Issue: Forest Fragmentation

Forest fragmentation is the conversion of large contiguous areas of forest into relatively small patches of forest and non-forest in ways that reduce or eliminate the ability of the forest to provide ecological, economic, and social benefits.

Suburbanization is the main cause of fragmentation, creating openings and altering the landscape in ways that can have long-term ecological impacts. The number of non-industrial private owners of forested land is increasing, due to the division of forested lands into smaller private parcels for development. Forested land is now highly valued for home sites and recreational areas, not just forest products. Associated with this increase is the threat of greater fragmentation through the establishment of roads, utilities, houses, etc. The demand for forestland for recreation, housing, and investment purposes has resulted in increased values doubling roughly every three years

In addition, rising forestland values relative to other property and the Farmland Use Value Assessment program, fully implemented in 2000, has shifted tax burden to non-agriculture land, notably to private forest land. It is therefore important for communities to consider the importance of forested lands to their communities.

Use the model implementation language below to develop goals, objectives, and policies that address this issue.

• Model Implemenation Language
• Fact Sheet (PDF, 314K)

Consider this Issue by Element

Housing
Transportation
Utilities and Community Facilities
Agriculture, Natural & Cultural Resources
Intergovernmental Cooperation
Land Use

Trends related to Forest Fragmentation

Large blocks of industrial forests are changing hands rapidly.
In recent years there has been an increase in transfer of large blocks of forested lands between industrial companies, and in some notable cases, out of industrial ownership and into government or non-industrial private ownership. This trend may have important ecological, economic, and social implications for the future as these large forested land holdings are divided and, potentially, converted from forested lands to other land uses.

More people are purchasing forest lands.
While public ownership of Wisconsin's forests is increasing through state and county acquisitions, the number of non-industrial private owners of forested land is also up, due to the division of forested lands into smaller parcels. Forested land is now highly valued for home sites and recreational areas. Associated with more owners is the threat of greater fragmentation through the establishment of roads, utilities, houses, etc.

Development is increasing in forest fire-prone areas.
As development continues to expand into forested, grassland, and other wildland areas of the state, there is an increasing forest fire risk, particularly in those parts of the state which have high forest fire potential. The increased human presence in the wildland/urban interface presents a major challenge in protecting life, property and the natural resources from destructive forest fires.

Urbanization is increasing
Wisconsin is becoming more urbanized, increasing demand for additional community green space, and putting use pressure on existing urban and nearby recreational green space. Communities are becoming more aware of the need to manage their urban forest and more are doing it; however, the pressure on limited resources to maintain other infrastructure is also increasing.

Development is increasing.
Development continues to encroach upon forestland in Wisconsin. This trend is expanding the extent of urban forests while decreasing and fragmenting rural forests. People with urban attitudes and expectations are moving into rural areas and lakefront developments. This affects how the forest is used and impacts the ecology of these areas.

Rising forestland property taxes are impacting short and long term management decisions
Two factors, rising forestland values relative to other property and the Farmland Use Value Assessment Law, are redirecting a greater share of the state property tax burden to woodland. The demand for forestland recreation, housing, and investment purposes has resulted in assessed values doubling roughly every three years in recent trends reported by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Many landowners have experienced proportional increases in their tax bills. The Farmland Use Value Assessment program, fully implemented in 2000, has also had an effect of shifting tax burden to non-agriculture land, notably to private forestland.