Del Norte Public Library

As an owner and/or operator of a forest products business, or an individual involved with such businesses, we are all familiar with the scrutiny the industry can experience in the public arena on certain environmental topics. This Technical Bulletin was drafted to present some useful facts about our industry and about our forests.

This report describes the successes achieved through projects authorized under the legislation. Where possible, work commenced on projects at the onset of 2009; others were not initiated until later in the spring when weather conditions were favorable enough to conduct operations. Also, some of the recipients were notified later in May 2009, so work is still occurring. As of July 1, 2010, approximately 50 percent of the total project work was completed....

In 2009, the Colorado General Assembly passed legislation titled the Colorado Healthy Forests and Vibrant Communities Act (HB09-1199), which increases efforts to address wildfire risk, provides resources to the Colorado State Forest Service to augment its technical outreach capabilities, and provides loans and grants for market-based and forest treatment solutions to reduce wildfire risk.

Colorado's forested landscapes are essential to our well-being. Yet, these same landscapes are threatened by wildfires, insects and disease. Our ability to manage for these changes is limited by shrinking budgets, a declining forest products industry and volatile energy prices. Our current policy efforts should link forest health improvements and forest industry vitality to developing more efficient forest product manufacturing and encouraging renewable...