Statement of Senator Jean Carnahan

Agriculture Committee--Forestry Subcommittee

September 5, 2002

Madam Chairman, Thank you for your leadership in convening this hearing on an issue that is impacting so many of our constituents.

As you know, oak decline is a serious issue in Missouri.

I thank you for inviting Robert Krepps, Missouri's chief forester, to testify today.

He has been working hard to manage oak decline in Missouri.

I believe that his testimony will be valuable to this subcommittee.

Although we cannot outwit Mother Nature and halt oak decline, we must work together to mitigate its impact.

Mismanagement of our forests many decades ago is a prime culprit behind the thousands of dead trees we see today.

Luckily, we now know how to prevent the mistakes of the past.

A diversity of trees is integral to good forest management in Missouri's Ozarks.

Although beautiful in their own right, it is clear that oaks must share the forest with other species of trees.

Today's foresters and responsible land stewards have the capability to manage our forest in a sustainable and profitable manner.

When they do so, wildlife, jobs, and natural beauty are all protected.

Beyond learning from the past, we must also plan for the future.

Actions taken today will determine what our forests look like at the turn of this century.

A comprehensive and immediate response to oak decline is essential to Missouri and other suffering states.

I am pleased that several government agencies and other stakeholders have taken important steps to assess and respond to the decline.

We must make sure that public agencies and private stewards of the land share best management practices.

The need for a coordinated response between state, local and federal agencies working closely with the private sector cannot be overemphasized.

In Missouri, the Department of Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and several other agencies manage lands affected by oak decline.

Additionally, 85% of Missouri's 14 million forested acres are owned by the private sector.

We must acknowledge and cultivate the private sector's integral role in forest management.

And we must make sure that government agencies are a partner--not a hindrance--in these efforts.

Missouri's 500 sawmills, and over 34,000 jobs dependent on the wood industry are jeopardized by oak decline.

Sadly, a majority of these jobs are in counties that did not share in the prosperity of the 1990's.

And many of these counties have unemployment rates among the highest in the state.

We must do everything possible to protect these jobs.

This hearing is an excellent step.

My home is in the Missouri Ozarks.

The beauty of the Missouri Ozarks is unparalled.

This beauty is threatened as thousands of acres of dead oak trees begin to mar the landscape.

The decline of our oaks threatens one of Missouri's most vibrant industries---tourism.

Families from across America and the world flock to Missouri for vacations.

They enjoy our scenic waterways, lush forests, and abundant recreational opportunities.

Sportsmen rely on the acorn-lined forests of the Missouri Ozarks to supply food for deer, turkey and other game species.

Declining oak populations will almost inevitably lead to profound changes in wildlife populations.

Responding to and preventing changes in wildlife populations is key to Missouri's tourism industry and rural lifestyle.

Thousands of Missourians rely on tourism dollars for their livelihoods.

Tourism contributes $12.5 billion dollars to Missouri's economy each year.

These jobs, like those in the wood industry, must be protected.

I look forward to closely reviewing the testimony of today's hearing.

I hope that the experts you have convened will help facilitate communication to promote the long-term health of our forests.

So that past mismanagement and Mother Nature will no longer combine forces to create blight in our forests.

Missouri's picturesque and bountiful forests are among our state's most precious resources.

Their protection is worthy of our best efforts.

Again, thank you Madam Chairman for the opportunity to testify today.