Forest Futures Meg Mitchell Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forest First… a little background…

1. Forest FuturesMeg MitchellGreen Mountain & Finger LakesNational ForestFirst… a little background…

2. My Background • Education- Weston High School, CT B.S. Landscape Architecture from Colorado State University; M.S. Forestry from University of Idaho • Experience- Nature Conservancy, Colorado State Extension Service, Teaching and Research Assistant, Forest Service in Alaska, Oregon, Washington D.C., Vermont (+-18 years).

3. The U.S. Forest Service • Just over 100 years old; founded by Gifford Pinchot in 1905 • Research, State and Private Forestry, International Forestry and the National Forest System • Over 190 Million Acres; 8.5% of US • 30,000 Employees of various skills/backgrounds • 175 National Forests and Grasslands • In 44 States, Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands

4. Why Here? • Presentation Today Global and National Trends for Forests Local Opportunities and Issues Imagining the Future Here Future Skills • Questions and Answers (hopefully)

5. Forest Service National Priorities • Presidents Budget for Fiscal Year 07- Expanding collaboration, Efficiency and Financial Management, Improving Forest Health and Open Space • Chief’s Four Threats to National Forests- Catastrophic Fire & Urban Interface Fuels, Unmanaged Recreation, Non-native Invasives, Loss of Open Space • National Strategic Plan- Reduce risk from catastrophic fire, Reduce Impacts of Invasives, Provide Outdoor Recreation, Help meet energy resource needs, Improve Watershed Conditions

6. Eastern Region Priorities • Stretches from Main to Wisconsin & down to West Virginia and has 20 Forests and Grasslands • This geographic region contains about half the population of the US. • “Courageous Conservation” • Both the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes are located in this Region. • Recently completed our Forest Plans

7. The Trouble with American leaders is their ignorance of the world and US interdependence- their lack of world mindedness. – Warren Bennis

8. World Forests

10. Coalition Buidling…

11. Making the Priceless Valuable

12. Service Carbon Sequestration Biodiversity Conservation Social Value Watershed Protection Revenue Carbon Credits Pharmaceuticals/Cosmetics Shade-grown products Eco-tourism, Certification Protection Grants User Fees Ecosystem Service Markets

13. Global Leaders in ES Markets Australia- “Sustainable Cities,” Carbon, Water Canada & Europe- Consumption (“feebates”) & Carbon South Africa, Kenya & Uganda- Wildlife & Ecotourism, Water Costa Rica & Mexico- Nation-wide programs Brazil- Biodiversity United States- Water & Carbon (CA & RGGI)

14. Other Trends • Decentralized decision-making and more flexible regulatory frameworks with incentive-based approaches • Social Justice concerns related to who owns and controls land rights and tenure • A “Restoration Economy” in more industrialized nations. Coming back into previously developed areas. • Globalization and Outsourcing driven by communication technology • Inter-relationship between people’s health and ecosystem health.

15. Specific Areas for the GMFL • We lookat everything we do as an opportunity to connect people with land and forests in both urban and rural areas. • Continue to expand existing, coordinated acid deposition and air monitoring & research partnerships. Link to State Implementation Plans. • Get help and help others become carbon neutral. Build a LEED certified Supervisor’s Office Building and use this as a springboard to broader dialogue with associates, communities, ski areas and join emerging coalitions on green facilities, energy and sustainable consumption. • Explore the potential for developing Ecosystem Service Markets and our role in developing alternative energies with the various branches of the Forest Service, State and Universities.

16. Continue building activity-based partnerships and expand place-based coalitions across boundaries. Improve performance measures with these groups. • Continue to use our acquisition program strategically. Consider more opportunities to link up with Town Forests and other conservation organizations to help maintain working forests and meet open space and conservation goals across the landscape (e.g. Taconics). • Reduce our maintenance backlog through better trail and road management partnerships with Towns, Counties and trail groups. Reach agreement on sustainable infrastructure level. Begin building into our trails, roads, culverts, bridges and other structures the ability to handle more frequent and more intense climate events.

17. Develop Integrated project areas which are more efficient, effective and collaborative. Help address acquisition areas, access and vegetation management in areas with public support. Make greater use of Stewardship Contracts with Towns and partners in these integrated project areas. • Stick to our recreation niche, our strength in providing dispersed recreation across large areas of open space. Keep our landscape role in mind when planning projects and activities. • We can provide both large areas of mature forest condition and Wilderness and do our part to maintain working landscapes. The two are more compatible than ever in the eyes of world conservation leaders.

18. “Never doubt that a committed group of citizens can change the world. Indeed It’s the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead