The Influence of Land Ownership Patterns

The population increases projected for the South may continually increase demands on natural ecosystems, species, and their habitats during the 21^st century (Boyce and Martin 1993). This prospect presents a challenge to forest resource management. Biodiversity often declines as economic development proceeds. Natural habitats for native species are replaced by industrial and urban development, while other habitats are modified or degraded. The future may also bring increased concern for conservation of endangered species and habitats, and the reservation of lands for aesthetic and recreation values (Boyce and Martin 1993).

These changes highlight the important role that public lands will have in the conservation of species and their habitats. The Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service manage millions of acres in the South. Other agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Defense and the Tennessee Valley Authority, also manage critical habitat areas. There are numerous Federal policies that dictate the management and conservation of natural resources.

Without these public lands, many species would be in trouble. For example, over 53 percent of the species with viability concerns in the Ozark and Ouachita Highlands are known to occur only on National Forests (USDA Forest Service 1999). The Peaks of Otter salamander is an example of an imperiled species that occurs solely on Federal land – in this case, the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Federal land in the Florida Panhandle and the central Appalachian Mountains supports concentrations of imperiled and listed species (Stein and others 2000). National Wildlife Refuges play a key role in the protection of listed species such as the red wolf and the Florida panther, and in the provision of key areas of habitat for waterfowl, migratory birds, and many other species. National Parks are important for the preservation and management of old-growth, spruce-fir, and other rare and sensitive communities of both plants and animals. National Forests are key in the provision of wilderness areas, large blocks of forest interior, and a diversity of habitats.

Other public lands are also important for the conservation of species and their habitats. State agencies own significant areas designated as parks, wildlife management areas, forests, or natural resource areas. While the purposes of such areas vary, the conservation of biological diversity is often one objective for these properties. In Florida, State agencies are carrying out aggressive land acquisition programs for conserving biodiversity, using shared Federal excise tax revenues as a funding source. City and county governments also own a variety of land in parks and recreation areas that support species and their habitats.

Many imperiled and endangered species are found on public land, and this land represents a relatively small percentage of forest land in the South. It seems clear, therefore that public land is vital for maintaining imperiled and endangered species (Stein and others 2000).

The area of public land is being supplemented by acquisition efforts by private conservation organizations. The Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Lands, and Ducks Unlimited acquire land for conservation purposes. They either manage it or transfer it to public agencies. The Conservancy has created its own system of conservation properties in the South. In contrast, the Trust acquires land for ultimate ownership and management by public resource agencies. Many of the Trusts land transactions have been for forest industry lands that were important biologically.

The magnitude of private ownership also presents a significant. Individual landowners are changing the characteristics of future forest resources. For example, the absence of management on private land may result in declines in early-successional habitat in many areas (Trani and others 2001). The small tracts typical of present land-use patterns often provide little opportunity for forest management and natural disturbance sufficient to create early-successional forest. A myriad of species may be influenced by this condition.

The Forest Service and other partners have initiated active reforestation programs with the private sector as part of the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture. Land clearing and alteration of hydrology have resulted in environmental degradation throughout the valley. This step towards changing private land use practices may lead to restoration of the bottomland hardwood system, the provision of quality habitat, economic opportunities for landowners, and a reliable wood supply to meet societys needs.

The significant numbers of imperiled and endangered species inhabiting private land indicate the critical importance of this land for conservation (Stein and others 2000). For this reason, a variety of strategies designed to encourage conservation on private areas have been implemented by government agencies Incentives programs have been created to encourage reforestation of private land. Recognizing the significance of private land to the imperiled species of the region is essential. Often, wildlife conservation may be more important than timber production on this land.

Industry land also offers opportunities to provide wildlife habitat. Given the incentive of "green certification" programs and the scale of their operations, many large corporations are taking positive actions to protect sensitive biological resources on their property (Stein and others 2000).

Industry land supports breeding bird species, game species, and other species (Wigley and others 2000). Individual companies work with government agencies to identify threatened and endangered species on their land. The Special Sites program within the Sustainable Forestry Initiative manages ecological sites to maintain wetlands, longleaf pine, and other unique communities (Weyerhaeuser and Price 2001).

Forest industry has also donated thousands of acres to State agencies and the Nature Conservancy (Owen and Helssenbuttel 1989). Donations include the Beryl Anthony Wildlife Management Area in Arkansas (7,000 acres), Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia (60,000 acres), and several wildlife management areas.

The significance of many types of landowners in the South in providing wildlife habitat cannot be overstated. Each major landowner has an important role to play in the conservation of species and their habitats.