ESFPA E-News Volume 2 - Issue 36October 14, 2021A round-up of our interesting stories from the past week. The Albany Times Union today ran the following commentary written by ESFPA Executive Director, John K. Bartow, Jr. Forest conservation is an important line of climate defense New York is experiencing, first-hand, the far-reaching impacts of climate change and the global nature crisis. Climate change during our lifetimes may affect New Yorkers more than people in other parts of the world. A U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service report predicts that within the next several decades the northeastern United States will have a greater upward change in the yearly minimum temperatures than the rest of the country. This same report predicts the increase in summer heat will be most profound in the Northeast and Midwest, and that 50 percent of northeastern lands will see significant increases in drought. New York’s forests and woodlands can make significant contributions to reducing the effects of impending climate shifts. Additionally, to sustain the outdoor way of life that is common in New York, we rely on the precarious fate of our forests. With 18.9 million acres of forested land, the New York forest products industry employs approximately 100,000 men and women and accounts for a statewide economic impact of nearly $23 billion. This is a workforce that not only spends time in the woods for work, but for recreation as well; they care deeply for its future. Our industry is built on the principles of sustainability; producing products and energy from a renewable resource; creating family-supporting jobs in all regions of the state; and managing our forests in a manner that sustains and enhances the ecosystem benefits of clean air and water, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and open space. Rural communities are in jeopardy, and their fate is tied to the sustainably working forest as well. We need generational investment in natural climate solutions and outdoor access for all, chief among them forest conservation, to provide a sustainable future — both ecologically and economically — for the Empire State. Congress is considering a substantial investment in forest conservation that would grow the economy, create jobs, and take critical action on climate change. We were glad to see that the House Agriculture Committee included $40 billion for forestry provisions in their reconciliation legislation. Included in that bill is a critical $1.25 billion investment in the Forest Legacy Program, which helps states and private forest owners maintain working forest lands and which is a key tool to protect natural infrastructure and climate resilience. The Forest Legacy Program is a voluntary conservation program that is responsible for the conservation of over 2.8 million acres of working forest lands across the U.S., primarily through conservation easement purchases, with more than 50 percent of project costs leveraged from nonfederal sources. Here in New York, the program has conserved 135,820 acres, using $12.1 million in federal funds for a total investment of $34.3 million to protect places from the Tug Hill East Branch of Fish Creek working forest, to Ticeteneyk Mountain in the Catskills, to Sterling Forest outside New York City, to many investments in the Adirondacks including Indian Lake and the 10,000-acre Tahawus tract. Equally important: Of 135,820 acres conserved, 126,749 acres — 93 percent — are working forest conservation easements, demonstrating the leverage of millions of dollars in private-sector investment at a greater than 2:1 private-to-public ratio. The program invests in natural infrastructure by conserving forests that sequester carbon dioxide, provide important wildlife habitat, protect our rivers, lakes, and ponds as well as our drinking water supplies, and help to keep rural communities alive. The forests provide all these benefits while producing timber and providing public recreation access, contributing significantly to New York’s economy via multiple sectors. It’s a win-win, a program that really works. With the rapid pace and scale of forest conversion, now is the time to invest in forest protection before it is too late. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have been consistent champions of forest conservation. We urge them to support the forestry provisions in the reconciliation bill and make clear to congressional leadership that these natural climate solutions should remain in the final reconciliation package. ▶ John K. Bartow Jr. is the executive director of Empire State Forest Products Association. To read the article on line, follow this link. Log A Load for Kids Fund Drive in FULL SWING Today through October 31, donors can enter a virtual raffle for two professional model chainsaws: a Husqvarna 565 donated by GKS Sales of Rome and a Husqvarna 372 XP donated by C.J. Logging of Boonville. Each entry is $5, but Log-A-Load hopes donors will add a dollar for Dave and make it $6. Donations can be sent by check to the Empire State Forestry Foundation (ESFF) and mail them to: 47 Van Alstyne Dr. Rensselaer, NY 12144. Entries can also be submitted via Venmo @LogALoad-ESFPA with your name and phone number in the subject line so you can be contacted if you win. A winner will be announced on Friday, November 5. We greatly appreciate your help in making even more miracles possible this year. Don’t Forget! Log-A-Load Firewood Auction - see next article! 2021 SFI Conservation Grants Program OPEN Until 10/22/21 The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Conservation Grants Program supports collaborative projects that engage non-profit organizations, SFI-certified organizations and other stakeholders, and that support SFI’s mission of advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaboration. Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Friday, October 22nd. The Application Form can be found HERE. NYS Department of Labor Issues “Cannabis and the Workplace” Guidance According to the Business Council of New York, the NYS DOL issued guidance for employers regarding cannabis in the workplace in the form of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) last week. The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) expanded the medical marijuana program and legalized adult use of cannabis. This new guidance does not address the medical marijuana program, only employer rights and obligations in the workplace if an employee is actually or apparently impaired by cannabis. Cannabis is now recognized as both a “legal consumable product” and a lawful “recreational activity.” As such, Labor Law §201-d now prohibits discrimination based on lawful use of cannabis. The guidance explains when an employer can take action against an employee using cannabis on the job, discusses “articulable symptoms” of impairment, restrictions on use and possession of cannabis on company premises during working hours, and broad restrictions on testing for cannabis. Cannabis is still illegal under Federal law. If you are a federal contractor, a federal grant recipient, or have employees covered under a myriad of other federal laws that address drug use (e.g. DOT regulations, safety sensitive positions, etc.), your obligations in regard to cannabis use have not changed and nothing in the MRTA requires you to violate federal law or jeopardize federal funding. The BCNY will be conducting a webinar on this issue another HR issues. For more information, follow this link. FIREWOOD AUCTION FOR LOG-A-LOAD FOR KIDS Log-A-Load is auctioning off three loads of firewood to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across New York State. Firewood has been donated by Gutchess Lumber in Cortland, Greene Lumber of Davenport, and Pat and Karen Regan of the Camden area. All are tri axle loads containing at least 15 face cords of firewood and can be delivered within 50 miles of their place of origin in accordance with New York State firewood regulations. The minimum bid is $500. Bids can be submitted to Mark.Mowrey75@gmail.com by October 31. Submissions should specify which load the bid is for. Winners will also be announced on November 5 and delivery provided within 45 days of payment. B & B Forest Products Supports Log A Load for Kids Every year, B & B Forest Products of Cairo, NY makes fundraising a family event, and this year is no different. Three generations that make their business successful have put that same level of determination into fundraising! Bill Fabian,his daughter Jen DeFrancesco and his entire family have raised ten of thousands of dollars at their organization in recent years by requesting donations from the loggers and truckers they deal with and then Bill has matched these donations dollar for dollar to increase the impact to NY Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Bill's granddaughter Brooke has her self been a force to be reckoned with. Last year Brooke had raised well over a thousand dollars - donating funds raised on her 9th birthday. This year, Brooke ran a hot dog stand donating all profits to Log a Load for Kids. That is one special girl! In 2020 they were our biggest source of funds for LALFK and have made huge dents so far in donations in 2021. Thank you Bill and B&B Forest Products!!" What is your operation doing to raise funds for the Kids? The Wall Street Journal Reports on Carbon Markets Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal highlighted an investment firm which is taking on the Carbon Market. The article, entitled : "Wall Street Firm Makes Wager on Carbon-Offset Forests," mentions the firm Oak Hill Advisors which has teamed up with Bluesource to buy $500 million worth of woodlands to generate carbon offsets. Many large companies are eyeing this option as a way of offsetting their emissions. To read the full article, follow this link. |