ESFPA E-Newsletter

ESFPAnews & updates

September 10, 2020| Issue 14

Information and Links!

Regional Meetings

Have you registered for the ESFPA VIRTUAL Regional Meeting with YOUR local focus? How about our Statewide meeting?

Please follow this LINK to see the flyer and to register.

ESFPA COVID-19 Survey

The impacts of CoVID-19 have far reaching implications. Much of the work for the NYS Legislature in the session ahead will be focusing on recovery and utilizing scarce resources to revive the economy. ESFPA wants to be a part of that discussion. Your answers will help us show the significance of the pandemic on our Industry, and the specific needs we need to focus on. This 16 question survey should take approximately 10 minutes. Please consider participating so that our efforts are being put towards the needs of our members. Follow this link for this anonymous survey.

K-Shaped Recovery

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has released a report that shows the “K” shaped curves of the economic recovery during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Depending on where you sit in the COVID economy, business could be booming or on the brink of bankruptcy. Lost are the hopes of what early prediction thought may be a “V” shaped recovery.

DEC Dear Season Proposed Regulations

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is proposing an amendment to the deer season regulations establish an extended bow and muzzleloader deer hunting season in the Southern Zone during the Christmas and New Year holiday week. The notice was published in the State Register (see page 7 of the linked document) yesterday, September 9^th and will be open for public comment until November 8th.

According to the regulatory notice this rulemaking will provide additional opportunity for New York deer hunters and their families by creating a second portion of the late bow and muzzleloading deer seasons in the Southern Zone, adding the holiday week of December 26 through January 1, a time when most families gather and more opportunities to spend time together.

This new opportunity is consistent with the department’s efforts to recruit, retain, and reactivate New York hunters. The additional season is proposed for the Southern Zone only because in many years and in many parts of the Northern Zone deer may already be moving to wintering areas by Christmas. Hunting seasons that occur when deer are migrating or already concentrated on wintering areas can result in overharvest.

In New York, the Nature Conservancy scientists report that one-third of New York’s forests are currently compromised as a result of excessive herbivory. In some regions, including the Southern Tier this is an even larger impact on forest health and regeneration. The ESFPA Executive Committee is supporting the DEC proposed rule and we will be submitting comments in support of it.

The regulation would be effective in 2020.

Log A Load For Kids - Big Bass Contest

With Covid Closures impacting how many organizations can raise charity funds, Log A Load for kids has found a great way to incorporate an outdoor hobby with a great charity effort. For the entire month of September (you must register by the 15th) the organization is running a Big Bass Fishing Contest - for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. Please follow this link to view the flyer!

Individual donations are still being accepted. Please make your checks to the Empire State Forestry Foundation (ESFF) and mail them to: 47 Van Alstyne Dr. Rensselaer, NY 12144. Donations through the Empire State Forestry Foundation are 100 % tax deductible. We greatly appreciate your help in making even more miracles possible this year.

Lake George Park Commission Proposed Logging and Forestry Regulations

The Lake George Park Commission is proposing changes to it’s regulations and the “exemption for forestry and logging activities. LGPC will continue to treat forestry and logging as an exempt activity but is proposing that for any timber harvest involving 5,000 sq. ft. or more a “Notice of Intent” to be filed along with a “Soil Conservation Plan”.

A public hearing is scheduled at 4 p.m. on Tuesday September 22^nd at Fort William Henry, 48 Canada St, Lake George NY. Comments may be submitted to LGPC until September 27^th. The following is taken directly from the July 22^nd State Register Notice.

“Action: Logging and agricultural activities which exceed stormwater jurisdictional disturbance thresholds (5,000 square feet) must have a soil conservation plan submitted to the Commission or the local municipality administering stormwater regulations 15 days prior to commencement of the subject activity. Activities must comply with State best management practices. Small scale residential silvicultural activity, which is for private use and results in less than 5 cords of wood annually, is exempt from having to provide a soil conservation plan. “

“About This Change: Logging and agricultural activities exceeding 5,000 square feet of disturbance are already regulated actions by the LGPC." However, the current regulations require conservation plans be submitted to the County Soil and Water Conservation District or the NYS DEC. The proposed modification would require that soil conservation plans be submitted directly to the Commission or municipality administering the stormwater regulations. Historically, the regulatory offload onto the DEC and Conservation Districts has led to an incomplete understanding of the regulatory requirements and has led to low compliance rates. This has resulted in several enforcement cases against landowners and logging companies, and created impacts to natural resources that could have been avoided with proper planning and review. Conservation plans will be guided by the State’s published best management practices for agriculture and silviculture.”

Northern Logger Article – Million Acres of Adirondack Junk Forest

In the September 2020 issue of the Northern Logger Magazine there was an article published entitled “Are a Million Acres of Adirondack Timberland Becoming Junk?” This article was reported as a piece from North Country Public Radio. While the article reads as if it is current 2020 news, the piece was actually published in February 2013 by NCPR. ESFPA contacted Northern Logger the day after the article was published and let them know that this was dated news. NL admitted it was a mistake.

This piece originally ran in 2013 while the Adirondack Park Agency was considering a general Permit for forest management and logging activities on “certified properties”. Back in 2013 this become a bit of a contentious issue and the General Permit was never decided on. Since then certified properties in the Adirondack have been applying to the APA for clear-cut permits on a routine basis with little or no public comment or concerns being expressed. ESFPA wants to be clear that there is no pending change to APA regulations over forestry or timber harvesting and all certified properties in the Adirondacks are in full compliance with APA regulatory actions.

FRA Develops Fact Sheets on Carbon Sequestration and Forests

The FRA has developed fact sheets that show the role of forestland in sequestering and storing carbon. A benefit of healthy forests is their value in storing carbon in forests and harvested wood products. Another benefit is through carbon sequestration or the process by which trees use carbon dioxide and photosynthesis to store carbon as plant biomass.

The fact sheets present the status and trends in forest carbon storage and sequestration using data from the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis program and the Environmental Protection Agency. As the climate change debate continues across the country at the state level and in the next Congress, the fact sheets will be a useful resource to show the importance of managed forestlands to address climate change at the national, regional, and state levels. Make sure you check out the forest carbon report for your state.

Job Listings

Chief Forester - Cotton Hanlon

Employer: Cotton-Hanlon, Inc.

Job Type: Full Time

Location: Cayuta, NY

Job Description: Cotton-Hanlon, Inc. (C-H) is seeking a chief forester to lead its forestland management activities. C-H owns and manages over 33,000 acres in New York and Pennsylvania for the full array of forest products and services, including timber, recreational leases and energy leases. The chief forester will be an integral member of C-H’s management team, involved in strategic planning, budgeting, and development of new business initiatives.

Qualifications:

Significant forest management experience, including field forestry and contract supervision.
10-15 years of experience in the industry preferred
BS in forestry preferred

Compensation: To be negotiated based on experience

How to apply: Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Michael Hanlon, President, Cotton-Hanlon, Inc., Box 65, Cayuta, NY 14824

Closing date: October 5, 2020

After 25 years Bob O’Brien has decided to take an early retirement, but he’ll be working with everyone at C-H to ensure a smooth transition all through out the process from the interviewing to the final on boarding training/orientation. Questions about the position can be directed to Mike Hanlon or Bob O’Brien at mike@cottonhanlon.com , bob@cottonhanlon.com or 607-594-4600.

More Job Description Information

Executive Director - NYFOA

NYFOA Looking to Hire and Executive Director

The New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA) is looking to hire an Executive Director. He re is a link to the announcement.

Have a job listing you would like us to post?

Please email Muriel Church at mchurch@esfpa.org