The RSF’s Stakeholder Sustainable Forests Action Strategy (SFAS)

The SFAS is a nine-point action strategy for a two-year plan designed to address some disturbing trends that threaten the sustainability of our Nation’s forests. The SFAS, developed by Roundtable participants in 2009, is available at http://www.sustainableforests.net/docs/SFAS.Final.mgb.1.pdf. The document, which is based on a comparison of data from the 2003 and draft 2010 National Reports on Sustainable Forests, concludes there has been a substantial decline in the health of the nation’s forests over the past 10 years. The Report also identifies the conversion of forests to non-forest uses and declining investments in forestry and wood products as major areas of concern in the U.S.

The RSF developed the nine-point Action Strategy to stimulate action on these and other trends. The Roundtable believes its recommended actions can only be achieved by stakeholders working together over the next two years, leveraging existing programs, and with relatively minimal expense. The nine actions will build a foundation for future work. Initial background and general ideas for how each of these recommendations might be approached are contained in Annex 2 of the SFAS at http://www.sustainableforests.net/docs/SFAS_Annex_2.pdf.

The Recommendations

To learn more about each recommendation, follow the links below.

• Recommendation 1 - Protect and Manage the Nation’s Most Valuable Forested Watersheds.
• Recommendation 2 - Support National Data Gathering and Reporting.
• Recommendation 3 - Enact Dedicated Funding Sources for Wildland Fire Suppression.
• Recommendation 4 - Heighten Awareness of Forests Benefits.
• Recommendation 5 - Develop and Support Pilot Landscape Level Sustainable Forests Projects.
• Recommendation 6 - Encourage Local Governments to Consider Forest Resources.
• Recommendation 7 - Analyze the Impact of Tax Policies, Incentives, and Barriers to Sustainable Management of Private Forests.
• Recommendation 8 - Maintain and Diversify Markets that Facilitate Forest Conservation and Sustainable Forest Management.
• Recommendation 9 - Integrate Urban Forestry in Federal Initiatives Aimed at Sustainable Communities and Green Infrastructure.

What is Happening on the Recommendations and How to Participate

Progress on the proposed recommendations will occur only if stakeholders become involved. Several of the recommendations have leaders who have stepped forward, but will need willing stakeholders to help fulfill the recommendations. Other recommendations need stakeholders who are willing to take the lead ("champion") and work with others to find creative ways to fulfill the recommendation. The current state of activity on each recommendation is shown http://www.sustainableforests.net/docs/SFAS_Engaged_Stakeholders_v1_100621.pdf. To connect with other stakeholders and participate in taking action on any of these recommendations please contact the Meridian Institute at INFO@SUSTAINABLEFORESTS.NET.

Other Related Resources

For copies of the U.S. Forest Service 2003 and 2010 National Reports (DRAFT), go to: http://www.fs.fed.us/research/sustain.