Program Authorization: R.S. 3:4271.1
The mission of the Office of Forestry Program is to protect, conserve and replenish the state's forest resources. The goal of the program is to ensure the sustained high level of production of wood fiber while enhancing the recreational, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and air quality values of forest lands. Protection and management of these valuable forestlands is necessary for future generations. Trees are Louisiana's number one crop. About 25,000 employees work in forestry-related jobs. In 1995 Louisiana landowners received over $635 million for forest products sold and removed from their lands. Severance tax receipts amounted to over $15.5 million. To carry out this mission, this program conducts an intensive fire detection effort for the 18,931,000 forest acres under protection. The office operates nine detection aircraft in the northern half of the state, maintains 50 fire towers and uses fire crews to protect the state's forests. Forestry investigates arson, timber theft and other forestry-related crimes. The program conducts surveillance for Southern Pine Beetle infestation. The Forestry Program provides technical assistance for private forestland owners to encourage use of sound forestry practices. The forest tree-seedling nurseries and orchard provide private forestland owners a reliable source of quality tree seedlings. The Program also provides urban forestry expertise to Louisiana cities and communities. The Program uses conservation education to further understanding and protection of the state's forest resources. The activities of this program are: Administrative, Fire Prevention, Forest Management, and Forest Education.
OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. The Forestry Program will contain wildlife destruction to an average fire size of 12 acres or less in FY 1998-99.
1 Land area burned compared to total land acreage--protected by the agency (%).
2 Residences protected from wildfires that were controlled by the agency's actions.
3 Non-residential structures protected from wildfires that were controlled by the agency's actions.
2. The Forestry Program will continue to increase private forest productivity through promotion of sound forest management practices and by providing technical assistance, tree seedlings, insect and disease control and law enforcement during FY 1998-99.
RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM
This program is funded with state general fund, interagency transfers, fees and self-generated revenues, statutory dedications, and federal funds. The fees and self-generated revenues are derived from the following: (1) timber sales from the State Forests; and (2) fees assessed for prescribed burning and general forestry assistance materials. Statutory dedications are derived from the Forest Protection Tax and the Forest Productivity Fund. The Forest Protection Tax passed in 1990 and is paid by the landowners at the rate of 8 cents per acre. The Forest Productivity Fund receives 75% of the state's share of the timber severance tax. (Per R.S. 39:32B.(8), see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each statutory dedicated fund.) Federal funds are received from the U.S. Forest Service for specific federally funded programs such as: Rural Fire Protection and Control; Urban Forestry Assistance; Inspection and Disease Control; Forestry Stewardship Program; Conservation Reserve Program and the Buck Moth Program.
The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 120.4% of the existing operating budget. It represents 84.3% of the total request ($18,299,664) for this program. The decreased general fund is due to decreased risk management premiums, the removal of funds for nonrecurring acquisitions, the elimination of 2 vacant positions and a means of financing substitution. The increase in the total means of financing is primarily due to the implementation of Act 1377 which establishes the Forest Productivity Program.
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This program does not have funding for Professional Services for Fiscal Year 1998-1999. |
ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS
04 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY