View source for RE-FOREST/IntelliSynthesis Templates/Background

== Phase One: '''Illuminating''' the Overall Situation ==
=== Core Question: ===

* What overarching dynamics in forest management and the wood products industries inform the improvements needed to establish sustainable forests, vital local communities, and viable wood products companies and industries?
=== Dialogue Questions: ===
# '''What are the current conditions of our forests?'''
# '''What are the challenges to sustainable forest management?'''
# '''What approaches can stakeholders agree on for sustainable forest management?'''
# '''What issues and challenges do the wood products industries face?'''
# '''Who are the stakeholders in forestry and wood products?''' 
## Landowners
## Watershed associations
## Local and/or Indigenous Peoples
## Individual citizens
## Economic development planners
## Landscape conservation collaboratives
## Environmental entities
## Elected leaders
## Subject matter experts
## Foundations
## Investors/lenders
## Scientific and research organizations
## Loggers, mill management, and other forest workers
## Trucking and transportation companies
## Equipment manufacturers and distributors
## New technology developers
## Related associations
# '''Who are the stakeholders in forest harvesting and processing?'''
## Forestry Industry
### Loggers
### Mills/processors
### Other forest workers
## Trucking and transportation companies
## Local and state economic development agencies
## Equipment manufacturers and distributors
## Elected leaders
# '''How many acres of forest are there, and where?'''
## Private lands
## State lands
## Federal lands
# '''What mills are in operation?'''
## What is the location of each existing mill?
## What value streams does each mill handle?
### What wood material does each mill handle?
### What wood products does each mill produce?
## Which mills are short on supply to satisfy their current capacity?
## Which mill management wants to expand capacity for value streams they already handle?
## Which mill management wants to expand to handle other value streams?
# '''Which mills have closed in the last ten years?'''
## Who is the current owner of each closed mill?
## What is the physical condition of each closed mill and its potential for repurposing?
# '''What is each state/province's Forest Action Plan?'''
## What does it say about the acreage?
## What does it say about the challenges?
## What solutions does it recommend?
## What logistics solutions does the plan lay out?
## What harvesting solutions does the plan specify?
## Is there an action plan for the Forest Action Plan?
## How is the plan commercially informed and commercially relevant?
## What emerging market opportunities does it present?
## What progress has been made since the last Action Plan was completed?
# '''Who wants to participate in these efforts to revive our forested landscapes and wood products companies?'''
# '''What community factors should be identified and weighed in decision-making?'''
## What demographic and economic dynamics of nearby communities should inform the project, e.g., population demographics, primary industries, unemployment, and economic conditions?
## What other related industries in the region should be considered in tandem with the RE-FOREST initiative, e.g., mines, mills, oil, gas, renewables, agriculture, and manufacturing?
## What are the economic development goals of the local communities?
## Which communities and residents should be included in evaluating and siting new facilities and infrastructure?
# '''What are the economic impacts of the forest products industry?'''
## What are the employment implications?
### How many people are directly employed?
### How many people are indirectly employed?
### How many people are unemployed?
#### What is that unemployment cost burden on the state?
### How much do employees earn in each forest product-related industry?
### Where in the county or state are these people employed?
### How do the state and county average wage levels vary by county?
### Which areas have the talent/skills for expansion, and which areas need to import new sources of labor?
### If employment talent is lacking, how will it affect the cost of this labor pool?
### How much impact would it have on state average wage levels?
### What is the seasonal impact of these jobs?
## What is the current economic impact of the industry?
### What is the gross revenue of each forestry and wood products activity types?
### What are the tax revenues?
### How much of manufacturing GDP does it comprise?
### How has the industry performed over the last year, five years, and ten years?
### Which subsectors have grown, and which ones have declined?
### How do the questions above vary by state and county?
## What are the marketplace dynamics to be considered?
### How can downstream industries like furniture manufacturing, wood pellets, paper, cardboard, and general milling help keep jobs in the US?
### How will this spur the trucking, rail, and shipping industries?
### How would growth in these industries improve our national balance of payments?
### What are the environmental concerns and sustainability trends that will impact the industry?
### How are tree planting subsidies impacting the expansion of forestry?
### How do technological changes impact the expansion and price of wood?
### How could the diversification of products in subsectors, such as paper mills, offset declines in traditional markets?
### How are national trade and tariff laws impacting the market for wood products?
### How are national trade and tariff lasws impacting the market for forestry, processing, and transportation equipment procurement and sales?
### How will the housing construction sector impact the lumber industry?
### How are the interest and mortgage rates going to impact lumber demand?
### How much is the industry forecast to change?
# '''What are the non-timber industry benefits of improved thinning and holistic forest management?'''
## Reduces future fire risk and improves ecological function
## Accommodates human access and enables ecological and watershed restoration
## Improves balance between tree species for healthier ecosystems
## Stabilizes the soil and restores the landscape
## Increased downstream stream flow from forest thinning and fire recovery treatment mitigates drought and climate change and improves water access for agricultural producers
## Improves wildlife habitat and diversity
## Facilitates grazing and other traditional lifeways
## Advances livelihoods consistent with local and Indigenous values
# '''What are the economic implications of the non-harvesting forest activities?'''
## Tourism
### Camping and hiking
### Skiing
## Hunting
## Agriculture
# '''What do forest fires mean to the time-related concerns of forestry?'''
## How long do we have before burned wood has to be removed and used as timber?
## How long do we have before burned wood has to be removed and used as biomass?
## How does the urgency of ecological restoration demand our focused attention on optimizing existing service providers rather than bringing in resources from across the nation?
## What does the surge in harvesting mean for future supply and, therefore, commercial concerns now?
## How can work on the urgent priority areas be done to serve the next set of priorities?
## Is there a basis for installing “mobile” facilities, including new technology-focused ones, that can be moved to other forest regions?
## What are the “Consequences of Delay”?
### See Journal of Forestry, April/May 2004, by Dr. John Sessions et al.
## What is the best treatment of ground cover in the aftermath of fires for the long-term vitality of forests, and how is this integrated into forestry operations?
## How do we address high oak densities post-fire to accelerate recovery to later serial stages?
## What changes in genetic or ecological composition are needed to anticipate climate change?
## What are the best approaches to stump treatment?
## Given shifting climates, what are the desired future conditions for our landscapes, watersheds, and communities?
## What is the most appropriate balance between post-fire recovery and future fire mitigation?

[[Category:RE-FOREST]]