Speech
Governor’s Conference on the Future of Montana Forests
Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
Helena
5/13/2002
Good morning and welcome. I truly appreciate the interest that so many of you have in the future of Montana’s forests and the dedication you show by being here.
I want to thank all the groups and individuals that have worked so hard to put this conference together. Teamwork and dedication to the objective is vital to bring many different interests to the table for such an effort.
In particular, I would like to recognize Dr. Peter Kolb MSU Extension Forestry Specialist at the University of Montana’s School of Forestry and Thorn Liechty from the Montana Forest Owners Association for their leadership in making this summit a reality.
There were many others involved in the organization of this conference – to many to thank personally – will those involved in the coordination of this event please stand and be recognized?
Lieutenant Governor Ohs and I are committed to improving the dialogue and discussion about our vast natural resources. This conference is groundbreaking, and your participation is vital; you are the key to unlocking the potential of Montana.
Montana is blessed in resources, for development, recreation and natural environment. And it is a careful balance that we must strike between these rich aspects of our state.
This conference is about putting you in the driver’s seat. As a collective force, we are here to marshal our strengths and to enact change. The intent is to focus our energies to analyze what can be done to collectively address opportunities and ideas for how we may best manage and conserve our forest resources.
Working together, we need to develop strategic objectives, and suggestions for growth, which will move us forward in this new century.
It is unquestionable that we must conserve our natural environment for future generations.
It is also unquestionable that recreation is an important component of not only our economy, but also a large component of our value system -- our way of life.
And I think most would also agree that we must make our natural resource decisions based on a certain amount of responsible development on both public and private lands.
As Montanans, we are passionate about the values we hold. Often this passion leads into vocal discussions. While discussion is critical, often our natural resource debates shed more heat and dissention than light and consensus.
That is why this conference is so appropriate. It is a conference designed to discuss the future of Montana’s forests and what role Montana’s forests should play in providing this nations’ wood product needs, this nations’ premier recreation destinations and this nations’ unmatched environment.
As Montanans, we must decide our own destiny. Rather than focus on the past, we must forge a new future for our forests. Together, we must pull our chairs up to the table and decide how best to promote Montana’s economy, while protecting Montana’s environment.
It will require give and take from all sides. It will require an honest attempt to set aside our differences and recognize each other’s desires. It will require looking at each other’s goals, making an honest attempt to find mutual ground, rather than debating process and procedure.
As your Governor, I commit to you that I’m willing to listen, learn and understand all sides of this important issue. I hope you will each make the same commitment.
It is my sincere hope that this conference will be a first step toward deciding Montana’s destiny with respect to how we manage our timberlands.
Today and tomorrow are filled with opportunities to share enormous amounts of information and values, from different points of view. Let’s take this opportunity to hear one another out, and work progressively together in solving differences.
My Natural Resource Policy Advisor, Todd O’Hair, will be attending most of the conference and will working with me at length on the findings of this conference.
As the host of this conference, my goal is for us to find and agree on a substantive direction. I do not intend to hold conferences or summits that produce nothing more than feel-good discussions with no substance or focus.
The published proceedings of this conference, I hope, will lay the groundwork for further discussions and provide viable ideas for solutions to the many challenges facing our forests.
I truly appreciate your input – your opinions and ideas – for the value of such a conference can only truly be measured by the solutions that together we can forge.
So I challenge everyone here today, to make this conference worth the effort that so many have labored so long over. I challenge you all to pull your chair up to the table, to learn and respect each other’s values and to chart a new course for the Future of Montana’s Forests.
I ask that you recognize the landscape – the changes occurring in timber and other natural resource industries – and build a plan that will affect the things we CAN change.
We are rugged individuals. We have a heritage of standing firm and fighting for what we believe in. The rugged individual image is one that we cherish. However, we must remember that Montana was not built only by individuals.
The pioneers who settled this state worked together in building homes, communities, businesses, and churches. Let us not forget that we also have their unity in our blood. We have a heritage of working together to accomplish great things just as much as we have a history of being stalwart individuals.
The world is run by those who participate. Your involvement here today tells the story. You have the interest and commitment to take an active role in guiding the future use and management of our forests.
I am extremely pleased at the diversity in stakeholders that both participated in planning this conference and will be attending over the next two days.
Thank you for your dedication to Montana’s future, for ourselves, and for our children.
As your Governor, I commit to open my mind to new thoughts, new ideas and a new direction.
Thank you again for your commitment to this discussion. I look forward to joining you again tomorrow to hear your deliberations.
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