The New Economies of the Redwood Region in the 21st Century

Abstract

The redwood region of California has experienced a number of major land use changes over the past one hundred and fifty years. A review of recent economic trends in the redwood region suggests the emergence of three new themes. First, it appears that the transition from an old growth to a young growth redwood industry is essentially complete. Lower revenues and relatively high operating costs may reduce landowner’s interest to maintain large areas of expensive real estate in sustainable forest products based operations. A continued decline in the timber-based economy will probably not be compensated by a growth in economic activity associated with redwood parks. The recreational and tourism economy of the region has been, and will continue to be dominated by the coast rather than the forests. One of the most significant economic and environmental trends is the increase in rural residential land use in redwood forests. Most of the redwood forests in four areas in four separate counties now effectively have an understory of houses and associated residential land uses. The environmental impacts in terms of altering wildlife habitats and new sources of water pollutants may be greater than those typical of current best forest management practices.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the Redwood Region Forest Science Symposium: What does the future hold?

Citation

Stewart, William. 2007. The New Economies of the Redwood Region in the 21st Century. In: Standiford, Richard B.; Giusti, Gregory A.; Valachovic, Yana; Zielinski, William J.; Furniss, Michael J., technical editors. 2007. Proceedings of the redwood region forest science symposium: What does the future hold? Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-194. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 393-402