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Significant Federal Forest Legislation
- In 1875, the Division of Forestry under the USDA was created to report to Congress on forest production and consumption.
- In 1891, spurred by the misuse and rapid loss of U.S. forestlands, President Benjamin Harrison created six forest
reserves, totaling 3 million acres, and nine timber reserves totaling 13 million acres.
- In 1897, despite the opposition of some conservationists, Congress gave the Secretary of the Interior the authority to
allow timber harvesting and mining within national forests. This law paved the way for the multiple-use policy—lands managed for a variety of uses, including recreation, timber, and
mineral production, and wildlife habitat—that still guides the use of our national forests, grasslands, and parkland. The multiple-use policy was advanced by conservationist Gifford
Pinochet, the first director of the U.S. Forest Service, who believed the forest could withstand some cutting of trees and still be preserved.
- In 1911, the Weeks Law was passed to allow for the establishment of a federal financial program to help states develop
wildfire control initiatives.
- In 1916, the National Park Service Organic Act set up the national park system to provide public recreational areas and to
conserve ecologically sensitive acreage.
- In 1926, federal legislation established the Texas Forest Service, located at Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College
(now Texas A&M University).
- In 1956, the Federal Soil Bank program was established to provide landowners assistance with erosion-control activities.
- In 1960, the Multiple Use Act required the National Forest Service to manage the national forests for recreation, wildlife
habitat, livestock grazing, timber supplies, and watershed protection.
- In 1964, after acrimonious debates, Congress passed the Wilderness Act, requiring that some national forestland be
preserved in its natural state and prohibiting timber sales and other resource uses, such as mining, on those lands.
- In 1973, Congress created the Federal Forest Incentive Program to provide cost-share incentives to landowners for
reforestation activities that would increase wood production on privately owned forestland.
- In 1990, the Farm Bill established the Stewardship Incentive Program, a cost-share program to help private landowners
protect wetlands and wildlife habitat, enhance recreational opportunities, and otherwise improve the management of privately held forestland.
Significant State Forest Legislation
- In 1923, the Texas legislature appropriated money for a state forester and created a state department of forestry at the
Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University).
- In 1933, the Texas legislature authorized the federal government to purchase land to create national forests in Texas.
- In 1997, the Texas legislature enacted legislation allowing non-agriculturally productive open land converted to timber
production to continue to be appraised as open land for fifteen years. The purpose of the law is to provide an incentive to plant open lands with trees to help meet timber supply needs.
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