California: Forest products commission disbands to focus K-12 curriculum

The California Forest Products Commission is disbanding after 18
years, effective December 31. Forest products producers have decided
to discontinue paying an assessment on wood harvested in the state,
which funds the commission. Previously, manufacturers paid 30¢ per
1,000 bd. ft., but when harvest volumes declined, increased their
payment to the maximum $1 per 1,000 bd. ft. As logging levels
continued to shrink, revenues were insufficient to keep the commission
viable. Two staffers, education director Shaney Emerson and
administrative assistant Pam Sawyer, will stay on to run sister
organiztion The Forest Foundation, which will take over some of CFPC’s
K-12 education programs.

Other assets and intellectual property will
be transferred to the California Forestry Association. With the loss
of the commission, the lobbying organization is expanding its
communications efforts. It has hired CFPC marketing director Bob Mion
as communications director. Mion will also continue editing California
Forests magazine and handling marketing for the California Redwood
Association. http://www.building-products.com/readNews.aspx?ID=5460

Posted via email from Deane’s posterous