Subd. 1. Framework.

The council must establish a framework that will enable long-range strategic planning and landscape coordination to occur, to the extent possible, across all forested regions of the state and across all ownerships. The framework must include:

1. (1) identification of the landscapes within which long-range strategic planning of forest resources can occur, provided that the landscapes must be delineated based on broadly defined ecological units and existing classification systems, yet recognize existing political and administrative boundaries and planning processes;
2. (2) a statement of principles and goals for landscape-based forest resource planning; and
3. (3) identification of a general process by which landscape-based forest resource planning occurs, provided that the process must give considerable latitude to design planning processes that fit the unique needs and resources of each landscape; reflect a balanced consideration of the economic, social, and environmental conditions and needs of each landscape; and interface and establish formats that are compatible with other landscape-based forest resource plans.

Subd. 2. Regional forest resource committees.

To foster landscape-based forest resource planning, the council must establish regional forest resource committees. Each regional committee shall:

1. (1) include representative interests in a particular region that are committed to and involved in landscape planning and coordination activities;
2. (2) serve as a forum for landowners, managers, and representative interests to discuss landscape forest resource issues;
3. (3) identify and implement an open and public process whereby landscape-based strategic planning of forest resources can occur;
4. (4) integrate its report with existing public and private landscape planning efforts in the region;
5. (5) facilitate landscape coordination between existing regional landscape planning efforts of land managers, both public and private;
6. (6) identify and facilitate opportunities for public participation in existing landscape planning efforts in this region;
7. (7) identify sustainable forest resource goals for the landscape and strategies to achieve those goals; and
8. (8) provide a regional perspective to the council with respect to council activities.

Subd. 2a. Regional forest committee reporting.

The council must report annually on the activities and progress made by the regional forest committees established under subdivision 2, including the following:

1. (1) by December 1, 1999, the regional committee for the council's northeast landscape will complete the identification of draft desired future outcomes, key issues, and strategies for the landscape;
2. (2) by July 1, 2000, the council will complete assessments for the council's north central and southeast landscape regions;
3. (3) by July 1, 2001, the regional committees for the north central and southeast landscapes will complete draft desired future outcomes, key issues, and strategies for their respective landscapes; and
4. (4) by June 30, 2002, all remaining landscape regions must complete assessments and by June 30, 2003, desired future outcomes and strategies for all remaining regions except the metropolitan and prairie regions.

Subd. 3. Regional committee officers and staff.

The council chair may appoint a chair from the regional committee participants. The council must include in its budget request sufficient resources for each regional committee to carry out its mission as defined in this section.

Subd. 4. Report.

Each regional committee must report to the council its work activities and accomplishments.

* NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 1995, chapter 220, *section 83, is repealed by Laws 1995, chapter 220, section 141, *paragraph (b), effective June 30, 2007. Laws 1995, chapter 220, *section 142, as amended by Laws 1995, chapter 263, section 12; *Laws 1996, chapter 351, section 1; Laws 1999, chapter 231, *section 191; and Laws 2001, First Special Session chapter 2, *section 151.