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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas Forestry Association is sponsoring a |
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seedling giveaway on March 25, 2009, in an effort to promote public |
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awareness of forestry and the importance of the state's timber |
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resources; and |
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WHEREAS, The forest industry and family forest owners plant |
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100 million seedlings annually in order to maintain sustainable |
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forests for future generations of Texans; and |
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WHEREAS, Covering 12 million acres, the forest section in |
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East Texas generates more than 173,000 jobs, $7.6 billion in annual |
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labor income, and a total economic impact of more than $30.6 |
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billion, making timber a valuable agricultural commodity to this |
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state; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in 1914 by a group of dedicated |
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conservationists, the Texas Forestry Association is a nonprofit |
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organization of landowners, businesses, and other professionals |
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united by a common goal to advance forestry, promote conservation |
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practices, and enhance and perpetuate the state's forest resources; |
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TFA offers programs such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and |
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Tree Farm, which sponsors the annual Outstanding Tree Farmer of the |
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Year contest; winners of the 2007 award, John and Walta Cooke from |
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Panola County, qualified as Southern Region finalists in the |
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National Outstanding Tree Farmer competition; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Forestry Association has tirelessly |
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striven to ensure that abundant forests remain a dependable |
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resource for the citizens of Texas, and under the current and able |
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leadership of President Randall Schiefer, TFA will undoubtedly |
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continue to contribute to the economic vitality and beauty of the |
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Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the Texas Forestry Association on the |
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occasion of its seedling giveaway and commend the 3,000 members of |
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the association for their exemplary reforestation efforts and |
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advocacy; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Texas Forestry Association as an expression of |
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high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |