Protection Needed for Native Traditional Land Use
Forest Service's Proposes Final Rule

The Forest Service issued a proposed final rule on October 22, 2007, that governs the removal of special forest products and botanical products from National Forest System lands (FR Vo. 72, No. 203, Doc. E7-200658).

These regulations will allow the Forest Service to manage special forest products:
• Through commercial harvest and sale;
• Through free use, and;
• By Implementing a pilot program to collect fees for forest botanical products.

Under Public Law 108-108, Title III, Section 335, 117 Stat. 1312 (16 USC 528 Note), Congress directed the Secretary to initiate a pilot program to charge, collect and retain fees for harvesting and selling of forest botanical products. This proposed final rule establishes a new regulation for the pilot project including bio-prospecting activities.

The pilot program also direct the Forest Service to permit limited free use of forest botanical products and establish a "personal use harvest level" for each product. Individual gathering is exempt from fees if below the "personal use harvest levels." For more information contact: Richard Fitsgerald at 202-205-1753 or e-mail comments to wosspecialproducts@fs.fed.us or www.regulations.gov, or send written comments to Director, Forest Management Staff, USDA Forest Service, Mail Stop 1103, 1400 Independence Ave., SW; Washington DC 20250. Comments must be received in writing by December 21, 2007. Please note that the address in the federal register is incorrect.

Additional information is available under "Legislation & Regulations"

Back to Homepage