The Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee chaired by Rep. Hutchinson (R-Venango) heard a status report on the activities of the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council at its meeting this week.

The Council was formed in 1988 within the Department of Agriculture to expand and promote the hardwood industry. It has four goals: Promote Access to Timber Resources of Private and Public Lands; Promote Public Knowledge of the Forest Products Industry in Pennsylvania; Promote and Expand Manufacturing of Value-Added Products and Innovations; and Develop Domestic and International Markets for Value-Added Products.

Pennsylvania exported over $763 million in hardwood logs, lumber, furniture and paper in 2003. The forest products industry employs almost 90,000 Pennsylvanians with revenues exceeding $5.5 billion annually. Pennsylvania produces the largest volume of hardwood in the United States including maple, black cherry and oak, with black cherry the most valuable.

The Council offered a positive assessment of the forest products industry in Pennsylvania, but cautioned there is competition from other states and problems like deer overpopulation, soil acidity, interfering plants and it is increasingly difficult with timber procurement.

The Council also said other issues facing the hardwoods industry include access to timber resources—69 percent of forest land in Pennsylvania is owned by private owners, the cost for health and workers' compensation insurance and the overseas competition, especially in the furniture industry.

Chairman Hutchinson said the next meeting of the Joint Committee would be November 22 to hear a presentation on Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling Program from the Department of Environmental Protection.

10/22/2004