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For those of you who have not been following this issue, in 2019 the NYS Legislature passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). This legislation mandates that NY reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050 based on 1990 levels, with the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. Read More Here
The Governor’s Executive Budget sets forth an ambitious agenda for the next fiscal year. It is important that legislators recognize the importance of private forests across New York State as the major sequester of carbon in the fight to control global warming and the many goods and services that our forests and woods produce Download PDF (23.93kb) Here
The 2019 Legislative Watch is produced by the Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA) and presented on the NYFOA website with ESFPA permission. Download PDF (298 KB) here.
NYFOA Vice President, Stacey Kazacos, reports:
On
March 5, 2019, four NYFOA members (Frank Winkler, Mike Zagata, Dick
Gibbs, and Stacey Kazacos) attended Forestry Awareness Day (FAD) 2019 at
the Legislative Office Building in Albany. FAD was organized by the
Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA), an organization which
supports many of the same major issues as NYFOA. ESFPA invited a number
of its members and a select group of related organizations to send
representatives to meet with NYS legislators and staffers to insure our
message is heard.
The
governor's proposed $176 billion budget represents a 2 percent spending
increase over the current fiscal year, if approved by the state
Legislature for the fiscal year that starts April 1. The $300 million
Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) has sections that have a direct
bearing on NYFOA's interests. NYFOA's FAD representatives had meetings
with 16 legislators and staffers and highlighted our key issues. These
included:
A. Regenerate NY Grant Program: This proposal would budget $500,000 for cost share stewardship projects undertaken by private forest landowners. The stewardship practises eligible for cost sharing will be those required toaccomplishregeneration: heavyTSI,invasivescontrol & deer control orexclosures. These
types of projects will entice the landowners to seek the guidance of a
professional to assist with stewardship objectives while introducing
them to continuous active stewardship -- and options for markets that
can help them manage their forests over the long term. NYFOA supports
this grant program because it provides a financial incentive to woodlot
owners to undertake key activities necessary for forest regeneration.
B. EPF Funding for Invasive Species Control: Invasive and interfering vegetation has had an enormous negative impact on forest regeneration throughout NYS.
C. EPF Funding for Urban Forestry: Urban forests are among the most visible of forest stewardship efforts because 80% of NYS's population live in urban areas.
D. Working Forest Conservation Easements:
The current budget request for this new initiative is $3 million.
Under the proposal, a fund would be established through the EPF for the
next generation of working conservation easements through land trusts
working with private family forest owners.
Note that the makeup of NYS Senate and Assembly committee changed a great deal due to the results of the November 2018 elections. Democrats now control the Senate and Assembly. Thus, NYFOA representatives met a number of new members and left them with pertinent requests and background materials.
Click here for the DEC's statement on The Empire Forests for the Future Initiative.
NYFOA has a representative on the New York State Invasive Species Advisory Council which provides guidance to the The New York State Invasive Species Council.
The NYS Conservation Easement Tax Credit
NYFOA is an organizational member of the National Woodland Owners Association which advocates for woodland owners at the federal level.
NYFOA
PO Box 541 Lima, NY 14485
PHONE: 800-836-3566
EMAIL: info@nyfoa.org
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