1. Forestry In the Lakes Region: Looking at the Woods with 20/20 Vision Eric Johnson Program Director, NHTOA Natural Resources in the Lakes Region Meeting January 31st, 2014

2. Who I am, and What is NHTOA? - 10 years as a Professional Logger – first on my own, then part of mechanized operation - 10 years as maple syrup producer – make about 500-600 gallons a year - 13 years on the Andover Planning Board, including 5 years as Chairman - Tree Farmer - Past 5 years – Program Director for NHTOA - administer the NH Professional Logger Program - monitor wood markets – what products are hot, what are not - do outreach and education to groups like this NHTOA - - Statewide organization that supports the working forests of NH - Education and advocacy - +/- 1400 members – landowners, sawmills, wood-energy (biomass), loggers and foresters - our members collectively manage over 1 million acres of NH forest INCLUDING – Municipal town forests, watershed districts, conservation lands

3. Forestry in the Lakes Region - 20 Years Ago, Today, and 20 Years From Now 20 Years Ago - - Majority of wood harvested was by chainsaw/cable skidder - emergence of wood-to-energy biomass power plants - early mechanization, driven primarily by workers compensation insurance Today - - estimated 1000-1200 loggers in New Hampshire, another 1200 jobs in truckers and foresters. - estimated 80% of wood harvested today is by mechanized equip. - statewide, forestry is $1.4 billion industry - Belknap, Carroll + Merrimack Counties- $700,000+ in Timber Tax - In just these three counties, stumpage (payments to landowners) $7 million (estimated – 2012 numbers) 20 Years from Now - - even greater percentage of wood harvested by mechanized harvesting - new markets for low-grade wood emerge, mostly in the wood-to-energy markets - lesser importance of the pulp industry in low grade markets - global demand for our sawlogs and lumber – Asia biggest player

4. The Municipal Planning Process and Forestry In the Andover Master Plan: (my emphasis added) B. Guiding Principles The ten guiding principles below were distilled by the Master Plan Committee as described above, from the records of visioning activities described in the process summary above. The bold text identifies the key words and concepts in each guiding principle. 1. Maintain Andover’s small town, rural character with village centers and generally open spaces elsewhere. Desired location and size of village areas should be identified. 2. Encourage commercial activity that builds on the regional recreation and tourism economy that emphasizes Andover’s location in the Lakes Region, near summer and winter recreation places including Highland Lake and Ragged Mountain ski area. 3. Promote and preserve farming and forestry where small scale agriculture is encouraged and forests are managed for forest products while protecting natural resources. Examples might be farmer’s markets, sugar houses, small sawmills, firewood harvest and sale, hayfields, orchards, and specialty farms.

5. My Biggest Concern for Timber Harvesting and Forestry in the Lakes Region - - a general decline in forestlands that are large enough to manage- parcelization - a general public that is less “in-touch” with where their forest products come from - a patchwork of local ordinances that make timber harvesting more costly and more Difficult. RSA 236:10 revisions: - equity in road bonding - Planning Boards do not have power to regulate timber harvesting that Is not part site plan review or sub-division - without a vibrant forest products industry, fewer options for landowners to practice long Term forestry. Result is increased pressure to sell or sub-divide land. Cost to municipalities.

6. Questions and/or comments? Thank you for your time and the opportunity to speak before you... Eric Johnson NHTOA ejohnson@nhtoa.org 603-344-1130 cell phone 603-224-9699 office