2004 House Bill 5554 ↩

House Roll Call 105: Passed

To require the Department of Natural Resources to establish a forestry development, conservation, and recreation management plan for state lands based on sustainable forestry principles, and taking into consideration the needs and desires of various interested parties. The bill also requires the state to seek forest certification from an independent third party organization that develops specific standards to measure whether forest management practices are consistent with principles of sustainable forestry. Note: There are two non-profit organizations that do forest certification; one is associated with environmental groups and the other with forest products industry groups. The bill is part of a legislative package comprised of House Bills 5552 to 5554.