Moderated by Vishwanie Maharaj 1. Federal lands provide commodities such as timber and minerals as well as recreation, water, wildlife, fisheries, old-growth forests, and biodiversity. These multiple uses provide people with products or services of value.
Timber is converted to lumber, firewood or paper.
Fish are used for angling, viewing, and subsistence. Water as it flows down forest streams to private lands is used for boating, fishing, swimming, irrigation, and domestic consumption. Cash need not change hands for there to be a benefit provided to the public from these resources and uses on public lands. The National Forest Management Act of 1976 stresses that the National Forest lands are to be managed for multiple use and sustained yield, and to maximize net public benefits. Net public benefits are the sum of benefits to all citizens of the United States minus the cost.