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First Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. R97@0810.01 BWM

STATE OF COLORADO




BY SENATORS Ament, Alexander, Bishop, Chlouber, Dennis, Hopper, Perlmutter, Powers, and Schroeder;

also REPRESENTATIVES Smith, Taylor, Entz, Adkins, Alexander, Dyer, George, Johnson, Kaufman, Miller, Pankey, Reeser, Salaz, Schwarz, and Young.


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 97-26

CONCERNING SUPPORT OF PROPER TIMBER HARVESTING AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL TO ENSURE BETTER FOREST HEALTH IN COLORADO.


WHEREAS, The health of the national forests in Colorado and the economies of rural communities are at risk as a result of current national forest management practices; and

WHEREAS, The threat of fire, insects, and disease endangers the health, happiness, and well­being of the citizens of Colorado; and

WHEREAS, Timber programs on the national forests have been almost completely eliminated in Colorado; and

WHEREAS, The proper uses of timber harvest as a management tool can effectively contribute to restoring the health of forests; and

WHEREAS, The proper use of timber harvest as a management tool can help reduce dangerously high levels of fuels resulting in the potential for catastrophic fires; and

WHEREAS, Prescribed fires, used without the complement of timber harvest, often destroy economically viable, renewable resources and violate air quality and visibility standards; and

WHEREAS, Better national forest timber programs are essential for proper stewardship of Colorado's forests and improvement of the health, condition, and structure of the natural environment; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-first General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

That we, the members of the General Assembly, respectfully urge that:

(1) The United States Forest Service Chief and the Colorado Congressional delegation support proper timber harvesting as a management tool to ensure better forest health in Colorado;

(2) The Colorado Congressional delegation support the Rocky Mountain Regional Forester's strategy to reverse the decline of forest management programs and to reach a more effective program level by the year 2000; and

(3) The Colorado Congressional delegation support Congressional efforts to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of national forest management.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to each member of Colorado's Congressional delegation, the Chief of the United States Forest Service, and the Rocky Mountain Regional Forester.