Providing Leadership for the Nation I. Problem Statement Forest ecosystems are valuable natural assets, which play an important role in the quality of life in the United States.
Forests support economies that produce commodities such as wood products, paper and chemicals.
Forests also have amenity values that generate various recreational opportunities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, bird watching and camping. A functioning forest ecosystem is a source of ecological and environmental benefits including regulation of stream flows, maintenance of air and water quality, stabilization of soils and unstable slopes, fish and wildlife habitat, gene pools and sinks for carbon dioxide. Forests and trees also have important cultural and spiritual values. With rising human populations and their demands for forest products and services, increasing pressure will be placed on our nation's rural and urban forest ecosystems. Such demands cannot easily be met without maintaining healthy forests on large and small scales.