Forest Policy and Governance in the United States: An Introduction

This textbook provides an up-to-date and comprehensive introduction to the policy background and contemporary governance of forests in the United States. It explores the diversity of forest owners, users, and uses, and examines emerging approaches to forest governance that cross traditional jurisdictional and property boundaries. It tackles key contemporary issues such as the forest water nexus, the conservation of threatened and endangered species, and the challenges of managing fire, insect, and disease dynamics under a changing climate. It also raises the big questions about the distribution of rights and responsibilities in forest management, the tensions between equity and efficiency, and how to sustain a diversity of forest values under the pressures of ecological and social complexity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking new textbook offers a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to both the policy background and contemporary governance of forests in the United States. It begins by tracing the historical development of forest policies and conservation agencies, delving into the diverse range of forest owners, users, and uses. The book then explores emerging approaches to forest governance that transcend traditional jurisdictional and property boundaries, addressing key contemporary issues such as the forest water nexus, the conservation of threatened and endangered species, and the management of fire, insect, and disease dynamics under a changing climate.

Key focal areas include the emergence of collaborative approaches to forest governance, the dynamics of community forest relationships, changes to corporate timberland ownership, and contemporary governance mechanisms such as certification and payments for ecosystem services. The text raises profound questions about the distribution of rights and responsibilities in forest management, the tensions between equity and efficiency, and how to sustain a diversity of forest values amidst the pressures of ecological and social complexity. Written in an accessible and engaging style, this textbook provides a timely synthesis of both the foundations and current trends and issues in forest policy and governance in the United States, with a strong emphasis on illustrative real-world cases.

Forest Policy and Governance in the United States is an indispensable resource for students enrolled in forest and natural resource policy courses, as well as for students in environmental governance courses. It will also be of great interest to policymakers and professionals engaged in forest conservation and the forest industry. By providing a comprehensive understanding of the policy context and contemporary governance of forests in the United States, this textbook contributes to the advancement of knowledge and understanding in this critical field.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367489557