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West Virginia

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2001 SESSION
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8
By Delegates Stemple, Butcher and Williams

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 28, 2001; REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES.

RECOGNIZING WEST VIRGINIA'S FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AND THE SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE (SFI) SM

WHEREAS, this State has a rich natural bounty of more than 11.9 million acres of forest land, ranking third in the nation in the percentage of forested land; and

WHEREAS, this vast forest resource has been a staple component of this nation's and the State's economy since the founding of America and has sustained business, families and entire rural communities; and

WHEREAS, through the generations, West Virginia's forest products industry had grown to be one of the State's largest manufacture sectors, representing 11.7% of the state's total manufacturing workforce with 30,000 employees and an annual payroll of 252 million dollars; and

WHEREAS, according to the USDA Forest Service Inventory, West Virginia has over 7 million more acres of forested land than it did in 1910; and

WHEREAS, other perpetual benefits accrue from the well-managed forest, such as clean water, purification and cleaning of air, prevention and reduction of siltation due to runoff into streams, enrichment of forest soils through leaf fall and decomposition, cooking of summer air due to shade and transpiration from tree leaves and needles, relative warming of winter air resulting from reduction of wind velocity and immeasurable aesthetic values; and

WHEREAS, the West Virginia forest products industry, in recognition of its stewardship responsibilities in nurturing the forest resource, has committed itself to the continuing principles of sustainable forestry by initiating the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) SM to promote, educate, train and monitor adherence to sustaining the forest resource for future generations; and

WHEREAS, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) SM is based on the responsible environmental stewardship of the forests, water resources and wildlife; therefore, be it
  • Resolved by the House of Delegates:
    That the House commends West Virginia's forest products industry for its history of care and commitment to the responsible use of resources; and, be it

  • Further Resolved, That the House recognizes the development of the American Forest & Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) SM, which has educated landowners, foresters and loggers about the sustainability of West Virginia's forest; and, be it

  • Further Resolved, That the House endorses the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)SM and its self-regulatory objectives of increasing knowledge, professionalism and stewardship that will foster the sustainability of West Virginia's forests; and, be it

  • Further Resolved, That the House requests that the public, forest landowners and resource agencies embrace and support the objectives of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) SM in this State.