Small family forest owners were promised alternative harvest prescriptions in 1999 Forests & Fish that have yet to materialize. Several years ago we considered legal action, but instead decided to make our case using science. The scientific studies have been done and they confirm that 75’ and 50’ buffers can be as effective in protecting the resources as the current wider buffers. However, at its November 10 meeting, the Forest Practice Board ignored the science, and their rules by rejecting the template that had been proposed by WFFA for SFLOs. Over 200 letters were submitted by small forest landowners in support of the template. WFFA Executive Director Elaine Oneil and TFW Policy Representative Ken Miller highlighted those comments in a letter to the Board that can be viewed here.
