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Forest Management Policy in the Northern Forest
Ecological Economics Approach to Assessing Policy Implications
Northern Forest Region
www.northernforestalliance.org
• 26 Million Acre Expanse of Forestland Covering Four States• Transition Zone Between Temperate and Boreal Forests• Major Ecosystem Service Provider • Crucial Biodiversity and Habitat Region
Socio-Economic Characteristics
• 1 Million People Live Within the Region
• 70 Million Within 8 Hour Drive
• 83% of Land Owned Privately, 17% Public (3% of Which is Federal)
• Forest is a Cultural and Economic Mainstay for the Region – Forest Industry Contribution to the Four States’ Economies Estimated to be $14.7 Billion(1990)
Recent History of the NF Economic Issues
• Stagnant Timber Prices• Timber Industry Buyouts • Massive Land Sales • Economic Boom in New England• Land Value Increases - Speculation• More Forest Industry Buyouts Focus on Quick
Returns (high grading, clear cutting, dev’ment sales) • Industry Weakened by Globalization Effects and
Recession in Late 1980’s – Early 1990’s
Recent History of the NF Political Issues
• NE Socio-Political Characteristics Allowed For Attention to Be Given to the Region
• 1989-90: NF Lands Study (NFLS) Conducted by the Forest Service and Assisted by “Governors’ Task Force”
• 1990-1994: The NF Lands Council (NFLC) Was Formed to Advise on Public Policy and “Identify Ways to Reinforce the Region’s Traditional Patterns of Land Ownership and Use”
Northern Forest Lands Council
• Provided 37 Policy Recommendations to State and Federal Government Focused on:– Improving Quality of Life by Creating Economic
Stability– Encouraging the Production of a Sustainable Yield
of Forest Products– Protecting Recreational, Scenic, and Wildlife
Resources
Key Policy Recommendations/Outcomes of NFLC
1) Fostering Stewardship of Private Lands
2) Protecting Exceptional Resources
3) Strengthening Economies in Rural Communities
4) Promoting Informed Decisions
Review of Implemented Policies
• 16 Govt. Policies Recommended• 50% Not Implemented At All• Only 3 Implemented With Progress Made –
All of Which Were Economic Policy Recommendations
• The Four Federal Recommendations on Env. Protection Not Implemented
• States – Implemented most policies, but many were either partially done or not done at all
Scale Issues
• Has the Scale Question Been Answered by the NFLS/NFLC? Not Really a Question That They Even Addressed
• Anthropocentric Policy (Influenced Heavily By the Maine Forest Industry)
• Scale of NF “Green Line” or Scale of the Actual Ecosystem?
Just Distribution Issues
• Property Rights Advocates
• Property Rights Argument: Local Owner vs. Absentee Landlord
• “Exceptional Land” Protections
• Green Line equity
• Tax Dollars: Timber Subsidies vs. Conservation
Implementation of Property Policies
Efficient Allocation Issues
• “Preserve Existing Patterns….”
• What to fix? Price vs. Quantity
• Public Good Bundle of Problems