Community-Based Forestry in the United States a report from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities
Community-Based Forestry in the United States Access & Tenure
Access & Tenure: Public Lands
Public Lands Collaboration has helped resolve conflict Policy barriers are inevitable… and sometimes devastating Policy needs to be integrated into CBF efforts Declines in raw material have eroded rural infrastructure and investment
Access & Tenure: Private Lands
Private Lands ½ of all forestland in US is privately owned Key question: how can CBF generate public benefit in private forest landscapes?
Private Lands Access & tenure especially critical for low income communities & communities of color 1910–2000: African-American forest holdings in the South fell from 15 million acres to 2 million
Private Lands: CBF Opportunities Expand wealth (eg via new markets) Land acquisition by low-income, African-American, and Native/tribal communities Increase local capture of forest value streams
Private Lands: Challenges Fragmentation: since 1978 20-25% of all private forests have changed ownership Clearing & development of forestland Emergence of timberland investors: many sell after 10-15 years