Challenges of Managing Private Forests in the Appalachians

Throughout the Appalachians, private forestlands are often the most susceptible to poor forest management practices. Because of poor management, private forestlands can be less diverse and more susceptible to invasive pests,... [ view full abstract ]

Throughout the Appalachians, private forestlands are often the most susceptible to poor forest management practices. Because of poor management, private forestlands can be less diverse and more susceptible to invasive pests, less resilient to stress, and contain poor quality habitat incapable of supporting a diversity of wildlife.  The Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV), one of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Joint Ventures, is working with several partners to promote sustainable forest management on private lands that will both maximize benefits to priority bird species and improve overall forest health and resilience.  Much of this work is in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), using their cost-share programs to provide technical and financial assistance to forest landowners to complete conservation actions on the ground.  While the body of human dimensions research has aided us in our engagement with private landowners, a range challenges beyond landowner motivation remain that affect the successful implementation of our private lands efforts in the Appalachians.  These include landowner inability to financially contribute to management in spite of a strong desire to see it accomplished, conflicting views about sustainable forest management (by both landowners and forest managers), difficulties completing non-commercial harvests, and landowner reactions to implemented projects.  This session will explore these issues and outline how our partners are adapting our outreach and implementation strategies to achieve our forest conservation goals.