New Hampshire Forest Resources Plan Revision -- Assessment 2010

Area of Focus
General Assessments

This Assessment Report is essentially a background paper designed to provide the best information available about the status of New Hampshire’s forests to facilitate a revision to the Plan with input from many stake holder groups. With assistance from the USDA Forest Service, the Division of Forests and Lands has decided to use the framework of the Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators as the basis for the Assessment report. The Criteria and Indicators used for this assessment are a series of 7 Criteria and 18 Indicators and associated data sources that the USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area (NA) and the 20 State forestry agencies in the Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters (NAASF) developed for use in ongoing monitoring efforts in this region. In this way, subsequent use of the framework will yield comparable results within districts (geographic areas like the State of New Hampshire) or among districts. The report is structured directly around these 7 Criterion and 18 Indicators.

Related Links
New Hampshire Forest Assessment 2010

Indicators

  • State forestry program funding
    Adequately funding state regulation of forestry is more likely to result in forestry activities being legally executed and forests being sustainably used. Adequacy could be measured as the proportion of funding needed to carry out forest and forestry monitoring, to use information in decision-making, and to review decisions and he outcomes of decisions.
  • State forests, parks, natural areas, and fish and wildlife areas
    The public enjoys many outdoor activities at recreation areas, which provide them with many benefits, as well as economically benefitting nearby communities.
  • Status of comprehensive State forest resource assessments
    Assessments of forest holdings and conditions are critical for long-term strategic planning by state agencies. This could be planning for management of activities on state forests, or regulations to encourage sustainability on private lands.
  • Status of comprehensive State forest resource planning
    Planning management activities on state forests and regulations affecting logging on private lands may improve the sustainability of these areas and the benefits they provide to the public.
  • Total value of wood products shipments
    Wood products range from processed logs to finished retail products (e.g., furniture). The value increases as production continues and economic benefits to a region from wood products increase as more production is carried out.
  • Trade or wood flow
    Wood products of varying types are traded among regions within the US and among countries. The net flow of wood into or out of a state and sources of wood are important types of information about sustainability of wood use within the state.
  • Type of planning State forestry agencies are involved in
    State forest agencies may be involved in a narrow or a wide range of planning. Its likely that wider involvement in planning will improve recognition of the value of forest lands and their services by other planning processes.
  • Types of forest management standards/guidelines
    Forest management often means a combination of activities associated with logging and/or with re-planting. Standards for these activities could be voluntary (e.g., as part of forest certification) or regulatory. Transparent standards and guidelines provide a way for the public and decision-makers to protect ecosystem services and benefits (e.g., clean water, wildlife habitat).
  • USDA Forest Service Research funding
    The US Forest Service (USFS) plays a key role in forestry and forest ecology in the US. The research arm of the USFS is a trusted entity by manyThe US Forest Service (USFS) plays a key role in forestry and forest ecology in the US. The research arm of the USFS is a trusted entity by many involved in often contentious discussions about forestry. involved in often contentious discussions about forestry.
  • Value added in wood products
    Rural communities dependent on forestry/logging can benefit in various ways from wood processing after the trees are cut. Retaining wood processing beyond the original cut, sometimes to the point of final wood products (e.g., furniture, flooring) can benefit local communities by adding jobs that would otherwise be exported to other states or countries.
  • Volume of roundwood production
    This metric reports on the amount of soft or hardwood logs produced from an area or state.
  • Wood product manufacturing annual payroll
    This indicator is a direct measure of the income benefits to communities from wood product manufacturing. When compared to cost of living and the total value of manufacturing, companies, communities and workers can understand the meaning of the total production-related payroll.
  • Wood product manufacturing employees
    The number of employees associated with wood manufacturing in a region or community gives an indication of the importance of the industry, especially when compared to total employment or with other industries (e.g., tourism, agriculture).
  • Wood product manufacturing, production workers hourly wages
    This metric is a measure of the benefits that workers receive from the wood products industry in a municipality or region.