Making Conservation Work Sally Collins Associate Chief, USDA Forest Service

Four Threats Fire and fuelsLoss of open space Invasivespecies Unmanagedoutdoorrecreation

Loss of open space Loss of soil and water protection Loss of soil and water protection Loss of wildlife habitat Loss of wildlife habitat Loss of carbon sequestration Loss of carbon sequestration Loss of amenities Loss of amenities Outdoor recreation, scenic beauty, etc.Outdoor recreation, scenic beauty, etc.

Forest land ownership

Forest loss since : 1,044 million acres 1607: 1,044 million acres 1907: 759 million acres 1907: 759 million acres 1953: million acres 1953: million acres 1997: 747 million acres 1997: 747 million acres Minus ≈200,000 acres per yearMinus ≈200,000 acres per year 2050 (projected): million acres 2050 (projected): million acres Minus ≈440,000 acres per yearMinus ≈440,000 acres per year

National forest % of consumption

Developed land 1982: 72.8 million acres 1982: 72.8 million acres 2002: million acres 2002: million acres Plus ≈1.7 million acres per yearPlus ≈1.7 million acres per year 2052: 192 million acres 2052: 192 million acres ≈ 1 acre in 10≈ 1 acre in 10

Cost + freight to Baltimore, 2001 Based on Jim DeCosmo, “Future of the Texas Forest Industry,” 1/31/03

Private timberland Less profitable—more incentive to sell Less profitable—more incentive to sell 1963: million acres1963: million acres 2050 (projected): 343 million acres2050 (projected): 343 million acres Minus 25.9 million acres Minus 25.9 million acres

Global responsibility Is our consumption globally sustainable? Is our consumption globally sustainable? Illegal logging—Illegal logging— Up to 75% in some countries Up to 75% in some countries Deforestation—Deforestation— : 440 million acres+ worldwide : 440 million acres+ worldwide

Nontimber values Clean water and air Clean water and air Habitat for wildlife Habitat for wildlife Scenic beauty/sense of naturalness Scenic beauty/sense of naturalness Outdoor recreation Outdoor recreation Potential new opportunities are on private landPotential new opportunities are on private land

Forest ownership in the South

Rising demand for recreation

Emerging pattern Forest conversion to urban use Forest conversion to urban use Private forest land closed to public Private forest land closed to public Shrinking supply, rising demand Shrinking supply, rising demand

Water services from forests Milwaukee, 1993: 400,000+ sick, 100+ dead Milwaukee, 1993: 400,000+ sick, 100+ dead CDC health advisory CDC health advisory

New way of valuing forests Natural capital paying dividends Natural capital paying dividends We are liquidating our natural capital We are liquidating our natural capital Make environmental services pay Make environmental services pay For people to work for conservation, conservation must work for people For people to work for conservation, conservation must work for people

Making environmental services pay Examples: Examples: New York City watershedNew York City watershed Paying for watershed improvements Paying for watershed improvements Hancock Natural Resource GroupHancock Natural Resource Group Dividends from carbon trading Dividends from carbon trading Outdoor recreationOutdoor recreation Fee-based: International Paper Fee-based: International Paper Potential for in-kind services Potential for in-kind services

Making conservation work Financial incentives are key Financial incentives are key Traditional approaches also needed Traditional approaches also needed Translating noncommercial forest values into income Translating noncommercial forest values into income Clean waterClean water Carbon sequestrationCarbon sequestration BiodiversityBiodiversity Outdoor recreation, etc.Outdoor recreation, etc. You can help! You can help!