Forest Landowners Association Commends Bipartisan Push for Comprehensive Disaster Recovery

The Forest Landowners Association (FLA), representing family forest landowners across 43 states, commends the recent bipartisan, bicameral efforts advocating for disaster relief following Hurricane Helene. These initiatives align with FLA’s ongoing work to develop a robust safety net for private forest landowners.

Scott Jones, FLA’s CEO, emphasized the critical nature of these efforts: “Recent natural disasters, from Hurricane Helene to wildfires in the West, highlight the vulnerability of landowners without access to crop insurance or adequate recovery programs. These events not only jeopardize livelihoods but also threaten forest health. We call on Congress to unite and pass a comprehensive disaster relief package, empowering our nation’s private forest landowners to maintain healthy, resilient forests in the face of increasingly frequent natural disasters.”
To address these challenges, FLA proposes a multi-faceted approach:

1. Tax Certainty: Incorporation of the Disaster Reforestation Act into relevant legislative packages, providing landowners with operational certainty.
2. Improving EFRP: Enhancement of existing programs, such as the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, through the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act to streamline processes and boost effectiveness.
3. Comprehensive Disaster Relief: Implement an ad hoc disaster relief package addressing budget shortfalls in existing programs. Ensure forest landowners’ eligibility for direct payment programs like WHIP+ and state-administered block grants, which often overlook forest-related losses.

FLA is optimistic that these bipartisan efforts will lead to impactful legislation during the upcoming lame-duck session. We stand ready to work with policymakers on a bipartisan package which will equip America’s forest landowners with the tools necessary for swift recovery and operational continuity.

For more information, contact: Michelle Cain, Director of Communications, mcain@forestlandowners.com