To the Independence Examiner Editor:

I am responding to Dr. Robert Powell’s letter from Avila University.  I hope the good doctor isn’t teaching forestry, because if he is then he needs to do a little reading about the subject.  As a forestry association we continue to fight the misconceptions that are out there about forestry (mostly because of the radical preservationists or environmentalist), but to get it from a Biology instructor...this isn’t good.

Dr. Powell should also read the “Healthy Forest Restoration Act”, because he doesn’t have his facts right on the legislation either.

To set the record straight, the Missouri Forest Products Association represents those who grow trees, who are in the science of forestry (foresters), who harvest trees, and who manufacture wood products.  Our members are dedicated and believe in the science of forestry and the wise use and conservation of our natural resources.

Dr. Powell indicates that the President’s “Healthy Forest Restoration Act” is not a good idea and that it is for the benefit of private enterprise.  He could not be more off base.  I admire the President for sticking his neck out on a not so popular issue, but he knew that something had to be done to save our public forests in this country.  Just look at the huge disease and wildfire problems that exist in our forests.  Quite frankly the USDA Forest Service has been so strapped with legal battles, regulatory hurdles, and legislative requirements that it can’t even function as it was created to provide a healthy forest for all to enjoy and to provide a wood supply for our great nation.  The Forest Service indicates that over third of their forests are in grave danger of being burned-up and another third is in grave danger of debilitating insects and disease.  This is because our forest managers, foresters, aren’t allowed to do their job to keep our forests healthy and productive.  The President summed it up well at the bill signing, “some may want to save a tree, but I want to save the forests.”

A well managed forest, which includes the harvesting of timber, that provide many benefits for wildlife, birds, water quality, carbon sequestration, etc. the very things that the doctor notes actually hurt because of forest management activities.  The doctor is wrong.  The doctor notes that our forests will be planted like row crops, unfortunately the doctor should know that hardwood species (90% of Missouri’s forest) are regenerating forest, therefore after a tree is harvested the roots and the stump sprout and grow new trees for future generations and food for wildlife.

The doctor indicates that the forest products industry hurts the fishing, birding and hunting industry.  First of all without good forest management these activities would be severely impacted.  Also it is a fact that in Missouri employs 35,000 individuals in the forest products