SENATE MEMORIAL 69

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

William F. Burt

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE INTERIM COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE OPTIONS ON HOW BEST TO STIMULATE NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY BY USING THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT THE STATE IS BLESSED WITH AND HELPING THE FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY IN NEW MEXICO TO PROVIDE MORE JOBS IN THE FORESTED AND OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, revitalizing the forest products industry in New Mexico is a perfect example of how the state could encourage the creation of more jobs in the forested and other areas of the state; and

     WHEREAS, nearly twenty-one percent, or sixteen million seven hundred thousand acres, of the land area of New Mexico is forest land; and

     WHEREAS, nearly forty-nine percent of forest land in the state is administered by the United States forest service; and

     WHEREAS, since the 1980s, New Mexico's timber harvest has declined dramatically, caused largely by decreases in the harvest from national forests; and

     WHEREAS, this decline was brought on by a combination of pressures related to threatened and endangered species and appeals and litigation directed at federal timber sales; and

     WHEREAS, this decline has resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs and the closing of dozens of sawmills; and

     WHEREAS, although the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 was introduced with the best of intentions, it has had grave effects on the economy, culture and customs of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the state should explore whether it can better manage its endangered and threatened species on its own through the Wildlife Conservation Act, while preserving local culture, customs and jobs;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the appropriate legislative interim committee dealing with economic and rural development be requested to explore options on how best to stimulate New Mexico's economy by using the natural resources that the state is blessed with and helping the forest products industry in New Mexico to provide more jobs in the forested and other areas of the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee consider whether the state, through the Wildlife Conservation Act, can take over administration of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 in a manner that better serves the interests of the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee seek testimony from the state forester, the department of game and fish, the New Mexico forest and watershed restoration institute and representatives from the forest products industry on how best to use and manage the forest land in the state and report its findings to the second session of the fiftieth legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the state forester, the department of game and fish, the New Mexico forest and watershed restoration institute and the New Mexico legislative council.

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