Resolution Commending America’s Forest and Paper Product’s Industry and the Sustainable Forest Initiative Exposed

The Resolution Commending America's Forest and Paper Product's Industry and the Sustainable Forest Initiative was adopted by ALEC's Natural Resources Task Force at the Fall Task Force Summit on November 13, 1999, approved by the full ALEC Board of Directors in December, 1999. ALEC has attempted to distance itself from this piece of legislation after the launch of ALECexposed.org in 2011, but it has done nothing to get it repealed in the states where it previously pushed for it to be made into law.

ALEC Bill Text

Summary

The Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism and individual liberty are essential to providing the greatest amount of economic and political freedom for our citizens. Careful stewardship of our nation’s precious natural resources is essential if future generations are to enjoy and prosper from them. Voluntary industry leadership in the private sector is the best method of productive and economically viable environmental stewardship of our land, forests, water and wildlife. The Energy, Environment, Natural Resources, and Agricultural Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is committed to these principles. ALEC believes that voluntary forest product management and leadership by the private sector in sustaining forest resources is preferable to government imposed resource management mandates.

WHEREAS, Americans have always taken pride in their nation’s rich bounty of natural resources, and careful stewardship of these precious assets is essential if future generations are to enjoy and benefit from them; and

WHEREAS, the forest product industry, an essential component of the nation’s economy sustaining businesses, families, and rural communities since its founding, is comprised of more than 1.5 million employees and ranks among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 46 states; and

WHEREAS, close to one-third of the nation’s land is forested, the vital importance of the industry underscores the necessity for intelligent management of the over 736 million acres of America’s forest land; and

WHEREAS, the forest product industry relies on forest resources to make this country one of the leading producers of paper, furniture, lumber and other wood products, and to meet society’s increasing demand for wood and wood-related products important to our nation’s quality of life; and

WHEREAS, American forest products companies have made considerable capital investments in recycling, and the industry nationally has voluntarily set a goal to recover 50 percent of the paper it produces by the year 2000; and

WHEREAS, the United States’ forest products industry, in recognition of its stewardship responsibilities in nurturing the forest resources, has pledged itself to the continuing principles of sustainable forestry by initiating the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program, a comprehensive program committed to responsible environmental stewardship of the forests, water resource and wildlife, and

WHEREAS, the goal of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program is to educate the public as to the importance of industry leadership in voluntarily protecting these valuable resources, and to promote the monitor progress made toward this worthy goal; and

WHEREAS, the American Forest and Paper Association’s member companies are actively demonstrating a commitment to the principles of sustainable forestry and are benchmarking this commitment by implementing Sustainable Forestry Initiative program principles and practices, such as prompt reforestation and protection of water quality and wildlife habitat; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) recognizes the American Forest and Paper Association’s Member companies and the nation’s forest products industry for its commitment to the responsible use of natural resources, and commends the creation and implementation of Sustainable Forestry Initiative Programs as a means to this end.

Adopted by ALEC's Natural Resources Task Force at the Fall Task Force Summit November 13, 1999.

Approved by full ALEC Board of Directors December, 1999.