REGULATORY PROGRAMS AND PRIVATE FORESTRY - STATE GOVERNMENT ACTIONS TO DIRECT THE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

Implemented in the context of a long history of intense public debate, forestry practices applied on private forestland are regulated in som e form by 38 states. State regulatory activities can involve many agen cies implementing numerous regulatory laws or a single forestry agency administering a comprehensive regulatory program. Regulatory programs are designed to protect resources such as soils, water, wildlife, and scenic beauty. Program administration often involves rule promulgatio n, harvest plan reviews, coordination of interagency reviews, and pre- and postharvest on-site inspections. Forest practice rules usually fo cus on reforestation, forest roads, harvest procedures, and wildlife h abitat protection. Emerging regulatory trends include growth of state and local regulation, use of contingent regulations, specification of forest practice standards in law, collaborative program implementation , conflicting multigovernment regulatory authority, inflexible rules l imiting adoption of new technology, legalization of administration pro cesses, constitutional consistences, and government and private sector costs.