THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

MY NAME IS JOHN E. SARGENT, AND I RESIDE IN CHICHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE. UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 1996, I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DIVISION OF FORESTS AND LANDS. IN THAT CAPACITY, I WAS APPOINTED BY THEN GOVERNOR JUDD GREGG AS THE PUBLIC CONSERVATION AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE NORTHERN FOREST LANDS COUNCIL, AN APPOINTMENT THAT I HELD FOR THE FOUR YEARS THAT OUR COUNCIL WAS ACTIVE. I SERVED AS THE COUNCIL'S CHAIRMAN FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

I APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY IN SUPPORT OF S-546, THE NORTHERN FOREST STEWARDSHIP ACT. I BELIEVE THAT S-546 IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE FOUR YEARS OF STUDY AND RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE COUNCIL THROUGHOUT THE 26,000,000 ACRE NORTHERN FOREST. THE RESULTS OF OUR STUDY AND THE 37 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MADE ARE CONTAINED IN OUR FINAL REPORT, FINDING COMMON GROUND: CONSERVING THE NORTHERN FOREST.

I FEEL IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT EACH OF YOU UNDERSTAND A SERIES OF KEY PIECES OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE NORTHERN FOREST AS THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN OUR REPORT.

I. THE 26,000,000 ACRES IS A MOSAIC OF FOREST, FARMS AND COMMUNITIES WHICH IS LARGELY OWNED BY PRIVATE NON-INDUSTRIAL FOREST OWNERS AND INDUSTRIAL FOREST OWNERS, WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.

II. THE OWNERS ARE FIERCELY INDEPENDENT WHO HAVE PRACTICED SOUND FOREST STEWARDSHIP FOR DECADES AND UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO ENHANCE AND PROTECT THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF THEIR LANDSCAPE AS A TOTAL.

III. MOST OWNERS CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC AT LARGE TO USE THEIR LANDS FOR YEAR AROUND OUTDOOR RECREATION.

IV. ALL OWNERS FEAR GOVERNMENTAL INTERVENTION IN THEIR RIGHTS AS LANDOWNERS AND ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OVER REGULATION OF THEIR RIGHTS.

V. ALL CITIZENS LIVING AND WORKING WITHIN THE NORTHERN FOREST WANT TO MAINTAIN THE 26,000,000 ACRES AS A WORKING FOREST WHERE ALL FOREST USES EXIST IN A COMPATIBLE MANNER.

VI. MOST CITIZENS WITHIN THE NORTHERN FOREST SUPPORT THE CONCEPTS CONTAINED WITHIN S-546, HOWEVER WILL INSIST THAT PROGRAM DIRECTION AND MANAGEMENT BE RETAINED AT THE GOVERNMENTAL UNIT CLOSEST TO THEM, STATE OR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

SO WHY DO WE NEED S-546? IT WILL BE THE GLUE THAT HOLDS A LOOSELY KNIT ALLIANCE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONSERVATIONISTS WITHIN THE NORTHERN FOREST WORKING TOGETHER ON COMMON PROGRAMS THAT WILL HOLD THIS FOREST INTACT. PLEASE RECALL THAT I STATED THE OWNERS ARE FIERCELY INDEPENDENT. THE KEY TO HOLDING THIS GROUP TOGETHER, COMMUNICATING AND WORKING WITH EACH OTHER IS THE STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY PROGRAM OF THE U. S. FOREST SERVICE. THIS AGENCY CONTINUES TO FOCUS THEIR RESOURCES ON PROGRAMS THAT WORK ON SOLUTIONS TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN FINDING COMMON GROUND.

THANK YOU.