Economic Evaluation of the Forestry Incentives Program
Investigators:
Robert J. Moulton,
Southern Research Station
Deborah A. Gaddis, North Carolina State University
Barry D. New, North Carolina State University
Frederick W. Cubbage, North Carolina State University
Robert C. Abt, North Carolina State University
Description:
This study evaluated the Forestry Incentives Program (FIP), which was established in 1974 and offers technical assistance and cost share payments to nonindustrial private forest landowners to enhance the production of timber. Through 1994, cost share payments totaled $202 million and resulted in 3.3 million acres of tree planting, 1.45 million acres of timber stand improvement, and 0.3 million acres of site preparation for natural regeneration. FIP will increase future timber outputs by more than 1 billion board feet per year, and has provided acceptable rates of return for both the public and participating landowners. Most FIP activity occurs in lower income rural counties, where FIP has contributed to the creation and expansion of private vendors and contractors providing forestry services. FIP was enacted in the 1970s to increase the supply of timber from private lands; that need is even more acute today, given the projected increases in the national demand for timber products and the closure of many federal forest land acres to timber harvesting activity.
Problem Area(s):
Public programs
Status:
Completed
Products:
Gaddis, D. A., New, B. D., Cubbage, F. W., Abt, R. C., and Moulton, R. J. 1995. Accomplishments and economic evaluations of the Forestry Incentives Program: A review. Southeastern Center for Forest Economics Research, Research Triangle Park, NC. SCFER Working Paper No. 78. 74 p.
Gaddis, Deborah A. 1996. Accomplishments and program evaluations of forestry financial assistance programs. IN: Proceedings of the Symposium on Nonindustrial Private Forests: Learning from the Past, Prospects for the Future. Melvin J. Baughman, editor. February 18-20, 1996. Washington, DC. University of Minnesota Press. 357-366.
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modified:
13-MAR-2000
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USDA FS SRS
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