Private Forestland Issues
Given that a significant portion of U.S. forestlands is owned by private, non-industrial entities (i.e., families or individuals), we are tracking a number of different issues affecting these landowners. Our participation in the National Council on Private Forests (NCPF) helps keep us up to speed in this arena, as this forum facilitates dialogue on topics ranging from private lands conservation programs in the 2007 Farm Bill to industrial timberland divestiture and related opportunities for community forest management. We also participate in the Private Lands Working Group of the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC), which discusses similar issues to the NCPF but with a specific focus on how they relate to rural communities in the Western U.S.

Women in Forestry
As part of a grant received from the Ford Foundation, we conducted a study to develop a better understanding of the role of women in forest management in three distinct capacities: (1) as professional foresters or professionals working in the forestry arena; (2) as forest caretakers (primarily in the international arena); and, (3) as forest landowners. In addition to a general literature review on women in natural resources, this study also includes a short case study of a specific organization that is devoted to addressing some of the issues affecting minority women landowners (Women in Land Ownership, based in Alabama). Click here to download the paper.

Regional Policy Issues
Efforts to develop capacity in the forest policy-making process across communities in the Western U.S. have demonstrated valuable strategies and learned lessons that could be useful in other regions of the country. In cooperation with our national community-based forestry (CBF) partners, we are planning to explore opportunities to transfer these strategies and lessons by identifying local and regional CBF organizations in other areas of the country that would be interested in developing capacity related to policy-making and working with our national policy efforts. We hope to gain a better sense of the CBF policy-related concerns and interests in Appalachia and the Northeast by coordinating "listening sessions" at two regional forums scheduled to be hosted by the National Network of Forest Practitioners this fall.

Barriers to Collaborative Forestry
In partnership with the Ecological Restoration Institute, the Society of American Foresters and American Forests, the Institute developed a process by which ongoing barriers to collaborative forestry in the U.S. could be identified and overcome. Through background papers and a facilitated working session, participants identified 8 major barriers that included policies and procedures, funding, and expectations. Click here to read "lessons learned" document (meeting material). Click here to read about the barriers identified.

Stewardship Contracting
Please click here for policy research and analysis on stewardship contracting.

Click here for links to the partner organizations mentioned on this page .