Download State of the Nation`s Forests

Our Nation’s Forestlands
On the Edge
Susan Stein
USDA Forest Service
FREMO Workshop, Annapolis
September 18, 2007
Key Messages

America’s forests provide critical goods and
services;

Housing development on and adjacent to our
forestlands has implications for these services;

Forests on the Edge is using GIS to identify
areas where rural forests may be impacted by
development.
Who owns our forests?
Forest ownership in the United States, 2002
Public
43%
Private
57%
Public
Private
Forest land by owner class in the United States, 2002
20%
National forest
Other public forest
48%
Foresty industry
23%
9%
Other private forest
Percent Forest Ownerships in Each Size
Class
5%
25%
5,000
100 to 4,999
10 to 99
1 to 9
28%
41%
Facts about U.S. Development

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U.S. urban and developed land area increased
by 25% (21.6 million acres) 1992 to 2003;
Nearly 1 million acres of private forest land
converted annually, from 1992 to 1997;
Population growth of counties with national
forest land is among the highest in the country;
US population is projected to increase by 135
million (to 420 million) by 2050.
Implications

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Native wildlife
Water quality
Timber production
Fire risk and fire management costs
Recreational experiences
Forests and Wildlife

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Many wildlife species rely on forested
habitat;
Two-thirds of watersheds in the US contain
at-risk species that depend upon private
forest habitat;
Private forests are critical to many wideranging species
At-risk species

Federally designated under
the Endangered Species Act
(Endangered, Threatened,
Candidate, Proposed), or

Designated as critically
imperiled, imperiled, or
vulnerable according to the
NatureServe Conservation
Status Ranking system
Forest Development and Wildlife
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Birds: Neotropical migratory birds experience
higher rates of predation and parasitism.
Mammalian carnivores: Large carnivore
mortality increases with vehicle collisions and
incidental poisoning.
Wetland amphibians: Species richness is
reduced by loss of by forest and wetland cover
on adjacent lands.
Forests and Water

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54% of US water supply originates on forests;
Almost 30% of water supply comes from
private forests
Other water-related benefits
 Protection from soil erosion
 Filtration of pesticides
Forest Development and Water

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Reduction of water quality and quantity
Reduced groundwater recharge;
Higher storm water run-off;
Higher sediment and nutrient levels;
Timber
92% of all timber
harvested in the US is from
private forests
Forest Development and Timber

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Reduction of active
management;
Decline of timber
production;
Reduction of timber supply
Forests on the Edge
State and Private Forestry
Research and Development

Increase awareness of the
importance of conserving
America’s forests

Create tools for strategic
planning
Housing density to increase on over 44 million
acres of rural private forest (2000-2030)
Forestland Development in
Washington Study Area,
2000 and 2030
Factors related to
Forestland Development in Washington
Watersheds
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Large net migration
from other states;
Declining stumpage
values
Steady to declining
harvests
High market for
undeveloped land
Private Assets/Public Benefits Study
To increase understanding of private forest
contributions and how they might change

Contributions:
Water Quality
At-Risk Species Habitat

Timber Supply
Interior Forest
Change factors
Fire
Air Pollution
Insect Pests/Disease
Housing Development
Development Threats to At-Risk
Species
Seneca Watershed

Highest ranked in
terms of at-risk
species and private
forest development;

66 Globally-ranked
species associated
with private forests;
Green Salamander
(Aneidus aeneus)
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Critically imperiled in
South Carolina;
Populations have
declined substantially
since the 1970’s;
Only a few of the
remaining populations
are located on private
lands.
National Forests on the
Edge
Goals:

Identify National
Forests and
Grasslands most
likely to experience
increased housing
density along their
borders
Analysis
Three distances:
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0 to ½ mile
½ to 3 miles
3 to 10 miles
Housing to increase on over 21 million acres
of rural lands within 10 miles of national
forests and grasslands
Development adjacent to the
Bitterroot National Forest
2000 and 2030
Key Messages

America’s forests provide critical goods and
services;

Housing development on and adjacent to our
forestlands has implications for these services;

Forests on the Edge is using GIS to identify
areas where rural forests may be impacted by
development.
Contact Information

Susan Stein – Cooperative Forestry Staff,
Washington DC

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(202) 205-0837 or [email protected]
Eric White – Pacific Northwest Research
Station, Corvallis, OR
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541-750-7329; [email protected]