Folks, The Society of American Foresters recently released a letter to the US Forest Service on old-growth forests. The letter discusses three key themes:
- Functional and Dynamic Definitions. As reflected in previous definitions of old growth (circa 1989) set by the USDA Forest Service, functional definitions of mature and old growth must mirror the regional variation in ecology found across landscapes and forest types. The established definitions provide a useful foundation for this initiative. However, Section 2(b)’s efforts to also inventory these forests with the intention of long-term conservation requires a dynamic model that can adapt to advances in modern forest science and research as well as changes in conditions like climate, ecology, and disturbance threats. To be functional, therefore, definitions and inventories should include assessments of climate vulnerability, disturbance risks, and other important factors associated with adaptation and conservation, which will help to inform management strategies. Forest conditions, management objectives, and management strategies should be regularly revisited through an iterative administrative process to reflect the dynamic needs of our forests.
- Education and Outreach. Public perceptions of forestry often incorrectly portray the science of forest management and the values of forestry professionals. Education and outreach from the agencies will be an essential component of a successful campaign to conserve old-growth and mature forests. In large part, our professional community is aligned on the management techniques and strategies required to conserve our forested resources, but public perceptions remain a hinderance to fulfilling these objectives at scale. As attendees noted, the forestry community requires a “social license” from the public to steward our forested resources, particularly when active management is required to foster their conservation. For example, it is not always intuitive to the public that conservation may require active management, or that long-term stability of forest carbon stocks may require near-term tree removal. The 2(b) initiative stands as an opportunity for the US to become a leader in a new era of forestry, one in which we learn to conserve our forests in a changing climate while providing more resources to a growing population. However, this requires a prolific and successful public relations campaign. A successful education and outreach campaign will inform the public that there is a spectrum of science-based strategies for conservation and that forest management can balance conservation objectives while continuing to produce the suite of essential resources that forests provide to humans.
- Collaboration with Non-Federal Partners. It is vital that the USDA Forest Service and the DOI Bureau of Land Management work with partners to plan and execute the tasks outlined under Section (2)b of E.O. 14072. This includes state, tribal, and local governments as well as universities, industry, and non-profits. Collaboration is important not only to mobilizing the resources necessary to achieve our goals at scale and across boundaries, but also for building a diverse portfolio of knowledge and objectives. In our efforts to connect and educate the public, collaboration will also be a valuable platform for building trust between the federal government and the public.
I’m not sure that that is true.. “but public perceptions remain a hindrance to fulfilling these objectives at scale. As attendees noted, the forestry community requires a “social license” from the public to steward our forested resources, particularly when active management is required to foster their conservation.”
It seems to me that the public supports fuel treatments around their communities. Grizzly Flats for example. And say, in the northeast, land is mostly private so public perceptions may not matter.
Or maybe there’s a deeper concern underlying this?
I think it’s unfortunate that the first bullet muddles things a bit by mixing two ideas. In order to determine what old growth is, the definition of “old growth” should be practical in the sense of “knowing it when you see it.” The question of how to manage old growth does require other “assessments of climate vulnerability, disturbance risks, and other important factors associated with adaptation and conservation, which will help to inform management strategies.”