I am posting the following as a way to spread the word on MAGIC’s (The Maryland Alliance for Greenway Improvement and Conservation) work on this important area. Bob DeGroot, the group’s founder, is a tireless worker to protect Maryland’s forests.

We are all familiar with the recent national headlines concerning lobbyist influence in Congress; it is sad to see that the same game is played at the state level by the forest industries.

I’ll let Bob continue in his own words:

The Forest Bills, designed to protect the old growth forest in Crabtree and add a protected Wildland to the Green Ridge State Forest, have been withdrawn by Del. Montgomery. This occurred primarily because DNR would not agree to protecting all the old growth forest in Crabtree, and would not support any additional protections in the Green Ridge State Forest.

Although we might have been able to pass a bill protecting half of the old growth forest, many people were reluctant to accept such a compromise. Agreeing with DNR that only half of the forest was worthy of protection would likely jeopardize the remainder of the old growth forest. DNR has done studies that indicate this forest is 150-230 years old.

Passing a forest bill opposed by the administration is very difficult. Under the current administration, most advocates of forest and species protection have been fired or removed from positions of authority at DNR. Still, many legislators assume DNR is the best source of information concerning forest management.

The forest industry is very active in Maryland, and their influence goes deep into DNR. Allowing DNR to keep the money from logging state forests continues to work against forest protection. This conflict will only be resolved through legislation.

We need more people actively supporting efforts to protect state forests. Unless we act, more of the public forests will be cut down and removed. This is the direction being orchestrated by the Governor’s Sustainable Forestry Commission. Even if we assume a new Governor is elected, more people will be needed to protect the public’s interests.

If you know anyone that might be willing to help us, please talk to them and get them on our distribution list at www.Magicalliance.org. They can get more information by going to www.Magicalliance.org and looking at the Photo Gallery.