Download Missouri`s Forest Resource Assessment - An Overview for NAASF -

Missouri’s Forest Resource Assessment
- An Overview for NASF Lisa Allen
State Forester
Missouri Department of Conservation
Forest
Conditions
and Trends
Existing
Statewide
Plans
Multi State
Priorities
Forest
Resource
Threats
Minimum
Requirements
for
Assessments
Priority
Forest Areas
Partner and
Stakeholder
involvement
Forest
Benefits and
Services
Key Components of Missouri’s
Assessment
• Identification of Issue Themes
• Forest Opportunity Areas
12 Key Issue Themes
• Issue Theme 1: Private Forest Landowner Demographic Trends, and
Corresponding Land Use Changes
• Issue Theme 2: Challenges & Opportunities for Private Forest Landowners
• Issue Theme 3: Climate Change
• Issue Theme 4: Maintaining High Quality Soil and Water Resources
• Issue Theme 5: The Role of Fire in Missouri’s Forests
• Issue Theme 6: Growth, Harvest and Consumption of Forest Products
• Issue Theme 7: Exotic and Invasive Plants, Animals and Diseases, and other
Forest Health Threats
• Issue Theme 8: Role of Trees/Forests in Making Cities More Livable and
Sustainable
• Issue Theme 9: Public Lands which Provide Multiple Benefits
• Issue Theme 10: Maintaining Biodiversity (Wildlife Diversity)
• Issue Theme 11: Public Awareness of Forests and their Benefits & Services
• Issue Theme 12: Legal, Institutional and Economic Consideration
Key Component: Issue Themes
–Synopsis
–Desired Future Conditions
–Conditions, trends, threats and
opportunities related to achieving
DFC’s
–Tie-ins to other existing plans
– Example:
Issue #1: Private Forest Landowner
Demographics Trends, and Corresponding
Land Use Changes
Our Methodology for Delineating Rural
and Urban “Forest Opportunity Areas”
Definitions:
Forest Opportunity Area (FOA) = Areas in the state,
including both forested areas and areas well suited to
reforestation, which present Missouri’s best opportunities
for sustaining forest resources and the benefits and
services derived from them.
Priority Forest Landscape (PFL)= A large landscape
(generally >10,000 acres) of concentrated FOA.
Step One: Forest Opportunity Model
¼ acre grid cells are evaluated w/ 8 Data Sets:
1. Biodiversity
2. Forest Productivity/Carbon Sequestration
3. Soil and Water Conservation
4. Recreation/Social Values
5. Forest Patch Size
6. Current Harvest Pressure
7. Insect and Disease Vulnerability
8. Housing Density Projections
Step Two: Delineate Priority Forest
Landscapes
1. Forest Opportunity Model is applied to 12
Digit HUC watersheds.
2. A few additional areas are pulled in which
uniquely promote the Seven Criterion of
Sustainability.
Delineating Urban Forest
Opportunity Areas
Urban Forest Opportunity Area = Metropolitan area
which stands to gain the most from “urban” strategies.
(In Progress)
Working with Partners and
Stakeholders
Lessons Learned from our
Stakeholder Meetings:
• Conduct an internal trial run.
• Set realistic expectations.
• Focus on stakeholder feedback rather than providing
outreach.
• Don’t assume your agency already has all of the
answers. Even if you do, it is highly informative to
learn what stakeholders are thinking.
• Provide multiple opportunities for feedback.
Closing Thoughts…
• Statewide Forest Resource Assessments
and Strategies take a lot of time!!!
• An opportunity, not just a mandate…