By ANDREA LANNOM
The Register-Herald
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice defended a bill Monday that calls for timbering in state parks, saying the bill’s intention is to take care of maturing forests and expand recreational opportunities.
Senate Bill 270 was introduced last week at the governor’s request. It allows the director to implement a silvicultural management plan for state parks. The director may select and sell timber located on state park lands as part of that plan.
Under the bill, any timber harvesting shall not exceed the average of four trees per acre per tract and not more than half of the merchantable timber volume of the acre. The bill currently is before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
State conservation groups as well as private citizens have already expressed concerns with the plan as well, forming a campaign called Save Our State Parks.
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