7: Legal, institutional and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management

This indicator describes governmental agencies, educational institutions, and other for-profit and not-for-profit organizations that exist to promote the conservation and sustainable management of rangelands. This indicator is extremely broad in scope. In the United States, the list of institutions and organizations with an interest in rangelands and rangeland stewardship is exceedingly long. Included in this list are federal, state, and local governmental agencies (broadly defined), as well as educational institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

This indicator describes the extent to which laws, regulations, and guidelines clarify property rights and land tenure arrangements on rangelands. It also evaluates how these laws recognize customary and traditional rights of indigenous people on rangelands, and whether these laws provide means of resolving property disputes by due process. The “police power” of the government to regulate private property is exercised in a manner consistent with the Constitution and applicable laws. Environmental and zoning regulations are two examples of police powers that limit the rights of landowners. Property owners also are not able to utilize property in a manner that endangers or damages the lives or property of others. As society’s values and norms slowly change over time, the balance of government power and private property rights is repeatedly subject to changing legal interpretation.

The Forest Stewardship Program, funded with federal dollars, has encouraged forest management planning on private forestlands for years. This program is intended to support sustainable forestry practices on private lands.

Maintaining a long-term employee base is more likely to result in those employees feeling secure in their positions, having a trained staff network, and supporting relationships with stakeholders. Permanent employees in the Forest Service will probably know the place they are responsible for and may develop trusting relationships with stakeholders.

Natural hazards (e.g., fire, flood, drought) often cost government agencies (and private parties) as they try to prevent, mitigate, and recover from the impacts of these hazards. Tracking the cost of assisting the public impacted by floods helps inform the cost-effectiveness of different policies. Tracking the cost of preventing, fighting, and recovering from fires similarly helps to understand what policies are most cost-effective and economical.

Document the amount of rangeland currently being managed with water quality best management practices. The University of California Rangeland Water Quality Program provides tools and incentives for ranchers to implement voluntary measures to prevent and/or mitigate impacts of livestock operations on water quality. Trends and levels of participation in these programs are considered to be indicative of sustainable rangeland management practices.

This indicator is considered to reflect local and regional engagement by stakeholders in timberland management. There are numerous collaborative efforts and local or regional groups that are actively involved with forest management throughout California’s forested regions. Many of these have received funding and technical assistance from state and federal agencies and private foundations.

Communities that are adjacent to or within fire-prone areas may be more prepared and/or resilient in the face of wildfires. In addition, communities with Community Wildfire Protection Plans in place will be given priority for funding of hazardous fuels reduction projects carried out under the auspices of the federal Healthy Forest Restoration Act.

One dominant idea is that the path to sustainability includes, or consists entirely of, people's consumption choices. The idea is that as people choose the products of more sustainable pathways, total sustainability will increase. As the percent of people making these choices goes up, sustainability becomes more likely. This depends on the total population consumption also being sustainable and supportable by local, regional, or global production.

Conservation easements on private lands are one important tool for protecting forested areas. The idea is that cash payments will compensate forest land owners for not logging the land and that these lands will keep providing valued ecosystem services.