PRESENTATION OUTLINE USDA Forest Service Washington, D.C.

Environmental Services: Making Conservation Work
Forest Service Associate Chief Sally Collins
Outdoor Writers Association of America
Spokane, WA—June 22, 2004

Making Conservation Work

Powerpoint Presentation (outline)

By Sally Collins -Associate Chief, USDA Forest Service

Speech: Environmental Services: Making Conservation Work

Four Threats

Fire and fuels

Loss of open space

Invasive species

Unmanaged Outdoor Rrecreation

Loss of open space

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

Forest land ownership Forest loss since 1600

• 1607: 1,044 million acres
• 1907: 759 million acres
• 1953: 756.2 million acres
• 1997: 747 million acres
  • Minus approx. 200,000 acres per year
• 2050 (projected): 723.8 million acres
  • Minus approx. 440,000 acres per year

National forest % of consumption Developed land

• 1982: 72.8 million acres
• 2002: 107.3 million acres
  • Plus approx. 1.7 million acres per year
• 2052: 192 million acres
  • Approx. 1 acre in 10

Cost + freight to Baltimore, 2001 Private timberland

• Less profitable—more incentive to sell
  • 1963: 368.9 million acres
  • 2050 (projected): 343 million acres
    • Minus 25.9 million acres

Global responsibility

• Is our consumption globally sustainable?
  • Illegal logging—
    • Up to 75% in some countries
  • Deforestation—
    • 1980-95: 440 million acres+ worldwide

Nontimber values

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

Forest ownership in the South Rising demand for recreation Emerging pattern

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

Water services from forests New way of valuing forests

• Natural capital paying dividends
• We are liquidating our natural capital
• Make environmental services pay
• For people to work for conservation, conservation must work for people

Making environmental services pay

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

Making conservation work

• Financial incentives are key
• Traditional approaches also needed
• Translating noncommercial forest values into income
  • Clean water
  • Carbon sequestration
  • Biodiversity
  • Outdoor recreation, etc.
• You can help!
  

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Presentation: Making Conservation Work (.ppt - 3.73mb)