Tennessee Forest Resource Priorities Identified
Thursday, September 30, 2010 | 10:11am
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF), along with numerous forest resource stakeholders, have completed the Tennessee Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy in conjunction with a national effort towards conserving, protecting and enhancing our forests.
“The benefit that forests provide for water resources is central to the theme of this assessment and strategy,” said Steve Scott, State Forester for Tennessee. “Forest landscapes can provide us with the quality and quantity of water we require.”
The assessment provides an analysis of forest conditions, trends and threats in Tennessee. Strategies provide long-term plans for addressing needs identified in the assessment. Top priority areas and issues identify where natural resource agencies, including TDF, partner organizations and federal programs will target strategy implementation. The assessment was required for forestry agencies across the nation by the federal 2008 Farm Bill.
One concern identified in the assessment is a trend related to urban sprawl and forestland conversion to other uses. For example, between 1990 and 2000, Tennessee experienced an estimated 360,000 acre increase in urban area, resulting in the loss of 178,000 acres of forestland to urban use. At this rate, an additional 1.2 million acres of forestland could be urbanized by 2050.
“Healthy forests act as natural filtration systems to our water resources, and if we are to continue to provide natural solutions to conserving the quality of water delivered to our communities, we must start with ensuring our forests remain as forests,” said Scott.
The Tennessee Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy is a compilation of ideas grouped together from multiple agencies, partners, and forest resource stakeholders including landowners and the public. It marks the beginning of an ongoing process of resource management and planning that will help steer forest conservation decision making. The anticipated result will be healthier and more resilient landscapes, better and more fire-adapted communities, improved habitat, air and water quality.
The document can be found on the Department of Agriculture’s website at:
For more information about other programs and services of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture visit www.tn.gov/agriculture.