490
expert working groups. Resulting from this effort
was a vision for the future of the Northern Forest,
as well as an assessment addressing patterns of
landownership; changes occurring in the ecological, economic, and social constructs of the Northern Forest; forest and related land-based natural resources; and a socioeconomic profile of the people
of the Northern Forest. Also contained in the
Study's final report was an identification process
for land with important resources and a series of
potential strategies to address the changing nature
of the land ownership and uses occurring in the
Northern Forest.
33.1.2 Northern Forest Lands Council
Along with the Northern Forest Lands Study report
published in 1990, the 12-member Governors' Task
Force on the Northern Forest Lands published a
complementary report (Northern Forest Lands
Council, 1990) that recommended a continuation
of the process begun by the Study, that is, to dig
much deeper into the issues uncovered during the
Study process with a much more intensive assessment. The recommended four-year effort was authorized in the 1990 Congressional Farm Bill under the Forestry Title and was funded through the
USDA Forest Service in federal fiscal years 1992
through 1994 for a total of just under $4.5 million.
Over $3.2 million of these appropriations went directly to the four states for Geographic Information
System (GIS) resource analysis work and planner
staffing.
The Northern Forest Lands Council included
four individuals appointed by the governors from
each of the four states. These appointees represented environmental, forest industry, state government, and local community interests. A seventeenth member, from the USDA Forest Service,
was appointed by the chief of the Forest Service.
A staff of three managed the Council affairs in concert with a state-based forest planner in each of the
four states.
During its nearly near four-year time frame, the
Northern Forest Lands Council conducted its resource assessment through direct research undertaken by staff and hired contractors, through expert
working groups, through citizens advisory committees, and through informal means. A number of
distinct products resulted from this effort.
1. The report Finding Common Ground: Conserving the Northern Forest
2. Technical appendix of research and studies
Northern Forest Lands Case Study
3. Compilation of GIS-based natural resource and
economic information by the states
4. Summary of comments on the above from thousands of people
5. New approach to consensus building among disparate views
33.2 Issues Addressed by
the Assessments
33.2.1 Northern Forest Lands Study
The primary reason the Study was created by Congress and the states was due to the concern that the
change of ownership and use of areas of forest land
in the 26 million-acre region would adversely affect the many public values associated with these
lands: recreational access, wildlife habitat, timber,
clean water, and others. The assessment developed
by the Study team, then, focused on three specific
areas related to this original concern: (1) reasons
for significant change in land ownership and use,
(2) critical natural resources at risk, and (3) land
conservation tools and strategies.
Reasons for Significant Change in Land
Ownership and Use
Several studies were undertaken to address the perceived issue of changing land ownership and use
in the Northern Forest area. A broad overview of
land use from pre-European settlement to present
was written by in-house staff. A series of case studies looking at land-use changes in one county in
each of the four Northern Forest states was contracted to a private research firm. Finally, a series
of 25 interviews was conducted by Study staff with
representatives of major forest holding companies
and individuals in the Northern Forest areas of the
four states.
Critical Natural Resources at Risk
To determine which natural resources were at risk
due to the changing ownership and use patterns occurring in the Northern Forest, a set of natural resource criteria was developed by the Governors'
Task Force and Northern Forest Lands Study staff
with input from interested members of the public.
Using the GRANIT GIS system in New Hampshire,
these criteria were translated into a graphic interpretation under a pilot project for Coos County in
New Hampshire. The major resource criteria categories developed included wildlife habitat, scenic
expert working groups. Resulting from this effort
was a vision for the future of the Northern Forest,
as well as an assessment addressing patterns of
landownership; changes occurring in the ecological, economic, and social constructs of the Northern Forest; forest and related land-based natural resources; and a socioeconomic profile of the people
of the Northern Forest. Also contained in the
Study's final report was an identification process
for land with important resources and a series of
potential strategies to address the changing nature
of the land ownership and uses occurring in the
Northern Forest.
33.1.2 Northern Forest Lands Council
Along with the Northern Forest Lands Study report
published in 1990, the 12-member Governors' Task
Force on the Northern Forest Lands published a
complementary report (Northern Forest Lands
Council, 1990) that recommended a continuation
of the process begun by the Study, that is, to dig
much deeper into the issues uncovered during the
Study process with a much more intensive assessment. The recommended four-year effort was authorized in the 1990 Congressional Farm Bill under the Forestry Title and was funded through the
USDA Forest Service in federal fiscal years 1992
through 1994 for a total of just under $4.5 million.
Over $3.2 million of these appropriations went directly to the four states for Geographic Information
System (GIS) resource analysis work and planner
staffing.
The Northern Forest Lands Council included
four individuals appointed by the governors from
each of the four states. These appointees represented environmental, forest industry, state government, and local community interests. A seventeenth member, from the USDA Forest Service,
was appointed by the chief of the Forest Service.
A staff of three managed the Council affairs in concert with a state-based forest planner in each of the
four states.
During its nearly near four-year time frame, the
Northern Forest Lands Council conducted its resource assessment through direct research undertaken by staff and hired contractors, through expert
working groups, through citizens advisory committees, and through informal means. A number of
distinct products resulted from this effort.
1. The report Finding Common Ground: Conserving the Northern Forest
2. Technical appendix of research and studies
Northern Forest Lands Case Study
3. Compilation of GIS-based natural resource and
economic information by the states
4. Summary of comments on the above from thousands of people
5. New approach to consensus building among disparate views
33.2 Issues Addressed by
the Assessments
33.2.1 Northern Forest Lands Study
The primary reason the Study was created by Congress and the states was due to the concern that the
change of ownership and use of areas of forest land
in the 26 million-acre region would adversely affect the many public values associated with these
lands: recreational access, wildlife habitat, timber,
clean water, and others. The assessment developed
by the Study team, then, focused on three specific
areas related to this original concern: (1) reasons
for significant change in land ownership and use,
(2) critical natural resources at risk, and (3) land
conservation tools and strategies.
Reasons for Significant Change in Land
Ownership and Use
Several studies were undertaken to address the perceived issue of changing land ownership and use
in the Northern Forest area. A broad overview of
land use from pre-European settlement to present
was written by in-house staff. A series of case studies looking at land-use changes in one county in
each of the four Northern Forest states was contracted to a private research firm. Finally, a series
of 25 interviews was conducted by Study staff with
representatives of major forest holding companies
and individuals in the Northern Forest areas of the
four states.
Critical Natural Resources at Risk
To determine which natural resources were at risk
due to the changing ownership and use patterns occurring in the Northern Forest, a set of natural resource criteria was developed by the Governors'
Task Force and Northern Forest Lands Study staff
with input from interested members of the public.
Using the GRANIT GIS system in New Hampshire,
these criteria were translated into a graphic interpretation under a pilot project for Coos County in
New Hampshire. The major resource criteria categories developed included wildlife habitat, scenic