Forest conservation in the United States
Forests provide wildlife with a suitable habitat for living which allows the ecosystem to be biodiverse and benefit other natural processes.
Forests also filter groundwater and prevent runoff keeping water safe for human consumption.
[3] This includes methods such as afforestation, reforestation, selective logging,[4] controlled burns, wildland fire use, laws and policies,[5] advocacy groups, and wildlife management areas.
Additionally, multiple United States government programs support forest conservation efforts.
[6] After 1691 the British government imposed the Broad Arrow Policy in New England, by which pine trees suitable for the Royal Navy were branded and forbidden for settlers to use.
This project consisted of twenty-five thousand men working on forest protection by planting trees, watershed restoration, and erosion control.
Following World War II, the first Smokey Bear symbol appeared on a poster to represent fire prevention cooperation.
Deforestation is brought about by commercial logging, conversion of woodlands to agricultural land, and the felling of trees for firewood and building material.
The financial impact caused by invasive species is 138 billion dollars per year with economic loss and control costs.
This creates habitat for wildlife, recreational areas, and commercial use while not causing harm to natural forests.
[29] The restoration of forests is considered to be crucial to fighting climate change and to conserving global diversity.
[30] Selective logging is another method used to meet the needs of both the forests and humans seeking economic resources.
The NFMA serves to determine the parts of National Forests that can be used for certain purposes (roads and recreation) and which areas are safe from destruction.
Then, in 1960, the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act was created, addressing the establishment and administration of national forests that can be sustainably used for human usage.
The goal of this act is to develop and prepare national renewable resources and programs that can be periodically reviewed and updated to meet current standards.
This group works to build connections between people and National Forests through education, opportunities, and events.
This group's mission is to protect and better the National Park Systems in the United States for the present and the future.
This group covers news articles, issues, ways to be involved, where to find national parks, and the impact they have made in the past century.
[35] State departments of natural resources and conservation develop, maintain, and manage public lands across the nation.
The other is to initiate the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which has an annual budget of $1.9 billion.
[38] State agencies can request funding for projects that approach conservation and environmental protection simultaneously with public access.
This addresses economic, ethnic, and racial inequalities while improving equity by increasing access to public lands for communities that have been historically excluded from outdoor recreation.
The GAOA is designed to revisit prior systems that have underserved communities and revise them to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion.
[39] Today, the majority of the revenue for the LWCF is from oil and gas leasing in the Outer Continental Shelf.
Second, the funds are part of a matching grant program that supports states in managing recreational facilities and lands.
[40] The Inflation Reduction Act law was passed in 2022 as a commitment to invest in clean energy and climate action over ten years of funding.
Forestry efforts, like large tree plantings, around the country to sequester carbon in the atmosphere receive $2.2 billion.
Also, the U.S. Forest Service has awarded states and territories $250 million to ensure equitable access to trees for urban communities.
This will eventually be increased to $1 billion to continue funding grants that support projects emphasizing equitable access to green spaces or forests within urban communities.
[42] $700 million worth of funds are allocated to the Forestry Legacy Program that states and land trusts use to purchase areas so they do not get developed.
