Timber expansion bill threatens RI forests

To The Editor,

This year, the Forest Parity Act, H 5098, has been reintroduced in the RI General Assembly.

This bill, if passed, would remove the sales and use tax on logging equipment, thus making logging more profitable in the state and expanding the zoning of where logging can take place to all zoning districts.

Despite the legislation’s claiming to be environmental, nothing could be further from the truth.

The bill is being pushed by the RI Wood Operators Organization for the purpose of expanding the timber industry in the state.

This bill would lead to more of Rhode Island’s forests being clearcut, destroying biodiversity, creating a fire hazard from the flammable wood chips left on the ground after the logging operation, and contributing to climate change through the carbon that would be released from the logged trees.

Also, it does not make sense to remove the tax on logging equipment when the state is dealing with a financial deficit.

Please write to your legislators to oppose this un-environmental bill, and testify against the bill in its hearing before the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee at 4 p.m. this Thursday,  Feb. 6.

Nathan Cornell
President, Old Growth Tree Society
Warwick