Impacts of State Budget Cuts on Forestry in Ohio

A White Paper

The Ohio Society of American Foresters

The Ohio Society of American Foresters (OSAF) is the state’s professional forestry organization leading scientific and educational efforts in Ohio, with a membership that includes a vast array of forestry experts from industry, government, academic, and private sectors. We share a commitment to grow productive, sustainable forests for future generations. In doing so, a wide array of ecosystem services are provided to the citizens of Ohio and economic sustainability continues to exist in Ohio’s forestry sector.  Accordingly, OSAF supports active, scientifically based, and sustainable management of Ohio’s forests, and mechanisms that support the success of Ohio’s forest products sector.

Our state’s forests face extreme pressure from exotic insects and diseases, invasive plants, urban development, unusual weather events, forestland parcelization, and land use change.  Because most forests in Ohio are privately owned, it is imperative that woodland owners continue to receive the professional support necessary to manage and maintain the health, productivity, and sustainability of our forestlands.  In addition, worldwide demand for “green” wood products from certified woodlands is expanding rapidly, caused in large part by government requirements for “green” construction.  For forest landowners and the wood industry to remain competitive in domestic and international markets, action is needed to “raise the bar” for public and private landowner assistance to meet this need.

About 93% of the state’s 7.6 million acres of timberland are privately owned, and provide over 91% of the harvestable timber resource. The state’s forest products industry, which relies heavily upon this timber resource, contributes $15.1 billion to Ohio’s economy annually, employing more than 119,000 people and generating more than $4 billion in payroll.  The total value of shipments from both wood and paper manufacturing sector totaled to $9.5 billion in Ohio.

To maintain or increase the contributions of forestry to the state of Ohio, research and education must keep up with new technology and knowledge. Research and education in forestry and related disciplines provide a sound foundation for forest management and policy decisions. Science and technological innovations enable forest and facility managers to help meet society’s future demands for diverse forest products spanning commodities to biodiversity. New ideas and discoveries will ensure that Ohio expands its national and global competitiveness.

To this end, OSAF encourages state legislators and the Governor to actively engage and support the forestry sector in Ohio, from the forest resource to the manufacturing sector to the education/research sector, in all budget decisions.

While OSAF recognizes and understands the current state budget crisis calls for proper and appropriate discernment of current and future fiscal needs, OSAF is concerned with the budget cuts in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry (DOF). State foresters provide a precious resource to private forest land owners who provide raw material to the manufacturing sector. DOF must be funded to continue its work on “Green” Certification of State Forest lands, so directed by Executive Order of the Governor.  In addition, DOF must continue supporting Ohio forest landowners through incentives and by stressing the importance of professional forest management. Scientifically based forest management on private forestlands is essential to the support of Ohio’s wood industry.  These actions include programs that encourage participation by private landowners in “Green” Certification schemes.

A significant majority of Ohioans live and/or work within urban areas, and for these residents, quality of life is closely connected to the quality of their urban environment.  The DOF Urban Forestry Program provides community officials and allied agencies with the organizational and technical ability to effectively manage the trees along streets, within parks, and on public grounds. Continued funding to these programs is critical to maintaining the quality of these urban environments, and  for the protection of invasive species such as the emerald ash borer.

OSAF applauds the Governor’s office in saving higher education from budget cuts, and hopes in better academic times the office will quickly consider budget increases for their critical functions. While costs associated with higher education continue to increase, flat budgets in effect become budget cuts. Many universities, colleges and other institutions of higher education support forestry in the state through their education and research programs. It is through these programs that forestry is advanced in knowledge and technology in the state. The only two academic programs in the state of Ohio that are accredited or recognized by the National Chapter of the Society of American Foresters (The Ohio State University and Hocking College) may stand in danger of losing accreditation in the future if flat budget scenarios continue.

In addition, the Extension Program in Ohio continues to receive budget cuts. This program is the crucial link in transferring knowledge and technologies to forest and facility managers and landowners. The value of education and research to the forestry sector will be substantially reduced and minimized if further cuts are encountered, or if the current budget support for these programs is not increased.