New Jersey § 13:1l-29

§ 13:1l-29.

a. The Legislature finds and declares that forest lands are critical to the environmental

welfare of the State; that forest lands help clean and refresh the air by filtering

dust and particulates; that forest lands absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen,

helping to reduce global warming; that forest lands help clean and protect the waters

of the State, promote replenishment of aquifers, stabilize soils, provide shade, and

provide habitat essential to sustaining New Jersey's native biodiversity, including

habitat critical for endangered and threatened species and species of special concern;

and that it is proper to consider the management of forests in a sustainable manner

as an agricultural or horticultural use which yields public benefits. b. The Legislature further finds and declares that forest lands are critical to the

social welfare of the State; that forest lands are a necessary and important part

of community and urban environments, and are essential to the maintenance of quality

of life in the State; that forest lands afford outdoor recreational opportunities

and irreplaceable aesthetic benefits; and that forest lands promote the health of

the citizenry by contributing to the availability of clean air and water. c. The Legislature further finds and declares that forest lands contribute to the

economic well being of the State through increased property values, ecotourism, business

opportunities, and forest products, and through helping to preserve New Jersey as

a place where both employers and skilled and talented employees choose to reside. d. The Legislature further finds and declares that forest lands are an irreplaceable

component of the environment worthy of conservation and stewardship and that they

must be nurtured to guarantee sustained and improved yields of forest benefits; that

the State's publicly and privately owned forest lands are now seldom managed effectively

due to a lack of guidance, resources, and incentives for improved forest stewardship;

and that care and management of forest lands could be enhanced through the establishment

of a forest stewardship program. e. The Legislature therefore determines that it is in the public interest to establish

a forest stewardship program to develop and promote the long-term active management

of the State's forest resources in order to preserve and enhance those resources and

realize the benefits thereof.