Forestry
Division of Forestry Strategic Direction
Statewide Forest Strategy 2010
Statewide Forest Assessment 2010
Forest Sustainability Framework
Statewide Forest Plan 2004
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Survey on Forestry Trends and Issues
As a first step toward developing a statewide forest plan, we would appreciate your input on the following trends and issues (which are the same ones that appear in the Assessment Report). Please indicate whether you agree or disagree that each trend or issue is an important one that should be addressed by a statewide forest plan for the next decade. Additional comments are welcome. At the end of this survey tool, we invite you to describe important trends or issues that are not yet included, and we ask you to tell us the ten trends or issues that are most important to you.
Our preference is that you complete and submit the following online survey here. However, if you prefer, you may print, complete and mail this survey back to us at:
DNR Division of Forestry
Attn: Forest Assessment
Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Thank-you for helping us to focus our planning efforts on the trends and issues that are most important to Wisconsin's citizens.
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Ecological
There are a number of trends and issues
regarding species composition, age-structure, and other ways that
foresters and other resource managers analyze forest resources.
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A1. Trend: Wisconsin's forests are aging
and forest succession is occurring.
Wisconsin's forests are aging. Most of the state's forestland is a result of regeneration or planting in the early to mid-1900s. Mid-to late-succession maple-basswood forests are replacing the early succession aspen-birch and oak forests of the '40s-'70s. The forest inventory of 1996 was the first Wisconsin inventory to show more maple-basswood acres than aspen-birch. Aging forests--and the associated species composition, structure and function changes--impact economic and recreational opportunities, as well as biodiversity.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 25% Agree 51% Not Sure 18% Disagree 4% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments:180
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A2. Trend: Forestland is increasing.
Between
1983 and 1996, Wisconsin’s forestland increased by 640,000
acres. This trend of increasing forestland began in the 1960s and
is mostly the result of marginal agricultural land converting back
to forests.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 23% Agree 54% Not Sure 14% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 231
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A3. Issue: Some species are declining.
Some tree species have declined or effectively been removed from Wisconsin's forests. American elm and butternut have declined in recent years. American chestnut has effectively been removed from Wisconsin's forests. Dutch elm disease, butternut canker, and chestnut blight have seriously impacted these beautiful and valuable tree species. Some individual trees show resistance to the various diseases, but not enough to hope for recovery in the near future. Jack pine and the jack pine forest type acreage is also decreasing. Much of the acreage is being replaced with other pine or oak species. The oak in particular reflects a later successional type due to a management choice or lack of disturbance, primarily fire.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 31% Agree 51% Not Sure 13% Disagree 5% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 183
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A4. Trend: There is limited oak regeneration in southern Wisconsin.
On a
statewide basis, oak-hickory acreage increased slightly between
1983 and 1996 (primarily on very sandy sites); however, acreage
decreased in southern Wisconsin. This trend is most likely a
result of aging, concentrated oak-hickory forests in southwestern
Wisconsin with continued heavy selection harvests, which increase
the rate of succession to elm-ash-soft maple and maple-basswood
types. This, in conjunction with the difficulty in regenerating
the mid-tolerant northern red oak on good sites in southwestern
Wisconsin and the resulting large decrease in seedling-sapling
acreage, provides support for a continued decline in oak-hickory
acres and the red oak species in southern Wisconsin.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 30% Agree 44% Not Sure 21% Disagree 5% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 176
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A5. Issue: information about biodiversity is scarce.
We are still exploring and learning about
biodiversity and what it means to human beings and to the forest.
There are clearly holes in our knowledge. For example:
*
We do not have a good understanding of the diversity of Wisconsin's non-vascular plants, invertebrates, or herptiles.
*
Genetic diversity within species is something we're just beginning to examine.
*
The relationship of forest composition and structure to ecosystem function--a critical piece of the puzzle--is not well understood beyond some basic knowledge of nutrient and energy cycles.
*
An understanding of the different scales at which
biodiversity is important is also just emerging.
*
The positive and negative impacts of forest succession on
species diversity are not well known.
*
The role of reserves, buffers, and corridors need further
study to clarify the relationship with conserving biodiversity.
*
The importance of coarse woody debris within forest is a
stand attribute that can be managed for; however, guidelines need
to be developed for various forest types and sites.
*
Monitoring management activities and developing feedback
mechanisms need to be refined in order to understand forest
changes and subsequent adaptive management.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 34% Agree 39% Not Sure 19% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 176
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A6. Issue: It is a challenge to make
scientific information
relevant to decision-making.
Forests
are complex. Describing even what we do know about forests in ways
that can be readily understood and used by people who want to
participate in planning for future forest management is an
increasing challenge for natural resources professionals. The good
news is that with tools such as Geographic Information Systems
(GIS), we can provide very useful visual aids to help people think
about multiple layers and scales of information.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 27% Agree 52% Not Sure 15% Disagree 5% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 149
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A7. Trend: The list of threatened and
endangered species is growing.
Currently
there are 33 threatened and 34 endangered Forest species listed on
either the Wisconsin or federal endangered and threatened lists.
These numbers are up from 1985, the time of the last assessment.
These latest listings are concentrated in the invertebrate and
plant categories. The increase in listed species is largely due to
our increasing knowledge about a wider variety of species and
their habitat needs.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 29% Agree 43% Not Sure 17% Disagree 9% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 177
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A8. Issue: Invasive exotic species are an
increasing threat.
Human
activities—trade, travel, gardening, and recreation—have
resulted in many species not native to Wisconsin being introduced
to the state. Some of these new species cause problems in native
ecosystems. Exotic species often have few if any competitors or
predators, making it easy for them to take over an ecosystem,
significantly altering the structure and diversity of the
system. The gypsy moth, Asian long-horned beetle, Dutch elm
disease, garlic mustard, and Japanese honeysuckle are some of the
exotic species that have invaded, are invading, or pose a future
threat to Wisconsin’s forests.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 63% Agree 29% Not Sure 5% Disagree 2% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 162
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A9. Issue: Some ecosystems and
important development stages of ecosystems are rare.
Savannas,
barrens, and advanced successional stages are ecosystems that have
become extremely rare. Savannas, for example, were once common
ecosystems that are now very rare. They have been converted to
farmland, succeeded to forest, or changed in land use to urban
development. Barrens were historically rare and now have become
globally imperiled. These forest systems have also been altered in
their composition, for example through increased plantations or
stocking of trees in barrens and savanna, as well as through
fire suppression in systems that are fire-dependent.
Hemlock relicts are declining due to deer damage, poor
regeneration, and conversion of land to other uses.
Common ecosystems present concerns due to changes in
integrity. For example, riparian forests are becoming
significantly degraded. Human activities are impacting communities
along rivers and streams. Development, agriculture, and pollution
have impacted many riparian forests, affecting the native
biodiversity [DNR, 1995].
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 36% Agree 41% Not Sure 16% Disagree 6% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 157
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A10. Issue: Forest disturbance patterns are
changing.
Forest
disturbance patterns have changed dramatically over the past
century. This has resulted in significant impacts upon forest
composition, structure, and function. Once, the dominant
short-term disturbance factors in Wisconsin’s forests were
windthrow, fire, disease, and severe weather. Today,
fire has been widely suppressed in our forests. Human-caused
disturbance is now predominant in Wisconsin’s forests, while
disease, windthrow, and severe weather continue as disturbance
factors. Various types, intensities and timing of disturbance have
different impacts on forest composition, structure and function.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 24% Agree 52% Not Sure 16% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 119
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A11. Issue: Stands of old forest are rare.
Since
the Cutover, what people think of as old forest1 in Wisconsin has
been relatively rare, with notable exceptions of stands of old
forest in the Menominee Forest (Menominee County), on Goodman
Timberland, and in the Connor Forest (Marinette, Forest and
Florence Counties). What remains is scattered across the state in
very small parcels, mostly in cedar bogs or spruce swamps. Our
aging forests provide opportunities to manage for old forest.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 35% Agree 42% Not Sure 14% Disagree 8% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 168
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A12. Issue: The forest is becoming more
fragmented.
Permanent
fragmentation is the process of converting large contiguous areas
of forest into smaller patches of forest and non-forest land use
in ways that do not allow the forest to regenerate. In contrast,
habitat fragmentation temporarily decreases the continuous area of
a similar-aged or structured forest, which may impact some
species. Temporary habitat fragmentation occurs naturally through
agents such as fire, windthrow, or severe weather. Humans
can also increase the rate of permanent or habitat fragmentation
in Wisconsin’s forests. Road building, agriculture, and urban
development all contribute to permanent fragmentation, whereas
timber harvest contributes to habitat fragmentation. However,
there are dramatic differences between the impacts of temporary
habitat fragmentation, such as timber harvest, which provides for
regeneration of the forest, and fragmentation under conditions
that create permanent or very long-term alterations to forest
systems, such as development and agriculture. Like many of the
issues identified in this section, this one is much debated.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 39% Agree 39% Not Sure 13% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 182
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A13. Trend: Average acreage burned by forest
fires has declined.
Great
strides have been made in controlling forest fires since
initial efforts to suppress fires over 70 years ago. The
annual acreage burned in Wisconsin has declined with improvements
in forest fire detection and suppression techniques, saving
lives, property and forest resources. However, weather continues
to play a critical role in determining the number and extent of
fires in any given year. It has been more than a decade since
Wisconsin has experienced prolonged severe fire weather.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 19% Agree 49% Not Sure 18% Disagree 12% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 172
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A14. Issue: Control of fire affects forest
composition.
The
control of forest fires in Wisconsin is a necessity given
the juxtaposition of forests, people and property. The suppression
of forest fires affects the composition, structure and
function of forests by facilitating the conversion of non-forested
land to forest. Controlled fire is increasingly used as a
tool to mimic the attributes of fire in maintaining some
forest and non-forest ecosystems, including prairie, oak savanna
and pine barrens.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 25% Agree 50% Not Sure 17% Disagree 6% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 145
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Economic
Forests and other natural resources have
provided the base for human economic activity since the
first economic system was developed. In Wisconsin, the
forest products industry and forest-based recreation are both very
important to our state and local economies. People also place
economic value on forest aesthetics and forest ecosystem
functions.
Economic trends can be very dynamic.
Individuals often have very different ideas about what the
economic priorities and needs for a community should be. These
reasons, among others, can create contentious issues regarding
forest uses. There are a host of important factors coming together
to shape Wisconsin’s forest uses. The special character of the
timber and tourism industries impact how they function, as does
the high value that people place on forests and forest activities.
The economic value of the ecological
functions that forests provide, although often overlooked, is also
important. Erosion control, nutrient cycling, and flood control
are examples of important functions performed by forests that have
obvious economic worth.
Some important trends and issues in the
forest economics arena include:
B1. Trend: Succession is changing forest
composition
and potential forest products.
As discussed previously, Wisconsin’s
forests are maturing, succeeding from an aspen-birch dominated
composition to maple-basswood and other mid-to late-successional
forest types. This change in species composition will have a major
impact on the forest industry and the goods it produces.
The transition of Wisconsin’s northern
forests from early successional to late successional forest types
is the key factor that will affect the forest industry in the
future. This transition will cause the industry to adapt to use
more soft hardwoods, such as red maple, for both pulpwood and
sawlogs. Along with this transition to later successional forests
comes an increase in tree size in the predominate species, such as
maple, which will help supply the sawmills.
The
southern forests in Wisconsin are predominately oak-hickory forest
type and are transitioning to maple-basswood and elm-ash-soft
maple types. In this part of the state there may be a greater
dependence on the production of pulpwood and a consolidation of
sawmills due to a reduction of sawtimber supply from the southern
broadleaf forest.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 23% Agree 53% Not Sure 18% Disagree 6% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 124
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B2. Trend/Issue: Demand for forest products is
increasing.
There
is an increasing demand for wood and wood products globally,
including the products that Wisconsin’s forests provide. Paper,
timber, furniture, crates —even syrup and wild mushrooms — are
experiencing an increased demand. This increase in demand can be
met in a number of ways. Increased importation, increased
production through forest management, shifting harvests to other
states and/or countries, shifting harvest to other species,
increased efficiency in production, recycling, reuse of products,
shifting demand to non-forest products, and reducing demand
together form the range of alternatives, all of which have
environmental, economic, and social consequences.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 36% Agree 48% Not Sure 10% Disagree 5% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 125
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B3. Trend: Demand for forest-based recreation
and associated services is 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.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 36% Agree 44% Not Sure 11% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 190
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B4. Issue: 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—like wilderness—preclude other uses—like 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.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 42% Agree 43% Not Sure 9% Disagree 4% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 173
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B5. Issue: “Green” accounting is a new way
of
evaluating forest benefits.
There
are functions that a forest serves that are not considered in
traditional economic accounting. For example, while most people
value clean air and water, there has not been an accepted method
of calculating the value of the environmental functions a forest
provides. The difficulty in accounting for these values can lead
to a lack of understanding when assessing the economic value of
forests. Likewise there has not been a way to establish the value
of forest aesthetics or other societal values. New research is
developing ways to assign value to these aspects of forests (a
concept called “green” accounting).
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
B5 Strongly Agree 28% Agree 36% Not Sure 24% Disagree 8% Strongly Disagree 3%
Comments: 141
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B6. Issue: Sustainable management
certification is emerging.
The
forest products economy is a global one. High value veneer timber
is likely to be shipped around the world, while wood for lumber
and pulpwood is usually processed in the same region in which it
grew. An outgrowth of the global marketplace has been the call for
“green certification” of forest products. The stamp of certification
is meant to assure the buyer that the product came from
sustainably managed forestland. There is currently a wide range of
certification systems, including Forest Stewardship Council,
Sustainable Forestry Initiative, American Tree Farm, and
International Standards Organization (ISO) 1400. Several Wisconsin
lumber producers are choosing to become certified.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 28% Agree 41% Not Sure 21% Disagree 8% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 152
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B7. Trend: Recycling is increasing.
Recycling
of paper and wood products has increased dramatically over the
last inventory period. Nationwide, between 1970 and 2000,
recycling has increased from under 7% of total waste to about 30%
of total waste [EPA, 2000]. In weight, that increase has been even
more dramatic, as our waste production has also increased
significantly.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 37% Agree 42% Not Sure 14% Disagree 6% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 145
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B8. Trend: Efficiency in use of wood has
increased.
With
improved technology for harvesting and milling, processing wood is
now more efficient. More of the tree can be utilized at each
step of the process, and new markets are being developed for
wastes, such as saw dust, that once were discarded.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 36% Agree 45% Not Sure 11% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 103
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Social
As discussed previously in this report,
Wisconsin’s forests are used by citizens for a wide variety of
activities. Both numbers of participants and types of activities
are increasing. Following are some trends and issues that
represent the social part of the management equation.
C1. Trend: Large blocks of industrial forests
are changing hands rapidly.
In
recent years we have seen 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.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 35% Agree 41% Not Sure 16% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 150
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C2. Trend: More people are purchasing forested
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 more fragmentation—more roads, more yards, more
houses, more paths, etc.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 47% Agree 37% Not Sure 8% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 177
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C3. Issue: Private forestry assistance is
needed.
With
the increasing number of non-industrial private forest land
owners, it is becoming more difficult to provide professional
forest management guidance to these landowners. It is estimated
that only about 20% of these landowners receive professional
assistance prior to having timber harvested from their lands. With
over nine million acres of forest land, the management of these
non-industrial private lands are critical to ensuring the
sustainability of Wisconsin’s forests.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 51% Agree 35% Not Sure 8% Disagree 4% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 174
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C4. Trend: Demographics of forest land owners
is changing.
Today, forested parcels are more likely to
be purchased by people who have different values than the forest
owner of the past. Rather than the farmer who owned forest and
used it primarily to supplement his income, many of today’s new
forest owners are from urban areas who own forest for primarily
recreational use or aesthetic values. These newer private owners
tend to be more cautious about harvesting their timber, less
knowledgeable about rural areas and the forest they’ve moved to,
wealthier than past owners, and more likely to be absentee
landowners.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 36% Agree 43% Not Sure 13% Disagree 6% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments:139
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C5. Trend: Less forested land is accessible
for public use.
With
changes in ownership of industrial lands and demographic changes
in non-industrial private land owners, 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.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 35% Agree 39% Not Sure 13% Disagree 10% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 193
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C6. Trend: Stakeholders are more involved in
forest decisions.
For
a number of reasons, there is increased participation by a variety
of stakeholders in decisions affecting forest policy and
management of public lands. Various levels of government, local
community groups, concerned industry groups, recreational users,
property owners, and environmental groups are often a part of
major decisions affecting Wisconsin’s forests.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 21% Agree 50% Not Sure 20% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 150
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C7. Issue: 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.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 31% Agree 48% Not Sure 13% Disagree 6% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 158
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C8. Issue: Clearcutting and even-age
management
techniques are controversial.
Clearcutting
is a timber harvesting process that removes all trees from an area
at the same time. This method typically encourages the management
of earlier successional species in forest types that have a
uniform age. This even-age management technique, along with other
techniques (such as seed tree and shelterwood harvests), create
aesthetic and ecological changes to a forest. A variety of forest
values (both aesthetic and ecological ) benefit from this activity
while at the same time a variety of values are negatively
affected. The trade-offs typically polarize advocates for specific
forest values. Forest types that are favored with these techniques
are pioneer to mid-successional types. Other disturbances, either
natural or human caused disturbance (such as fire), could be
used to maintain these types. Fire has historically been
suppressed or not used in forest management prescriptions due to
public health and safety concerns or the lack of technical
experience and resources. The use of even-age techniques and other
disturbance oriented management tools (like prescribed fire)
will continue to be an issue of conflict.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 34% Agree 44% Not Sure 13% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 234
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C9. Issue: 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.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 35% Agree 50% Not Sure 11% Disagree 3% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments:117
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C10. Trend/Issue: Motorized recreation is
becoming more popular.
Snowmobilers,
off highway vehicle users, four-wheelers, 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.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 50% Agree 35% Not Sure 8% Disagree 5% Strongly Disagree 3%
Comments: 334
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C11. Trend: More trails are being created and
used.
Trails
have become very popular throughout the United States, and
Wisconsin is no exception. The “rails to trails” program, the
national trail system, and the general interest in trail
activities has resulted in many new trails being constructed and
used in Wisconsin’s forests. Trails are used primarily for
hiking, running, walking, biking, horseback riding, snowmobiling,
and backpacking.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 37% Agree 47% Not Sure 10% Disagree 5% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 216
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C12. Issue: Development is increasing in
fire-prone areas.
As
development continues to expand into forested areas of the state,
there is an increasing fire risk, particularly in those
parts of the state which have high fire potential. The
absence of prolonged severe fire weather throughout the
1990s has the potential to embolden those who wish to develop in
fire prone areas. The increased human presence in the
wildland/urban interface presents a major challenge in protecting
life, property and the forest resource from destructive forest
fires.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 31% Agree 46% Not Sure 15% Disagree 6% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 139
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C13.
Trend/Issue: Consumption patterns are not linked to
production
Americans
continue to increase their consumption of forest products, while
at the same time many are calling for reducing the amount of
forest land that is actively managed to produce those
products. The disconnect that occurs between resource
production and resource consumption is causing ecological, social
and economic consequences, including here in Wisconsin.
These consequences include the shifting of harvest to different
parts of the country and world, consumer decisions about product choices and
land use choices.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 31% Agree 39% Not Sure 22% Disagree 6% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 123
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Urban Forests
Along with increasing understanding of the
importance of our urban forests comes a variety of issues centered
on economics, planning, environmental justice, quality of life,
and personal taste. Here are some of the trends and issues
associated with urban forests:
D1. Trend: 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.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 32% Agree 45% Not Sure 15% Disagree 6% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 114
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D2. Trend: Development is increasing.
Development
continues to encroach upon forest land 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 lake-front
developments. This affects how the forest is used and impacts the
ecology of these areas.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 47% Agree 39% Not Sure 9% Disagree 5% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 140
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D3. Issue: Absentee landowners affect urban
canopy.
There
is less concern for urban land stewardship from absentee
landowners and renters, so trees and other vegetation are not
managed and not replaced as they die. This results in declining
canopy in lower socioeconomic areas dominated by rental
properties.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 23% Agree 36% Not Sure 25% Disagree 14% Strongly Disagree 3%
Comments: 123
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D4. Issue: Exotic species threaten urban
forests.
Invasive, exotic species planted by
urbanites may threaten natural areas in and around communities.
Urban forests may become a focal point in a conflict between the
traditional horticultural industry and ecological
preservationists.
Specifically,
gypsy moth is making its way westward in Wisconsin. Impacts of the
moth on the urban forest can be very distressing for community
residents, and stop-the-spread and control measures can be
controversial.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 41% Agree 40% Not Sure 12% Disagree 4% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 116
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Global Issues
Wisconsin’s forests are increasingly
influenced by global trends. Improved global communication and new
global economies present new challenges and opportunities for
Wisconsin’s forests.
E1. Trend: Warming of the earth may affect
forest composition, structure and function.
It
is becoming increasingly clear that the earth is warming. However,
much is unclear about the long-term effects of this trend.
Ecologists speculate that long-term global warming may result in a
corresponding response in natural systems that could mean
significant changes in forest composition, structure and function.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 21% Agree 32% Not Sure 27% Disagree 14% Strongly Disagree 5%
Comments: 195
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E2. Trend/Issue: Exotic species threaten
ecological balance.
Exotic
species are an increasing threat to Wisconsin’s forests and
other ecosystems. Exotic species make their way into Wisconsin
through many avenues. Horticulturists have introduced some, like
gypsy moth, buckthorn, and Japanese honeysuckle. Others, like the
Asian long-horned beetle and the fungi that cause Dutch elm
disease and oak wilt, are the result of global trade, through
which forest products from other areas of the world are shipped to
the United States. With global trade continuing to increase, the
potential for new introductions of exotics is also increasing.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 44% Agree 41% Not Sure 11% Disagree 3% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 115
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E3. Issue: Forests affect carbon emissions and
sinks.
Wisconsin’s
land-use is resulting in a net greenhouse gas emission (EPA,
1997). The conversion of forest and farms to other uses results in
the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions result in global warming.
However, Wisconsin’s forests are powerful challengers to global
warming. A good portion of trees and other living things are made
of carbon. As trees and forests grow, they remove carbon dioxide
from the air and release oxygen, using the carbon to maintain
themselves and grow. Forests provide a very significant carbon
sink that helps to combat global warming.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 38% Agree 40% Not Sure 14% Disagree 6% Strongly Disagree 2%
Comments: 147
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E4. Trend: Global demand for wood products is
increasing.
As
world populations increase, the demand for wood and wood products
continues to increase. Wisconsin will be affected by this trend as
the desire for forest product sustainability and national
self-sufficiency increases.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 33% Agree 51% Not Sure 11% Disagree 4% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 117
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E5. Issue: Sustainable forest products may
provide a global advantage.
Wisconsin’s
forests have been increasing in volume for decades. To meet
increasing global demand for wood products, sustainable forest
management in Wisconsin forests has the potential to take some of
the pressure off more at-risk forests in other areas. Forest
products sustainably produced in Wisconsin may be a good
substitute for products made from wood harvested in tropical or
boreal forests, where sustainable harvest is more difficult to
maintain.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 31% Agree 47% Not Sure 16% Disagree 4% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 105
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E6. Issue: Criteria and indicators for
sustainable
forestry being developed.
Wisconsin
forest managers are joining other landowners across the country in
meeting the commitment the U.S. made as part of the Earth Summit
to practice sustainable forestry. Accomplishing this requires the
development of criteria and indicators that we can use to gauge
progress. Sustainability criteria are being developed for rural
Lake States forests as well as for urban forests.
This trend/issue should be addressed in a statewide forest plan:
Strongly Agree 27% Agree 49% Not Sure 20% Disagree 3% Strongly Disagree 1%
Comments: 75
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Last Revised: Monday July 30 2007
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