SENATE RESOLUTION

                                                    1994-8687

By Senators Morton, Owen, Hargrove, Sutherland and Moore

         WHEREAS, Washington State has rich and diverse forest resources; and

         WHEREAS, There are 21.5 million acres of public and private forest lands in this state; and

         WHEREAS, Washington forests supply many goods and services, including water, fish, wildlife, recreation, timber, forage, and open space; and

         WHEREAS, The regulations and importance of forest practices and their effect on the environment and quality of soil in Washington State are increasingly complex; and

         WHEREAS, There is increasing demand for timber from private nonindustrial landowners; and

         WHEREAS, An increasing number of individuals hold themselves out as experts in forest management practices as the available supply of harvestable timber diminishes and the value of forest products increases; and

         WHEREAS, There currently is no means of providing reliable information to private landowners about the training and expertise of persons representing themselves as consulting foresters; and

         WHEREAS, Individuals without adequate training and experience can cause significant damage to the forests of our state by recommending unproven or unsound forest management practices;

         NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recommends that an interim review be conducted to determine appropriate methods for developing consistent and reliable information about consulting foresters, and for publication and distribution of such information to the public, especially to private timberland owners; and

         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That advice and counsel should be sought from representatives of the Association of Consulting Foresters; Washington Farm Forestry Association; Society of American Foresters; Washington Forest Protection Association; and Department of Natural Resources Stewardship Incentive program to make the best use of information currently available; and

         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the chairs of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and the Senate Natural Resources Committee shall consult with interested committee members and direct the work of appropriate staff to determine the scope and outcome of this review prior to the 1995 regular session of the legislature.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1994-8687,

adopted by the Senate March 10, 1994.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate