Red Oak Legality

The USA operates an effective and fully enforced framework of laws to ensure sustainable forest management of its huge hardwood resource. The American approach to forest regulation is adapted to a national forest environment in which there is a well developed private industry sector, a resource under the control of millions of individuals with a history of private forest management, and a strong civil society. Management of red oak trees, as the most abundant species within the American hardwood forest, is directly affected by an extensive network of conservation laws and regulations, enforced nationally by the Federal Government and locally by State Governments.

Around 73% of hardwood forest land in the eastern States is owned privately by individuals, or by families whose ownership stretches back several generations. Succession is part of conservation. There are about 4 million owners with an average woodland size less than 50 acres (21 ha). The hardwood sawmills own only 11% of the eastern hardwood forest resource, with 16% controlled by the Federal and State Governments.

The management of Federal and State-owned forestland is directly controlled by publicly accountable government forestry services, subject to detailed legal requirements for sustainable forest management; and all forest owners in the U.S. are subject to Federal laws designed to protect the habitats of all plants and animals, especially those threatened.

Laws affecting other aspects of forest management on private land are the responsibility of individual States. The 2000 RPA Assessment reports that these regulations have been increasing overall. Some 44 States now have best management practice legislation intended to promote better management of lands, especially when timber production is involved; and particularly to protect water quality.

The Federal Government and local authorities offer incentives and technical assistance to private landowners to encourage better management of their private forestlands. Eleven States have a specific forest practice law designed to promote good management practices and to establish mandatory requirements for management plans, reforestation, or other actions on the part of landowners.

Further details of U.S. forest regulation are provided in an article by Rupert Oliver U.S. Forestry - A model for the world. See also Regulation of private forestry practices by State governments by Ellefson, Cheng and Moulton.

Source: www.sustainablehardwoods.info

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