26.02 Council on forestry.

(1) Duties. The council on forestry shall advise the governor, the legislature, the department of natural resources, and other state agencies, as determined to be appropriate by the council, on all of the following topics as they affect forests located in this state:

(a) The protection of forests from fire, insects, and disease.

(b) The practice of sustainable forestry, as defined in s. 28.04 (1) (e).

(c) Reforestation and forestry genetics.

(d) Management and protection of urban forests.

(e) Increasing the public's knowledge and awareness of forestry issues.

(f) Forestry research.

(g) Increasing the economic development of the forestry industry and employment in the forestry industry.

(h) Marketing and use of forest products.

(i) Legislation that impacts on the management of forest lands in this state.

(j) Staffing and funding needs for forestry programs conducted by the state.

(2) Report.

(a) The council on forestry shall prepare a biennial report on the status of the state's forest resources and forestry industry. The report shall include a summary of each of the following:

1. The magnitude, nature, and extent of the forest resources in this state.

2. The current use in this state for forest products and the benefits that these forest products provide to the state.

3. The projected future demand for forest products and the projected benefits that these forest products will provide to the state in the future.

4. The types of owners and forms of ownership that apply to forests in this state, including the reasons why persons own forest land.

5. The success of existing incentives that are offered to stimulate the development of forest resources.

6. The possible economic opportunities in this state that may result if improved forest-product marketing, and increased business dealing in or use of forest products, occurs in this state.

7. Recommendations for increasing the economic development of the forestry industry and employment in the forestry industry.

8. The effect of state and local governmental laws and policy on forestry management and the location of markets for forest products.

9. Recommendations as to staffing and funding needs for forestry programs and other conservation programs related to forestry that are conducted by the state to support and enhance the development of forest resources.

10. Recommendations as to the need to increase the public's knowledge and awareness of forestry issues.

(b) The council on forestry shall submit the report under this subsection no later than June 1 of each odd-numbered year for distribution to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3). The first report shall be submitted no later than June 1, 2005. Each report shall cover the 24-month period ending on the December 31 immediately preceding the date of the report.

History: 2001 a. 109; 2011 a. 32.