Routine Emergencies and America's Forests

My recent flight from Indianapolis to Charlotte was capped with extra excitement as the pilot executed a rapid pull-out just prior to landing. With clear weather, most passengers likely assumed as did I, that another plane had inadvertently crossed the active runway. Nearly 10 minutes passed as we continued our climb and then started the turns to take us back into the landing pattern.

The pilot finally came on with, "Folks, we have a 'routine emergency.' We've lost our flaps and will have to land using only brakes and reverse engine thrust." He continued with other less-than-soothing assurances. "We practices this type of landing all the time in the simulators. Don't worry about all of the fire equipment that will be visible as we land."

Other than a few accelerated heart rates and the delays and missed flights that followed, the only lasting legacy of the event was the odd combination of words -- "routine emergency."

Are America's Forests Experiencing Routine Emergencies?
America is blessed with some of the most diverse and productive forests in the world. Yet, those forests are plagued by challenges. It is true that total forest acreage has remained relatively constant over the past several decades -- no small feat in the face of a population that has grown by more than a dozen South Carolina's in just 20 years ... 58 million more people with no added space.

Recent USDA Forest Service projections suggest that as many as 57 million acres -- about 7.5% of the nation's total forested estate -- will be subjected to increased housing densities by 2030. Yet, there are two less visible threats that some would consider routine and others dire emergencies: forest health and the loss of markets for wood and fiber.

Threats to the health of the nation's forests fall well outside of historical norms. The Forest Service reports that nearly 12 million acres -- again almost the total amount of all forests in the State of South Carolina -- were lost to mortality in 2009. And 2009 saw an increase of nearly 3 million acres over 2008. The oxymoronic aspect (aka "routine emergency") facet of these challenges is only exacerbated by the closure of dozens of sawmills and pulp & paper mills from coast-to-coast. Without markets to provide economically-viable tools to manage those forests, losses to pests, diseases and in some cases extraordinary wildfires, are often the unintended result.

Growing Recognition of the Importance of Markets -- Too Little; Too Late?
Many concerned about forests -- environmental groups and average citizens -- have often equated harvesting of trees with forest destruction. No doubt, some practices of the past (over-harvesting and high-grading) contributed reality to that perception. But, today, in the face of enlightened self-interest by forest owners who don't want to slay the goose laying the golden eggs; with all states having active forestry agencies -- some with stringent regulatory authority; with outright forest loss being a far more daunting threat than sound forest management; America's forests face new challenges.

We at the Endowment believe that if we are to retain America's bountiful forests, we must make progress in addressing existing and emerging challenges to forest health exploding in the face of globalization and climate change. Too, we believe that markets -- diverse and vibrant ones for traditional as well as emerging products and services -- are among the best tools in the tool box.