A New Currency for Conservation: Markets and Payments for Ecosystem Services from Our Nation’s Forests and Farms Featuring Special Sessions on Conservation Incentives for Southern Forestlands Phoenix Park Hotel Washington, DC May 18-20, 2005 Presentation by Timothy C. Boyce Alabama State Forester & National Association of State Foresters Forest Resource Management Committee Chair A New Currency for Conservation: Markets and Payments for Ecosystem Services from Our Nation’s Forests and Farms Featuring Special Sessions on Conservation Incentives for Southern Forestlands Phoenix Park Hotel Washington, DC May 18-20, 2005 Presentation by Timothy C. Boyce Alabama State Forester & National Association of State Foresters Forest Resource Management Committee Chair

- American Forests Foundation - Environmental Defense – Center for Conservation Incentives - National Association of Conservation Districts - National Wild Turkey Federation - Society of American Foresters - Southern Environmental Law Center - USDA Forest Service - American Forests Foundation - Environmental Defense – Center for Conservation Incentives - National Association of Conservation Districts - National Wild Turkey Federation - Society of American Foresters - Southern Environmental Law Center - USDA Forest Service COLLABORATION PARTNERS

To what extent do programs overlap in terms of their goals and target stakeholders? Are the highest priority conservation needs addressed appropriately among mix of programs? Efficiency ISSUES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Do programs with similar goals mutually reinforce each other or simply offer parallel tracks for achieving the same result? Are administrative expenses minimized to put maximum resources to work on the ground? Focus ISSUES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Are appropriate measures in place to measure program performance against goals? Do these measures allow for comparison of performance among programs aimed at similar goals? Is success measured by inputs or outcomes? Effectiveness ISSUES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

ISSUES Are eligible forest owners aware of program opportunities that might benefit them? To what extent could application and eligibility requirements be harmonized to simplify program entry? Reach and Accessibility NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES - Escalating Development Pressure – Loss of Open Space - Increasing Demand for Natural Resources – More Pressure on Existing Forests - Shifting Demographics – Increasing Fragmentation - Escalating Development Pressure – Loss of Open Space - Increasing Demand for Natural Resources – More Pressure on Existing Forests - Shifting Demographics – Increasing Fragmentation NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES - Shrinking Size of Forested Tracts – More People Need Assistance - Declining Forest Health – More Forestland in Need of Treatment - Shrinking Size of Forested Tracts – More People Need Assistance - Declining Forest Health – More Forestland in Need of Treatment NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

SOUTHERN PERSPECTIVE - Focus more attention on the relationship between forest resources and a healthy environment -Fragmentation and competing use of forest resources places severe strain on resources - Today, rural and urban foresters need to manage the entire forest as a viable, functional, and sustainable ecosystem - Focus more attention on the relationship between forest resources and a healthy environment -Fragmentation and competing use of forest resources places severe strain on resources - Today, rural and urban foresters need to manage the entire forest as a viable, functional, and sustainable ecosystem

- Protect and conserve working forests - strong leadership is needed in Forest Legacy SOUTHERN PERSPECTIVE - Strong research programs are needed to address emerging issues and new science and technology is needed to be effectively distributed and implemented on the ground - Capacity to deliver effective programs is becoming more critical - new approaches to assist landowner organizations, cooperatives as well as community- based organizations are needed - Strong research programs are needed to address emerging issues and new science and technology is needed to be effectively distributed and implemented on the ground - Capacity to deliver effective programs is becoming more critical - new approaches to assist landowner organizations, cooperatives as well as community- based organizations are needed

- Traditional interest in forest products marketing is still strong - Other areas of interest are developing rapidly – wildlife management, agroforestry, outdoor recreation - Traditional interest in forest products marketing is still strong - Other areas of interest are developing rapidly – wildlife management, agroforestry, outdoor recreation SOUTHERN PERSPECTIVE - Ecosystem services is a new an emerging issue - Wildfire control and prevention are still a concern especially in the rural/urban areas - Ecosystem services is a new an emerging issue - Wildfire control and prevention are still a concern especially in the rural/urban areas

INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES - Mixed stand management - Bottom land hardwood management - Longleaf pine ecosystem management - Upland hardwood management - Integrate wildlife - Prescribed fire - Longer rotations - Establishment of native ground cover - Increase SMZ buffer - Mixed stand management - Bottom land hardwood management - Longleaf pine ecosystem management - Upland hardwood management - Integrate wildlife - Prescribed fire - Longer rotations - Establishment of native ground cover - Increase SMZ buffer

- Basal area reduction (forest health/wildlife) - Tree species selection and planting: density compatible with ecological objectives - Education and training for landowners - Focus on woodland systems where species are in decline: Bobwhite Quail, Bachman’s Sparrow, Prairie Warbler - Watershed management - Basal area reduction (forest health/wildlife) - Tree species selection and planting: density compatible with ecological objectives - Education and training for landowners - Focus on woodland systems where species are in decline: Bobwhite Quail, Bachman’s Sparrow, Prairie Warbler - Watershed management INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES Note: Technical assistance is important to the success of incentives