The Maryland Forests Association and A Landowner’s Concerns
Maryland Forests Association Membership – Forest land owners Foresters Loggers Mills Hunt Clubs individuals
Maryland Forests Association Mission: ‘To promote the maintenance of a healthy and productive forest landbase so as to enhance the economic, environmental, and social well-being of all who live in the state.’
Maryland Forests Association Education – Lobbying – legislature and agencies Alliances with other organizations to achieve mission Maryland Master Logger Program
Landowners’ Concerns Or Will growing trees be an asset or liability for our children?
Trends – MD Forest Areas Timberlands Declining Non- commercial Increasing Overall- Forests Declining
MD Forest Landowners Trend: Landowners Increasing Acreage per Owner dropping Forest Fragmentation
Forest Dynamics Age Structure Changing Volume per area increasing Composition changing
MD Forest Industry Mills declining Logger infrastructure Declining Loss of Competition
Forest Land Economics Lumber Price Flat Maryland Timber Competes on World Market
Secondary Assets of Forests Hunting Activities Niche markets Mushrooms. Ginsing… Income variable
Non-Market Benefits of Forests Realized by the People of the State Water Quality Air Quality Wildlife Aesthetics
A Landowner’s Perspective
Concerns about Timberland’s Future Critical Mass to Support FPI? Lose of sustainable timber Competitive Markets? Infrastructure? Regulations? Zoning? ESA?
Economics of Growing Trees Plant seedlings, manage Harvest after 45 years Return on Capital ~ 1% per year Wall Street > 3-5+% per year
Incentives for Forest Sustainability Return on benefits realized by the people Right to Practice Forestry Equity with Farms Credit for Buffer timber taking See Virginia tax credit Tax relief See Delaware Ag and Forests - zero tax
Incentives for Forest Sustainability Easements – similar to Ag Regulatory relief – similar to Ag