Multi-purpose Forest Management

On private forest lands, multi-purpose management can be both product-driven and resource-restricted. Multiple revenue streams and uses are possible on certain parcels, as are multiple uses; this requires either a large tract of land or one that holds enough diversity to sustain itself. Many privately owned parcels are too small to contain enough of a variety of habitat for multiple uses. Hence, some private forests can become, in effect, monocultures, whether or not they are plantations or natural stands of trees.  Private landowners in the northeast are learning sustainable forest management for multi-purposes at North Quabbin Woods, a demonstration forest and project of the New England Forest Foundation.

Several types of pilot projects for multi-purpose management are being evaluated within the federal land management system. Of those that focus on developing collaborative methods, the most publicized has been the Quincy Library Group. Initiated by citizens concerned about the management direction for three national forests in northern California, the project was authorized by the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Forest Restoration Act of 1998 to demonstrate the benefits of creating defensible fire protection zones by constructing fuelbreaks, individual tree selection, group selection, protection of habitat and management indicator species, and riparian restoration. Primarily a fire-protection project, see its case study in Forest Management: Fire Management.

The The Community Forest Restoration Act of 2000 (Title VI, Public Law 106-393) established a cooperative forest restoration program in New Mexico to provide cost-share grants to stakeholders for forest restoration projects on public land to be designed through a collaborative process. Collaborative Forest Restoration Program projects must include a diversity of stakeholders in their design and implementation, and address specified objectives, including: wildfire threat reduction; ecosystem restoration, including non-native tree species reduction; reestablishment of historic fire regimes; reforestation; preservation of old and large trees; increased utilization of small diameter trees; and the creation of forest- related local employment. The act limits projects to four years, and sets forth cost limits and provisions respecting: collaborative project review and selection; joint monitoring and evaluation; and reporting. The act authorizes appropriations of up to $5 million annually, and directs the Secretary to convene a technical advisory panel to evaluate proposals that may receive funding through the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program. Full case study coming soon; meanwhile, see full text of this CFRA Public Law Summary and projects.

The Valles Caldera Trust, in New Mexico, authorized by Congress in 2000, is a modified trust land management approach for managing newly acquired national forest lands for multiple use and sustained yield of commodity and amenity resource values. Full case study coming soon; meanwhile, visit Valles Caldera Trust.

See also Forest Management: Community-managed Forest: Weaverville Community Forest