[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5] [House] [Page 6236] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]JOSIAH AND KATHLEEN PIERCE, 2007 NATIONAL TREE FARMERS OF THE YEAR The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen) is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to congratulate two of my constituents, Josiah and Kathleen Pierce of Baldwin, Maine, for being selected as the 2007 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year. Jo and Kathy were selected by the American Tree Farm System for their sustainable management of approximately 2,000 acres of woodland in Southern Maine. Part of the property has been in Jo Pierce's family for six generations. Jo describes his management philosophy as 100-year thinking about preserving the land's ability to pay for itself by periodic logging and yet maintaining the diversity of plant and animal life that can only be found in and around old forests. Jo and Kathy's grandchildren represent one measure of long-term management. Jo wants them to marvel at rare and unusual plants and animals that are otherwise frequently lost to short-sighted harvesting. Jo and Kathy keep their property open to the public for hiking, hunting, and other traditional uses. They want other people to experience their own attachment to the land. The award recognizes Jo and Kathy's civic contributions. In particular, Jo's service as president of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine, an influential State advocacy group, demonstrated his interest in sharing his knowledge of sustainable forest management with other owners. The award is also a tribute to Rene Noel, the forester who advises Jo and Kathy about best practices with respect to management of their land. Maine is a small State. I am particularly pleased to recognize Jo and Kathy's achievement because Jo and I have known each other for many years. Our fathers were friends. We share a similar perspective about our forest property, and we share the same forester. In Maine and across the country, much of our forest land is in private hands and often in relatively small lots owned by individuals. The future quality of our forests, and the diversity of life they sustain, depends in large part on the knowledge and commitment of their owners, especially to their ``100-year thinking'' about sustainable management. Jo and Kathy Pierce, National Outstanding Tree Farmers of 2007, are models for how other forest landowners can use, protect, and preserve for future generations the woodland habitat they own today. ____________________