The Bush administration's proposal to significantly cut the U.S. Forest Service's State and Private Forestry Program would harm communities throughout Maryland by virtually eliminating nearly 100 years of federal-state cooperation in forest conservation. Congress must not allow the federal government to leave state and local communities behind at a time when federal assistance is needed most.
The Bush administration's fiscal 2009 budget proposal calls for reducing Forest Stewardship funding by 83 percent and Urban and Community Forestry funding by 82 percent, with smaller reductions to the State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Fire Assistance programs. The Forest Stewardship program provides guidance to forest landowners to help them manage their lands better, while the Urban and Community Forestry program helps local communities, including Baltimore, to improve the health and quality of their trees. For example, the Urban Tree Canopy program offers cities and counties information on matters such as what types of trees are best to plant in particular areas, how to maintain them and how much water they require.
Together, these cuts add up to an estimated 60 percent reduction in federal funding for the State and Private Forestry Program's work in Maryland - $700,000 annually, which the state matches dollar for dollar. It's a small amount of money that provides huge benefits to all Marylanders.
Federal funding for sustainable state and private forestry is a wise investment. It helps to provide many important environmental benefits to Maryland citizens, wildlife and waterways, including our treasured Chesapeake Bay. Trees mitigate greenhouse gases that cause climate change, and they improve air and water quality. If these cuts go through, Maryland's ability to meet its commitment under the Chesapeake Bay Agreement to prevent loss of forestland will be severely challenged.
Severe fire seasons in recent years have shifted much of the money away from state and local forestry initiatives. In 1991, the U.S. Forest Service spent 13 percent of its budget on wildland fire suppression. In 2007, the figure was 45 percent. In a time of competing priorities and reduced federal revenue, the U.S. Forest Service is cannibalizing funding for state and private forestry.
