North Carolina § 143A-66 - 1. Forestry Council - creation; powers and duties.

§ 143A-66. 1. Forestry Council - creation; powers and duties.

There is hereby created the Forestry Council of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Forestry Council shall have the following functions and duties: To advise the Commissioner of Agriculture with respect to all matters concerning the protection, management, and preservation of State-owned, privately owned, and municipally owned forests in the State, including but not limited to: Profitable use of the State's forests consistent with the principles of sustained productivity. Best management practices, including those for protection of soil, water, wildlife, and wildlife habitat, to be used in managing the State's forests and their resources. Restoration of forest ecosystems and protection of rare and endangered species occurring in the State's private forests consistent with principles of private ownership of land. To maintain oversight of a continuous monitoring and planning process, to provide a long-range, comprehensive plan for the use, management, and sustainability of North Carolina's forest resources, and to report regularly on progress made toward meeting the objectives of the plan. To provide a forum for the identification, discussion, and development of recommendations for the resolution of conflicts in the management of North Carolina's forests. To undertake any other studies, make any reports, and advise the Commissioner of Agriculture on any matter as the Commissioner may direct. History (1973, c. 1262, s. 52; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(139); 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 653, s. 1; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2011-145, s. 13.25(f), (g).) Transfer of Forestry Division and Forestry Council. - Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(a), provides: "The Division of Forest Resources is transferred from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services with all the elements of a Type I transfer as defined by G.S. 143A-6." Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(d), provides: "All functions, powers, duties, and obligations previously vested in the Forestry Council are transferred from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to and vested in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by a Type II transfer, as defined in G.S. 143A-6." Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(yy), provides: "The transfers under this section become effective July 1, 2011, and funds transferred shall be net of any changes enacted by this section." Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(zz), provides: "Any references in this act to the Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall be construed to refer to the Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Any references in this act to the Forestry Council of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall be construed to refer to the Forestry Council of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services." Editor's Note. - This section was formerly codified as G.S. 143B-308. It was recodified as G.S. 143A-66.1 by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(f), effective July 1, 2011. Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(f), effective July 1, 2011, provides: "Part 12 of Article 7 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes (G.S. 143B-308, 143B-309, and 143B-310) is recodified in Article 7 of Chapter 143A of the General Statutes as G.S. 143A-66.1, 143A-66.2, and 143A-66.3." The historical citations to the sections in the former Part have been added to the corresponding sections in this Article as recodified. The subdivision (2) designation in this section was added at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes. Session Laws 2011-145, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2011.'" Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.2, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium." Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.5, is a severability clause. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2011-145, s. 13.25(g), effective July 1, 2011, in the introductory paragraph, substituted "Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services" for "Department of Environment and Natural Resources"; in subdivisions (1) and (4), substituted "Commissioner of Agriculture" for "Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources"; and in subdivision (4), substituted "Commissioner may direct" for "Secretary may direct."