Finite land, infinite futures? Sustainable options on a fixed land base.

Abstract

The United States is expected to add around 120 million, an additional 40 percent, to its population in the next 50 years and personal incomes are generally projected to rise. This will inevitably intensify land use pressures. Between 1992 and 1997, USDA's National Resource Inventory estimated that 2.2 million acres of rural land were developed each year, with forest land being the largest source. Sustainability options for agriculture, forestry, residential communities, biodiversity, and employment are worth exploring.

Forest and aquatic ecosystems are shaped by interactions that cross major land use boundaries and ownerships. Policy decisions in the forest or agriculture sector, made with the best of intentions, can have unintended consequences in other sectors. It is crucial therefore that policymakers understand the potential impacts of their choices, and new modeling capabilities developed by PNW scientists are helping to make that possible.

Citation

Duncan, Sally. 2001. Finite land, infinite futures? Sustainable options on a fixed land base. Science Findings. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. February (31): 1-5