The latest news related to the economic interests of family forest landowners and their unique natural resource assets.
Ambitious Effort to Overhaul ESA
Congress tackling ambitious effort to overhaul the Endangered Species Act (ESA) July has been a busy month for the reform of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Nine separate bills were introduced by House Western Caucus lawmakers aimed at restoring common...
Assessment of 100 Safe Harbor Agreements Highlights Flaws; Suggests Changes Could Yield Greater Success
Regulations under the Endangered Species Act often yield unintended consequences – penalizing good stewards of the land who provide quality habitat by restricting what they can and cannot do on their land. Since 1995, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has...
Significant changes to ESA regulations proposed
The proposed regulations announced on July 19 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) respond to the Trump Administration’s directive to improve the clarity and efficiency of existing regulatory...
Energized and Optimistic, FLA Conference Was Off the Charts!
Forestry’s only family business conference proved to be another success More than 350 family forest stakeholders came out of the woods, exited their offices, and left their university campuses to learn, engage and celebrate the heritage, stewardship, and...
2018 Family Forest Business Conference Draws More Than 325 Stakeholders
More than 325 family forest landowners from twenty-one states across the country will gather at this year's FLA Family Forest Business conference at the Ritz Carlton at Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia. With a five-star host resort amid the vast Georgia...
Trump May Repeal an Endangered Species Act Rule That’s Punished Landowners For Decades
The Daily Caller |2:16 PM 04/05/2018 Michael Bastasch | Contributor The Trump administration proposed repealing a decades-old Endangered Species Act (ESA) policy that critics say undermines congressional intent and offers landowners no incentive to aid in...
Significant ESA Rollbacks in Motion
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has submitted two proposed rules of keen interest to forest landowners. The proposed rules, if implemented, will significantly change USFWS’ implementation of the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”). Removal of Blanket 4(d) Rule...
Study Forecasts Softwood Lumber Consumption to Hit All-Time Highs by 2030
US softwood lumber demand is expected to continue its upward trajectory from the lows of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, reaching an all-time high by mid 2020s, according to a newly released US Lumber Outlook Study by ForestEdge LLC and Wood Resources International LLC (USLOS2018).
Deep Dive on Market Assumptions
Dr. Cubbage’s data-rich discussions have been eagerly consumed at forestry conferences around the country by forestry stakeholders wondering when a rebound in sawtimber might be anticipated. The Forest Landowners Association spoke with Dr. Cubbage for a short preview of the presentation.
Federally Funded Projects Should Use US Wood
FLA is encouraging the concept of “buy America” to include the use of US wood products in all federally funded projects including infrastructure projects. The use of US wood will help revitalize rural communities and economies throughout rural forestry communities.
FLA Encouraged by USFWS LPS Proposed 4(d) Rule; Request Greater Clarity
FLA has submitted comments to the USFWS on Louisiana Pine Snake (LPS) proposed 4(d) rule, commending the Service’s movement away from regulating specific species of pine in the management of open canopy conditions in private forests, as was the case with the Black...
FLA Commends the USFWS for Clarifying the Regulatory Burden on private Forest Landowners
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued a memo directing its staff that the use of mandatory language related to incidental take permits is “not appropriate” in communications with private forest landowners. The decision confirms that seeking an Incidental...
FLA Supports Full and Permanent Repeal of the Federal Estate Tax
What is needed are permanent tax policies that do not punish capital-intensive businesses like forestry, and that do not hinder the next generation from continuing the forest legacy of their parents, grandparents and often great grandparents. The Forest Landowners Association continues to support the full repeal of the estate tax repeal.
Expanding and Growing Foreign Markets for Timber
In 2016, the United States exported $38 billion worth of forestry products, with $3.4 billion accounting for lumber. Data from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service indicates that China is the largest consumer of American wood and wood products, with imports...
The Opportunity for Tax Reform is Now
FLA is at the forefront ensuring policy makers understand the unique operations of managing and owning timberland regarding tax policy. The Quick Update The Senate took a significant step toward its goal of overhauling the tax code with the passing of a budget...
FLA Lauds Final Determination Decision on Imports of Softwood Lumber from Canada
The US Commerce Department today announced final anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on imports of Canadian softwood lumber products into the United States. This decision was lauded by the Forest Landowners Association (FLA) as the right action to stem...
Call to Action on Tax Reform
Help the Senate Pass Tax Reform! Tell Your Story to Your Senators Today. House Kills the Death Tax; Your Voice is Needed in the Senate Last week, the House passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, H.R. 1, which provides a path to permanent repeal of the death tax. The...
ITC Ruling Positive For Timber Markets
ITC Determination A Step in the Right Direction for Timber Markets Earlier this morning, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) made affirmative determinations in its final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations regarding softwood...
Louisiana Pine Snake Ruling Deadline Extended Because of Data and Scientific Uncertainty
In response to concerns expressed by the Forest Landowners Association (FLA) and other stakeholders, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced last week a six-month extension on the final determination to list the Louisiana Pinesnake under the...
Q&A with Robert Crosby | Why do Landowners Need a Softwood Lumber Agreement with Canada?
The Forest Landowners Association (FLA) recently spoke with Robert Crosby, FLA president and fourth-generation landowner, to get his perspective on the Canadian softwood lumber trade issue and its critical importance to private forest landowners in the...