The Legislature Has Refused to Protect Maine’s Forests

1995 - An Act to Require a Silvicultural Basis for Harvesting That Produces Understocked Stands. (L.D. 1347) Required loggers to leave enough trees to ensure a future forest. REJECTED

1998 - An Act to Provide Public Information on Forest Management Practices. (L.D. 1092) Provided the public with information about how much land commercial timber harvesters were clear-cutting, spraying with herbicides and converting to plantations. REJECTED

1998 - An Act to Establish a Penalty on Gains from the Sale or Exchange of Land from Which Timber Has Been Harvested. (L.D. 1820) Provided tax incentives to limit
“cut-and-run” liquidation harvesting. REJECTED

1998 - An Act to Improve Management of Maine’s Forests. (L.D. 1766, minority report) Required timber companies to cut wood no faster than it is growing, apply for permit for clear-cutting, leave enough trees behind after harvesting to ensure a future forest, and obtain an independent, third party audit. REJECTED

1998 - An Act to Require Recommended Silvicultural Stocking Standards on Land Ownerships Enrolled under the Tree Growth Tax Laws. (L.D. 968) Required landowners who receive a Tree Growth Program tax benefit to leave enough trees behind after harvesting to ensure a future forest. REJECTED
1998 - Resolve, to Establish the Maine Council on Sustainable Silviculture. (L.D. 1395) Created a Council to recommend measurable standards to protect Maine’s water, soil, wildlife, sustainable timber supply and forest health. REJECTED

1998 - An Act to Reform the Maine Tree Growth Tax Laws. (L.D. 1200) Required landowners who own more than 1,000 acres and who receive a Tree Growth Program tax benefit to cut wood no faster than it is growing and to leave enough trees after harvest to ensure a future forest. REJECTED

1998 - An Act to Limit Liquidation Harvesting. (L.D. 1465) Required loggers to leave enough trees to ensure a future forest. REJECTED

1999 - An Act to Make Public Certain Information Regarding Forest Practices. (L.D. 1144) Provided the public with information about how much land commercial timber harvesters were clear-cutting, spraying with herbicides and converting to plantations. REJECTED

1999 - Resolve, to Address Liquidation Harvesting. (L.D. 2179) A watered down “cut and run” liquidation harvesting study bill. REJECTED

1999 - An Act to Reform the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law. (L.D. 1866) Required landowners who own more than 1,000 acres and who receive a Tree Growth Program tax benefit to not cut the forest faster than it is growing, and to leave enough trees after harvest to ensure a future forest. REJECTED

2000 - An Act to Clarify the Tree Growth Tax Law. (L.D. 1475) Required timber companies who own more than 100,000 acres and receive a Tree Growth Program tax benefit not to cut wood faster than it grows back. REJECTED

(partial list)