The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Private and public forestlands: (A) constitute unique and irreplaceable resources, benefits, and values of statewide importance;(B) contribute to the protection and conservation of wildlife habitat, air, water, and soil resources of the State;(C) mitigate the effects of climate change; and(D) benefit the general health and welfare of the people of the State.(2) The forest products industry, including maple sap collection:(A) is a major contributor to and is valuable to the State's economy by providing jobs to its citizens;(B) is essential to the manufacture of forest products that are used and enjoyed by the people of the State; and(C) benefits the general welfare of the people of the State.(3) Private and public forestlands are critical for and contribute significantly to the State's outdoor recreation and tourism economies.(4) Forestry operations are adversely affected by the encroachment of urban, commercial, and residential land uses throughout the State that result in forest fragmentation and conversion and erode the health and sustainability of remaining forests.(5) As a result of encroachment on forests, conflicts have arisen between traditional forestry land uses, and urban, commercial, and residential land uses convert forestland permanently to other uses, resulting in an adverse impact to the economy and natural environment of the State.(6) The encouragement, development, improvement, and preservation of forestry operations will result in a general benefit to the health and welfare of the people of the State and the State's economy.(7) The forest products industry, in order to survive, likely will need to change, adopt new technologies, and diversify into new products.Added 2015, No. 171 (Adj. Sess.) , § 1.