Forestry and Fiber Supply
Background
Though the last five years have seen millions of acres of forests move from industrial to investment ownership, interest in the sustainable management of these lands remains a priority for paper and wood products makers that do not own land because the forest remains the source for their raw materials.
Key issues relating to forests include commercial development pressures, the demand for wood biomass as an energy source, and potential regulations that could restrict harvests.
Policy actions on any of these issues could impact forest products companies’ ability to operate since they could affect forest management and the fiber supply.
Policy
AF&PA believes that forests are essential to a healthy environment—sustaining vital plants and wildlife, filtering our water and air, and mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration.
Forests are also an economic resource, providing a renewable natural material that we use responsibly to produce our products—many of which are recyclable — while striving to ensure our resources will be as plentiful and available to future generations as they are today.
Laws and government policies should encourage sustainable forest management on public and private lands in order to provide a reliable and affordable fiber supply. AF&PA opposes those laws and policies that would unreasonably increase operating costs or restrict access to wood fiber.
Public lands should be actively managed to restore forest health, and reduce the danger of wildfires. These efforts should produce wood fiber on a consistent and reliable basis where legal and appropriate.
AF&PA supports adequate federal funding for sustainable forest management programs on public and private lands, and for research that enhances productive forest management and use of wood fiber in products.