Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 3.djvu/341

 PUBLIC LAW 96-514—DEC. 12, 1980

94 STAT. 2985

(3) the productivity of suitable forested land, in all ownerships, should be maintained and enhanced to minimize the inflationary impacts of wood product prices on the domestic economy and permit a net export of forest products by the year 2030. (4) in order to achieve this goal, it is recognized that in the major timber growing regions most of the commercial timber lands will have to be brought to and maintained, where possible, at 90 percent of their potential level of growth, consistent with the provisions of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 on 16 USC 1600 Federal lands, so that all resources are utilized in the combina- ^°^^tion that will best meet the needs of the American people. (5) forest and rangeland protection programs should be improved to more adequately protect forest and rangeland resources from fire, erosion, insects, disease, and the introduction or spread of noxious weeds, insects, and animals. (6) the Federal agencies carrying out the policies contained in this Statement will cooperate and coordinate their efforts to accomplish the goeds contained in this Statement and will consult, coordinate, and cooperate with the planning efforts of the States. (7) in carrying out the Assessment and the Program under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Appraisal and the Program under the Soil and 16 USC 1600 Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977, the Secretary of J6*use200i Agriculture shall assure that resource and economic information note. and evaluation data will be continually improved so that the best possible information is always available for use by Federal agencies and the public. RANGE LAND DATA BASE AND ITS IMPROVEMENT

The data on and understanding of the cover and condition of range lands is less refined than the data on and understanding of commercial forest land. Range lands have significant value in the production of water and protection of watersheds; the production of fish and wildlife food and habitat; recreation; and the production of livestock forage. An adequate data base on the cover and condition of range lands should be developed by the year 1990. Currently, cattle production from these lands is annually estimated at 213 million animal unit months of livestock forage. These lands should be maintained and enhanced, including their water and other resource values, so that they can annually provide 310 million animal units months of forage by the year 2030, along with other benefits. GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF HIGH BOUND PROGRAM

Congress generally accepts the "high-bound" program described on pages 7 through 18 of the 1980 Report to Congress on the Nation's Renewable Resources prepared by the Secretary of Agriculture. However, Congress finds that the "high-bound" program may not be sufficient to accomplish the goals contained in this statement, particularly in the areas of range and watershed resources, State and private forest cooperation and timber management.

�