§ 2531. Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap
(a) Creation. The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation shall create the Vermont Forest
Future Strategic Roadmap to strengthen, modernize, promote, and protect the forest
products sector in Vermont. The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation may
contract with a qualified contractor for the creation of the Vermont Forest Future
Strategic Roadmap. During the contract proposal process, the Commissioner of Forests,
Parks and Recreation shall seek a proposal to complete the Vermont Forest Future Strategic
Roadmap from the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund.
(b) Intended outcomes. The intended outcomes of the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap are to:
(1) increase sustainable economic development and jobs in Vermont’s forest economy;
(2) promote ways to expand the workforce and strengthen forest product enterprises in
order to strengthen, modernize, promote, and protect the Vermont forest economy into
the future;
(3) promote the importance of healthy, resilient, and sustainably managed working forests
that provide a diverse array of high-quality products now and in the future; and
(4) identify actionable strategies designed to strengthen, modernize, promote, and protect
the forest products sector in Vermont, including opportunities for new product development,
opening new markets for Vermont forest products, adopting modern manufacturing processes,
and utilizing new ways to market Vermont forest products.
(c) Strategic Roadmap content. In developing the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap, the Commissioner of Forests,
Parks and Recreation or the relevant contractor shall:
(1) review all existing data, plans, and industry-level research completed over the past
10 years, including the Working Lands Enterprise Fund’s Forest Sector Systems Analysis,
and identify any recommendations in those reports in order to build upon previous
efforts;
(2) identify infrastructure investment and funding to support and promote Vermont forest
products enterprises;
(3) identify regulatory barriers and propose policy recommendations to support and strengthen
the Vermont forest economy;
(4) identify opportunities for all State agencies to engage with and enhance the Vermont
forest products sector, including the Department of Buildings and General Services,
the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, the Department of Tourism and Marketing,
the Agency of Education, the Agency of Transportation, the Department of Public Service,
the Agency of Natural Resources, the Department of Financial Regulation, and the Department
of Labor;
(5) develop recommendations to support education and training of the current and future
workforce of the Vermont forest products sector;
(6) propose alternatives for the modernization of transportation and regulation of Vermont
forest products enterprises, including modernization of local and State permits;
(7) identify methods or programs that Vermont forest enterprises can utilize to access
business assistance services;
(8) recommend how to maintain access by Vermont forest products enterprises to forestland
and how to maintain the stewardship and conservation of Vermont forests as a whole;
(9) propose methods to enhance market development and manufacturing by Vermont forest
products enterprises, including value chain coordination and regional partnerships;
(10) recommend consumer education and marketing initiatives; and
(11) recommend how to clarify the roles of various public entities and nongovernmental
organizations that provide certain services to the forestry sector and to ensure coordination
and alignment of those functions in order to advance and maximize the strength of
the forest products industry.
(d) Process for development of Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap.
(1) The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation or relevant contractor shall develop
the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap and all subsequent revisions through the
use of a public stakeholder process that includes and invites participation by interested
parties representing all users of Vermont’s forests, including representatives of
forest products enterprises, State agencies, investors, forestland owners, recreational
interests, loggers, foresters, truckers, sawmills, firewood processors, wood products
manufacturers, education representatives, and others.
(2) The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with forest products
sector stakeholders, shall review the Strategic Roadmap periodically and shall update
the Strategic Roadmap at least every 10 years.
(e) Advisory panel; administration.
(1) The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation or relevant contractor shall convene
the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap advisory panel to review and counsel in
the development and implementation of the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap.
The advisory panel shall include representatives of forest products enterprises, State
agencies, investors, forestland owners, foresters, loggers, truckers, wood products
manufacturers, recreational specialists, education representatives, trade organizations,
and other partners as deemed appropriate. The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation
shall select representatives to the advisory panel.
(2) The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation or relevant contractor may seek
grants or other means of assistance to support the development and implementation
of the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap. (Added 2021, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.), § 43, eff. July 1, 2022.)