The Forests on the Edge project seeks to improve understanding of the processes and thresholds associated with increases in housing density in private forests and likely effects on the contributions of those forests to timber, wildlife, and water resources.
This report, the first in a series, displays and describes housing density projections on private forests, by watershed, across the conterminous United States. Results indicate that some 44.2 million acres (over 11 percent) of private forests—particularly in the East, where most private forests occur—are likely to see dramatic increases in housing development in the next three decades, with consequent impacts on ecological, economic, and social services. Although conversion of forest land to other uses over time is inevitable, local jurisdictions and states can target efforts to prevent or reduce conversion of the most valuable forest lands to keep private working forests resilient and productive.
Authors
Susan M. Stein is a private forest-land studies coordinator and Mike Dechter is a natural resource specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Cooperative Forestry Staff, Mail Stop 1123, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1123.
Ronald E. McRoberts is a group leader for research and analysis and Mark D. Nelson is a research forester, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station, 1992 Folwell Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108.
Ralph Alig is a research forester, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331.
David M. Theobald is a research scientist, Colorado State University, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1499.
Mike Eley is a GIS coordinator, American Farmland Trust, 1200 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Mary Carr is a technical publications editor, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, CAT Publishing Arts, 1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia, WA 98512.
For further information contact:
Susan Stein
Private Forest Land Studies Coordinator
USDA Forest Service
Cooperative Forestry Staff
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250-0003
(202) 205-0837