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A new series of Science and Policy Briefs from The Wilderness Society, most recent listed first. Briefs on wildland fire issues are posted below.
Measuring Forest Carbon: Strengths and Weaknesses of Available Tools Summary (04/08/2008)
As the U.S. moves toward registering and regulating emissions of greenhouse gases, we are hearing more about the potential for forest carbon sequestration to offset fossil fuel emissions. Whether at the national or project level, good decisions about forest offsets depend upon accurate estimates of the carbon stored in forests and the changes in those stores over time. This Brief examines four carbon measurement tools, and provides some general comparisons for broad regions. It also highlights limitations that users should keep in mind; data are particularly limited for very old forests and for carbon reserves in dead wood and underground.
| Monongahela Wilderness and the West Virginia Economy  (02/01/2008)
Wilderness designation outlined in the Wild Monongahela Act, recently introduced by West Virginia’s Congressional Representatives, plus additional acreage proposed by the West Virginia Wilderness Coalition, would create, enhance or secure important economic benefits for West Virginia. This brief describes these benefits and discusses the wilderness proposal in relation to regional timber supply.
| Riverside County Wilderness Would Secure Economic Benefits for the Future (01/02/2008)
Representative Mary Bono and Senator Barbara Boxer have introduced the "California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act" to protect 200,000 additional acres of wilderness in Riverside County, California. If enacted, their proposal would create, enhance or secure important economic benefits for California and the Nation, including those outlined in this Economic + Wilderness brief.
| Allegheny National Forest Wilderness: Economic Benefits for Pennsylvania (09/04/2007)
Wilderness designation outlined in the Citizens’ Wilderness Proposal for Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest would create, enhance or secure important economic benefits for northwest Pennsylvania without serious impact on the region’s timber industry. Read this Brief for estimates of the potential economic benefits and a discussion of the wilderness proposal in relation to regional timber supply.
| Environmental Benefits and Consequences of Biofuel Development in the United States (05/14/2007)
This brief examines the benefits and concerns with the further development of primary biofuels that exist or are being developed in the United States. The expansion of biofuels to achieve a 15% reduction in fuel consumption will prove challenging and it may cause numerous unintended ecological consequences that are not currently being considered including land degradation, water consumption, water quality degradation, and invasive species concern.
| Managing the Landscape for Fire: A Three-Zone, Landscape-Scale Fire Management Strategy (09/29/2006)
This report outlines a simple model to address wildland fire comprehensively across landscapes and describes how that model may be applied to the development of land and resource management plans (LRMPs).
| Addressing the Ecological Effects of Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) (08/31/2006)
This report summarizes the issues facing public land management agencies in regards to off-road vehicle usage. The report also addresses the importance of considering ecological effects when developing science-based plans and before making management decisions.
| Habitat Fragmentation from Roads: Travel Planning Methods to Safeguard BLM Lands (05/01/2006)
This report summarizes existing research on habitat fragmentation and provides recommendations to the BLM on how it can incorporate habitat fragmentation analysis into its travel management planning process.
| Road Maintenance Costs and Funding: Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (03/31/2006)
Road maintenance is essential for continued public use and to minimize adverse environmental effects of roads. Unfortunately, the cost of road maintenance exceeds the current federal appropriations. In an attempt to close this funding gap a Roads Policy was introduced in 2001. The Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is among the first of the national forest units to have incorporated the roads policy into its management plan. This brief is the result of a study by The Wilderness Society to assess whether maintenance needs are currently being met and are likely to be met.
| Integrating Science into Fire Management Planning: Maximizing the Benefits of Fire (12/22/2004)
Fire Management Plans provide the strategic foundation for all fire related management activities - before, during, and after a wildland fire. This brief describes the importance of using “best available science” to inform fire planning in order to maximize fire’s benefit while minimizing its costs.
| Wildland Fire Use: An Essential Fire Management Tool (12/21/2004)
Wildland Fire Use, the use of naturally-ignited fire in remote locations to improve forest health, can both perform essential ecological functions and reduce the high costs associated with fire suppression. This brief explores the benefits of increased WFU and the challenges facing expanded use of fire on public lands.
| Stewardship Contracting: An Assessment of Opportunities for Forest Restoration and Rural Communities (06/25/2004)
TWS Science & Policy Brief #7 (June 2004): Summarizes the Stewardship Contracting program. This brief analyzes new contracting authorities, discussing the potential promise and pitfalls of implementation on public lands. (596 Kb)
| Conservation of Biodiversity in the East: The Role of Early Successional and Mature Forests (06/24/2004)
TWS Science & Policy Brief 6 (June 2004): Summary of the historical context and current status of both early and late successional forest habitats in the eastern United States. It also discusses the challenges inherent in managing for species that depend on these two habitat types and recommends actions that public agencies and land managers should consider at regional and local scales. (1.3 Mb)
| The Federal Wildland Fire Budget: Let's Prepare, Not Just React (04/30/2004)
TWS Science & Policy Brief #5 (Apr. 2004): Summary of analysis of the federal budget process and how it affects funding for wildland fire management. The implications of these findings and recommendations are presented. (467 Kb)
| Forest Liquidation: Short-Term Financial Gains Shortchange Long-Term Benefits (03/25/2004)
TWS Science & Policy Brief #4 (Mar. 2004): Forestland sales increase the risk of "liquidation" harvesting. Modeling of timber growth and value illustrates why liquidation is financially attractive, compared with more selective harvest regimes. Because liquidation reduces long-term and non-priced forest values, public policies are needed to counteract the effects of short-term financial incentives. (979 Kb)
| Bureau of Land Management Budget -- Let's Fix It For Conservation (03/15/2004)
TWS Science & Policy Brief #3 (Mar. 2004): Summary of BLM's conservation goals, needs, and spending, with an emphasis on the proposed 2005 budget. The Brief recommends changes in the budget to improve conservation. (900 Kb)
| The Economic Benefits of Wilderness, With a Focus on Land Value Enhancement (03/05/2004)
TWS Science & Policy Brief #2 (Mar. 2004): Recently completed research at The Wilderness Society shows that residential property located closer to National Forest Wilderness is more valuable than otherwise similar properties without Wilderness and associated amenities nearby. (926 Kb)
| Landscape Connectivity: An Essential Element of Land Management (02/29/2004)
TWS Science & Policy Brief #1 (Feb. 2004): The concepts of landscape connectivity and how it can be applied in conservation. (760 Kb) |
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Additional science and policy briefs, focusing on wildland fire issues.
Restoring Balance to Wildland Fire Policy (10/09/2003)
A 10-page primer on wildland fire policy.
| Roadless Areas Pose No Threat to Communities at Risk from Wildfire (09/15/2003)
An analysis conducted by The Wilderness Society reveals that there is little national forest roadless land in close proximity to homes and communities.
| Dead Trees and Healthy Forests (04/15/2003)
Dead Trees and Healthy Forests: Is Fire Always Bad?
| Fire and Fuels: Does Thinning Stop Wildfires? (04/15/2003)
This Science Brief takes a look at the impact of forest thinning on fuels availability.
| Communities at Risk from Wildfire (04/15/2003)
Communities at Risk from Wildfire: How Much is on Federal Land?
| Economics of Fuel Treatment (04/15/2003)
The costs and benefits of fuel treatment. Where does it make sense to thin forests?
| 2002 Wildfire Season at a Glance (04/15/2003)
2002 Wildfire Season at a Glance: Historic Drought, Historic Fires
| Summary of Biscuit Complex Fire, OR/CA (03/24/2003)
Summary of Biscuit Complex Fire, OR/CA, July 13-Sept. 5, 2002
| Summary of Hayman Fire, CO (03/24/2003)
Summary of Hayman Fire, CO, June 8-July 2, 2002.
| Summary of the McNally Fire, CA (03/24/2003)
Summary of the McNally Fire, CA, July 21 - August 29, 2002.
| Summary of the Missionary Ridge Complex Fire, CO (03/24/2003)
Summary of the Missionary Ridge Complex Fire, CO, June 9-July 15, 2002.
| Summary of the Rodeo-Chediski Fire, AZ (03/24/2003)
Summary of the Rodeo-Chediski Fire, AZ, June 18 -July 7, 2002. |
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