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Forested landscapes in perspective: Prospects and opportunities for sustainable management of America's nonfederal forests
| Author: |
National Research Council, Board on Agriculture, Committee on Prospects and Opportunities for Sustainable Management of America's Nonfederal Forests |
| Date: |
1998 |
| Periodical: |
Washington, DC: National Academy Press |
| Abstract: |
At the request of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Forest Service, the National Research Council's Board on Agriculture convened a 14member Committee on Prospects and Opportunities for Sustainable Management of America's Nonfederal Forests to assess the status of the nation's nonfederal forests and to examine the role of the federal government in contributing to sustainable management of nonfederal forestlands. This study responds to the recognized need for evaluating the current programs and policies directed toward the nation's nonfederal forests and integrates information on the management and use of nonfederal forests while accounting for trends in ownership, location, composition, and condition of forestlands. The committee began its work in March 1996, seeking to understand the overarching industrial, environmental, social, programmatic, and policy contexts of nonfederal forest management. Issues were analyzed by bringing together views of experts in the general areas of forest policy and private land ownership as well as those of environmental, ecological, economic, legal, and social sciences. Throughout the course of this study, a close examination of the relationship between forest management issues and public needs was carried out through the conduct of public forums held in several regions of the United States. Invitations were extended for submission of written comments to the committee; responses were received from representatives of the forest industry, Native Americans, environmental organizations, consulting foresters, federal, state, and local governments, nonindustrial private landowners, and concerned citizens of all contiguous states and Hawaii and Alaska. This report, Forested Landscapes in Perspective: Prospects and Opportunities for Sustainable Management of America's Nonfederal Forests, might make its most significant contribution by bringing to light those issues related to private forestland inventory, ownership, and management that have gone unrecognized and that deserve attention today. The information contained in this report improves the knowledge base for directing the role of the federal government in nonfederal forest management. In addition, the report articulates issues for consideration regarding a policy for our nation's forests, options for improving sustainable management of nonfederal forests, and recognizes a variety of approaches for a federal role in sustainable management of nonfederal forestlands.
As a basis for the committee's deliberations, several aspects relevant to its task are defined. Part One of the report focuses on concepts of sustainability, which are presented in Chapter 1. In Part Two, general descriptions of the U.S. forest landscape are provided. The overall status and characteristics of the nation's nonfederal forests are reviewed in Chapter 2. Benefits and values that are attributable to forests in the United States are outlined in Chapter 3. Current policies and programs directed at America's nonfederal forests are described and defined in Chapter 4. Part Three of the report begins with a detailed analysis of the ecological aspects of nonfederal forest management presented in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 examines public and private institutions and their role in nonfederal forest management. Current programs and policies, including education, management, technical assistance, tax policies, regulatory programs, and various incentives that affect nonfederal forests, are described in Chapter 7. A discussion of public and private investments in nonfederal forests is provided in Chapter 8. Information needs with regard to research, monitoring, and technology transfer are outlined in Chapter 9. In Chapter 10, resource owner responsibilities and rights are addressed. In the final chapter of the report, management of U.S. nonfederal forestland in an international and global context is discussed. Throughout the report, the committee focused on emerging environmental issues such as forest fragmentation and biodiversity as well as other prominent issues such as the availability of timber supplies. Particular attention was given to current program and policy initiatives, the institutional setting within which they are pursued, and the information base for evaluating effectiveness and deficiencies. This information was used as the basis for evaluating ways in which the federal role might be modified to meet emerging needs and issues.
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