assessment of sustainability of our forests

Southern Forest Resource Assessment

 Below is the original wording of one of the preliminary questions and public suggestions or concerns submitted about it--for details see our Public Input or Methods pages
 
 

"What is the history, status, and likely future of forested wetlands in the South?"
  1. It should also recognize the impact of current federal regulation, via the Federal Clean Water Act, on forestry operations today. The Assessment should recognize federal "NO NET LOSS" regulations regarding forested wetlands.
  2. An assessment of the quality and accuracy of wetland delineations should be conducted. The smallest of these systems are not well documented.
  3. Forested wetlands are being cut down just like pine dominated forests.
  4. Wetland species should never be logged, even if the wetlands are seasonal. Cypress mulch is an atrocity to God.
  5. Most of the amphibian and reptile (herps) biodiversity in the southeastern United States is dependent on the existence of seasonally-fluctuating, natural wetlands AND the opportunities for these animals to move between wetlands. Most of our wetland herpetofauna use surrounding forested habitat as adult habitat (pond-breeding salamanders and tree frogs), as terrestrial refugia during times when the wetlands are seasonally dry (several turtle species), or as corridors to other wetlands and other water bodies (other turtle and snake species). The conservation of wetlands WITH associated forested buffers and corridor habitats are issues that I feel the USFS must address in their Assessment.
  6. Forested wetlands provide habitat for colonially nesting wading birds, migratory and resident waterfowl, furbearing animals, and freshwater fishes. The upland longleaf pine ecosystem provides optimal habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and the threatened gopher tortoise, and for the Louisiana pine snake, Bachman's sparrow, eastern wild turkey, and northern bobwhite quail.
  7. What are the history, status, and potential future of forest ecosystem wetlands?
  8. Document that the National Wetlands Policy Forum Report identified forestry as an environmentally compatible use in wetlands.
  9. What has been the cumulative impact at the watershed level of permitted wetlands mitigation in the South by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers? How effective has this mitigation been? Do we have a no-net-loss of functional wetlands in the South?
  10. The procedures for wetlands determination in forests under different ownership should be studied, as well as legal mechanisms for protection and mitigation. "Track record" of large industrial forestry operations regarding wetlands impacts should also be studied.
  11. What is the water quality and the biological diversity of the smaller streams and wetlands in the region? How do relatively undisturbed streams and wetlands compare to those in areas of logging disturbance in terms of water quality and biological diversity?
  12. We need the US COE at the table to assess jurisdictional wetlands.
  13. What percentage of current wetlands losses are attributable to conversions to pine farms? What percentage of wetlands losses are the result of the USACE permitting process disregarding NEPA, the Clean Water Act and other applicable laws? How will the new 26A wetlands permitting of the USACE affect continued wetlands losses?
  14. What are the impacts to wetlands biodiversity from herbicide/pesticide runoff and drift from forest consuming industries?
  15. Some claim there is little activity that will not affect the wetland, while others claim that group selection can occur without significant harm. TVA's EIS on potential to alter wetland functions. Why then are any wetlands activities permitted?
  16. Wetlands are considered by some to be an arbitrary term subject to interpretation by some depending on motive. Describe the difference between what deforestry industries consider wetlands to be and what wildlife agencies and scientists consider wetlands to be. What is the effectiveness of voluntary BMPs in protecting wetlands resources?
  17. The status of forested wetlands will vary too much to accurately describe or characterize them.
  18. Identify what incentives exist which allows small, non-industrial private landowners to manage or restore wetlands (e.g. permanent easements, hunting leases, etc.).
  19. Increase of wetland forests (FL) last 10 + years due to better utilization of hardwoods.
  20. Wetlands impacted by development in the past, quality of wetlands important, losing high quality.
  21. Better management of forested wetlands, reforestation increases, better utilization of wetlands vs. permanent losses to development.
  22. What are the impacts of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers activities on loss of forest resources and can they be reversed or minimized?
  23. Include estimation of current amounts of forested wetlands. Are any being protected? Can you predict the localized impacts, amount of pollution from different demand scenarios?
  24. Will there be an evaluation of types of wetlands, both quality and function? Need to emphasize on smaller, at-risk areas, or at least on identifying them.
  25. What are the impacts of reforestation programs on fiber prices of hardwoods (econometric study)?
  26. What are the causes of conversion of forests in the past i.e. agricultural, etc?
  27. Hardwood management is more difficult than pine; need more emphasis.
  28. What are the WQ differences between managed pines and hardwoods?
  29. We need to allow more use of and management of forested wetlands for timber production and other uses (not so much single use).
  30. We need to recognize all of the different types of these wetlands and their unique characteristics that influence their protection and management approaches. We also need to identify this term explicitly.
  31. What is the current and historic distribution and area of forested wetlands (of all types).
  32. We need large, unfragmented tracts of habitat, including forested wetland habitat (e.g. >100,000 Acres.)
  33. Are we going to target analyses of forest wetlands in an area that has experienced great losses.
  34. We need to include a thorough discussion of the biological value of natural forested wetlands and pine plantations, to which many of them have been converted.
  35. We need to examine the extent to which state and federal government programs continue to support conversion of natural forested wetlands to pine.
  36. Make sure we use accurate numbers when describing forested wetlands, and base science on those. We need to recognize benefits of good forest management on forested wetlands.
  37. We need to look at benefits of forest management in forested wetlands for better water quality and quantity.
  38. Forested wetlands may not be recognized and preserved for their value in their natural state. Especially W.R.T. species habitat, hydrological benefits.
  39. What is the role of forested wetlands in water quality?
  40. There are unanswered questions about delineation of wetlands.
  41. Vagueness of wetlands definition effectively nullifies federal management agreements.
  42. How do all land uses affect forested wetlands?
  43. Maintain timber productivity in flatwoods and other wetlands without degrading wetlands function.
  44. Potential for forming coordinated interagency management of federally administered and publicly owned wetlands. Second Part: Potential for acquiring some kind of management agreement with privately owned adjacent wetlands or corridors?
  45. What about accountability of COE?
  46. Assess cost/benefit/effectiveness of public ownership vs. private ownership in achieving water quality, wetlands, and aquatic habitat.
  47. Impacts of wetlands mitigation and construction? Other wetlands enhanced programs.
  48. Agriculture conversion to forest?
  49. Forested wetland in eastern North Carolina needs help. Most are in fair condition and several corporate giants are trying to do the right thing but several subcontractor or independent loggers cause a lot of problems. Stream monitoring and water quality sampling had helped. Another important factor is that North Carolina has very strong S. & E. laws that should be enforced.
  50. How has ditching and draining affected forested wetlands habitat quality?
  51. How has conversion of forested wetlands affected water quality, wetland habitat, and forested wetlands?
  52. How does altering the migratory pattern of species affect the forested wetland?
  53. Document the cause and amount of permanent forested wetland loss in the last 100 years -- include temporary.
  54. Define “loss” of forested wetlands. Document forest management compatibility with forested wetlands; other land uses.

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Question as revised in response to these comments

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  modified: 1-MAR-2000
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