Market, timber pricing, and forest management

2010 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 580-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shashi Kant

Some resource economists and policy-makers believe that market mechanisms in general and timber pricing through auctions specifically are the only solutions for forest management in Canada. In this paper, simple economic concepts of market, economic efficiency, and social optimality are discussed, and the specific features of forest resources and sustainable forest management and their implications for optimal resource allocation through the market are highlighted. Economic theory behind competitive timber pricing in two geographical regions is presented to demonstrate that in a competitive setting, the prices of timber need not be the same in the two regions. Timber pricing mechanisms used by different countries are summarized, and auctions, their limitations, and some important outcomes of timber auctions by the United States Forest Service are discussed. Market performances of residual value and auction-based timber pricing are compared. On the basis of these discussions, it is inferred that sustainable forest management cannot be achieved either by the market or by government-controlled mechanisms only. An optimal-mix of the market and government-controlled mechanisms is the only answer to achieve sustainable forest management. Key words: auction, Canada, economic efficiency, market, residual value, social optimality, sustainable forest management, timber pricing

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2670 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Chamberlain ◽  
Christine Small ◽  
Michelle Baumflek

Many of the plants and fungi that are harvested for nontimber products (e.g., foods, medicines, crafts) are critical to healthy forest ecosystems. These products also are essential to rural societies, contributing to the material and nonmaterial composition of communities and cultures. Product sales make important contributions at all economic scales, from household to national economies. Nontimber forest products (NTFPs) have been harvested for generations, sometimes centuries, yet they are seldom integrated into forest management. Few methods exist for inventory and assessment, and there is little evidence that harvests are sustainable. This article examines three elements of sustainable forest management for nontimber products: sociocultural, economic, and ecological, and elaborates with detailed examples of edible and medicinal species from United States (U.S.) forests. We synthesize the state of knowledge and emerging issues, and identify research priorities that are needed to advance sustainable management of NTFPs in the United States. Despite their social, economic, and ecological values, many of these species and resources are threatened by the overuse and lack of management and market integration. Sustainable management for nontimber products is attainable, but much research and development is needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of these resources and their cultural values, and to realize their economic potentials.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco X. Aguilar ◽  
Adam M. Saunders

Abstract An array of policy instruments has been adopted across the United States in an effort to promote greater wood-to-energy uses. This research elicited attitudes toward wood-to-energy policy instruments among forest sector stakeholders to identify the most preferred policy tools. Test statistics identified differences between perceptions from US South and non-US South respondents regarding the capacity of tax incentives; subsidies and grants; rules and regulations; education; and consultation to meet policy ecological, economic, social, and political criteria. Examples of particular instruments adopted by various states were used to evaluate their capacity in addressing specific energy, forest management, and market dimensions of wood-to-energy policy. Results suggest preference for the implementation of education programs and the adoption of tax incentive instruments, followed by rules and regulations. US South respondents have less favorable views of subsidies and grants and rules and regulations than respondents from the rest of the country to meet policy evaluation criteria. Based on the analysis of state-specific policy tools, tax incentives were deemed the best positioned to generate more renewable energy from woody feedstocks and education and consultation were the best suited to meet energy and sustainable forest management objectives. A combination of approaches will be the most adequate to meet multiple policy criteria.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Rocio Gutierrez Garzon ◽  
Pete Bettinger ◽  
Jacek Siry ◽  
Bin Mei ◽  
Jesse Abrams

Sustainable forest management is important for advancing sustainable societal development. Effective communication plays a major role in how goals and objectives are achieved. This study aims to assess how sustainability is considered by people who develop forest management plans (or forest plans in short). We employed the snowball sample technique to locate the study’s respondents. In addition, an open-ended questionnaire and a mix method data collection (phone and email) and analysis (qualitative and quantitative) were found to be adequate methods to survey forest planners who have been involved in the development, implementation, evaluation, and/or revision of forest plans in the United States. Our approach helped us to understand their perceptions of and means of incorporating sustainability concerns in forest plans. A total of 55 surveys were completed by forest planners physically located in 26 of the 50 states in the country. Results suggested that planners generally placed environmental sustainability concerns over social and economic sustainability concerns. A variety of key terms were central to forest planners’ attempts to communicate sustainability, from which most were associated with philosophical and temporal principles that would then be associated with concrete actions and the human dimension. Nevertheless, respondents also acknowledged difficulties and misunderstandings in describing how forest sustainability should be demonstrated within a forest plan. Topics such as restoration, carbon sequestration, and resilience were infrequently associated with sustainability and sustainable forest management. Finally, we found that the respondents were divided on whether the language used in forest plans to demonstrate sustainability could be improved.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelley Dennings ◽  
Jennifer Tabanico

Thirty-five percent of forestland in the United States is owned by individuals. The purpose of this research was to identify woodland owners’ barriers to harvesting trees using the advice of a forester. Harvesting trees with the advice of a forester ensures a sustainable harvest that meets the needs of the woodland owner as the forester makes recommendations depending on what the woodland owner wants to gain from their land. The research further informed the marketing mix by identifying woodland owners’ perceptions about trusted communication channels, providing a framework for segmenting the audience, and pointing to viable outreach strategies for rural interventions. Results of mail (New England) and telephone (Mississippi) surveys indicated that selling trees for income was the lowest rated land use activity reported by woodland owners. Additionally, across both regions, the surveys indicated that the primary barrier to using a forester involved some form of distrust. When comparing trusted sources of information across the two regions, forestry experts were rated similarly, but family and other woodland owners were perceived as more trustworthy in New England compared to Mississippi. Both groups preferred to receive information in written form, a preference that was almost twice as high as receiving an e-mail. This research provides the foundation for a marketing mix, improves the conservation community’s body of knowledge regarding woodland owner’s barriers to sustainable forest management actions, and provides broad recommendations for practitioners to use going forward.


2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-91
Author(s):  
Jeff Young

Canadians are taking action to advance sustainable forest management with the National Forest Strategy (NFS) 2003–2008, A Sustainable Forest: The Canadian Commitment. This national policy framework reaffirms Canadians' long-term vision and defines strategic targets to be achieved by the forest community at large. Seen as an international model, the NFS serves to establish partnerships and to promote policies as encouraged by the Final Statement issued at the XII World Forestry Congress. Canada and the United States of America have national forest programmes that are advancing a sustainable North American forest and are contributing to the well-being of the global forest. Stronger mechanisms and liaisons between developed countries with such programmes will help Canada and other likeminded countries to push sustainable forest management concepts even further as they evolve. Key words: global forest convention, international network, national forest programme, National Forest Strategy Coalition, sector roundtable


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256654
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Miner ◽  
Puneet Dwivedi ◽  
Robert Izlar ◽  
Danielle Atkins ◽  
Parag Kadam

As the number of female forest landowners (FFLs) in the United States continues to rise, there is an increasing need to understand the perceptions of stakeholder groups about opportunities and challenges faced by FFLs in the context of sustainable forestland management. This study utilizes the technique of SWOT-AHP (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Treats—Analytical Hierarchy Process) to understand the perceptions of four stakeholder groups (FFLs, private foresters, government representatives, and non-profits) in Georgia–a significant forestry state located in the Southern United States. Sixteen factors (four under each SWOT category) were selected through a comprehensive literature review and detailed interviews with individuals from the identified stakeholder groups. A survey was created using these factors that asked stakeholders to compare them in their respective SWOT categories. An additional survey was created for each stakeholder group where survey participants compared the highest-ranking factors in each SWOT category. We found that all stakeholder groups prioritized weaknesses over the other SWOT categories. Results showed a significant need for relevant educational outreach programs that cater specifically to FFLs. Additionally, researchers found a need to promote the interest of future generations in forestland management as all stakeholder groups felt that limited interest from future generations was the most important threat. This study will directly feed into regional, national, and international attempts to increase the participation of minority family forest landowners in sustainable forest management through integrated forest policy development.


1996 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Brand ◽  
O. Thomas Bouman ◽  
Luc Bouthillier ◽  
Winifred Kessler ◽  
Louis Lapierre

Society has been wrestling with the concept of managing forests sustainably for several years. As one of the most widespread of the earth's ecosystems and as a renewable resource providing a wide range of consumptive and nonconsumptive benefits to society, forests have been at the centre of many policy discussions. While much progress was made at the Earth Summit in 1992 and since that time, there are few concrete examples of sustainable forest management in practice. In this paper, some of the key foundations of sustainable forest management are reviewed, including the balancing of economic and environmental objectives in society, the philosophy of ecosystem management, the role of science and technology in forest management, public participation in decision making, and the internationalization of forest issues. To examine the practical implications of these concepts, four very different case studies of attempts to implement sustainable forest management in Canada are examined and discussed. These model forests are part of a network of 10 such sites in Canada, which are linked with several others in Mexico, Russia, Malaysia, and the United States. They combine the interests, mandates, and objectives of government agencies, aboriginal peoples, communities, and many other stakeholders for the purpose of creating a comprehensive vision and program of work aimed at achieving sustainable forest management in the areas concerned. Each model is unique, however, and reflects the local context. The authors conclude that the future of forest management will be based on a government acceptance of delegation of responsibility to such partnerships and on the application of diverse and innovative solutions to forest management issues.Key words: sustainable forest management, model forest, ecosystem management, integrated resource management, public participation, Canada.


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