Cost and effectiveness of legal mandates for the practice of forestry on private land.

• Main Authors: Henly, Russell, Ellefson, Paus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Finnish Society of Forest Science 1986-01-01
• Series: Silva Fennica
• Online Access: https://www.silvafennica.fi/article/5296

Comprehensive state laws regulating the practice of forest management on private lands are in effect in seven of the United States. Established to protect a wide range of non-timber forest resources and to ensure reforestation after harvest, these laws may impose significant administrative costs on states and significant compliance costs on landowners and timber operators. Total state administration costs for 1984 are estimated at $10.1 and total private sector compliance costs are estimated at $120.5 million, for a total regulation cost of $130.6 million. The resource protection effectiveness of state forest practice regulation is difficult to quantify. However, agreement is strong that regulation has led to significant improvements in forest resource conditions and has helped to increase reforestation.