In early March, the Biden Administration released their FY 2024 budget proposal that includes a nearly 10 percent increase in funding for the U.S. Forest Service, with much of the increased spending dedicated to hazardous fuels reduction and pay increases for firefighters. The Administration proposes spending $60 million for the “hiring and purchase” of zero-emission passenger motor vehicles and the installation of electric vehicle charging stations on national forests, yet funding for road maintenance is reduced by $2 million keeping road funding below the FY 2013 appropriation level. The budget would also increase the Forest Service’s timber program by five percent, projecting timber outputs to climb this fiscal year (from 2.9 to 3.4 billion board feet). While this would represent a 30-year high in volume, the Administration expects timber outputs to plateau at that level in 2024.
Read the complete article at the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) March 2023 Newsletter https://amforest.org/march-2023-newsletter/
timberproductsassociation.org 