Several days ago, I posted a few messages expressing concern that Iowa was
proposing to end funding for the state gypsy moth control program, which has
prevented gypsy moths from infesting Iowa. It has been funded ($150,000 per
year) by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DALS).
Yesterday I learned that the Iowa Legislature now proposes to fund the gypsy
moth program by raiding a special fund in the DNR Forests and Prairies
Division, and thereby eliminate the jobs of at least three state foresters
who work with the public. I feel like a patient who's just been told by her
mad doctor that he plans to cure her infected thumbnail by amputating her
thumb.
I know we are constantly being begged to contact policymakers about a
multitude of issues. That's why I try not to post very often. But this
proposed raid is a slap in the face to many Iowans, so information is below
for anyone who wants to try to help stop it, including details on how to
contact legislators (bottom). Contacts need to be made before Monday, April
23rd. Please feel free to share this information. Thanks --
Cindy Hildebrand
Ames, IA
***
Short Version:
1. This fund is the result of a determined multi-year grassroots effort by
Iowa woodland owners to arrange the use of (limited) state forest nursery
stock revenues to fund forestry services for the public. This fund does not
get any money from the state general fund. The law states that this fund is
to be used to provide the public services for which it was established.
Raiding it is inappropriate and unfair.
2. The foresters who will lose their jobs as a result of this raid are the
same foresters who are supposed to implement the gypsy moth control program,
and who have the expertise needed to do so.
3. This is another example of the Iowa Legislature regarding dedicated
environmental funds as fair game, and trying to take their cuts from severely
underfunded natural resource programs. The Forests and Prairies Division
already receives so little state support that jaws drop when conservationists
in other states hear about it. It does not serve Iowa's public interest to
further cannibalize Iowa's skin-and-bones natural resource programs.
More information:
The fund to be raided is the Forestry Enhancement Fund, the result of several
years of hard work by Iowa woodland owners who wanted professional forestry
help, and who (understandably) gave up any hope of getting help from Iowa's
General Fund. So they finally persuaded legislators to agree to a program
which uses the (limited) revenues generated from state nursery sales to pay
for five field foresters.
These foresters help private landowners find out what they have on their land
and manage it. Some landowners turn to state foresters because they want to
harvest timber, some want to manage their woodlands for game species, some
are interested in biodiversity, and some have multiple goals. Foresters
cannot change what landowners want, but they can and do try to provide good
information and advice, and to steer the landowners toward sustainability.
There are savannas and other special natural areas on private land which
might not have survived if Iowa foresters hadn't identified them for
landowners and pointed out their value. There are many woodlands that might
have been logged destructively if foresters hadn't educated landowners about
sustainable logging techniques, and what to look for in a responsible logging
company.
There are certainly differences of opinion in the Iowa conservation community
about woodland management, and there will probably continue to be forestry
controversies. But the raiding of this fund, and the consequent loss of
three state foresters, is not going to help Iowa resources or landowners.
If this raid goes through, it will send a destructive message about the
future of environmental funds, the future of conservation services to private
landowners, the future of grassroots efforts to start new conservation
programs, and the future of Iowa forests and prairies. Info is below on
how to contact state legislators.
***
Forestry Enhancement Fund Fact Sheet
Iowa's Forest Resources:
Iowa has over 2 million acres of forests and trees. Iowa's forests provide
long term benefits for all Iowans. Over 92% of Iowa's forests are in private
ownership. Private forest landowners who work with a professional forester
are more likely to manage their forest in a sustainable manner.
What is the Forestry Enhancement Fund?
The Forestry Enhancement Fund was established July 1, 2000 in the Iowa Code
456A.21 by the Iowa Legislature to be used "exclusively to support the
management and enhancement of Iowa's forests, including woodlands or timber
stands in this state, on private lands in cooperation with the owners of
those lands."
What Does the Forestry Enhancement Fund Do?
The DNR uses money in this fund to support 5 Professional Foresters located
across the state who provide forestry assistance to woodland and urban tree
owners to encourage sustainable forestry in our state. These positions allow
the DNR Division of Forests and Prairies to provide forestry assistance in a
timely fashion within 30-60 days of any request in most parts of the state.
Since November, 1999, these 5 foresters have provided:
· 381 more field visits to Iowa woodland owners
· 8,100 additional acres of woodland reconnaissance
· 157 additional forest management plans for 4,307 acres
· 2,082 acres of forest stand improvement
· 771 acres of new tree plantings (462,600 trees)
· 58 urban forestry assists
How is the Forestry Enhancement Fund get its funding?
The Forestry Management and Enhancement fund was created in the State
treasury under the control of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources'
Forests and Prairies Division in Section 455A.7 of the Code of Iowa starting
in Fiscal Year 2000 (July 1, 1999). This fund is composed of moneys
deposited into the fund pursuant to section 456A.20 with moneys received from
selling conservation trees and shrubs seedlings from the State Forest
Nursery. The amount deposited will be $.05 for each conifer and $.10 for
hardwood tree/shrub seedling sold from the State Forest Nursery. The State
Forest Nursery has annually sold, 3.7 million conservation tree and shrub
seedlings, which provides approximately $300,000 in the Forestry Enhancement
Fund that covers the salaries, benefits, office space, equipment, training
and support necessary for 5 full-time professional foresters.
Current Issue:
An amendment to a House Study appropriations bill for Agriculture and Natural
Resources (HSB 252) would remove $120,000 from the Forestry Enhancement Fund
for FY02 (July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2002) and give it to the Laboratory
Division of the IDALS to administer the Gypsy moth program. Gypsy moth
programs through IDALS was part of the 6% proposed by the Iowa Department of
Agriculture and Land Stewardship to help cover revenue shortfalls in the
General Fund starting July 1, 2001.
Impact:
If this amendment is passed , the result of this action would mean that DNR
Division of Forests and Prairies would not be able to cover the costs of up
to 3 professional forester positions after July 1, 2001. With 3 less
professional foresters, the time for Iowans' to receive forestry assistance
would expand from 1-2 months, to 3-6 months. There would be fewer trees
planted and fewer acres of Iowa's forests put under management and protection
from insects, diseases and other impacts. Many of Iowa's landowners have
purchased state forest nursery stock during the last two years for
reforestation, wildlife habitat and riparian buffers with the understanding
that they were supporting the enhancement forestry positions.
What Can Concerned Citizens Do?
If they wish, they may express their opinions to their local House of
Representative or State Senator. But they will need to do it before this
coming Monday, April 23rd.
To contact their local House of Representative, they should call the House of
Representatives Switchboard at 515-281-3221 and ask by name to speak with
their representative.
To contact their local State Senator, they should call the Senate Switchboard
at 515-281-3371 and ask by name to speak with their Senator.
Emails should be directed by writing their state representative's or
senator's email first name_last [log in to unmask]
They should mention that they are calling about the Amendment to HSB 252 that
removes $$ from the Forestry Enhancement Fund of the DNR and gives the
$120,000 to the Laboratory Division of IDALS for the Gypsy moth program.
If people do not know who their state representative or state senator is they
can go the Iowa General Assembly website at
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Members/79GA-members.html
***
Cindy Hildebrand
[log in to unmask]
57439 250th St.
Ames, IA 50010
515-232-3807
"...on the warmer southern slopes a few of the splendid bird's-foot violets
of the prairie were showing the azure color which would soon make some of the
hillsides as blue as the sky..." (Herbert Quick)
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