Regulatory programs and private forestry: State government actions to direct the use and management of forest ecosystems

Abstract

Implemented in the context of a long history of intense public debate, forestry practices applied on private forestland are regulated in some form by 38 states. State regulatory activities can involve many agencies implementing numerous regulatory laws or a single forestry agency administering a comprehensive regulatory program. Regulatory programs are designed to protect resources such as soils, water, wildlife, and scenic beauty. Program administration often involves rule promulgation, harvest plan reviews, coordination of interagency reviews, and pre‐ and postharvest on‐site inspections. Forest practice rules usually focus on reforestation, forest roads, harvest procedures, and wildlife habitat protection. Emerging regulatory trends include growth of state and local regulation, use of contingent regulations, specification of forest practice standards in law, collaborative program implementation, conflicting multigovern‐ment regulatory authority, inflexible rules limiting adoption of new technology, legalization of administration processes, constitutional consistences, and government and private sector costs.