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 are the supplies of and demands for forest based recreation and other uses of forests in the South? "
  1. If the Western North Carolina soon becomes known to tourists as "the place of ugly, stripped mountains," many residents of this area could slip into poverty.
  2. The assessment should look at the realistic need of wilderness lands for public recreation. While certain areas within parks and forest are used heavily. The vast majority sees very little public use. While many people call for it and think it is a good idea, from a scientific and economic standpoint, would additional set aside lands benefit the public any more.
  3. What is the value of forests considering their aesthetic, recreational and social uses?
  4. What impact do the current social/economic factors have on imperiled ecosystems (e.g., fir pulling on Roan Mountain)? Can this ecosystem and the endangered species that inhabit it survive this impact?
  5. There is a desire for natural, native, biodiversity, naturally functioning ecosystems, compatible recreation like hiking, camping, birding, mushrooming, fishing, hunting, nature study, nature photography, scientific research, forest restoration, endangered, threatened and sensitive species, protection ecosystem protection, water quality and quantity protection, natural scenic beauty. ORV use in the forest causes erosion, sedimentation, dirty water, wildlife disturbance noise, loss of solitude, air pollution, and other impacts.
  6. What is the significance of non-market forest value? For example, how do market-driven industries affect non-market aesthetics, in the short and long term?
  7. Forests once benefited local economies only when they were cut down. Then recreation became important and some communities debated the tradeoffs between timber jobs and tourism jobs.
  8. Less well documented, is the quantification of non-consumptive uses that depend on forest wildlife settings (e.g. birdwatching and nature photography).
  9. While managing for the social, economic, and ecological needs of current and future generations, recognize that these include non-timber goods and ecological services.
  10. What are the supplies of and demands for forest based recreation, and other forest goods and services?
  11. More recreational opportunity is to be left up to those who own the land ad not those who think tourism is how these landowners should be forced to use their land.
  12. Community, social and economic factors must be considered, including quality of life impacts, noise, air quality, water degradation, reduced property values, decreased Ash and wildlife populations and loss of recreational areas. How does intensive forest extraction and increased logging truck traffic impact a community and how recreation and tourism industries affected?
  13. What is the economic value of intact forests in our region? How valuable are water and air filtration, flood control, scenic beauty and diverse plant and animal life?
  14. I would like to stress the apparently non-economic roles of forests in the Southern US as a whole. These roles should be considered in any evaluation of continued wood chip production or the expansion of similar industries.
  15. Other factors that have been traditionally ignored in assessments of commercial activities are the aesthetic qualities that accompany intact, multi-stage forest systems. Many people enjoy the peace, serenity, and variety that can be found in their local Southern forests. It has angered me that pure enjoyment and beauty are not regularly incorporated in management debates.
  16. If you consider cost/benefit relationships of forest management, will you also consider them for wildlife, recreation, and wilderness uses of the forest?
  17. Emphasize, not only economic values but values that cannot be easily converted to economic terms (e.g., biodiversity, aesthetics).
  18. Forest Service records show that recreation brings considerable revenue, $112 billion annually, to State and local economies. Why are you minimizing this service by delegating it to one question under the category of Social/Economic Factors?
  19. Recreation/Tourism Markets and Forest Management.
  20. What are the demands for recreational opportunities on forestlands in the South? What are the trends and preferences for low and high impact recreation in South? How might developed recreational concessions influence future use of forestland. How will increased recreational use of forestland effect local economies.
  21. What is the financial impact to tourism and recreation caused by the unsightliness of clearcutting?
  22. What happens to the property values of the neighbors to a clearcut?
  23. What are the opinions of tourists, both in state and out of state, regarding the visual impact of clearcuting and their willingness to return to that area to vacation again, and the financial impact associated?
  24. Tourism and recreation based industries and value of non-timber forest products.
  25. The use of data to determine how chip mills affect the economic base of a county that relies heavily on tourism and recreation. What are the tradeoffs and how do you put a price on many of these non-market values (externalities) that are priceless?
  26. What is the economic value of southern forests when things other than just the timber value are considered: tourism, scenic beauty, water quality, soil erosion, etc. What is the economic incentive for leaving the forest alone?
  27. I have also seen communities that suffer because of the presence of chip mills and lack of economic diversity. Areas that once held promise of recreation and tourism have become as sterile as its landscape.
  28. Compare the demographics of counties with relatively high timber extraction to those without. How is the recreation and tourism industry in the South impacted by clear-cuts? What is the economic value of intact forests in the South (i.e. water and air filtration, flood control, scenic beauty, etc.)?
  29. Economic tradeoffs associated with various forest management decisions, including impacts to local economies, recreation and tourism industries, and the like.
  30. What is the economic value of intact forest in the South (i.e., water and air filtration, flood control, scenic beauty, etc).
  31. What types of human recreational activities are having adverse effects on wildlife habitats and communities, and what are those effects?
  32. I can foresee a time in the near future when the only part Georgia that will be suitable for ecotourism is that part of the coast that has the good fortune to be protected by the 1970 saltmarsh preservation law.
  33. We need to protect Southern Forest as they provide us with so many resources and benefits.
  34. Should there be restrictions on the use of motorized recreation on public lands?
  35. The demands made on public lands for motorized recreation are entirly too taxing. Restrictions on RV use MUST be broadened, even to the extent of ending most RV use on public lands other than on existing paved roads (even there, limits on the number of vehicles should be made).
  36. What is the economic value of intact forests, e.g., water, air, filtration, flood control, scenic quality.
  37. Address effect of increased economic worth (all resource values).
  38. Non-monetary values (intrinsic values - e.g., getting away from others, spiritual renewal, etc.) of forests need to be included.
  39. Consider off-site impacts and links, responsibilities, and economic impacts (non-market values).
  40. Forests needed for recreation, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
  41. Address relationship between timber management and tourism (perception of incompatibility).
  42. Compare values of uses in variation types of forest (managed vs. non-managed).
  43. Evaluate role of public lands in recreations.
  44. Broaden definition of recreation (hunt, fish, hike, bird watching, driving, also traditional uses- gathering).
  45. Address role of all various ownership (industry, NIPE, public.)
  46. Hunting clubs, multi-pack dogs impact on environment--Bird watching.
  47. Consider loss of public access to private land (e.g. hunting).
  48. Impact of non-timber uses on environment.
  49. Inventory of scope of environmental education efforts in South (forest based).
  50. Effects of decreased stocks/diversity of fish.
  51. Independent to capture full range of rec. benefits.
  52. Examine potential for marketable recreation activities.
  53. How does develop must zoning affect QOL (planned vs. sprawl).
  54. Identify the assessment of land used for various types of recreation.
  55. Consider state resources and its utilization for recreation.
  56. Consider use of (tax credits) incentives to protect habitat or use for the variations uses.
  57. Consider role of education in conservation and use of public lands (private too)
  58. Address developing markets for recreation (public/private lands).
  59. Identify, address potential supply restrictions from liability laws. (How to market alternative forest uses, as impact on recreation supply.)
  60. Define comparative advantages for recreation (other products).
  61. Make sure non-timber extractive uses all addressed (related need for enforcement trespass laws).
  62. How does use of public lands affect private lands? (Can compl. private land use help?)
  63. Important to capture full range of recreational benefits.
  64. Address marketable benefits ® hunting leases, licenses, etc.
  65. Examine extent and potential for marketable recreation activities.
  66. Examine QOL issues associated with forest conditions. How does development and zoning affect QOL (planned vs. sprawl)?
  67. Identify the amount of land used for various types of recreation. What forms of recreation activity are available?
  68. How are recreational funds derived for Forest Service lands (recreation, staffs, facilities, etc.)?
  69. How many states utilize the National Trails Fund Act dollars?
  70. How are recreation activities bundled (e.g., gambling, outdoor recreation)?
  71. Consider – motor home/camping supply and demand.
  72. Consider state resources and its utilization for recreation
  73. Consider use of incentives (tax credits) to protect habitat – or use forests in various uses.
  74. Consider role of education in conservation and use of public lands (private too).
  75. Consider historical trends in recreation use - implications for future. Explicit re: full range of recreation and land ownership groups, capacity of groups to produce recreation opportunities vs. current use.
  76. Consider effects of recreation uses on the environment.
  77. Address international linkages – cost/environment impacts.
  78. What is the comparative advantage of the forestry sector?
  79. What are the opportunities for forest-based economic development?
  80. “Hunt clubs on forested lands and the use of multi-pack of dogs destroying habitat. Birdwatchers spend more dollars than any other recreation ATVS. Impacts of non-timer uses on the environment.”
  81. Inventory and scope of environmental forestry education efforts.
  82. Effects of decreased stocks and diversity of sport fish.
  83. Can we ID motivation of various forest owners to supply some recreation and not others, e.g., personal interest, banning some uses because of damage?
  84. “Dude forestry” opportunities, e.g., historic steam sawmill. What can foresters offer recreation?
  85. “At present, hunt club leases seem to be the only recognized recreation that foresters understand or permit. Frequently these leases exclude other uses especially the non-harvest users. Some hunt clubs permit large packs of dogs (in the 100s) to devastate other wildlife, non-game species, and habitat. Birdwatchers as a forest user recreation group spend more money per individual than any other group. Campers, backpackers, bikers, paddlers, equestrian and some ATV users may also be excluded from using forest. All or part of this group needs to be included when recreation can be permitted. User fees or yearly license could help pay for the necessary public safety patrolling and law enforcement. This would also help make sure that ATV users understand what they are doing to the environment and the danger of their sport. All the above need clearly delineated trails with markers and seasonal maintenance. The demand will increase for “forest based recreation:” so will the patrolling and the non-forester types of maintenance. Skidding of a single log by ATV or horse on a 4’ trail might be a novel idea whose time has come?”
  86. Consider full range of recreation ® consider these in a spatially explicit manner (where do they occur?).
  87. Identify suppliers of recreational opportunity - who owns the land.
  88. Consider the longevity of different types of recreational demands. How long can land sustain various uses?
  89. Consider existence and intrinsic values (also costs of acquiring these).
  90. What are the economic and environmental implications of alternative fiber sources? (Include economic viability.)
  91. Consider perception in difference of land use for different recreation types. Compare with forest management practices.
  92. With recreation, how much money stays in local economy (flows out)?
  93. How has technology affected recreation S & D? Correlation with changing technology.
  94. Look at environmental impact of recreation – ATVs.
  95. Want realization that forest management and recreation compliment each other.
  96. What are the sources of educational programs making students aware of forest “facts”?
  97. Concern: I’m convinced education isn’t priority. We must find out why those outside forestry community act and believe as they do.
  98. Does timber production preclude recreational uses?
  99. What is economic impact of various forms of recreation? Compare hunting vs. hiking vs. camping.
  100. How do public vs. private lands differ?
  101. Long term effects on ATVs on forests
  102. Timber floating down streams caused by lack of BMPs affects recreation.
  103. How does managed harvesting affect recreation?
  104. Are less aggressive harvests more compatible with recreation?
  105. What is the economic impact of timber production that excludes recreation (land set aside only for timber production)?
  106. Firewood cutting is another use
  107. Rotational length--what species are precluded by short rotation harvesting?
  108. Economic impact of recreation on industrial and commercial forestland.
  109. What is the trend for landowners who ship raw forest products out of the region?
  110. If timber harvest is precluded on public lands, what are likely adverse impacts to adjacent private lands? Will there be insect and disease and wildfire problems?
  111. If timber harvest is precluded on public lands, what are the benefits to private landowners?
  112. If private land becomes industrial forestry, how does public land become more valuable for recreation and tourism?
  113. Aesthetic and spiritual implications of the loss of intact old-growth forest

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Question as revised in response to these comments

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  modified: 1-MAR-2000
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