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 role do forests play in employment and local economies in the South?" How would changes in the forest affect the economy, and vice versa? What are the full costs of timber production, and who bears them? How would communities respond to changes in forest-management practices? Who would be the economic winners and losers under different approaches to managing the southern forests? What is a prudent course of action, given that we don't yet know what the full ecological and economic consequences of widespread logging will be? It will be important to document the ecological and economic costs of different existing forest management alternatives versus the ecological and economic benefits. Pertaining to preliminary assessment question #3 under social/economic factors, a cost/benefit analysis should be done on a state by state basis in regards to various degrees of existing regulation of forest management and logging activities from no regulation to a high degree or regulation. Effect of neighboring communities in ways that are only beginning to be recognized, and which may prove irrevocably destructive to those communities over subsequent generations. People look at the short-term and not long-term. They see the forest only as a way to make a buck. The use of 'industry models' prompting extractive businesses to locate in given areas. Some items that may be included in this 'model'- 1) economically distressed locales, 2) average salary bases of $16,000/year, 3) low voter registration rates, 4) high illiteracy, 5) lack of zoning regulations. Empirical data relating county economic revenue bases by industry; for example, the tourism and recreation industry vs. chip or pulp mill. Analysis of the need for a state by state land management plan that will protect residential and rural communities. CLEAN members have observed that many of the new jobs the lobbyists like to brag about in Southwest Louisiana are near-minimum wage sapling truck driver positions that will play out soon since the trees are being shaved away faster than we could have ever imagined. Are the exploitative maneuverings of the clear-cutters really in the best interests of the public? Is it really good to create short-lived, low-paying, dangerous jobs for poorly-trained people only to have the whole thing collapse within a decade or two? Would it not be plain old common sense to let the trees grow to maturity and then have a truly-sustainable economic base that would benefit everyone, long-term? Are southern forests being managed to sustain timber industry and the biodiversity of forests and streams? If not, what are the problem areas? How Would Changes in the Forest Affect the Economy, and Vice Versa? How Would Communities Respond to Changes in Forest-Management Practices? Logging rates are accelerating, but the timber industry faces strong pressures to curtail the levels of jobs and payroll per acre logged. Many workers in industry do not earn high wages. Local residents are not the only ones with an economic interest in the management of local forests. Households and firms downstream want forests to deliver clean water with a lower risk of flooding. Competitors of local firms want a level playing field. The influence forests exert on the locational decisions of households often has more impact than logging on the economies of local communities. Workers with the highest skills, incomes, and ability to generate new jobs seek to live where the quality of life is high, but are not attracted to communities with degraded forest environments. Both logging and recreation taken to extremes, can jeopardize the underlying fabric of forest ecosystems. Repairing degraded ecosystems can be very costly. Both logging and recreation, taken to extremes, can create extensive spillover costs for other industries, impeding growth in the overall economy. The state and federal agencies conducting the assessment cannot complete their task satisfactorily if they look only to the past to describe the economic consequences of different approaches to forest management. They must look to a future where the forest offers services--such as delivering clean water, providing recreational and other amenities, and protecting the integrity of the web of life--that are increasing in value relative to pulp and other commodities. When they elude responsibility for the full costs of their actions, landowners and manufacturers in the timber industry are encouraged to log more acres than they would otherwise. When it imposes costs on other industries and on households, the timber industry, in effect, imposes a tax that discourages economic growth, displaces jobs in other sectors, and reduces disposable incomes. If the state and federal agencies assessing the southern forests are to help the public fully understand the economic consequences of timber production, they must provide a thorough discussion of the full costs and the consequences that materialize when these costs spillover to other industries and to households. Economists examining forest-management issues in southern states often employ two analytical models to calculate the number of jobs that would be lost (created) if logging decreased (increased). One is the economic-base model, which assumes timber production provides the underpinnings for other industries and for public services, such as schools. The other is IMPLAN, a computer program that represents the interconnectedness of different industries in an economy. Both models tend to exaggerate--often wildly--the changes in jobs that accompany changes in timber production. Conditions of decades long past did have a whipsaw effect on the entire economy of a community. Today, though, the economy is different. The overall prosperity of nearly all communities is determined, not by their proximity to potential clearcuts, but by their ability to attract and retain a highly-skilled workforce. Thus, a healthy standing forest often can provide more of a foundation for local economic prosperity than a logged forest can. The economic-base model is incapable of recognizing this set of circumstances. IMPLAN can be a powerful analytical tool when used correctly, but often it is not. IMPLAN is a static model that estimates the number of jobs that might be affected. IMPLAN is incapable of addressing the speed and smoothness of the adjustment process. Hence, it leaves one with a snapshot of the economy's response to a change in timber production when what one really needs is a videotape. Any assessment of the economy's response to changes in timber-production levels should reflect a realistic appraisal of the relative importance of the services and commodities derived from the forest and acknowledge the economy's dynamic character. Applications of the economic-base model that consider timber production as fundamentally more important to the economy than the services derived from southern forests should be abandoned. Static estimates of the impacts changes in forest management will have on jobs and other variables should be not the end of the analysis but the beginning of an exploration of how easily the economy will adapt. The agencies conducting the assessment should look beyond the superficial costs and benefits of different approaches to managing the southern forests and consider the potential reversal costs if a particular approach should yield undesired outcomes. The government should receive the full market cost for all products removed from public land. The purchaser of these products should shoulder the entire cost of building roads. Assessment should address the significant economic and social benefits that the wood and paper industry provides to the population of the South. The Assessment should identify how economically dependent rural communities are on forest based industries, and document the fact that timber inventories and values are actually increasing in these rural areas. Assessment should document the relationship between income from forest management and maintaining forestland in the face of urban encroachment, and the associated benefits to other forest resources. What roles are played by forests, forest services, and forest components in employment, local economies, and the quality of life? Assessment should address and recognize the significant economic and social benefits that the solid wood and paper industries provides the population in the south. The Southern Assessment should address the significant economic and social benefits that the wood and paper industry provides to the population of the South. The Assessment should identify how economically dependent particularly rural communities are on forest based industries, and document the fact that timber inventories and values are actually increasing in these rural areas. Document the economic and social benefits that the timber industry provides. Identify how rural communities are economically dependent on the timber industry. Compare timber industry economic statistics to tourism. As a forest products worker, I am able to make a living wage and support my family. The forest products industry not only provides living wage jobs for families like mine but also provides a strong economic base for local communities. Over a half million people in the south work in this industry and the payroll for these workers is well over 100 billion dollars. When the various agencies drafts their final reports, it is my hope that each will include in it, the people and the effects the forest products industry has on the many workers, families and communities throughout the South. The forest products industry plays a very important role in providing economic opportunity for much of the South and its communities and citizens. You must examine the significant economic and social benefits that the wood and paper industries provide to the southern people. Identify how economically dependent rural communities are on forest based industries. Study ways to encourage the small but growing market for sustainably harvested timber and the impact of sustainable harvesting on both local jobs and landowner earnings. The study should look at how changes in ownership classes (Corporate, forest industry, private) effect the economic well-being of counties. Are there areas in the south where federal, state or local regulation has increased the economic stability of the forest industry? Would conversion of the Repayments to Local Governments based on percentage of sale to a Payment in Lieu of Taxes based on an historic level of compensation bring increased economic stability to rural communities that are dependent on these payments while at the same time reduce pressure on federal land management agencies to maintain timber levels that may not be in the long-term best interest of either the forest resource or of the community? What examples are there of successful adoption and implementation of management guidelines that fall somewhere between voluntary recommendations and regulatory strictures? (I.e., Florida's Water Quality Guidelines) What are the current and future impacts are there as a result of the south moving from a renewable (growth over removal) industry to an extraction (removal over growth industry? What is the dollar difference/financial impact to the local community when timber is used for valued added industries as opposed to chipped? What happens to communities when the forests have been clearcut and the chip mill industry moves out? What impact are chip mills having on and how long will the small sawmill owner, pallet maker, hardwood furniture industries be able to stay in business? What is the impact to the community, both financial and psychological, when these industries go out of business? Study factors should include (1) differential number of jobs per unit of wood harvested in industrial/local saw milling/local wood products operations, (2) local operation failures in areas where industrial forest operations have opened; (3) differential local/regional revenue contributions from industrial forestry/local saw milling. What are the impacts on surrounding communities from industrial forestry operations (waste water, storm water point discharges, airborne fiber pollution, dust/noise pollution)? What monitoring/regulatory protections are in place to safeguard community/worker health and welfare vis a vis industrial forestry operations? How has the dramatic increase of chip mills in the southeast affected the communities in which people live? What is the projection of the chip mill industry as far as establishment of new chip mills in the southeast and the cumulative environmental impact? How will large land acquisitions by chip mill companies affect land values for the community? The short-term versus long-term economic impact of intensive timber harvest regimes on the economies of local communities throughout the southeast. The long-term impact of conversion to "chip mill" processing techniques and other intensive timber harvest regimes on the economies of local communities throughout the southeast. Why is there such disparity in forest industry employment from county to county within the Western Tennessee Basin when the resource is spread equally over the region? What county characteristics or attitudes promote the development of wood using secondary industries and what characteristics inhibit the development of these industries? (survey attitudes of county commissions, chamber of commerce, county executives, mayors, and city councils. Determine what economic incentives have been offered to attract the industries.) What is the revenue generated by forest harvests and value added wood using industries in the region? What is the cost of this revenue in terms of road damage and air and water pollution--the costs of which must be born by taxpayers? How much revenue does the region earn from all aspects of tourism, recreation, and retirement including revenue from construction and increased property tax revenue. What aspects of the region are important to those who use it for tourism, recreation, and retirement? How much tourism recreation, and retirement revenue is lost because of environmental degradation caused by industrial forestry and related industries? What is the economic value of the ecosystem services provided by Southeastern Forests? Would payment in lieu of taxes create a more stable local economic impact and promote better forest management on public lands? What s the value of intact forests? What is the value of 'bits and pieces' forest? Is recreation and tourism effected by increased clear-cutting? Is the trade-off worth it? What management plans are successful…voluntary, regulated, combinations of the two plans? Has any level of government regulation increased or stabilized the economies of forestry? What is the projected and present impact of over harvesting now occurring in toe South? How does the shift to value-lessoned industry affect the forest now and in the future? Your study should address the regional trends in the area of forest-related sustainable economic growth. Not only are they (chip mills) detrimental to our enviroment, but they take away jobs from the local community by employing just a few people which would otherwise have jobs in local sawmills. These [chip mill] industries decrease job opportunity for locals, allowing a handful of individuals to benefit only. Look at increases or decreases and projected corporate, forest industry, and private ownership and the effect of these ownership classes upon the economic well being of counties and the owner's intent to harvest. How does intensive forest extraction and increased logging truck traffic impact the well being of a community? Compare the demographics of counties with relatively high timber extraction to those without. What are the economic tradeoffs associated with various forest management decisions? How, for example, is the recreation and tourism industry in the South impacted by increased clearcutting? How does intensive forest extraction and truck traffic impact well being? Logging practices on private land need to be regulated, to protect water quality and to improve the state's visual appeal. (The drive from Savannah to Okefenokee Swamp, running through miles of tree farms, is so ugly that we are deterred from taking international visitors to the Swamp.) Tax incentives should be provided for sustainable forestry on private lands, and believe me, Pine plantations are not sustainable. What will be the loss of revenue from the decreasd tourism in the study area? If sawmills were utilized instead [chip mills], many jobs would open up for the entire community. I'm not against cutting down trees. We need to protect our forests. They provide clean drinking water, habitat for hunting and fishing, and improve the quality of life for families throughout the South and the U.S. Please address the impact of exports of forest products from the region. Exports of raw forests, primarily wood chips and wood pulp, were growing rapidly until the "Asian Flu" hit far eastern economies. That said, there is still a substantial export business in the wood chip and wood pulp market. How much of our forests are being exported in the 90's vs. a decade ago? How much raw wood pulp is being exported annually and what are the trends. Consolidation of companies, downsizing of the work force, liquidation of assets, re-investments of capital in foreign forests, and increasing exports of raw forests and finished consumer items are standard operating procedures. How much are finished pulp and paper product exports projected to rise? How much export of forests in products occurs vs. imports? What are projected trends in the next 20 years? 100-200 years? Where are the current primary markets for increased US pulp and paper consumption increases? What is the economic value of the ecosystem services provided by Southeastern Forests? We need to protect Southern forests. Forests provide clean drinking water, protect habitat for hunting and fishing, and improve the quality of life for families throughout the South. I'm not against cutting down trees, but we are against industrial-scale chip mills eliminating Southern forest heritage. Corporations must not build any new chip mills until we have more information about their impact on forests and have adequate safeguards in place for the forests. Rural community economy dependency on forest products production. What is the economic profile of counties where chip mills - poverty level, per capita income. Impact of smaller tract size on how loggers do business, forest management practices, e.g., back to horse logging, roadside pickup, etc. Drive us to co-ops, ala Europe. The impact of switching from rural to urban economy on local logging industry. Examine urban planning to identify ways to build forests into community planning. Impact of switch from rural economy to urban economy on local logging industry. Address relationship between timber management and tourism (perception of incompatibility). Look at impacts of changes in /forest production in management on economies in the other regions. Examine potential impact of increased regulation to our economies. Compare forest sectors to other sectors of the economy. Using all economic parameters (Income, employment, VA, etc). Evaluate at state level, even sub-state level. Look at subsectors of forest product industry. Look at the effects of exporting round-wood or chips, other unfinished products. Look at other activities that can be monetized (nontimber harvests, related activities -- hunting). Look at sub regions, based on ecological (physiographic or economic) criteria. Examine economically depressed area (even use as small area study) and role of forests. Examine forest-dependent communities areas. Compare chip mill with a local sawmill regarding employment and economic sustainability. Contribution of various segments (furniture, veneer, etc.) of the wood products industry to the economy of the state. Clarify definition of “forests” esp. in formulating questions of this type. Dollar value breakdown by prospective industry: tourism and recreation; forest products industry, by segment. Contributions of non-market values to local economies and communities. Which forest practices provide sustainability of economic and other benefits? Cost of maintaining public lands (state park, limited use and source of those funds). Importance of valve added from processing. Effect of reduced timber harvest from USFS land and local economics. Define “Local Economies” Look at diverse markets for use as forested lands. Examine tax base effects of 16th section and PILT and more equitable alternatives. Consider forests in their role of creating wealth in rural areas. Examine role of non market values in the retention of the land. How do forests affect the tax base? What is the dollar value added to local company. Conduct economic impact analysis (specific to industry type) Examine linkages between forest and other sectors of economy. Examine multi-county regions. Define reasonable economic boundaries. What motivates individuals and corporations to invest in the forest sector? (Includes: selected service sectors, recreation, loggers, site prep, and other contractors). What is investment? (Include small firms) What’s economic value of intact forests (e.g., flow control, air/water filtration, scenic beauty)? Comparison – economics, employment, economic sustainability, local communities – chip mill vs. local sawmill. Contribution of various allied industries dependent on timber, e.g., furniture, veneer. Impact on the economy of the state. Dollar value breakdown of prospective tourism, recreation, forest products, industry’s segments. When you talk about local economies, must include contributions of non-market values ref. to above question. Just say “externalities,” positive and negative, e.g., clean air. To what extent to various forest practices provide sustainability of economic and other benefits? Economic costs of maintaining public park lands and where money comes from for any reserved lands. Be careful not to define “local” too small, as mill has large shipping distance, especially recognize the importance from value-added. Effect of reduced NF timber harvests on local economies. Watch definition of “local.” “Please define forest. Do you mean a government-owned park that permits no harvesting of any material or wildlife or do you mean a monoculture plantation that is on a 30 season turnover cycle that bates and feeds deer or other game animals? Local economies need to ask the question. If we cut down most of our trees and make them into chips and ship them to Dave Moorehead and they get put on a ship and sent to a foreign port, what do we get back and why can’t we do what is happening in that foreign port? Or can the end product of chip mills only be made at a foreign port? Would the end products create no jobs or industry? My thinking is that if we grow the trees then we take them through to final product for sale to the end consumer, and that all by-products and the end point recyclable items are our responsibilities.” What percentage of local economics or urban vs. rural? Address historical changes in economics. What role does Southern forests play in local, regional, national, international economies? Consider the effects of forest recreation on quality of life ® economic effects. Consider how much money stays in the local economies and Southeast, comparing forest industries to others. Consider effects on property values (related to effects of forest recreation on quality of life). How does valuation of the dollar (key currencies) influence what role Southern forests play in local, regional, national, international economies? Compare forest product-based and recreation based economies on income quality of life (e.g., Southern Appalachians). (Service vs. Manufacturing) Should consider the accumulation and distribution (within or outside region) of wealth that results. Include secondary impacts. Consider how presence of heavily managed forest areas has influenced development of local economies (consider diversification of economies). Historical basis. Relating to above, what are effects on population migration? Want to see how much of area population is sustained by forestry management. Look at economic impacts of forestry industries on small/rural communities. Address economic impact to Southeast if the same thing that happened in PNW happened to us (due to increase of regulation and number of acres taken out of timber production). Use information from University of Tennessee Forest Products Center; $17 billion to Tennessee. How is tourism affected by deforestation? Address economic benefits of alternatives to wood fibers. Include crops & alternative materials. Use information from University of Tennessee Forest Products Center. How is tourism affected by deforestation? Define deforestation. Address economic benefits of alternatives to wood fibers. Include crops and alternative materials. Economic value for recreation is greater than for timber in certain areas, such as the Georgia Mountains. Question as revised in response to these comments Previous Question | Next Question Public Input Home | Methods | Assessment Home

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