Making Conservation Making Conservation WorkWork

Sally CollinsSally Collins

Associate Chief, USDA Forest Associate Chief, USDA Forest ServiceService

Four ThreatsFour Threats

Fire and fuelsFire and fuels Loss of open spaceLoss of open space

InvasiveInvasive speciesspeciesUnmanagedUnmanagedoutdooroutdoorrecreationrecreation

Loss of open spaceLoss of open space

Loss of soil and water protectionLoss of soil and water protection Loss of wildlife habitatLoss of wildlife habitat Loss of carbon sequestrationLoss of carbon sequestration Loss of amenitiesLoss of amenities

• Outdoor recreation, scenic beauty, etc.Outdoor recreation, scenic beauty, etc.

Forest land ownershipForest land ownership

20%

22%58%

Forest Service

Other public

Private

Forest loss since 1600Forest loss since 1600

1607: 1,044 million acres1607: 1,044 million acres 1907: 759 million acres1907: 759 million acres 1953: 756.2 million acres1953: 756.2 million acres 1997: 747 million acres1997: 747 million acres

• Minus ≈200,000 acres per yearMinus ≈200,000 acres per year 2050 (projected): 723.8 million acres2050 (projected): 723.8 million acres

• Minus ≈440,000 acres per yearMinus ≈440,000 acres per year

National forest % of consumptionNational forest % of consumption

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Percent

Developed landDeveloped land

1982: 72.8 million acres1982: 72.8 million acres 2002: 107.3 million acres2002: 107.3 million acres

• Plus ≈1.7 million acres per yearPlus ≈1.7 million acres per year 2052: 192 million acres2052: 192 million acres

• ≈ ≈ 1 acre in 101 acre in 10

Cost + freight to Baltimore, 2001Cost + freight to Baltimore, 2001

050

100150200250300350

E.Europe

S.America

W.Europe

E.Canada

U.S.South

US$/MBF

Based on Jim DeCosmo, “Future of the Texas Forest Industry,” 1/31/03

Private timberlandPrivate timberland

Less profitable—more incentive to Less profitable—more incentive to sellsell• 1963: 368.9 million acres1963: 368.9 million acres• 2050 (projected): 343 million acres2050 (projected): 343 million acres

Minus 25.9 million acresMinus 25.9 million acres

Global responsibilityGlobal responsibility Is our consumption globally sustainable?Is our consumption globally sustainable?

• Illegal logging—Illegal logging— Up to 75% in some countriesUp to 75% in some countries

• Deforestation—Deforestation— 1980-95: 440 million acres+ worldwide1980-95: 440 million acres+ worldwide

Nontimber valuesNontimber values

Clean water and airClean water and air Habitat for wildlifeHabitat for wildlife Scenic beauty/sense of naturalnessScenic beauty/sense of naturalness Outdoor recreationOutdoor recreation

• Potential new opportunities are on Potential new opportunities are on private landprivate land

Forest ownership in the SouthForest ownership in the South

6%10%

84%

Forest Service

Other Public

Private

Rising demand for recreationRising demand for recreation

1983 20010

50,000,000

100,000,000

150,000,000

200,000,000

250,000,000

Emerging patternEmerging pattern

Forest conversion to urban useForest conversion to urban use Private forest land closed to publicPrivate forest land closed to public Shrinking supply, rising demandShrinking supply, rising demand

Water services from forestsWater services from forests

Milwaukee, 1993: 400,000+ sick, 100+ Milwaukee, 1993: 400,000+ sick, 100+ deaddead

CDC health advisoryCDC health advisory

New way of valuing forestsNew way of valuing forests

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

conservation must work for peopleconservation must work for people

Making environmental services payMaking environmental services pay

Examples:Examples:• New York City watershedNew York City watershed

Paying for watershed improvementsPaying for watershed improvements

• Hancock Natural Resource GroupHancock Natural Resource Group Dividends from carbon tradingDividends from carbon trading

• Outdoor recreationOutdoor recreation Fee-based: International PaperFee-based: International Paper Potential for in-kind servicesPotential for in-kind services

Making conservation workMaking conservation work

Financial incentives are keyFinancial incentives are key Traditional approaches also neededTraditional approaches also needed Translating noncommercial forest Translating noncommercial forest

values into incomevalues into income• Clean waterClean water• Carbon sequestrationCarbon sequestration• BiodiversityBiodiversity• Outdoor recreation, etc.Outdoor recreation, etc.

You can help!You can help!