New York City Council
Committee on Contracts Hearing on Proposed Int. 108
Testimony on Behalf of the Empire State Forest Products Association
Provided by Kevin S. King, Executive Vice President
Presented June 16, 2002
Ladies and gentleman of the Committee, we greatly appreciate the opportunity to offer comments on this proposal.
The Empire State Forest Products Association is a nonprofit trade association representing forest landowners and
wood-using businesses in New York State. We are active in promoting good stewardship on private forest land as a
sponsor of the New York Tree Farm Program, through our affiliation with New York Logger Training’s Trained Logger
Certification Program, and as the host organization for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s State Implementation
Committee in New York. As such we have a strong familiarity and long history with promoting forest practices and
programs here in the Empire State that make positive contributions to water quality, wildlife habitat, recreation
and quality wood products.
Our view of Int. 108 is that it is a well intended piece of legislation. One that we agree with in its goals but
strongly disagree with in its approach. This proposal provides a 15 percent price premium for wood products
certified through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The "chain-of-custody" requirement and the language in
Section 2 concerning eligibility requirements make certain that the bill pertains only to the FSC program.
This approach fails to recognize the efforts of many landowners throughout New York State who have committed to
other forestry programs that are committed to the same objectives as the FSC program. It will, quite frankly, be
viewed by many as an affront to their efforts to provide clean water, wildlife habitat and recreational
opportunities consistent with the sustainable harvest of timber that is so important to the economic interests of
these landowners.
This doesn’t need to be the case. As Council members you can just as easily build on the approach outlined in the
bill to include the recognition of these important programs and the subsequent efforts of these forest landowners,
both large and small. Programs such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Tree Farm have been and will
continue to be at least as important here in New York as the FSC program. Attached is a summary of forest land in
New York State along with a breakdown of the total acreage by the various sustainable forestry programs.
New York’s forest ownership is dominated by small landowners, farmers and casual wood lot owners. These
individuals have looked to the Tree Farm program to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable forestry. Even when
combined with the FSC program the total acreage under any of these programs is only about 12 percent of the total
forested acreage within the state. This makes the bar a reasonable one that recognizes those who have committed and
encourages others here within our own state to do more.
Our local wood using businesses believe that they will benefit at least as much as foreign manufacturers under a
system that provides equal preference to the various certification programs. The FSC only approach will provide a
competitive advantage to foreign manufacturers. FSC standards are implemented by national committees and it is the
impression of our local businesses that the standards applied in other countries have proven to be less restrictive
than here in the Northeastern US.
An inclusive approach assures for a greater availability of wood locally that can be used by New York businesses.
It will allow our businesses to compete effectively in providing City residents with quality wood products and it
will recognize the positive efforts of forest landowners across New York State.
In the interests of our own local landowners and wood-using businesses we strongly urge you to consider changes to
the bill that will make it more inclusive. Thank you!
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