Susan J. Alexander

Expanding Institutional Arrangements for Acquiring Water for Environmental Purposes: Transactions Evidence for the Western United States

Market purchases of water rights for environmental purposes in the western United States have involved purchases by public agencies of at least 88 850 acre feet of water over the last five years. Annual water leasing for environmental purposes has been more active, with 1.72 million acre feet leased in the western United States. The most frequent reasons for these transactions are for wildlife (primarily waterfowl), recreation and fisheries. The average price paid for a water right is

Lease and Fee Hunting on Private Lands in the U.S.: A Review of the Economic and Legal Issues

609 per acre foot, while it is

Huckleberry Abundance, Stand Conditions, and Use in Western Oregon: Evaluating the Role of Forest Management

30 per acre foot for an annual water lease. As evidenced by the ability of government agencies to purchase water in voluntary transactions, environmental uses of water are often competitive with many low-value agricultural crops in the western United States.

Socio-Economic Research on Non-Timber Forest Products in the Pacific Northwest

This review highlights current economic and legal issues relating to lease and fee hunting on private lands in the United States. Recreational hunting leases provide an important practical example of the potential of market-based conservation to create win-win arrangements among rural landowners and hunters. Research suggests that there are significant positive values and economic impacts from fee and lease hunting. Results show that many national trends for hunting on public land and private lands are declining; however, there are important exceptions to those trends (e.g., big game hunting) and differences across states. Given hunting quality on public land, hunters often express a willingness to pay significantly higher than the price charged on private land. Further, institutional innovations can remove legal barriers and positively affect lease and fee hunting on private land. Future research needs include further regional comparisons, case studies on institutional arrangements, as well as additional hedonic pricing and preference studies.

Compatible Management of Understory Forest Resources and Timber

Huckleberries are major components of the understory vegetation in coniferous Pacific Northwest forests of the United States. Vaccinium species also have a long history of human use. However, little research has been done to ascertain how they respond to common forest management practices. We used data obtained from old-growth, young thinned, and young unthinned Douglas-fir stands in western Oregon to evaluate how forest management could potentially influence species abundance and product supply. Our analysis focused on three species: Vaccinium ovatum, V. parvifolium,and V. membranaceum. Results were variable, but indicate that overstory stand conditions and forest management can affect huckleberry species abundance. However, to assess fully the effects of forest management on these species, studies specifically designed to target areas where people harvest these products are needed. Measuring relevant product attributes such as commercial productivity is also critical.

An Overview of Non-Timber Forest Products in the United States Today

Summary The non-timber forest products industry in the Pacific Northwest has been viable for nearly a century. Although it is a small part of the regional economy, the industry involves many people in the region and products are exported worldwide. Harvest of non-timber forest products has become more scrutinized as landowners, forest managers, and harvesters struggle to meet their sometimes conflicting needs and requirements, and deal with growing demand for many wild products. Much of the research on non-timber forest products has focused on biology and ecology, although there has been some research on the social and economic aspects of non-timber forest products over the past several decades. There are several social and economic studies of the industry that are underway or just being completed in the Pacific Northwest. Current research includes studies on product yield, market surveys, price analysis, product management and silviculture, recreational use, and policy analysis. Recommendations for future research are outlined. The non-timber forest product industry is a highly varied and frequently changing industry, with issues ranging from biological sustainability to equity. Social and economic research helps resolve questions surrounding management, harvesting, production and marketing of these highly demanded and often poorly understood products.

Synthesis and Future Directions for Non-Timber Forest Product Research in the United States

Many native mosses, lichens, ferns, herbs, shrubs, and fungi are harvested by humans from the understories of Pacific Northwest forests. These understory products are used personally and commercially for decorative, culinary, medicinal, cultural and educational purposes. Understory species harvested for any of these purposes are typically and awkwardly referred to as nontimber or special forest products (Vance et al. 2001, IFCAE 2002, Table 1). Hereafter, we refer to these species simply as understory forest resources and understory products. These species have important ecological roles in forest communities. They contribute to biological diversity and long-term ecosystem productivity (Alaback and Herman 1988, Halpern and Spies 1995), underpin mammalian and avian abundance (Morrison 1982, Carey 1995, Carey and Johnson 1995) and are important aesthetic components of forests.

Wildfire effects on hiking and biking demand in New Mexico: a travel cost study.

Summary As people become more interested in personal health and family activities, demand for wild forest products has increased. This increased demand coupled with an increased concern for sustainable m anagement practices has focused attention on the variety of issues and products involved in the non-timber forest products industry. Forest management organizations have gradually increased funding for research and management of non-timber forest products over the past two decades. The broad categories of U.S. non-timber forest products include floral greens, Christmas greens, ornamentals and craft materials, wild edibles, medicinals, ceremonials/culturals, and native transplants. The increase in resource pressure has had many policy reactions, including restricted access, harvesting fees, and harvest limits. Opportunities for public input to policy decisions on federal, state and private land are often unclear or nonexistent. Researchers, managers, and policy makers are working to understand the multitude of issues surrounding non-timber forest products, including biology, management, public policy and equity issues.

Mushrooms, Trees, and Money: Value Estimates of Commercial Mushrooms and Timber in the Pacific Northwest

Summary During the past decade, NTFPs have begun to appear on mainstream scientific research agendas in a variety of disciplines. Development of a strong NTFP research capacity will require the construction of links between on-going and emerging NTFP research programs focused on U.S. NTFP issues, establishment of strong ties to international NTFP research programs, and the use of interdisciplinary and collaborative research approaches. Understanding forests as biophysical systems that also include humans will enhance the effectiveness and relevance of U.S.-oriented NTFP research efforts.