US Forest Service Open Space Conservation Strategy Transportation Research Board September 3, 2008 Atlanta, Georgia Photo Credit: Regents at the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Used with permission. The U.S. Forest Service, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and 6 other Federal agencies agreed to work together to promote an ecosystem approach to guiding transportation project development. A document entitled: Ecol-Logical offers a general process for all signatory agencies. This approach was designed to encourage federal agencies to work in close partnership with each other and interested state and county transportation agencies as early in the planning process as possible to improve agency coordination and to work at a larger ecosystem scale. In my presentation today, I want to share why this is important to the Forest Service and to discuss some opportunities to work together. 1
Loss of Open Space Threat Steady loss of forests, grasslands, farms, ranches, wetlands, parks, and urban greenspaces to developed uses 6,000 acres a day In 2003, Chief Bosworth identified the loss of open space as one of four great threats facing our Nation s forests and grasslands. According to the Natural Resource Inventory, more than 34 million acres of open space were lost to development between 1982 and 2001. Specific to forests, over 10 million acres were converted to urban uses between 1982 to 1997. Open space loss appears to be accelerating, with an estimated 6,000 acres of open space lost per day, 4 acres a minute between 1992-2001, as compared to 3,800 acres lost a day in the previous decade (1982-1992). When we talk about open space we include forests, grasslands, farms, and other undeveloped lands ranging from wilderness to working lands to urban parks. Open space includes both private and public lands, although it is the private lands that are principally at risk. 2
PRIVATE FORESTS ON THE EDGE Projected development in private forests by 2030 Forest Service researchers project that forests will continue to see rapid development over the coming decades. For private forests, an estimated 44 million acres are projected to experience shifts in housing density by 2030. Note: Watersheds in red are those in which 20-40% of the watershed contains private forests projected to experience an increase in housing density. (Pink is 5-20% and green is 0-5%). White watesheds are those that did not pass our screening criteria (at least 10% forest cover and at least half of all forest in private ownership). 3
NATIONAL FORESTS ON THE EDGE Projected development around National Forests by 2030 A new report National Forests on the Edge projects that over 21 million acres of rural private lands located within 10 miles of national forests and grasslands will undergo increases in housing density by 2030. Nine national forests and grasslands (shown in red) are projected to experience substantial increases in housing density on at least 25 percent of adjacent private land. 4
Photo Credits: Kathryn Conant (USFS), Susan Stein Photo (USFS), Credits: Mark USDA Godfrey NRCS; @ 2004 The The Regents Nature the Conservancy, University of and Minnesota. USDA NRCS All rights reserved. Used with permission. Two major growth trends are contributing to the loss of open space: 1.Growth at the urban and suburban fringe often referred to as urban sprawl 2.And growth in beautiful rural areas with lakes, forests, mountains, public land and other natural resource amenities. There are many reasons people are attracted the urban fringe and to rural landscapes, including housing affordability (better value for the money) lower crime rates (perceived or real) And access to open space whether it is your own piece of paradise in your backyard or the ability to enjoy nearby public land. Open space is a driver of growth, yet the way we are growing in much of the country is either eliminating open space or reducing the benefits of open space. It is the classic tragedy of the commons where few are happy with the end result. 5
Photo Credits: Kathryn Conant (USFS), Susan Stein Photo (USFS), Credits:: Mark The Godfrey Regents @ 2004 at the The University Nature Conservancy, of Minnesota. All and rights USDA reserved. NRCS Used with permission. Population growth is one driver of growth with an estimated increase in 135 million people by 2050. But we are also using more land per person. Land development is outpacing population growth. This trend is especially apparent in rural areas where residences occupy an average 7 times more land than an urban residence, not because the houses are that much bigger but because the houses are scattered at low-densities across the landscape. Rural residential lots, while fewer in number than urban lots, tend to be larger, averaging nearly 3 acres per household, compared with less than a half acre for urban lots Forty-four million acres, 60 percent of all rural residential lands, are in the largest lot-size category, over 10 acres 6
Photo Credits: USFWS. Shane Heath, Craig Harper, Kathryn Conant (USFS). These current growth patterns affect the sustainability of natural systems and the overall quality of life for Americans. Where and how we are choosing to grow as a society is: contributing to our carbon emissions, reducing the ability of our ecosystems to adapt to climate change, helping spread invasive species, putting pressure on our water supplies, reducing places available and accessible for us (and our kids) to play and recreate, putting people and property at risk of wildfire, and degrading wildlife habitat and eliminating migration corridors. Natural systems do not recognize jurisdictional and ownership boundaries. Development on private land affects natural resources on both private and public land. 7
Photo: USFWS Fire in the wildland urban interface is the most visible consequence of growth. Growth in forests, chaparral, and other naturally flammable areas: 1. Makes it harder to reduce fuels to prevent fires; 2. Results in more fire starts; 3. Causes more damage from wildfire; 4. And is currently resulting in large federal expenditures on fire suppression to the tune of $1.5 billion annually for our agency alone. 8
Why the Forest Service? Photo Credit: Kathryn Conant (USFS) But is the really core Forest Service business? How does this relate to our mission? 9
Our Mission: Sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation s (private and public) forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. We cannot fulfill this mission without addressing the rapid loss of open space. Development of open space affects our ability to manage the National Forests and Grasslands, as well as our ability to help private landowners and communities sustainably manage their land to maintain private and public benefits and ecosystem services. 10
A Conservation Strategy Photo Credit: Kathryn Conant (USFS) So what are we the Forest Service going to do about this issue? And what can we do? To help answer these questions, we have developed an Open Space Conservation Strategy to establish priorities and next steps for the agency. We hope this strategy will help clarify our role & intent for ourselves and others, integrate action across the deputy areas, and encourage a landscape approach and collaboration with others. This is not an issue that the Forest Service can or should alone, nor is our job to regulate land use. But we do have a role and could be a stronger partner and conservation leader. To develop the strategy, we solicited input from partner organizations and the public. We received over 22,000 comments with the vast majority supportive of the strategy, and with many great suggestions of how the agency could better engage on this issue. Conserving open space is not a new idea and many dedicated folks have been working on this issue for a long time. 11
Current Contributions Manage 193 million acres of public open space Help manage & conserve over 500 million acres of non-federal forests Conduct research studies and assessments Conserving open space is not a new idea for the Forest Service, either. We are already a conservation partner. We manage and actively conserve 193 million acres of public open space. We conduct research and assessments to understand land use trends and effects, like the Southern Forest Resource Assessment. We also have a suite of cooperative programs that provide financial, technical, and educational assistance to help states, tribes, landowners, and communities conserve and manage over 500 million acres of non-federal forests. But the question on the table is what more can we do as an agency beyond business as usual to bring our efforts to scale with the scope of the issue. This is what we hope the open space strategy will help us do. 12
A Conservation Vision For the 21 st century, we envision an interconnected network of open space across the landscape that supports healthy ecosystems and a high quality of life for Americans. Fully realized this network will include sustainably managed private forests and rangelands, National Forests and Grasslands, other public land, riparian areas and wildlife corridors, and urban greenspaces. Private and public open spaces will complement each other across the landscape to provide ecosystem services, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, and sustainable products. We believe the Forest Service could play a critical role in meeting this vision working in partnership with private landowners, local communities, other public agencies, conservation organizations, and corporations. 13
Conservation Strategies Protect the most ecologically and socially important lands; Conserve working lands as sustainable forests and grasslands; Expand and connect open spaces in cities, suburbs, and towns; and Reduce the potential ecological impacts and risks of development. Our goal is to maintain the environmental, social, and economic benefits of forests and grasslands across the country by: Working with states, land trusts, and others to protect the most ecologically important lands; Working with private landowners to conserve working forests and grasslands; Working with communities to expand and connect open space in cities, suburbs, and towns; and Working with communities and developers to reduce the potential ecological impacts and wildfire risks association with development. 14
Priority Actions A. Convene partners to identify and protect priority open space; B. Promote national policies and markets to help private landowners conserve open space; C. Provide resources and tools to help communities expand and connect open spaces; and D. Participate in community growth planning to reduce ecological impacts and wildfire risks. We plan to focus our efforts on four priority actions to help conserve open space across the landscape. The actions emphasize our roles as a policy advisor at the national level, a convener at the regional level, and an information provider and stakeholder at the local level. All the actions will be implemented through partnerships and collaborative approaches. 15
Priority Actions A. Convene partners to identify and protect priority open space: Conduct a rapid science-based assessment of open space change; Convene partners and stakeholders to identify priorities; Protect priority lands through partnerships, conservation easements, and land acquisitions. 1 st, we plan to: Convene partners and stakeholders through regional dialogues to identify and protect priority open space. The idea here is promote strategic land conservation that focuses federal and private resources on the most environmental and socially important lands. We will begin this work by conducting a rapid research assessment of open space change and values to inform the regional discussions. Then we will convene or participate in existing discussions with other federal agencies, states, regional councils, counties and municipal governments, landowners, non-profit organizations, recreation users, land trusts, developers, and other stakeholders to identify common priorities for conservation. Science alone cannot determine which lands are of highest conservation value a multi-stakeholder dialogue will help identify which lands are most important for ecological, social, and economic values. Third, we will work with willing landowners and conservation partners to help protect the regional priority lands through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Forest Legacy programs. Through these programs we can contribute resources to help protect the priority lands, but we also hope the regional dialogues will encourage other public and private entities to focus their conservation dollars on these priority lands as well. 16
Priority Actions B. Promote national policies and markets to help private landowners conserve open space Identify where changes in tax and other federal policies could provide economic incentives and reduce barriers; Support the development of ecosystem service markets; Encourage natural resource-based industries; Support recreation and tourism uses; Provide and encourage landowner assistance and incentives. 2nd. Continue and expand our efforts at the national level to promote national policies and markets, such as carbon storage and ecosystem service markets, to help private landowners conserve open space. Ecosystem service markets would compensate private landowners for the public benefits their lands provide, giving them greater economic incentives to maintain their land as working forests and grasslands. Other ways we plan to help private landowners include: Analyzing current tax and federal policies, and advising the Administration and Congress on changes that could provide economic incentives and remove barriers for open space conservation; Encouraging sustainable natural resource-based industries to provide economic incentives for landowners to retain working land; Supporting recreation and tourism uses to generate revenue for landowners and communities from open space lands; and Providing and encourage landowner assistance and incentives to help keep working lands working 17
Priority Actions C. Provide resources and tools to help communities expand and connect open spaces Provide urban forestry assistance to communities to enhance/restore open space within cities, suburbs, and towns; Help communities strategically connect open spaces to maintain a functioning green infrastructure. 3 rd. Provide resources and tools at the local level to help communities expand and connect open spaces. Urban forestry, agroforestry, brownfield restoration, and green infrastructure tools and techniques can help sustain environmental quality and natural resource benefits within urban and suburban communities. We need to and must work to conserve green spaces in urban areas - where 80% of the American public lives. 18
Priority Actions D. Participate in community growth planning to reduce ecological impacts and wildfire risks: Participate in local, regional, and transportation planning; Work with communities to plan for and reduce wildfire risks; Research and share techniques to reduce the impacts of new developments on ecosystem function, scenic values, public access, and forest-based economies. 4 th. Participate in community growth planning at the local level as a stakeholder and an information provider with the goal of reducing the ecological impacts and wildfire risks associated with new developments. We especially want to work more closely with local communities to consider proactively how new and planned growth may affect National Forests and other public land resources, and to help guide growth away from wildfire danger zones. We also will research, develop, and share new designs, technologies, and techniques to help local planners and developers reduce the impacts of new buildings, roads, and community infrastructure on ecosystem function, scenic values, public access, and forest-based economies. 19
We need your help! Photo Credit: Kathryn Conant (USFS). We need your help, as the Forest Service is only one part of the solution to successfully sustain forests and grasslands across the landscape we need to cooperate across many boundaries private to public, state to state, county to county, non-profit to federal, etc. 20
For a copy of the strategy and other information visit: www.fs.fed.us/openspace A copy of the strategy is available on our open space website. You can also request a hard copy on this site as well. The website also includes conservation success stories, aerial images of open space loss, and links to many other conservation resources 21