WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) reintroduced the Forest Incentives Program Act, which would help landowners make forest management more affordable and provide them with sustainable options to preserve their land. With financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), private forest owners would be encouraged to employ environmentally-conscious forest management techniques. Additionally, non-residential building owners would be incentivized to use less-energy intensive products, such as wood, for structural building materials.
“West Virginia’s mountainous forest lands are important to our tourism economy and scenic beauty, which is why we must do what we can help support our landowners by making forest management affordable and sustainable. Many landowners in West Virginia have benefited from conservation easement programs that have improved our streams, restored our bird populations, supported our fish stocks, and helped meet Chesapeake Bay water quality targets. This legislation would help encourage more of this by recognizing the valuable role our forests play in sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. I’m proud to join Senator Shaheen in introducing this legislation that will go a long way in not only keeping our forest lands healthy and beautiful, but it will also help support our local economies here in West Virginia,” said Senator Capito.
“Private forests are important in New Hampshire and rural communities across the country, protecting our natural resources and wildlife and providing support to regional economies. Our bipartisan bill helps private forest owners implement sustainable practices to maintain their land, which is an investment in the safety and stability of both our environment and local workforce,” said Senator Shaheen. “This bipartisan legislation is a common-sense measure that would empower our forest owners and commercial building owners with additional tools to steward forest lands and invest in their own financial security. Safeguarding America’s forests and prioritizing healthy rural economies are bipartisan concerns and this legislation helps make good on those efforts.”
Specifically, the bill directs the USDA to establish an incentive program that allows eligible forest landowners to enter into a long-term contract to adopt conservation practices that have been proven to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. The bill also creates financial incentives for commercial building owners to use biological products, such as wood, as structural building materials instead of more energy-intensive materials.
Bill text of the legislation is available here.
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