KRS 149.332: Legislative findings and declarations -- Purpose -- Construction with other

laws.

The General Assembly finds, determines, and declares as follows:

(1) Healthy, sustainable forests that are ecologically sound provide economic

opportunities and benefit the overall quality of life for all Kentuckians;

(2) High quality forests provide clean air and water and biodiversity;

(3) A diverse forest economy must include forest product industries, recreation, and

tourism;

(4) Timber harvesting operations must be conducted in an ecologically sound manner;

(5) Kentucky must promote the stewardship of its public and private forest lands while

recognizing the rights and responsibilities of private landowners;

(6) Comprehensive continuous forest inventories are needed t o provide information to

make decisions to meet present and future needs;

(7) Increased awareness of the economic, social, and ecological importance of

Kentucky's forests is needed to:

(a) Educate the public and industry in order to make wise decisions for the future

of the forest resource; and

(b) Recognize and respond to threats to the forest resource;

(8) It is the purpose of KRS 149.330 to 149.355 to provide private landowners and

loggers with education, technical assistance, and incentives that encoura ge them to

manage their properties and carry out timber harvesting operations that will assure

sustainable forests in the Commonwealth; and

(9) KRS 149.330 to 149.355 shall not be construed as affecting the requirements of any

other laws of the Commonwealt h relating to environmental protection, including

water quality or forestry.