regenerated to pine but instead are converting to species of much less commercial value; and

WHEREAS: Scientists have identified that planting trees and enhancing the productivity of existing forestlands could help greatly in mitigating global climate change since trees serve as effective carbon sinks removing thousands of pounds of CO₂ per acre per year; and

WHEREAS: The current Conservation Reserve Program does not, and the 1990 Farm Bill probably will not, cost-share forestry practices on existing forestland or cutover forestland; and

WHEREAS: The of supply and demand frequently has not worked to encourage landowner investment in practices that enhance long-term forest productivity since a favorable financial return is realized only after a lapse of many years;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that since it is in the public interest to improve the productivity of the Nation's privately-owned forestland, the NASF Executive Committee recommends in testimony for the FY '91 budget hearings that funding for the Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) be increased to $25 million from the current $12.4 million level.