Partnering to Sustain Forests and Communities
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Statewide Forest Plan Process
The Statewide Forest Plan provides a unified vision and framework of common goals and objectives to move toward a desired future condition of sustainable forestry in the state. Seven themes grew out of the plan that addressed many of the key issues affecting the forests of the state. The 2004 Governor�s Conference on Forestry used these themes to create Leadership Teams that would join partners together to develop or broaden partnerships and mobilize skills, capacity and resources necessary to achieve the objectives and begin implementation of the plan. The Governor's Conference on Forestry was successful in bringing partners together to start taking real action to implement the Statewide Forest Plan and collaboratively address forestry issues affecting Wisconsin. See these action plans below and check back periodically to see what's new.
Leadership Teams
Conserving Wisconsin's Biological Diversity
Biological diversity refers to the full range of natural variety and variability within and among living organisms, and the ecological and environmental complexes in which they occur. It encompasses multiple levels of organization, including genes, species, natural communities, landscapes and ecological systems or ecosystems. Biological diversity emerged as an important issue to Wisconsin citizens and stakeholders who provided input on Wisconsin's Forest Assessment and Statewide Forest Plan. Over half of the issues and objectives in the Plan are related to biological diversity. Currently there are two areas that need particular attention. First, it will be important to agree on a practical, science-based method to set goals for and measure the conservation of biological diversity for Wisconsin landscapes. This can then be used by Wisconsin's landowners and policy makers to protect and manage our state's biological diversity, as well as determine what is needed to create this information for Wisconsin. The second area is to identify specific, effective actions to protect biological diversity in Wisconsin.
Key Issues:
- Increasing demands placed on Wisconsin�s forests and other land uses present a challenge to managing for biological diversity statewide.
- Sustainable ecosystems are needed to support forest-based economies over the long term.
- Information about the biological diversity of Wisconsin�s forests is scarce. Better understanding of biological diversity will help us manage issues such as old growth and endangered and threatened species.
Contact:
Mary Jean Huston, Wisconsin Director
The Nature Conservancy
633 W. Main St, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 251-8140, [email protected]
Click here to learn about Conserving Wisconsin�s Biological Diversity at the Governor�s Conference
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Enhancing Wisconsin's Urban Forests
The majority (81%) of Wisconsin's population lives in urban areas, and forests in these urban settings strongly influence the local environment, quality of life and economy. Pressures placed on these urban forests increase as the state's population increases, highlighting the need to understand the extent of urban forests in the state and, in turn, ensure their long-term health and viability. Invasive and exotic species, the social and economic benefits of forests to communities, and the long-term management of such forests are at the forefront of Wisconsin's urban forestry issues.
Key Issues:
- An increasingly urbanized environment across Wisconsin creates the need to understand the extent and status of urban forests in the state and provide active management of these forests to ensure their long-term health and viability.
- Pressures on local budgets are increasing, and urban forestry programs are often the first and most heavily cut programs.
- Invasive exotic species threaten the viability of our urban forests.
Contact:
Joe Wilson, Executive Director
Greening Milwaukee
1313 W. Mount Vernon, Milwaukee, WI 53233
(414) 272-5462 ext. 103, [email protected]
Click here to learn about Enhancing Wisconsin�s Urban Forests at the Governor�s Conference
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Minimizing the Threat of Invasive Exotic Species to Wisconsin's Forests
Invasive exotic species present what may be the greatest threat to the long-term health and sustainability of Wisconsin's forests. Human activities such as trading of goods, travel, gardening, and recreation have resulted in the introduction of many non-native plant and animal species to the state. Once established, populations of some exotic insects and diseases quickly increase because natural control agents are absent or ineffective. As a result, exotic pests have changed, and will continue to change, entire ecosystems by displacing native flora and fauna. The invasive species issue challenges traditional ownership-based management systems as the scale of infestations is often broader than even the largest ownerships. Effective control efforts require multi-agency partnerships to co-ordinate and act on emerging infestations across boundaries, and alignment of applied research with the needs of land managers struggling to minimize the threat from invasives.
Key Issues:
- Invasive exotic species may present the greatest threat to the long-term health and sustainability of Wisconsin�s forests. Human activities such as commerce, travel, gardening, and recreation have introduced many nonnative plant and animal species to the state.
- Control of invasive species and outbreaks of pests or pathogens is complex and costly.
- Urban forests may become a focal point in a conflict between the traditional horticultural industry and ecological preservationists. Control measures for non-native species are often particularly controversial in developed areas.
Contact:
Fred Clark, President
Clark Forestry
PO Box 88, Baraboo, WI 53913
(608) 356-2801, [email protected]
Click here to learn about Minimizing the Threat of Invasive Exotic Species to Wisconsin�s Forests at the Governor�s Conference
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Enhancing Assistance to Wisconsin's Private Forest Landowners
Forestland ownership strongly influences the condition of forests in Wisconsin. Non-industrial private landowners own 57% of Wisconsin's forestland, and the number of private forest landowners continues to increase. Between 1984 and 1997 the number of Wisconsin's non-industrial private owners increased by 20% to about 270,000 statewide. As a result, it has become increasingly challenging to provide professional forest management assistance to them. In addition to an increase in the number of woodland owners, forested parcels are more likely to be purchased by people who have different values than the forest owner of the past. Many of today's new forest landowners are from urban areas and own the land primarily for recreational use or aesthetic values. These newer private owners tend to be more cautious about harvesting their timber, less knowledgeable about principles of sustainable forestry and more likely to be absentee landowners. Currently, less than 25% of landowners have a management plan or receive professional assistance when managing their forest. Therefore it is necessary to give these forest landowners the assistance and knowledge they need to sustainably manage their woodlots in conjunction with a sustainable forest management plan.
Key Issues:
- 272,000 non-industrial private landowners own 57% of Wisconsin�s forestland. It is increasingly difficult to provide professional forest management assistance to these landowners.
- Many of these landowners are from urban areas. They tend to be less knowledgeable about sustainable forest management practices and more likely to be absentee landowners.
- Fewer than 30% of private landowners have a management plan or receive professional management assistance.
Contact:
John DuPlissis, Forestry Outreach Specialist
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
College of Natural Resources
Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 346-4128, [email protected]
Click here to learn about Enhancing Assistance to Wisconsin�s Private Forest Landowners at the Governor�s Conference
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Minimizing Recreational Use Conflicts in Wisconsin's Forests
More people than ever before are using Wisconsin's forests for a wide array of recreational activities, leading to increased conflicts among forest users. With the increase in popularity of motorized forms of recreation, such as off-highway vehicles (ATVs, snowmobiles, etc.), conflict with non-motorized forest users increases, as does concern over safety and environmental impacts. Careful planning will be critical to meet these diverse and often competing needs and to minimize conflicts among forest based recreationists.
Key Issues:
- More people than ever are using Wisconsin�s forests for recreational activities, leading to increased conflicts among forest users.
- Motorized forms of recreation (snowmobiles, off-highway vehicles, ATVs, etc.) are increasingly popular and can conflict with non-motorized forest users and have adverse environmental impacts.
- The amount of forest land open for public use is decreasing, which affects the future of public hunting, fishing and other forms of recreation.
Contact:
Dave Marcouiller, Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
University of Wisconsin Madison
106 Music Hall 925 Bascom Mall, Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-2998, [email protected]
Click here to learn about Minimizing Recreational Use Conflicts in Wisconsin�s Forests at the Governor�s Conference
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Maintaining Wisconsin's Forest Based Economy
Wisconsin has a strong forest-based economy important in local, state, and global economies, supporting employment opportunities, investing in forest improvement practices, and generating strong revenues for landowners. Forestry also plays a significant role in the ecological and social benefits derived from the existence of a healthy and diverse forest-based economy. More than 1,850 wood using companies support a 20 billion-dollar industry and over 100,000 jobs. In addition, more people than ever before are using Wisconsin's forests for a wide array of recreational and tourism 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-sensitive sectors in Wisconsin. Emerging issues including forest certification, sustainable energy, and environmental standards need attention to maintain healthy communities. Strategies to maintain Wisconsin's strong forest based economy will be required as the globalization of the economy increases.
Key Issues:
- Global demand for forest products requires primary and secondary forest industries to make business decisions in the context of a worldwide market.
- Sustainable management certification is emerging, and the global market for sustainable forest products may give certified Wisconsin forests a competitive edge.
- Sustainable energy and environmental standards will need attention to maintain healthy forest and human communities.
Current Plan of Action (link to http://www.wisconsinforestry.org/pdf/Gov/SessionOutcomes_ForestEcon.pdf)
Contact:
Coming Soon
Click here to learn about Maintaining Wisconsin�s Forest Based Economy at the Governor�s Conference
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Managing the Impacts of Changes in Wisconsin's Land Use & Forest Ownership
Patterns of land use and forest ownership directly influence the long-term management of Wisconsin's forests and the many economic, social and ecological benefits that those forests provide. Growing suburbs, second homes, and other land uses increasingly convert contiguous forested areas into smaller patches of forest and non-forest. These land use changes in the forest have significant impacts on a broad range of concerns, including: fire control and protection of life, property and resources in the wildland-urban interface; habitat fragmentation and loss of biodiversity; the ability to successfully manage forests for sustainability and productivity; costs of community services and the health of local and state economies. Our ability to preserve the many benefits of our forests depends on how we plan to prevent and manage the impacts of the increasing changes in land use and forest ownership.
Key Issues:
- Patterns of land use and forest ownership influence long-term forest management. Suburban growth, second homes and other land uses convert contiguous forest into smaller patches.
- Forest fragmentation, the breaking up of large contiguous forest patches into smaller isolated patches, is widespread, as is forest parcelization, or the subdivision of relatively large forest ownerships into smaller parcels owned by more landowners.
- Related issues are providing incentives for landowners to prevent and mitigate impacts of parcelization and fragmentation, and public outreach on changing land uses and forest ownership.
Contact:
Lisa M. Mackinnon, Policy Director
1000 Friends of Wisconsin
16 North Carroll St, Suite 810, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 259-1000, [email protected]
Click here to learn about Managing the Impacts of Changes in Wisconsin�s Land Use & Forest Ownership at the Governor�s Conference
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