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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="5-204" title_number="5" title_name="Forests and Parks" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Organization and Authority of Department Pertaining to Forests and Parks -- in General">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>There is a Sustainable Forestry Council in the Department.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The purpose of the Council is to advise the Department on all matters related to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Sustainable forestry management in the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The expenditure of funds from the Mel Noland Woodland Incentives Fund under § 5–307 of this title;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Existing regulatory and statutory policies that are perceived as economic barriers to a viable forest products industry;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>New markets to enhance forest health, including renewable energy development through biomass energy, to offset fossil fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Creative strategies to help privately owned forest lands better compete with real estate market values that are driving forest conversion and fragmentation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>The means to promote forest–based economies and processing capability that contribute to economic and employment growth; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>Assigning a nutrient efficiency benefit to forest stewardship plans and other forest conservation management plans that can be measurably tracked and reported by the number of forested acres covered by the plans.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Sustainable Forestry Council shall have 9 members.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Members of the Council shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice of the Secretary, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
