Government Affairs - Empire State Forest Products Association

Government Affairs and Legislative Successes

Bill Tracking - Throughout New York State’s Legislative Session, members of the ESFPA team closely monitor and track legislation which can impact our industry. Concurrent with this tracking are lobbying efforts and both coordinated and individual grassroots efforts support of our membership to either encourage or discourage legislation in NYS.
Lobbying – Have worked toward the successful passage legislation important to the industry, such as:
- RTPF – The bill is designed to recognize the economic and environmental benefits that flow from the practice of forestry and to encourage the future of the state's forest lands by providing a mechanism for the review of future local ordinances that may impact on the practice of forestry. Additionally, the bill reflects the growing value of the state's standing timber resources, both publicly and privately owned, by increasing the penalties for timber theft on both a civil and a criminal basis. The goal of the bill is to ensure that the industry and the lands devoted to forestry remain viable for future generations of New Yorkers
- Wood Products Development Council - A Wood Products Development Council would provide economic, social, and environmental benefits for New York, while improving the effectiveness of government programs and the quality of life in upstate communities.
  
  In 2009, a version of this bill, was passed in the NYS Assembly. This bill creates a Wood Products Development Council to work closely with the state’s leading rural economic development agency, the Department of Agriculture and Markets. Representing all stakeholders, from lumber to maple syrup, from forest owners to furniture manufacturers, the Council would advise the commissioner on forest products policy, raise public awareness of the benefits of a healthy forest products industry, provide technical assistance to forest product businesses, help ensure that forest resources are put to beneficial use, and develop the wider value-added forest product industry. Pennsylvania has had a Hardwoods Development Council since 1988, and has successfully increased that state’s exports of hardwood products across the country and abroad.
Legislative Informational tours – Throughout the year, ESFPA arranges tours of our members’ manufacturing facilities as well as current logging operations to help inform NYS Lawmakers and agency representatives about our industry and community. These tours provide an invaluable connection between the legislators, staff or representatives and our livelihood, helping to bridge the gap of knowledge about forestry and the economic, environmental and sustaninability of our forestry resources.
Forestry Awareness Day – Held each spring in April, Forestry Awareness Day (FAD) is your opportunity to tell key audiences – legislators, staff and agency representatives - about challenges and successes in practicing and promoting sustainable forestry. The message—healthy forests through wise utilization of the sustainable resource—is strengthened by cooperating and interacting with many diverse organizations that share this goal.; all of whom participate in discussion sessions, face to face meetings with legislators and our forestry exhibits. The day-long event is held at the Legislative Office Building (LOB) of the Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY

Membership Benefits

Government Affairs and Legislative Successes