State government regulation of forestry practices applied to nonfederal forests: Extent and intensity of agency involvement

In 2003, 276 state government agencies regulated forestry practices applied to nonfederal forests. Fifty-four percent of these agencies were moderately to extensively involved in such regulation, and 68% engaged in moderate to extensive regulatory coordination with a state's lead forestry agency. The agencies employed an estimated 1,047 full-time equivalents (FTE) staff, of which nearly one-third was assigned to forest resource management agencies and one-quarter was assigned to air and water pollution control agencies. In 2003, about $57 million was invested by state governments in the regulation of forestry practices. Fifteen states are responsible for 59% of this total and 59% of the FTEs nationwide.