Comprehensive Issues List Green Ribbon Task Force on

Comprehensive Issues List Green Ribbon Task Force on Forest Products, Conservation and Jobs

Forest Conservation and Sustainability

Well-functioning forest landscapes • Fragmentation • Parcelization • Land conversion • Energy development • Sprawl • Lack of landowner legacy planning • Lack of management for existing fragmentation

Invasive species • Pests/disease leading to changing composition of the forest • Competition from invasive plants

Forest health • Climate change • Weather events • Resiliency

Regeneration • Deer • Lack of landowner incentives

Harvesting practices • High grading • No market in urban/suburban areas

Awareness and education • Landowners’ lack of knowledge and follow-through/use of existing resources • Connection between wildlife and timber harvesting not seen • Lack of communication on human health benefits, ecological services • Cultural shifts/perception of timber harvesting • • • Landowners limiting harvesting access Consulting forester pressure to over-harvest Public perception is more negative

Economic drivers • Many issues with Clean and Green • Payments in lieu of taxes seen as insufficient/formula is outdated • No value for ecosystem services (carbon credits, water quality) • Need for alternative monetary incentive to hold onto land

Land use policy • Forests seen as undeveloped or “vacant” land • Forests not considered in many county/municipal plans • No forest easement program • Overly restrictive local ordinances on timber harvesting

Water • Stormwater • Water quality

Urban forestry • Not included in many forest-related conversations • Majority of people live in urban areas and have limited connection to large forests

Forest conservation jobs • Poor definition and therefore little public awareness/appeal

Workforce Development and Jobs

Recruitment into forest-related jobs • Shortage of loggers • Shortages/recruitment issues in forest-related trades • Getting youth interested in forest-related jobs

Negative public perception of the forest products industry • Lack of awareness of modern industry • Lack of awareness at all levels, particularly youth

Disconnect between education/training and current forest jobs • Forest jobs have undergone modernization recently • Training may not be geared for current skills and tasks

Lack of clear/cohesive jobdevelopment paths into forest jobs • Training and education not developed to create clear paths • Need for industry and government support to help build paths

Logging and other equipment not always well-suited for current needs • Can’t be used on all terrain • Can’t be used on all resources • Silvicultural limitations

Worker’s Compensation • Creates additional safety issues – loggers working alone • Cost to companies • Disincentives for companies to train new/existing workers

Economic barriers • High cost of equipment • Sales taxes on equipment and other items

Wage competition • From external industries • From within the industry • Impact of Amish workers/businesses

Lack of public and industry supports • Need for cross-cutting programs to improve workforce recruitment and development, involving multiple partners • Lack of industry partnerships within the forest products world

Economic Development and Products

PA is not fully capitalizing on forest-based economic opportunities – Timber and traditional products • Transportation and infrastructure issues • Need for understanding constraints of middle-men/producers/buyers • Lack of demand at home • Lack of uses for low-value wood

PA is not fully capitalizing on forest-based economic opportunities – Non-timber products • Need for better, more sustainable growing and harvesting methods • Lack of new markets and demand

PA is not fully capitalizing on forest-based economic opportunities – Ecosystem services • Carbon offsets • Water quality • Others

PA is not fully capitalizing on forest-based economic opportunities – Recreation and tourism • Lack of infrastructure and support for small business and startups • Need for marketing support

Disconnect between locally-sourced materials and manufacturing • Need for messaging/branding to highlight durability, quality of PA forest products • Government not enough of a leader on use of sustainable, durable wood through its own buildings and through grants

Lack of /disincentives for entrepreneurship opportunities • Lack of support for makers and manufacturers • Small/rural manufacturers left behind during rapid tech. improvements • Internet access • 3 -D printing, other innovations • Traditional manufacturing equipment improvements