We look forward to seeing you at one of the meetings or hearing from you. To focus our efforts, we have, with the assistance of group of experts, drafted a set of assessment questions. The preliminary questions are listed below for your review and comment. Southern forests are habitat for numerous plant and animal species, and past forest treatments have resulted in today's wildlife and plant communities. Forest management practices, forest use for recreation and other purposes, conversion to non-forest land uses or to different forest species, and stresses of urbanization will all play important roles in shaping landscape and terrestrial ecosystems in the future.
Southern forests are vital to the economy of the region.
Demand for forest products and recreational opportunities continue to grow, as the region's, nation's and world's population expands. Increased habitation of heretofore rural forested areas of the South affects landowner and citizen attitudes toward forests and their management. Laws, regulations and policies have evolved, reflecting the changing demographics of the region. All of these factors affect the manner in which forests are managed, and thus their long-term condition. Forests are the headwaters for the region's water supplies, and provide the highest quality habitat available for many freshwater fish, amphibians, and mussels.