North Carolina: Comment on USFS rules and fees for special forest product harvesting

The National Forests in North Carolina has one of the largest special
forest products programs in the nation. This can be attributed to the
great diversity of ecosystems in the Southern Appalachians and a long
local tradition of gathering special forest products from these
mountains. The U.S. Forest Service has extended the comment period for
public input on the Sale and Disposal of Special Forest Products and
Forest Botanical Products Final Rule. The comment period will now end
March 2.

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Revenue from these permits has averaged $60,000 over the past three
years. This money is used to manage the program to ensure that these
special forest products are not overharvested. Prices for forest
botanical products are set based on a percentage of current wholesale
market values. The most common special products gathered from the
National Forests in North Carolina include galax, ginseng, firewood,
locust posts, rhododendron and laurel plants and roots, ramps, and
medicinal plants.

High demand for forest botanical products can result in high impacts on some species products. The US Forest Service is mandated to manage the forest resources sustainably. Through the permit system and the support of forest users, healthy populations of these forest botanicals can be sustained into the future. The return is direct and it benefits the same areas some families have enjoyed for generations. Permits should be acquired at the Ranger District
office closest the site in which you intend to harvest. Detailed
information and how to comment may be found on the web at
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1960.pdf

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