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| Now that you have more of an idea of
what planning is, the next six pages will discuss why forests are important, what
the impacts
of not planning are, and how we and our forests can benefit from a
little careful planning. |
| Why should your community
decide to plan for its forest? |
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�Wisconsin�s forests are ecological, economic, and social treasures". The first step of planning is to identify
with the benefits and value of your forests and of planning for them. A preview of the benefits discussed on the following pages include: |
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provide raw materials for the
forest products industry* |
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provide a setting for the
tourism industry*
* LEADING SECTORS IN STATE & LOCAL
ECONOMIES |
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provide residents and visitors a venue for
hunting, fishing, hiking, and countless other recreational
activities. |
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provide habitat for a wide variety of plants
and animals, including threatened and endangered species. |
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sustain our water resources |
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beautify parks and front yards |
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balance the effects of global warming and air
pollution by producing oxygen and storing carbon. |
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| At risk for parcelization and
fragmentation |
| While overall forest acreage is not
decreasing, Wisconsin�s forests are becoming parcelized and
fragmented. Since 1999, 3000 new parcels have been carved out of
existing forestland. |
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Parcelization is the reduction in size of forestland
ownerships that frequently results from division of properties
during land transfer.
Fragmentation is the process
in which large, contiguous forest landscapes are broken into
smaller, more isolated fragments, surrounded by human-modified
environments (agricultural lands and urban/suburban
development).2
Parcelization and fragmentation often occur when
residential and urban land uses sprawl into previously forested
or farmed lands. Both
parcelization and fragmentation can have potentially
serious impacts on local economies, the local environment, and
local community fabric.
This is the root of why planning is
needed in Wisconsin.
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Because forests are constantly growing and changing
it is even more important to define their future through planning.
A community plan or a county, state or national forest plan can
designate where forests and different forest-based activities should
occur, what standards forest users will be asked to follow,3
and can identify any expected changes in the future. A plan can
specifically outline the economic, social and cultural, and ecologic
importance of forested areas and ensure these areas continue to serve
those functions. Plans may designate areas for residential use,
wildlife habitat, forestry, and/or forest recreation. These plans
provide guidance and rationale for future land use decisions about
forested areas.
The following pages contain specific economic, ecological, and
socio-cultural reasons that communities will want to address the future
of their forests in planning. |
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