Representative Brandon W. Phelps March 7, 2006

502 N. Vine St., 5 Fl.

Harrisburg IL 62946

Honorable Brandon Phelps:

I have worked in Forest Management in Illinois for the past 30 years, first on the Shawnee National Forest and now as a private Consulting Forester. The previously 14 years I work on the National Forests in Michigan, Missouri and Ohio. I am currently involve in forestry activities with the Illinois Forest Development Council, Illinois Consulting Foresters Association, Illinois Forestry Association and am an office holder in the Illinois Chapter of the Society of American Foresters.

As you know, the forest is a complex community offering a myriad of long term benefits to mankind. Forest management is an effort to understand how to perpetuate a healthy forest. Benefits range from providing solitude, prime wildlife habitat and clear water in streams, to a constant source of clear knot-free lumber. An unhealthy stagnant forest can only provide a few low quality benefits. A well-managed forest produces financial rewards, recreational opportunities as well as healthy habitats for native wildlife and plant species.

Forest management was almost non-existent in Illinois before the mid 1930's, especially in Southern Illinois. The U. S. Forest Service and conservation minded people in Illinois began a work to create a forest where mistreated unproductive lands could be restored to a point where they could support the social and economic needs of people in the region. Seventy years later the Shawnee National Forest is a beautiful jewel. It has great potential. It is still a healthy forest. Unfortunately, the economic benefits issuing from the Shawnee Forest have been put on hold in favor of a few.

The demand for consumable forest products from Illinois land has continued to increase. Now, forest products must come private land in Illinois and from outside the State.

The Illinois Forest Development Act of 1983 provides opportunities and encouragement to private landowners to put their forestland under good management. We have had 23 years of steady growth in the number of forested acres being put under forest management plans. The Illinois Forest Development Act Fund, replenished by the 4% tax on timber sales, brings in about $900,000.00 per year. By statute this money is to be returned to the forestland for forest improvement.

The current Administration has decided otherwise. “Sweeps” certainly looks like misappropriation of funds to me. At the very least, it delays the continued progress of improvement in the condition of forests on private land in Illinois.

I appeal to you to get these funds restored, unhook this administration’s demands on future monies that come into this fund and restore the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ ability to provide good advice to forest landowners. This will help restore IDNR’s leadership role in forestry in Illinois.

Sincerely,

Joe L. Newcomb CF

Consulting Forester

618 265 3286