RESOLUTION FROM THE MONTANA FOREST PRODUCTS RETENTION ROUNDTABLE

The Montana Forest Products Retention Roundtable (FPRR) recently produced a resolution underscoring the benefits of a viable forest products industry to the Montana economy, while balancing diverse conservation values and the critical need to manage Montana’s forests.

VIEW FULL RESOLUTION HERE

Our forests provide healthy watersheds, habitat for fish and wildlife, recreation opportunities, and a source of products that support the livelihoods of Montanans across the state. However, changing climates have extended fire seasons and a history of fire suppression in Montana has led to the accumulation of forest fuels, which exacerbates wildfire behavior. Wildfires are burning with a higher severity and damaging ecosystems.
For anglers, hunters, and recreationists, Montana’s land and waterways hold extreme importance. Without the forest products industry, there will be a greater loss of the healthy forests that remain. The forest products industry is an essential and critical infrastructure for Montana. Because forest products manufacturers are valued collaborative partners with many conservation organizations in restoration projects on public and private lands, the FPRR offers its support in seeking solutions to the issues that are challenging the forest products industry.
“The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation supports a vibrant wood products industry as we believe they are vital to providing the tools to protect our forests, which we need,” said Blake Henning, Chief Conservation Officer for RMEF. “Actively managed forests are good for healthy elk populations, and the wood products industry helps us to manage catastrophic wildfire risk.”
With support from conservation organizations like Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and the Montana chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, numerous mill owners and operators, conservationists, foresters, and more, it is clear the resolution provides common ground that brings together partners with diverse interests in Montana forests.