A slowing economy and ever-rising costs for energy, food and so many other necessities have left many landowners and industry leaders fearing a rise in the number of timber thefts across many upstate New York communites.

We updated New York’s timber theft laws several years ago, but it still remains a serious and potentially growing problem. Now there’s widespread concern that we’re about to experience rising cases of timber theft as this resource becomes more and more valuable. It’s a serious threat to New York’s economy and environment, particularly upstate.

The recent legislative forum brought together representatives of New York’s timber interests -- including landowners, loggers and mills -- to testify and discuss proposals to further curb timber theft. 

We've just issued a final report on this year's forum, and I'm pleased to invite you to review "Timber Theft in New York: A Legislative Briefing."

Now, as we turn the corner toward the 2009 legislative session, the LCRR has created a task force and will begin work in late September to develop legislative and non-legislative responses to this concern.

New York’s forest-based manufacturing economy employs over 50,000 workers and contributes more than $2.1 billion to the state economy. Forest-related recreation and tourism support another 14,000 jobs in local communities. In addition to its economic value, New York’s forests are critical to the quality of the state’s environment, providing biological diversity, wildlife habitat and scenic landscapes.

In 2003, many of the state’s criminal penalties for timber theft were updated for the first time since 1910. A new law (Chapter 602 of the Laws of 2003) established timber theft as a Class A misdemeanor, established procedures to help theft victims obtain restitution and enhanced the ability of law enforcement to prosecute crimes. To heighten awareness of the problem and how to prevent it, the 2003 law also established a "Timber Theft and Trespass Prevention Education Program" within the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Despite that effort several years ago, however, the LCRR has determined that timber theft remains a serious concern. A survey conducted last year by 16 organizations -- including the LCRR, DEC, Empire State Forest Products Association, and state associations representing forest owners and timber producers -- found that timber theft is still a problem and victims rarely recover their losses.

The survey highlighted inconsistent law enforcement, a lack of public awareness and an ineffective restitution process as ongoing shortcomings in the state’s prevention efforts.