Bill > H5294

This bill creates the Old Growth Forest Protection Act to safeguard state-owned forestlands by prohibiting extractive logging and clearcutting in forests on state or municipal land. The legislation establishes a new Natural Heritage Program within the Division of Statewide Planning to inventory, monitor, and protect old growth forests, rare forest ecosystems, and native biodiversity. Key provisions include defining "old growth forest" with specific ecological characteristics, creating strict prohibitions on logging in these areas, and requiring comprehensive inventories and public hearings before any forest management activities. The bill aims to address Rhode Island's biodiversity crisis by protecting the estimated 1% of forests over 100 years old, which serve as critical carbon sinks and habitats for native species. The legislation imposes significant penalties for violations, with fines ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 per offense, and requires the creation of detailed management plans and public documentation of any approved tree removal. The natural heritage program will be responsible for identifying and preserving these ecologically valuable forest areas, with a mandate to create biodiversity protection plans and educational materials about the state's natural ecosystems.