National forests on the edge: development pressures on America's National Forest system.

Abstract

Nationwide, the national forest system covers 192 million acres and contains 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands. These national forest system lands provide a variety of social, cultural, and economic benefits to society. An increasing number of housing units are now located along and near the boundaries of national forests, resulting from desires to reside near natural amenities and an expanding population. Nearly a quarter of the U.S. population now lives in a county that contains national forest system land. Increases in the level of residential development on rural lands around the boundaries of national forests may threaten the provision of goods and services from national forests. The objective of this study is to identify national forests and grasslands in the conterminous United States that are likely to experience increases in residential housing densities on the currently rural private lands located outside their boundaries. This study is one in a series completed for the Forests on the Edge project sponsored by the State and Private Forestry branch of the USDA Forest Service.

Citation

White, Eric M.; Stein, Susan M.; Alig, Ralph J. 2007. National forests on the edge: development pressures on America''s National Forest system. In: Laband, D.N., ed. Proceedings, emerging issues along urban-rural interfaces II: linking land-use science and society. Auburn, AL: Auburn University: 241-244