Policy

The role of the New England Society of American Foresters Policy Committee is to advise the NESAF Executive Committee on state society forest policy matters, in adherence to and guided by the Society bylaws and forest policy process. 

The NESAF Policy Committee also strives to inform and engage the state society's membership in policy matters. The Society of American Foresters does not make natural resource policy, but rather participates in the political and administrative processes that generate policy by presenting our views to policymakers.  These views are known as position statements.

NESAF is conducting a search for a volunteer to serve as Policy Chair
Responsibilities will include working with local units to track relevant issues, head multiple projects with qualified local and issue-specific experts on short term task forces, and engage in coalitions and working groups throughout New England to expand NESAF’s reach on pressing issues alongside like minded organizations. This is an excellent opportunity for the right person to have a large impact on the members of our organization, the public perception of forestry, and on forestry throughout our region.  Please see the announcement for more information. 

NESAF Policy Process Subcommittee
NESAF recently set out on a course of revising the process through which we take positions on forestry issues in New England. We have been engaged in conversations with members who have indicated that they want an organization that has a more active voice in New England Forestry. Through your prompting we have launched an initiative to revise our forest policy processes. 

• August 2009
  View a hardcopy version of the member survey
  • NESAF Policy Process Survey
• October 2009
  View the results from the member survey

  • Summary of the Policy Process Survey

• December 2009
  View the recommendations of the Policy Process Subcommittee (March 2010 revision)
  • Executive Summary
  • Final Report of the Policy Process Subcommittee
• March 2010
  Preview of the Recommendations of the Policy Process Subcommittee at the NESAF Annual Meeting
• May 2010
  Membership comment period. The comment period will run from May 10^th, to May 21^st, 2010
  • Online submission (preferred; available 5/10/2010-5/21/2010 only)
  • Hardcopy version (Please print and share with members who do not have web access; we must receive it by 5/21/2010)
• June 2010
  View the summary of the Policy Process comments.

Current Position Statements of the New England Society of American Foresters:

• Climate Change (pdf, 35 kb)
• Local Regulation of Forest Practices (pdf, 13 kb)

To Request A Position Statement: 

Contact the Policy Chair to request a statement (see Leadership under About Us for current contact information). The Position Statement development process is outlined in the Society Bylaws as follows:

1. An issue is identified by the Forest Policy Committee (FPC), the NESAF Chair or the Executive Committee (EC).
2. The FPC Chair assigns research and development duties to committee member(s) for study. Members with unique expertise or knowledge of the issue are consulted. A draft position is developed.
3. The draft position statement is circulated to the FPC for review and edits.
4. The edited draft position statement is presented to the EC for review and approval. The EC has two weeks to provide comments to the FPC Chair. If there are major concerns or changes, the statement shall be re-drafted and re-submitted to the EC. No response or minor edits from the EC shall mean approval of the position statement. Approved position statements shall sunset after 5 (five) years from the date of approval unless renewed by the EC. Approval requires a majority of the EC representing a legal quorum.
5. The approved position statement shall be sent to the National SAF Policy Director for review. While National SAF approval is not necessary for NESAF position statements, any approved statement shall not be in direct conflict with published positions of the SAF.
6. The approved position statement shall be published on the NESAF web site and presented to the public on NESAF letterhead. A formal copy shall be sent to the SAF National Office.

An emergency position statement procedure can be utilized at the discretion of the FPC Chair. This may occur in situations where an issue becomes evident in very short order and requires some action before the normal process can be accomplished. In this case, a draft position statement is drafted by the FPC Chair. The draft is sent to the EC by mail or email for immediate review. The emergency statement must be approved by a majority of EC members responding.