Community-Based Forestry in the United States a report from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities

Community-Based Forestry in the United States Impacts of CBF

Keys to Success

Investment Local leadership Mobilization of local resources Assistance from intermediary organizations Supportive public policies & programs

Impacts:Diffusing Conflict

Diffusing Conflict Leveraging new resources for restoration Convening open, inclusive discussions Increasing voice of local communities

Diffusing Conflict Creating local business & job opportunities Providing effective treatment for “analysis paralysis”

Diffusing Conflict Sustainable Northwest Saw need for non-partisan problem-solver Early project: facilitating community meetings in a town hit hard by declining timber harvests Interest in listening, in “going deep & staying long” turned conversation to sustainability and capacity building

Impacts:Restoration& Stewardship

Restoration & Stewardship Neglected public assets (e.g. trail systems) Restoring ecosystems Damaged (e.g. from unsustainable harvesting )

Restoration & Stewardship Planting & restoration after fires Creating a culture of long-term stewardship Management to reduce fire risk Habitat improvement Models for good forest stewardship for private landowners

Restoration & Stewardship The Klamath Tribes Ecosystem improvement Community vitality CBF initiative: restoration as a key to Preservation of cultural identity Economic self-sufficiency

Impacts:Public Policy

Public Policy Stewardship contracting requires demonstration of community benefits Shift in Forest Service performance measures: outputs to outcomes Farm Bill’s new “Community Forest & Open Space Program”

Public Policy State & county development commissions investing more in smaller-scale, community- owned ventures Community wildfire protection plans provide local voice in fire planning

Public Policy Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition 60+ Western rural and local, regional, and national organizations Common issues, shared voice & strength in numbers Goal: promote balanced, conservation-based approaches to ecological & economic problems

Impacts:Rebuilding Local Infrastructures

CBF Infrastructure Is… Investment Local leadership Mobilization of local resources Assistance from intermediary organizations Supportive public policies & programs

CBF Infrastructure Is… Leadership- and organizational development Capacity for facilitation & conflict resolution Project management capacity Capacity for facilitation & conflict resolution Project management capacity Capacity for facilitation & conflict resolution

Rebuilding Infrastructures Incubation of new products and businesses Community acquisition of forestland in the East Restored access to national forests and public lands

Rebuilding Infrastructures Groundwork for tapping new markets like carbon credits Diverse streams of financing

Impacts:Building Assets in Rural Communities

Building Assets New value streams Expanded job training & job opportunities More access to & ownership of forestland Increased social capital

Building Assets People are healthier, schools work better, kids learn faster, local government performs better, [there is less] crime, and…positive impacts on local business.” – Lew Feldstein, co-chair, Saguaro Seminar Social capital=

Building Assets Sustainable Woods Links local landowners with professional foresters & ecologically sensitive loggers Enhances forest health & provides good economic return.

Impacts:Building Rural Capacity

Building Rural Capacity Promoting education & training Building new community institutions & leadership Collaboration & expanded participation Expanding access to financial & technical resources

Building Rural Capacity Colorado Front Range Roundtable 10-county multi-stakeholder partnership focused on improving forest conditions & reducing wildfire risk Launched groundbreaking regional community capacity- building project last year