and one that has even more undeveloped po- 
tential. 
@ Landowner assistance foresters have access to 
the full scope of contractor help available to the 
landowner. 
@ These contractor services are usually available 
to the private landowner for silvicultural work at 
volume discount rates. 
@ Landowner assistance foresters have access to 
or are highly trained in the latest silviculture, 
harvesting, and land management methods. 
So, then the question becomes, "What can be 
done to expand or improve landowner assistance 
programs?" The most cost-effective way is to elimi- 
nate some of the government competition. At a 
landowner meeting in southwestern Louisiana, 
there were a total of 11 presentations to the 
landowners with each trying to induce landowners 
into some form of "program." There was one con- 
sultant and one industry LAP forester, with the re- 
maining presentations on local, State, or Federal 
programs presented by different employees of the 
government. 
There have to be some cost efficiencies avail- 
able by combining and consolidating these pro- 
grams. Perhaps one step would be to let the private 
36 
sector (industry and consultants) deal with the larg- 
er landowners, who have a better opportunity to 
improve productivity. Government service foresters 
could then focus on the needed protection pro- 
grams and the servicing of smaller landowners, 
where timber production is often a secondary con- 
cern to wildlife and recreation. 
The continued reduction of government funds 
will force changes in traditional programs. We need 
to be out in front and manage those changes to get 
the most effective programs possible out of what is 
left. 
Given an opportunity to deal on an equal level 
with other vendors, the LAP's can grow and fulfill 
their potential. With the intensely competitive pres- 
sure to be efficient, most companies will not fund 
LAP's in areas where the government is already 
heavily involved. 
In summary, | believe that the lack of incentive 
problem for low-productive industry lands with a 
higher potential is the same one we have faced for 
years with the nonindustrial landowners. The best 
solution to this is not more government programs 
but consolidating the ones we have for more effi- 
ciency, to inform the landowners rather than control 
and regulate them and to let the market reward the 
successful. 
Additionally | believe that private landowner as- 
sistance programs are the most cost-effective alter- 
native for helping nonindustrial landowners. 
