This indicator assesses the availability and reliability of information needed to measure or describe the indicators associated with Forestry Program for Oregon Strategies A through G. Public discussion and decisions related to natural resource sustainability issues should be based on comprehensive, current, and sound data. Forests are more likely to be managed on a sustainable basis if relevant forest information is up-to-date and easily available to decision-makers, forest managers, and the general public.

Quantify the amount of acres of rangeland, by county that receives favorable property tax treatment under the Williamson Act. Williamson Act contracts have a significant effect on the amount of property taxes a rancher pays. The property is assessed with livestock operations as the highest and best use. There is some evidence that the positive effects of Williamson Act contracts have diminished in the past several years.

Local and regional controversy over forest management is reflected in appeals or protests against Timber Harvest Plans or on National Forests, appeals and lawsuits on NEPA documents filed for forestry projects. Generic protest letters regarding Timber Harvest Plans are not considered to be an accurate representation of controversy. Other measures such as number of legal actions filed may be superior. For National Forests, appeals filed and subsequent legal actions are suitable measures of controversy.

Trends in ownership or partnerships involving conservation organizations and ranchers document change favoring sustainable resource management. This indicator measures the number of conservation easements and number of acres protected under conservation easement, ownership by conservation organizations conducting ranching operations as well as other partnerships between producers and conservation organizations.

Locating wood product manufacturing requires a steady supply of wood and a trained, or trainable work-force. If wood product manufacturers invest in capacity a region/municipality, it is a sign that long-term employment in wood products industries is more likely.

This indicator will produce a report on project implementation compliance on federal forestlands with approved management plan standards and guidelines. It will also produce reports on voluntary compliance with the state Forest Practices Act by private forest landowners and operators, and the effects of Forest Practices Act compliance on private landowners’ ability to manage their forest resources.

This indicator will produce a tabular report on trends in public and professional education and research related to sustainable forest resource management. The management practices that determine forest sustainability depend largely upon an informed citizenry and human skill and ingenuity. It is important to improve public understanding of forest ecosystems and the complex issues regarding our forest resource management.

State and federal landowner assistance programs provide incentives for landowners to manage their timberland properties. The principal assistance programs affecting forest landowners are the California Forest Improvement Program, Vegetation Management Program and NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives program. Funding levels and project priorities vary among these programs. New assistance programs may emerge in the next few years that can provide benefits to forest landowners.

This indicator describes the extent to which economic policies and practices affect the conservation and sustainable management of rangelands. The indicator explores the relationship between micro-economic and macro-economic processes and long-term sustainable management on rangelands. Recent years have seen a transition from policies that primarily promote increased productive capacity on rangelands to a trend of encouraging ecosystem health and restoration. Extensive research has shown that important outputs of ranches are often not incorporated into conventional economic analyses. These outputs include things like family, tradition, and a rural way of life. In addition to their management-unit level effects, economic policies influence rural communities and regions.

Parks may be used differently by different groups of people, grouped by race or income. This may be because of accessibility (distance between residence and park), or other reasons. For some urban or rural areas, there are no or few open spaces and parks nearby for people to use.