Tough Challenge for New WMNF Supervisor

TOM WAGNER COMES FROM THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST IN MINNESOTA. AT A RECENT RECEPTION TO WELCOME WAGNER TO THE WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST, N-H-P-R ASKED SOME OF THE FOREST?S HIGHLY DIVERSE CONSTITUENTS TO WEIGH-IN ON WHAT THEY HOPE WAGNER WILL ACCOMPLISH AS SUPERVISOR. LATER, ON A QUIET WALK IN THE WOODS WITH WAGNER, WE ASKED HIM TO RESPOND.
AMONG THOSE WITH A MAJOR STAKE IN THE FOREST?S FUTURE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO EXTRACT MORE TIMBER.

TAPE JASON STOCK My name?s Jason Stock, I?m the executive director of the nh timberland owners association. Our members would like to see a stronger timber management program. We would like to see some of the bureaucratic restraints that have been a hindrance to that program in the past -- the appeals process, and the litigation process, which has slowed timber sales down -- we?d like to see that red tape cut. And we?d like to see the forest managed for what one of the originating uses of its founding was, and that is to provide a sustainable flow of wood for all classes of timber users. : 35

TAPE DAVID HOUGHTON David Houghton, trust for public land, field office director. The trust for public land is interested in working with the forest to do land conservation from willing sellers and from communities that are interested in that happening. And I hope that tom works hard, one, to work with communities, and two, to work with the federal delegation to get the necessary funds that are needed to do the big job at hand. :23

TAPE RICHARD GOUDARZI my name is Richard goudarzi, I?m the executive director of the granite state a-t-v association, representing sport utility trucks, atv?s and trail bikes. We believe there?s appropriate use ? appropriate trail design ? that will minimize environmental impact, and that is our goal. We?re not looking to go anywhere we want. We?re looking to go where it?s appropriate, and where we can design a trail system that meets the needs of the of the recreationalist. :28

TAPE JANE DIFFLEY I?m Jane Diffley, and I?m the president/forester at the society for the protection of nh forests. I think that tom is absolutely right on when he has said that it shouldn?t take 10 years to write a 15 year forest management plan. And it?s just so clear that there are so many people in nh who passionately care about the wmnf. And while it?s true that we have different viewpoints about the forest, and what ought to happen there, and what ought not to happen there, I think that the energy around that kind of caring for is just a very positive force in helping to creating a plan for the forest. :34

TOM WAGNER IS SUPERVISOR OF THE WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST. FOR N-H-P-R NEWS, I?M DOUG MACPHERSON.