Before they get too worked up about cutting down Idaho's trees, lawmakers ought to think about how much it's worth to leave them standing.
That's not the conversation Idaho is having at the moment. Instead, Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter, state Department of Lands Director Tom Schultz and lawmakers are focused upon how much money Idaho could make by taking over national forests - and then getting out the cut like the good old days, as former state Rep. Paul Shepherd, R-Riggins, described it to the Tribune's William L. Spence Sunday.
The germ of this idea - spread by Utah legislator Ken Ivory - holds that Idaho can demand the feds turn over the national forests and rangelands within the Gem State. Two measures - including one that would launch an interim study of the idea - are pending in the House State Affairs Committee. These are resolutions, not bills, so they have no force of law. This is little more than the political chest-beating and fed-bashing that long ago replaced chasing parked cars as the Legislature's favorite past time.
The feds are not going to relinquish their lands to a state. Even if they did, Idaho's analysis is built on a set of flimsy assumptions:
- Dramatically fewer fires. Idaho would spend only $45 million putting out fires that cost the federal government more than $250 million last year.
- Ramping up production. Idaho would harvest 800 million to 1 billion board feet of timber, an increase of at least four-fold.
- Favorable economics. Rising demand for timber would restore prices to levels not seen in two decades.
- A political truce. Interest groups and national environmental laws now restraining federal timber harvests would evaporate in the face of state management.
If all that happens, Idaho could generate a slight profit - about $51 to $75 million - as opposed to the $528 million the nation's taxpayers spent managing those lands last year.
But here's the flimsiest assumption of all: Chopping down trees would help the economy.
Who says?
First, consider logging's relatively small economic footprint. By one estimate, the value of all wood and paper products sold in Idaho in 2011 totaled $1.5 billion. Even in a good year - such as the boom cycle of 2004-2005 - the industry generated sales of $2 billion.
Next, consider how much more money recreation pumps into Idaho's economy.
Says the Outdoor Industry Association, people who recreate in Idaho's backcountry, forests, rivers and lakes spend $6.3 billion a year. Idaho's natural resources not only draw tourists from out of state, but at least 74 percent of Idaho's 1.5 million residents utilize these lands.
Altogether, they're responsible for 77,000 jobs and $1.8 billion in payrolls. All of which in turn generates $461 million in state and local tax revenues.
How many fewer people would spend their time and money recreating in Idaho if the state begins clear-cutting its forests in a big way?
To say nothing of the larger threat - the state gets title to federal lands only to begin hemorrhaging money. When that happens, state officials would have no choice but to sell off the choicest lands to the highest bidders - effectively sealing off access and putting Idaho's tourism and recreation sector out of business.
You'd think any state lawmaker in touch with 21st century Idaho would know that.
Then again, this is the Idaho Legislature we're talking about.
Set your clocks back accordingly. - M.T.
