Issue: Forest-based Recreation

More people than ever before are using Wisconsin's forests for a wide array of recreational activities. Wisconsin households spend over $5.5 billion per year on goods and services associated with forest-based recreation. Of this total spending, roughly $2.5 billion are spent in local regions within close proximity of recreational sites. This provides a significant portion of the receipts of tourism-dependent sectors in Wisconsin.

More forests are being used and managed for multiple ecological, economic, and social benefits. For example, snowmobilers, off highway vehicle users, four-wheelers, and dirt-bikers are taking to the forests in ever-increasing numbers. There are some safety and environmental concerns associated with motorized use of forests. Motorized recreationists, however, also provide economic support for the community in which they recreate. It will be necessary to manage these increases in recreational pressures through careful planning if we are to meet the needs of forest-based recreationists, minimize user conflicts and maintain the sustainability of the forest resource.

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

• Model Implementation Language
• Fact Sheet (PDF, 325K)

Consider the Issue by Element

Agricultural, Natural and Cultural Resources
Economic Development
Intergovernmental Cooperation
Land Use
Transportation

Trends related to Forest based Recreation

Increasing need for Land trusts and state and county land purchases.
With changes in ownership of industrial lands and demographic changes in non-industrial private landowners, the amount of forested land open for public use is decreasing. Recently, large blocks of forested lands have transferred ownership not only between industry, but also into government and non-industrial private ownership. This issue has implications for the future of public recreation. There are important ecological, economic, and social concerns as these large blocks of forest are sold, divided and potentially converted from forested lands to other uses. The ability of the State and the Counties, in concert with Land Trusts, to acquire some of these lands can be controversial when private ownership of forested tracts is in high demand.

Less forested land is accessible for public use.
With changes in ownership of industrial lands and demographic changes in non-industrial private landowners, the amount of forested land open for public use is decreasing. This trend has implications for the future of public hunting, fishing, and other forms of recreation.

Conflicting use of forests is a public debate.
Forests are used for recreation, to provide aesthetic beauty, to produce forest products, to maintain water quality, and to preserve wildlife habitat, among many other uses. Not all of these uses are always compatible in the same forest. The debate among people who value the forest for different reasons has grown in recent years. Some forest uses and some forest management techniques are controversial. This debate will continue to inform management decisions made in Wisconsin's communities.

Differing views on the role of public forests.
As our growing populace places more extensive and diverse demands on our forests, the conflict is most acutely felt on the public forests. The federal, state, county and local forests have, to varying degrees, been subject to increasing conflicts between various interests and among various users. The role of public forests at different scales needs to be more clearly defined, and the implications of possible decisions made clear.

Motorized recreation is becoming more popular.
Snowmobilers, off highway vehicle users, ATV's, and dirt-bikers are taking to the forests in ever-increasing numbers. There are a number of issues associated with this trend. There are more complaints of crowding on trails used for motorized recreation and more conflict with other types of recreationists. There are also safety and environmental concerns associated with motorized use of the forests. Ecological impacts on the trails-exhaust fumes, trail erosion and rutting, noise-can cause environmental problems in the immediate area, as well as in habitat off the trail. Motorized recreationists also tend to spend more money recreating than other types of recreationists, thus providing greater financial support for the community in which they recreate.

Demand for forest-based recreation and associated services are increasing.
More people within Wisconsin want to use our forests for recreation. Forest recreation in general is growing in popularity, i.e. a growing percentage of Wisconsin's citizens participate in forest recreation, and there are more people in Wisconsin to participate. A growing population of retirees also increases the interest in all sorts of recreation, including forest-based recreation. The increase in retirees using Wisconsin's forests for recreation also increases the demand for some types of services associated with forest recreation like lodging, restaurants, and retail stores.

Forests are in demand for a mix of uses.
More forests are being used and managed for multiple economic and other benefits. For example, many forest areas can support both timber removal and recreation. There are, however, trade-offs that are made when choosing what benefits to use a forest for. Some uses, such as wilderness, preclude other uses, such as timber harvest. Because these activities rely on the same resource base, it will become increasingly important to coordinate activities in a way that will allow many uses of the forest.