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7 Needs for Additional Research

The valuation of public goods provided by private forests in the South is an area of research that has not been explored but is clearly needed. This research needs to identify values associated with forestland use across various dimensions, such as forest type, geographic location, and population density. For example, concern has been raised in the South about the impact that timber harvesting and intensified forest management may have on forest landscapes and how such changes impact the provision of public goods from private forests. The degree of concern about timber harvesting and intensified forest management may not be evenly spread across people living in the South. A better understanding of the people who are concerned about human disturbances in natural forests, why they are concerned, and the particular areas where they are concerned, will help develop meaningful communication between stakeholder groups.

A better understanding of values produced by private forests could then be used to assess which areas in the forest landscape would provide the greatest contributions to sustainable economic growth and development. Any attempt to increase the quality of life in forest environments must consider the full spectrum of forest uses from natural forests to plantations. Further research can help provide relevant information to local, regional, State and Federal agencies with the intent of designing land management plans that are in keeping with the values and goals of all people living in the South.