Today, the Committee on Agriculture is holding its third hearing
examining the Forest Health Science Panel Report, focusing on
the Pacific Coast and Southern Regions. The objective of these
hearings is to examine the health and condition of America's forests,
and to hear from witnesses specific policy recommendations that
will produce more robust forest conditions and the full range
of values Americans expect from forests.
In hearings, thus far, the Committee has heard from the Forest
Health Science Panel, which described its findings. The panel
concluded that current forest policies are, by and large, failing
to accomplish the intended results of producing species habitat,
high quality recreational opportunities, reductions in carbon
dioxide emissions and high quality timber for the thousands of
necessary products Americans use every day.
Clearly, forest policies in the United States are in need of rigorous
examination if they are not achieving their desired results.
It simply doesn't make sense to continue the status quo if it
is inadequate in effectuating the values, goods and services we
all want.
Last week, scientists representing diverse backgrounds, disciplines
and geographic regions offered comments on the panel's report.
Science is an open ended process, and one that requires ongoing
debate and new information. These experts characterized the report
as a step in the right direction; a strategic, rather than a tactical
document; and one that could be made more user friendly for the
general citzenry and policy makers.
Another common theme that arose during the hearing was the need
to determine how much of each of the '35 values' do Americans
want and expect from forests? Human activity is an ecological
process, and as such, we have and will continue to influence the
way our forests look and the functions they perform through the
values we choose to emphasize.
It is the Committee's intent to hear from resource experts, land
managers, conservation groups and environmental organizations
on the contents on the Forest Health Science Panel Report, and
their specific recommendations on how policies might be changed
to more accurately reflect current values, changing expectations,
while at the same time incorporating new science.
In order to look at forest health and conditions in the United
States in a comprehensive manner, we have elected to hold two
regional hearings in which witnesses will offer their thoughts
on how we might apply the most current forest management science
practically and responsibly on the ground through new policies.
Today, we will examine the Pacific Coast and Southern Regions of the U.S. Next week, we will address the Northeast and Inland West Regions. I would like to reiterate a comment I made at last week's hearing, which is, the Committee is in an information gathering process. We are "listening and learning" so that we might gain a better understanding of how to craft legislation that will result in meeting our citizens' expectations of ecological, social and economic values - vigorous, robust systems that provide clean air, clean water, viable habitat for fish and wildlife, recreational and aesthetic benefits, family-wage jobs and wood products.