1 Future Forests Why it is so important to address the productivity and sustainability of our forests Hal Salwasser College of Forestry Oregon State University.

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Future ForestsFuture ForestsWhy it is so important to address Why it is so important to address

the productivity and sustainability of the productivity and sustainability of our forestsour forests

Hal SalwasserHal SalwasserCollege of ForestryCollege of Forestry

Oregon State UniversityOregon State UniversityJanuary 24, 2002January 24, 2002

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World U.S. CA OR WA

Forest as percent of land area

Forests cover a large Forests cover a large area of the world’s landarea of the world’s land

Source: FAO 2001; USFS 2000Source: FAO 2001; USFS 2000

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Forests ~ 45% of the area of OregonForests ~ 45% of the area of Oregon

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Forests ecosystems are vital for life

Forests are vital for lifeForests are vital for life

Headwaters of the nation: Headwaters of the nation: 1/3 area; 2/3 runoff; groundwater 1/3 area; 2/3 runoff; groundwater

recharge; recharge; best water from any land use (USFS)best water from any land use (USFS)

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Forests sustain biodiversity Forests sustain biodiversity and wildlife habitatsand wildlife habitats

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in m

egaj

oule

sForests supply wood: the Forests supply wood: the

“green” material“green” material

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in l

iter

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usa

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Wood products use less energy and water

Energy Water

Steel and wood compared in construction of a 10’ x 100’ wallSteel and wood compared in construction of a 10’ x 100’ wall

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Wood products meetWood products meetessential needsessential needs

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Forests store carbon

Forests store ~ 45% of the Forests store ~ 45% of the carbon carbon

in terrestrial ecosystemsin terrestrial ecosystems

Source: IPCC 2000Source: IPCC 2000

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Forests sustain livelihoods, Forests sustain livelihoods, communities, recreation, cultural communities, recreation, cultural

heritage and diversityheritage and diversity

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Smaller global forest must serve Smaller global forest must serve more people in more waysmore people in more ways

Wood use up 40% since 1960: 1.5 bcm 2000Wood use up 40% since 1960: 1.5 bcm 2000

Wood use to rise < 50% by 2050: 2 - 2.5 bcmWood use to rise < 50% by 2050: 2 - 2.5 bcm

Demand for all forest benefits growing as wellDemand for all forest benefits growing as well WaterWater

Biodiversity conservationBiodiversity conservation

Carbon storesCarbon stores

Recreation, subsistence, cultural usesRecreation, subsistence, cultural uses

< 50% of global fiber from planted forests by < 50% of global fiber from planted forests by mid century or earliermid century or earlier

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Forest sustainability rests Forest sustainability rests in a global contextin a global context

30% + of industrial wood use crosses an 30% + of industrial wood use crosses an international boundaryinternational boundary

US imports 35% + of lumber usedUS imports 35% + of lumber used

Forest industries integrating globallyForest industries integrating globally

Carbon, wood, biodiversity are global issuesCarbon, wood, biodiversity are global issues

~ 33% OSU forestry grad students are not US ~ 33% OSU forestry grad students are not US citizenscitizens

US forest policy choices impact world’s forestsUS forest policy choices impact world’s forests

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Forests are managed for Forests are managed for many different purposesmany different purposes

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The broad spectrum of The broad spectrum of sustainable forestrysustainable forestry

Sustainable forest management varies Sustainable forest management varies

by diverse forest typesby diverse forest types

It treats each forest differently: depends It treats each forest differently: depends

on goals, capabilities, and needs:on goals, capabilities, and needs:

A.A. High yield wood and fiber productionHigh yield wood and fiber production

B.B. Multiple values/uses integratedMultiple values/uses integrated

C.C. Nature preservation, reservesNature preservation, reserves

D.D. Urban forestsUrban forests

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Global Forests 2000 - 2050Global Forests 2000 - 2050

~ 3.9 bil ha: ~ 95% natural; ~ 5% planted~ 3.9 bil ha: ~ 95% natural; ~ 5% planted

~ 2 cm/ha/yr wood yield from natural forests~ 2 cm/ha/yr wood yield from natural forests

5 - 50 cm/ha/yr yield possible in planted forests5 - 50 cm/ha/yr yield possible in planted forests

Intensive forestry on 10% of total < 50% of Intensive forestry on 10% of total < 50% of

industrial wood demandindustrial wood demand

Integrated, multi-use forestry on 40% < 50% of Integrated, multi-use forestry on 40% < 50% of

industrial wood demandindustrial wood demand

Nature preservation for 50% of world’s forestsNature preservation for 50% of world’s forests

Source: Victor and Ausubel 2000Source: Victor and Ausubel 2000

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A. High yield forestryA. High yield forestry

Goal:Goal:Most efficient wood/fiber production from ~ 10% Most efficient wood/fiber production from ~ 10%

of world’s forestsof world’s forestsIncrease wood yield: 2X to 5X over naturalIncrease wood yield: 2X to 5X over naturalReduce environmental impactReduce environmental impactImprove product qualityImprove product qualityHigh return on investmentHigh return on investment

Much of world’s wood will come from Much of world’s wood will come from this forest usethis forest use

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B. Multi-value forestryB. Multi-value forestry

Goal:Goal:Meet various landowner objectives on ~ 40% of Meet various landowner objectives on ~ 40% of

world’s forestsworld’s forestsOptimize joint productionOptimize joint productionSustain desired diversity of environmental, Sustain desired diversity of environmental,

economic, community conditions and economic, community conditions and

resultsresults

Most of the world’s accessible forest will Most of the world’s accessible forest will be in integrated managementbe in integrated management

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C. Nature forestryC. Nature forestry

Goal:Goal:Perpetuate native ecosystems, species, nature’s Perpetuate native ecosystems, species, nature’s

processes on ~ 50% of world’s forestsprocesses on ~ 50% of world’s forestsManage people to reduce impactsManage people to reduce impactsManage forests to restore “naturalness”Manage forests to restore “naturalness”Manage ecosystems to ameliorate invasive Manage ecosystems to ameliorate invasive

species, pollutionspecies, pollution

Parks, reserves, and wilderness for Parks, reserves, and wilderness for natural valuesnatural values

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D. Urban forestryD. Urban forestry

Goals:Goals:Pleasant neighborhoodsPleasant neighborhoodsResource conservationResource conservationProperty valueProperty valueSafetySafetyWildlife habitatsWildlife habitats

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SustainableSustainableForestForest

ManagementManagement

High YieldHigh Yield

Multi valueMulti value

NatureNatureUrbanUrban

Integrate at landscape, regional scalesIntegrate at landscape, regional scales

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What will this mean for Oregon? What will this mean for Oregon?

Industrial forest roles: ~ 5.8 mil ac; 21%

Family forest roles: ~ 4.6 mil ac; 16%

State forest roles: ~ 0.9 mil ac; 3%

Tribal & County forest roles: ~ 0.5 mil ac; 2%

Federal forest roles: ~ 16 mil ac; 57%

Depends on policy choices, plans at Depends on policy choices, plans at federal, state, tribal and private levelsfederal, state, tribal and private levels

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Aligning management to Aligning management to purposepurpose

High YieldHigh Yield Multi-benefitMulti-benefit NatureNature

IndustryIndustry

Private, non-industryPrivate, non-industry

FamilyFamily

TribalTribal

StateStateFederalFederal

**

****

**?? ?? **

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We face many challengesWe face many challenges Meet the needs of growing populationsMeet the needs of growing populations

Increase productivity and efficiencyIncrease productivity and efficiency

Sustain economic vitality of communitiesSustain economic vitality of communities

Develop innovative policies -- incentives Develop innovative policies -- incentives

Understand the trade-offs in all choicesUnderstand the trade-offs in all choices

Invest in new knowledge and technologiesInvest in new knowledge and technologies

Protect water, fish, wildlife, renewal processesProtect water, fish, wildlife, renewal processes

Create common ground on sustainabilityCreate common ground on sustainability

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Extreme ideologies are Extreme ideologies are not constructivenot constructive

Markets Markets know bestknow best

Nature knows Nature knows bestbest Government Government

knows bestknows best

Scientists Scientists know bestknow best

I know bestI know best

Locals Locals know bestknow best

The law is clearThe law is clear

CommonCommonGroundGround

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Collaboration and Collaboration and respect are constructiverespect are constructive

Common GroundCommon Ground

Markets Markets are meansare means

Learn, work with Learn, work with naturenature

Governments Governments set standardsset standards

Science Science informs informs choiceschoices

Everyone Everyone has ideashas ideas

Locals Locals know a lotknow a lot

Laws give Laws give directiondirection

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Let’s consider our choicesLet’s consider our choices

Managing forests and forest uses on a path to Managing forests and forest uses on a path to productivity and sustainability: productivity and sustainability:

who, how, where, when?who, how, where, when?