Future forests of the northern United States

Abstract

The U.S. North - the 20 states bounded by Maine, Maryland, Missouri, and Minnesota - have a greater forest cover (42 percent of land area) and population density (194 people per square mile) than other large regions of the nation. Ecological, social, and economic changes anticipated over the next 50 years will profoundly affect future forest management needs and opportunities in the North. This report draws on data from numerous sources to analyze 13 scenarios that consider future forest change in response to assumptions about land-use change, economic change, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, forest growth, forest harvest, and other factors. Results are organized using the Montreal Process Criteria and Indicator framework.

Titles contained within Future forests of the northern United States

• Front matter
• Assessing and forecasting change in northern forests
• Projection methods
• Conservation of biological diversity
• Maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystems
• Maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality
• Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources
• Projections of forest contributions to global carbon cycles
• Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socioeconomic benefits to meet the needs of societies
• Legal, institutional, and policy framework for forest conservation and sustainable management
• Urban forests
• The outlook for northern forests
• Glossary
• Appendices

Citation

Shifley, Stephen R.; Moser, W. Keith, eds. 2016. Future forests of the northern United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-151. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 388 p.