(a) (1) There is a Sustainable Forestry Council in the Department. (2) The purpose of the Council is to advise the Department on all matters related to: (i) Sustainable forestry management in the State; (ii) The expenditure of funds from the Mel Noland Woodland Incentives Fund under § 5-307 of this title; (iii) Existing regulatory and statutory policies that are perceived as economic barriers to a viable forest products industry; (iv) New markets to enhance forest health, including renewable energy development through biomass energy, to offset fossil fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; (v) Creative strategies to help privately owned forest lands better compete with real estate market values that are driving forest conversion and fragmentation; (vi) The means to promote forest-based economies and processing capability that contribute to economic and employment growth; and (vii) 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. (b) (1) The Sustainable Forestry Council shall have 9 members. (2) Members of the Council shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice of the Secretary, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
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