**Southern Roundtable on Sustainable Forests**

**Asheville, NC**

**September 12-14, 2005**

Small Group Results

**[The Top Indicators of Forest Sustainability by Region in the
South]{.underline}**

**[Southern Appalachians]{.underline}**

1.  Change of forest land uses over time

2.  Biodiversity

3.  Economic output of forest lands for non-timber products (with timber
    also, and without)

4.  Number of miles of roads/highways constructed

5.  Forest growth versus drain (drain= removals + mortality)

6.  Quality of forest-related jobs (including pay levels)

7.  Abundance of invasive species

8.  Management policies on publicly-owned forest lands

9.  Land values, cost of living, local tax rates (changes in these)

10. Number of forest-related jobs

11. Level of public understanding and ownership of forest values

12. Number of acres and economic impacts of conservation easements

13. Number of miles of off-road trail use

**[Piedmont Crescent]{.underline}**

1.  Status of forest-associated species and communities of concern (both
    fauna & flora)

2.  Trends in forest ownership and use

3.  Trends in forest age class, size, successional stage, diversity

4.  How well we inform public and influence policy

5.  Public & private investments in forest health, management,
    processing, etc.

6.  Population growth and development

7.  Area of forest land relative to non-forest, timberland, reserved
    land

8.  Trends in planning, zoning, development & coordination for all three

9.  Trends in infrastructure improvements (roads, water, sewer, etc)

**[Coastal Plain]{.underline}**

1.  Existence of and type of BMP monitoring and compliance

2.  Forest ownership patterns (type and size)

3.  Awareness of the importance of forests to local communities

4.  Contribution of forests/forest products/forest biomass to global
    carbon budget

5.  Consumption/imports/exports (role of and how much)

6.  Timber removals and growth compared to volume determined to be
    sustainable

7.  Overall policy framework -- how it encourages or discourages
    landowner and industry investments

8.  Trends in earning and employment in the forest sector

9.  Forest area in acres by cover type, age, class, etc

10. Sustainable forestry should not result in impaired waters

**[Cumberland Plateau]{.underline}**

1.  Land use change from the historical context

2.  Resource extraction (causes and effects on environment and economic
    systems)

3.  Building capacity for community involvement (resources, training,
    awareness)

4.  Comprehensive planning for the desired future condition

5.  Viable rural communities (economic and environmental capital)

6.  Water

7.  Tourism

**[Overall South]{.underline}**

1.  Land use (amount and trends)

2.  Community capacity/benefits

3.  Water quality and quantity

4.  Native/non-native (ecosystems, plants, animals)

5.  Economic contribution

6.  Net ecosystem productivity

7.  Policies and regulations

8.  Fragmentation and parcelization

**[Indicators Common in Most Regions]{.underline}**

-   Land Use (amount and change)

-   Land Ownership

-   Policies and Regulations (levels of government, BMP's, investments)

-   Community Capacity

-   Productivity

-   Economic Outputs (timber and non-timber)

-   Effects on Local Economy (jobs,etc)

-   Fragmentation (roads/infrastructure)

-   Biodiversity (complexity, T&E species)

-   Non-natives (invasives & ecosystems)

**[Indicators Unique to a Region]{.underline}**

-   **Coastal**: acres prescribed burns

-   **Cumberland Plateau**: Population on neotopical migrants (cerulean
    warbler)

-   **So. Apps**: \# miles of trails (recreation pressure)

-   **Piedmont:** population growth/density

**[Overall South]{.underline}** (Walters)

[Participants]{.underline}

Graham Locaby

Michelle Harvey

Jim Hull

Leah MacSwords

Ken Arney

Rick Hatton

Larry Biles

Brian Burhans

Bob Emory

Dale Brockway

Janine Creighton

Susan Fox

Chris Maier

Alex Perry

Jude Wade

Richard Oliver

John Cupford

Bill Hubbard

1.  Land use (15 votes)

    a.  Trends in area of forest land

    b.  Area of forest land by type and health class (and trends)

    c.  Number of forested acres with 2005 as a baseline

    d.  Ownership type

    e.  Range of timber age class

    f.  Land use change

    g.  Rates/trends of forest land conversion (i.e., urbanization)

2.  Community capacity/benefits (10 votes)

    a.  Numbers of local citizen groups

    b.  landowner engagement

    c.  Stewardship promotion thru participatory monitoring of
        biophysical and socioeconomic parameters (local engagement)

    d.  Number of people and budgets provided for forest management in
        the public and private sectors

    e.  Number and income of people employed in all forest products and
        ecosystem services industries

    f.  Health and well-being of the human forest communities

    g.  well-being of forest workers and harvesters

    h.  Local ownership and control (forestlands across social classes,
        processing industry, genetic resources)

3.  Water quality and quantity (7 votes)

    a.  Water quality by watershed

    b.  Proportion of streams that lack intact riparian forests

    c.  Percent of watersheds with more than 15% impervious surface

4.  Native/non-native (ecosystems, plants, animals) (6 votes)

    a.  Area occupied by longleaf pine ecosystems (restored and
        rehabilitated)

    b.  Area of forest impacted by insects, disease, and invasive plants

    c.  Range of plant and animal species (number of species by
        ecosystem)

    d.  Non-native invasives

    e.  Maintenance and restoration of native ecosystems

5.  Economic contribution of Southern Forests(6 votes)

    a.  Value and volume of wood produced

    b.  Amount of dollars added to local economy from forest products

    c.  Flow of public goods

6.  Net ecosystem productivity (3 votes)

    a.  Gross Primary productivity

    b.  Fertility (no net loss rules)

    c.  Carbon storage

    d.  Removals less than growth

7.  Policies and regulations (3 votes)

    a.  Effectiveness of forestry incentives to keep forests in forests

    b.  Legal and bureaucratic impediments

8.  Fragmentation and parcelization (3 votes)

    a.  Rate of fragmentation and parcelization

    b.  Road density or other road measure

9.  Biodiversity (1 vote)

    a.  Ground-level vegetative diversity

    b.  Desirable wildlife populations (Trends/population level and
        species)

10. New Technology development (forest industry) to expand fiber value
    (0 votes)

**[Coastal Plain]{.underline}** (Spriggs)

1.  Existence of and type of BMP monitoring and compliance (7 votes)

2.  Forest ownership patterns\--type and size (7 votes)

3.  Awareness of the importance of forests to local communities (7
    votes)

    a.  Land conversion and fragmentation (measure)

    b.  Public awareness

    c.  presence of restrictive regulatory provisions

    d.  value of forested systems to society (market and non-market)

4.  Contribution of forests/forest products/forest biomass to global
    carbon budget (7 votes)

5.  Consumption/imports/exports (role of and how much) (?? Votes)

6.  Timber removals and growth compared to volume determined to be
    sustainable (7 votes)

7.  Overall policy framework -- how it encourages or discourages
    landowner and industry investments (6 votes)

8.  Trends in earning and employment in the forest sector (6 votes)

9.  Forest area in acres by cover type, age, class, etc (6 votes)

10. Sustainable forestry should not result in impaired waters (5 votes)

11. Status of listed species health (red cockaded woodpecker) (5 votes)

12. Value added in the region (local ownership of forest activities (4
    votes)

13. Ecosystem diversity (2 votes)

14. Acres prescribed burned (2 votes)

**[Cumberland Plateau Group---Participants]{.underline}**

Pat Brown

291 White Pine Drive

Asheville, NC 28805

828.242.1141

Bill Burris

Weyerhaeuser

423.392.2789

<bill.burris@weyerhaeuser.com>

Liz Burton

University of Tennessee

503.449.2373

<eburton5@utk.edu>

Frank Dworak

University of Tennessee

865.804.0871

<fdworak@utk.edu>

Scott Dykes

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)

423.587.7037

<scott.dykes@state.tn.us>

Brad Elliott

University of Tennessee

Forestry, Wildlife, Fisheries (FWF)

Knoxville, TN 37996

865.604.2305

[belliot6@utk.edu](mailto:bellint6@utk.edu)

Mark Fagg

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)

423.522.2448

<mark.fagg@state.tn.us>

John Fenderson

TN Division of Forestry

615.837.5411

<john.fenderson@state.tn.us>

Bob Fledderman

MeadWestvaco

P.O. Box 1950

Summerville, SC 29445

843.851.4680

<robert.fledderman@meadwestvaco.com>

Jonah Fogel

University of Tennessee

6934 Apollo Drive

Knoxville, TN 37921

865.974.6758

<jfogle@utk.edu>

Nancy Herbert

U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station

P.O. Box 2680 Asheville, NC 28802

828.257.4302

<nherbert@fs.fed.us>

Olin Ivey

Urban Century Institute

Chattanooga, TN

423.870.9985

<omivey@juno.com>

Klugh Jordan

Southern Environmental Law Center

919.967.1450

<kjordan@selcnc.org>

Cindy Longmire

University of Tennessee

9001 Candlewood Drive

Knoxville, TN 37923

865.384.1230

<clongmir@utk.edu>

Amy Mathis

University of Tennessee and National Park Service

804 Flanders Lane, #3

Knoxville, TN 37919

865.693.6025

<amathis@utk.edu>

Julie Mawhorter

University of Tennessee

865.693.2261

<jmawhort@utk.edu>

Claire Payne

U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station

200 Weaver Boulevard

Asheville, NC 28804

828.257.4392

<cpayne@srs.fs.usda.gov>

Ken Smith

University of the South, Sewanee, TN

931.498-3219

<ksmith@sewanee.edu>

Charles Van Sickle

Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere (SAMAB) Foundation

828.665.2422

<cvans1@juno.com>

Keith Watson

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

160 Zillicoa Street, Suite D

Asheville, NC 28804

828.350.8228

<keith_watson@fws.gov>

Sarah Wegzun

University of Tennessee

3220 Sutherland Avenue

Knoxville, TN 37919

865.637.1733

<sarahbear1978@hotmail.com>

**[CP NOTES]{.underline}**

1\. Accelerated changes in land use and land cover from a historical
perspective (37 votes)

2\. Resource extraction---mining, gas and oil, and timber (27 votes)

-   Economic and ecologic impacts---causes and effects

-   Economic and ecologic impacts---positive and negative

3\. Building capacity for decision-making to empower resident/landowner
stakeholders (18 votes)

-   Stakeholders input and involvement in the process

-   Measurement of resident/landowner stakeholders' involvement in the
    process

4\. Healthy management of Cumberland Plateau forests and ecosystems (17
votes)

-   Providing training and education to transfer technology and build
    economic and ecologic capital

-   Building viable rural communities to work and live in the Cumberland
    Plateau

5\. Comprehensive planning for desired future condition for the
Cumberland Plateau (15 votes)

6\. Water---quantity and quality (10 votes)

7\. Tourism---pressures and opportunities (9 votes)

**[Southern Appalachians]{.underline}** (Stokoe)

[Participants]{.underline}

Jim Stokoe

LOSRC

828-251-6622

<jim@landofsky.org>

Rob Lamb

> Carolina Mtn Land Conservancy
>
> 828-280-5899
>
> <robertIlamb@charter.net>

Robb Turner

ORNL/SAMAB

865-574-4175

<rtt@ornl.gov>

Jennifer Gagnon

VCE-FLEP

540-231-6391

<jgagnon@vt.edu>

Tom Elmore

LOSRC

828-251-6000

<Tom@landofsky.org>

O'Neil Tate

Town of Montreat

828-669-5564

<oneiltate@bellsouth.net>

Shannon Miller

<317738@redjellyfish.net>

Larry Bishop

USDA Forest Service

404-347-2067

<lbishop@fs.fed.us>

Curtis Smalling

Audubon North Carolina

828-265-0198

<csmalling@audubon.org>

Debbie Truempy

Buncombe County Planning

828-250-4842

<Debbie.truempy@buncombecounty.org>

Steve Henson

SAMUC

828-452-9712

<shenson1@earthlink.net>

Shannon Buckley

Weyerhaeuser

828-287-0565

[shannon.buckley@weyerhaeuser.com](mailto:Shannon.buckley@weyerhaeuser.com)

Kathy Wiggins

Certified Forester

828-264-5434

<kayforest@charter.net>

1.  Forest land area removed from timber production (10 votes)

    -   Seeing a lot happen (new preserves, state parks, national
        forests)

    -   losing more and more commercial forest land

    -   also subdivisions

2.  Change of forest land uses over time (9 votes)

    a.  appropriate

    b.  current and potential

    c.  ownership =important

    d.  change in parcel size

3.  Biodiversity (9 votes)

    a.  important factors to lots of forest activities and values

4.  Economic output of forest lands for non-timber products (with timber
    also, and without) (6 votes)

    a.  GDP, Area, Employment, Market share/market value

5.  Number of miles of roads/highways constructed (5 votes)

    a.  Atlanta example

    b.  fragmentation

6.  Forest growth versus drain (drain= removals + mortality) (4 votes)

    a.  traditional measure of sustainability

7.  Quality of forest-related jobs (including pay levels) (3 votes)

    a.  Current low pay in timber, eco-tourism industries; need multiple
        jobs to survive

8.  Abundance of invasive species (3 votes)

    a.  fragmentation indicator

    b.  health indicator

9.  Management policies on publicly-owned forest lands (2 votes)

    a.  big impact \-- \# acres

10. Land values, cost of living, local tax rates (changes in these) (2
    votes)

    a.  i.e. the things that make the Southern Apps attractive

    b.  speculative land investment

    c.  purpose: to get at the driving forces behind these changes

11. Number of forest-related jobs (2 votes)

    a.  Jobs = a common measure of community/economic sustainability

    b.  All kinds of jobs

12. Amount of forest land with the capacity remaining to sustain a
    forest industry (2 votes)

    a.  How is this changing over time

    b.  avoid further fragmentation

    c.  protection

13. of public understanding and ownership of forest values (1 vote)

    a.  Educational curricula

    b.  local ordinances

    c.  public's perceptions of balance

14. Number of acres and economic impacts of conservation easements (1
    vote)

    a.  changes in tax revenues

15. Number of miles of off-road trail use (1 vote)

    a.  Biking/ORV/horses

    b.  capacity, intensity of use, accessibility, user fees

    c.  How do we maintain trails and trail corridors

16. Local government revenues to support forest stewardship (0 votes)

    a.  non-taxable properties (Montreat)

    b.  desire to sustain forest values

    c.  high percent of National forests \-- Pilot

17. Miles with adequate flow---waterway uses (0 Votes)

    a.  \# guided trips

    b.  #visitor days

**[Post-Vote Comments:]{.underline}**

Weak on biological indicators and impacted land use changes

> Changes in endangered species

Outreach and education/level of public understanding

> We don't deal with this well
>
> Underfunded
>
> Low participation
>
> Critical to "bottom-up" global sustainability efforts
>
> Communities & forest workers must get involved

Weak on forest industry, closures, etc.

> IP divestiture, e.g.
>
> Paper companies

Our suite of Indicators doesn't really give us "the answer" -- Are
forests sustainablie?

> Insufficient time to detail our indicators

**[Cumberland Plateau]{.underline}** (Payne)

8.  Land use change from the historical context

9.  Resource extraction (causes and effects on environment and economic
    systems)

10. Building capacity for community involvement (resources, training,
    awareness)

11. Comprehensive planning for the desired future condition

12. Viable rural communities (economic and environmental capital)

13. Water

14. Tourism

**[Piedmont Crescent (]{.underline}**Moore-Myers)

1.  Status of forest-associated species and communities of concern (both
    fauna & flora) (2 votes)

2.  Trends in forest ownership and use (2 votes)

3.  Trends in forest age class, size, successional stage, diversity (2
    votes)

4.  How well we inform public and influence policy (2 votes)

5.  Public & private investments in forest health, management,
    processing, etc. (2 votes)

6.  Population growth and development (2 votes)

7.  Area of forest land relative to non-forest, timberland, reserved
    land (1 vote)

8.  Trends in planning, zoning, development & coordination for all three
    (1 vote)

9.  Trends in infrastructure improvements (roads, water, sewer, etc) (1
    vote)

10. Trends in forest employment (0 votes)

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11. Status and trends of industry (growth, departure from and area) (0
    votes)

12. Trends in landowner income levels (0 votes)

13. Reasons for forest land sale or conversion or subdivided (0 votes)

14. trends in forest land parcel size (0 votes)

15. Trend in forest health (0 votes)

    a.  Insects and disease

    b.  exotics/invasives

    c.  growth rate

16. Establish thresholds for indicators (e.g. \# forest acres/watershed
    for clean water) (0 votes)

17. Conversion Rates (0 rates)