In order to promote the most efficient, strategic, and effective use of limited resources for addressing forest threats and opportunities identified in Chapter 3, Missouri’s Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy establishes Forest Opportunity Areas.
Issue One reveals ties between landowner demographic trends and potential forest impacts such as fragmentation, parcelization, conversion and urban sprawl.
Private forest landowners face a number of challenges and opportunities. Issue Two focuses on describing these challenges and opportunities faced by private forest landowners and the foresters, contractors and loggers that work with them.
Climate change has significant potential to affect Missouri¿s natural resources, and are in need of strategies for adaptation. Conversely, Missouri's forest resources also pose significant potential to help mitigate climate change.
Historically, fire played a large role in shaping Missouri’s forests and woodlands. The exclusion of fire over the last 50+ years is significantly modifying the structure, diversity and function of many of these communities.
Our forests are an important supplier of numerous wood products used not only in Missouri, but worldwide. Issue Six takes a close look at sustainability of forest management and harvesting to ensure Missouri's forests can meet societal needs into the future.
Beyond the normal benefits and services provided by forests, public forest lands are especially important because they are typically managed under agency mandates.
Missouri's forests support a wide variety of plants and animals. Issue Ten describes tools and programs available to help keep these populations sustainable.
Today’s actions will largely determine the future health and sustainability of our forest resources, and the future benefits these resources will provide.
