WVFA Mountain State Forestry Winter 2020-21

F E A T U R E D N E W S www.wvfa.org Winter 2020-2021 | West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry 11 WEST VIRGINIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION MEMBERS wanted more focus on advocacy. Here is a synopsis of the many actions we have taken: Pandemic Challenges We worked with the governor to name the forest products industry an essential business through the pandemic. While the hardwood industry experienced one of biggest downturns in 50 years, this action did enable may companies to continue to operate. Elections Now that elections are over, we begin the challenge of working with the next West Virginia Legislative Session, the governor, and the Congressional delegation on key issues. Prior to the election, we had provided to every state and federal candidate a questionnaire asking their position on key issues; funding for the West Virginia Division of Forestry; taxes on undeveloped forests, seeking state support to build value-added manufacturing; increased funding for roads and bridges; vocational training for logging and expanding forestry education at universities; incentives for biomass energy; eliminating the business and equipment tax burden; and reducing risks from lawsuits. We received dozens of responses, still available on the WVFA website. State Funding – Division of Forestry We asked the governor to support additional funding for the Division of Forestry. During the pandemic, state funding from timber sales on state forests were delayed and sales were suspended. This supplemental funding is critical to have the Division of Forestry continue to operate and support ongoing logger training, issue timber license and harvesting permits, assist in critical insect and disease monitoring along with the many programs the Division operates, including forest fire protection. Advocacy Update