AB575: Bill Text

LRB-0236/4

MGG:kmg:ks

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Assembly BILL 575

September 25, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Johnsrud, Boyle, Lehman, Black, Baumgart, Baldwin, Plombon, Goetsch, Hahn, Freese, Olsen, Krug, Cullen, Bock, Hutchison, Powers, Porter, Lorge, Wirch, Grobschmidt, Ott, Vrakas, Notestein, Kaufert and Hanson, cosponsored by Senators Cowles, Rude, Clausing, Burke, Darling, Risser, Rosenzweig, Panzer, Decker and Buettner. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AB575,1,2 An Act to amend 23.09 (2) (d) 1.; and to repeal and recreate 28.04 of the statutes; relating to: the management of state forests.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law states that the primary use of state forests is silviculture and the growing of forest crops, with other uses such as outdoor recreation and public hunting being extra benefits. This bill changes this provision by requiring that the department of natural resources (DNR) manage the state forests using the principles of sustainable forestry to assure that the state forests provide a full range of benefits and that the management of the state forests is consistent with the land's ecological capability. The bill specifies certain benefits that are to be provided. The benefits specified in the bill include biological diversity, outdoor recreation, the production of recurring forest products and soil and water protections. The bill requires that DNR recognize that not all of these benefits can or should be provided in every area of a state forest.

Under current law, work plans must be prepared for state forests to determine the amount of timber that may be cut annually without impairing the building up of a normal forest growing stock of high quality. The bill changes this provision by requiring that DNR prepare a plan for each state forest that describes how the state forest will be managed. The bill requires DNR to establish procedures for the preparation and modification of these plans. In preparing and modifying these plans, DNR must use the best available information. The bill specifies certain types of information that will be used. The types specified in the bill include information on wildlife habitat, cultural and social resources, ecological capability, land ownership, recreation, social and economic needs and impacts, and timber growth and yield.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB575, s. 1 Section 1. 23.09 (2) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB575,2,4 23.09 (2) (d) 1. For state forests for the purpose of growing timber, demonstrating forestry methods, protecting watersheds or providing public recreation.

AB575, s. 2 Section 2. 28.04 of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB575,2,6 28.04 Management of state forests. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB575,2,8 (a) "Abiotic attributes" means nonliving components, including landforms, soils, aspect, nutrients and climate.

AB575,2,9 (b) "Aspect" means the orientation of a slope as it relates to exposure to the sun.

AB575,2,13 (c) "Biological diversity" means the variety and abundance of species, their genetic composition, and the communities, ecosystems and landscapes in which they occur. "Biological diversity" also refers to the variety of ecological structures, functions and processes at any of these levels.

AB575,2,15 (d) "Community" means an assemblage of species living together in a particular area, time and habitat.

AB575,2,19 (e) "Ecological capability" means the potential of an area to support or develop one or more communities through management, with the potential being dependent on the area's abiotic attributes, its flora and fauna, its ecological processes and disturbances within and upon the area.

AB575,2,21 (f) "Manage" means to implement goals and objectives using active and passive techniques.

AB575,3,2 (g) "Management" means the implementation of goals and objectives using active and passive techniques.

AB575,3,3 (h) "Native" means indigenous to the area or region.

AB575,3,6 (i) "Sustainable forestry" means the practice of managing dynamic forest ecosystems to provide ecological, economic, social and cultural benefits for present and future generations.

AB575,3,16 (2) Purposes of state forests. (a) The department shall manage the state forests to benefit the present and future generations of residents of this state, recognizing that the state forests contribute to local and statewide economies and to a healthy natural environment. The department shall use the principles of sustainable forestry to assure that state forests can provide a full range of benefits for future generations and that the management of state forests is consistent with the ecological capability of the state forest land and with the long-term maintenance of sustainable forest communities and ecosystems. The range of benefits provided by the department in each state forest shall reflect its unique character and position in the regional landscape.

AB575,3,19 (b) The benefits under par. (a) include aesthetics, aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, native biological diversity, outdoor recreation, production of recurring forest products, protection of water quality, public hunting and soil protection.

AB575,3,21 (c) In managing the state forests, the department shall recognize that not all benefits under par. (b) can or should be provided in every area of a state forest.

AB575,4,2 (3) State forest plans. (a) The department shall prepare a plan for each state forest that describes how the state forest will be managed. The department shall work with the public to identify property goals and objectives that are consistent with the purposes under sub. (2). The department shall identify in each plan the objectives of management for distinct areas of the state forest.

AB575,4,8 (b) The department shall establish procedures for the preparation and modification of these plans. In preparing and modifying plans under this subsection, the department shall use information that the department acquires through inventories, evaluations, monitoring and research and shall consider both local and regional scales. As new information becomes available, the department shall adapt its management of the state forest and, if necessary, the plan for the state forest.

AB575,4,11 (c) In preparing and modifying management plans, the department shall base its decisions on the best available information. The information to be used shall include information on the following:

AB575,4,12 1. Aquatic and terrestrial wildlife habitat.

AB575,4,13 2. Biological diversity.

AB575,4,14 3. Cultural and social resources.

AB575,4,15 4. Ecological capability.

AB575,4,16 5. Educational opportunities.

AB575,4,17 6. Financial resources that are needed to implement the plan.

AB575,4,18 7. Land ownership and land use patterns.

AB575,4,19 8. Native communities.

AB575,4,20 9. Production of recurring forest products.

AB575,4,21 10. Public hunting.

AB575,4,22 11. Recreation.

AB575,4,23 12. Research needs.

AB575,4,24 13. Scenic resources.

AB575,4,25 14. Sensitive species.

AB575,5,1 15. Social and economic needs and impacts.

AB575,5,2 16. Timber growth and yield.

AB575,5,3 17. Water quality.

AB575, s. 3 Section 3. Cross-reference changes. In the sections of the statutes listed in Column A, the cross-references shown in Column B are changed to the cross-references shown in column C:

AB575,5,19 (1)  Management of state forests. - See PDF for table