As with virtually all matters of public policy, the possibility of actions that will effectively enhance sustainably managed forests in Missouri rests upon the need to reconcile the personal motivations and objectives of private forestland owners with the interests of the public.
Landowners manage their forests for a wide array of purposes.
The public also has objectives related to sustaining forests and other natural resources for the good of society, among which is the goal of protecting the public from adverse effects of improper land use practices. This latter goal is most commonly expressed through the enactment of environmental laws and other property-related regulations. In this light, there is an inherent tension between landowners who use the natural resources they own and the public who may want to preserve certain resources on private property as part of a larger societal heritage. This tension is as old as the country itself. Ownership and use of private property have been essential components of America's society and economy since colonial times.