Forestry Association Elects New Board Members

Expands Representation to Include Small Landowners

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October 15, 2002, Albany, NY – At it’s Annual meeting in Fayetteville, NY last month, the Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA) held elections for their Board of Directors. Complementing the re-election of several members who represent various forestry interests, two new Directors representing small landowners were elected.  David Colligan, an attorney from Buffalo, NY and James Waters, Executive Director of the Catskill Forest Association in Arkville, NY are the newest members to the Board and will begin serving three-year terms ending January 1st, 2003.

 “ESFPA has always prided itself on representing forestry issues for the entire forestry community,” states ESFPA Executive Vice President Kevin S. King.  “With the addition of David and Jim, we can be assured that the Association represents the collective interests of forest landowners – large and small – and wood using businesses.  We are truly the voice of forestry and forest products manufacturing in New York State.”

 New York State boasts 18.6 million acres of forestland that is growing at a rate 3 times faster than is being harvested, cleared for development or lost to insects and disease. Small woodlot owners own and care for most of this land. There are over half a million people owning 10 or more acres of forestland in New York.  These families and individuals provide an important supply of trees for the state’s forest-based industries and their stewardship of the land helps provide clean drinking water, homes for wildlife, recreational opportunities and contribute to the open spaces of New York that are treasured by all.

 Small landowners also have important concerns relating to local logging ordinances, timber theft, and fair taxation of forest properties among other issues.  Just a small fraction of that land is being managed efficiently and society’s need for wood products continues to grow.  In order to meet those needs and maintain the forest cover we enjoy today, cooperation of all landowners with the industry is necessary to assure public appreciation for these issues and the diverse values of our forests.

 “A well managed resource is needed to meet society’s needs and ensure the long term supply to the timber products industry,” states David Colligan.  New York’s small forest owners are a partner with the industrial user in the global market place.”

“Small landowners provide most of the raw material used by the forest industry in New York, ” states Jim Waters.  “We are an extremely important part the industry and small landowner concerns need to be recognized by wood-using businesses and state government."

"ESFPA provides a forum to bring together the widely separated but vitally connected segments of the forestry industry,” adds Colligan.  “This outreach – small landowners being elected to the Association’s Board of Directors – will help strengthen New York’s forestry community.”