The Northern Forest Futures Project: A forward look at forest conditions in the northern United States

W. Keith Moser; Stephen R. R. Shifley

Treesearch

The Northern Forest Futures Project: A forward look at forest conditions in the northern United States

Informally Refereed

Authors:

W. Keith Moser, Stephen R. R. Shifley

Year:

2012

Type:

Proceedings - Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

In: Bengston, David N., comp. 2012. Environmental futures research: experiences, approaches, and opportunities. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-107. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 44-54.

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Download (PDF 154 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/42314.pdf

Abstract

Forests and forest ecosystems provide a critical array of benefits, from clean air and water to commercial products to open space. The forests and their ability to provide desired benefi ts constantly change in response to natural forces, human decisions, and human needs. The complexity and rate of change demand a rigorous evaluation of existing and emerging natural and anthropogenic forces, analysis of potential impacts of those forces, and consideration of how our response to them affects future forest sustainability. Nowhere is the apparent need for analysis of these challenges more critical than in the Upper Midwest and Northeast because this quadrant of the United States has both the greatest population density and the greatest percentage of forest cover.

Parent Publication

Environmental futures research: experiences, approaches, and opportunities

Keywords

strategic foresight, scenarios, trends, forecasting, change, environmental scanning

Citation

Moser, W. Keith; Shifley, Stephen R. 2012. The Northern Forest Futures Project: A forward look at forest conditions in the northern United States. In: Bengston, David N., comp. 2012. Environmental futures research: experiences, approaches, and opportunities. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-107. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 44-54.