On Friday, May 9, 2008, DCNR secretary Mike DiBerardinis thanked the Carbon Management Advisory Group members for their support (see correspondence below). ALCS president Josh First is a CMAG member and has been an active participant in the group's deliberations.

            "My concern first and foremost has been that strong and tangible links must be made between policy outcomes and data from real-world timber and real estate markets here in Pennsylvania and New York," said Josh First, president of Appalachian Land & Conservation Services.

            "While carbon markets are still emerging and are therefore relatively undefined, it is infeasible to overly rely on theory, charts, and academic projections alone. Far too much on-the-ground work is occurring to ignore the empirical evidence that these markets can be easily and meaningfully shaped by reasonable, measurable contracts between emitters and forestland owners," said First.

            "Forest habitat conservation, commercial timber management, and carbon sequestration go hand in hand, the markets are coming and the financial prospects for landowners are huge," said First.

            "This was a big undertaking, a really valuable effort, and I thank and congratulate DCNR staff and secretary Mike DiBerardinis for their visionary investment in advancing carbon dioxide management. I am pleased to have been part of it," he said.

Date: Fri, 9 May 2008

Members of the CMAG,

            I’m writing to express my sincere appreciation for your contributions to our Carbon Management Advisory Group process.

            Our goal in forming the CMAG in August, 2006 was to obtain recommendations on policy options that DCNR might pursue, using Pennsylvania’s land and geology, to address global warming. Over the course of the ensuing 20 months, including 5 in-person meetings in Harrisburg, 21 conference calls, and uncounted hours reviewing and revising documents, you produced a document that I believe is nationally significant, and which has opened a new phase of DCNR’s stewardship mission.

            Your generous commitment of time and energy, and the highly detailed input and advice that you provided, have combined to present DCNR with a set of recommendations that well position the agency to play a powerful role in global warming policy development and practice – a role that is in the finest traditions of our agency’s historic leadership in conservation.

            Thank you for your assistance to DCNR and for your service to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

            I look forward to more opportunities to collaborate in the future.

            Sincerely,

            Michael DiBerardinis
           

            Secretary