Who pays the Harvest Fee in the Illinois Forestry Development Act framework?

Who pays the Harvest Fee in the Illinois Forestry Development Act framework?

• A. Landowners
• B. Timber buyers
• C. Federal government
• D. Local municipalities

Answer: (B)

The Harvest Fee is designed as an assessment on the timber harvest transaction to fund state forestry development programs. The obligation falls on the party closest to the sale—the timber buyer. The buyer collects or accounts for the fee as part of the transaction and remits it to the state, creating a steady funding stream for Illinois forestry initiatives. This keeps the cost with those who control and benefit from the harvest rather than the landowner, and it isn’t charged to the federal government or local municipalities.

The Harvest Fee is designed as an assessment on the timber harvest transaction to fund state forestry development programs. The obligation falls on the party closest to the sale—the timber buyer. The buyer collects or accounts for the fee as part of the transaction and remits it to the state, creating a steady funding stream for Illinois forestry initiatives. This keeps the cost with those who control and benefit from the harvest rather than the landowner, and it isn’t charged to the federal government or local municipalities.