§ 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.)