Forest genetics on federal lands in the United States: public concerns and policy responses

The challenge of managing public lands is to balance the current and future needs of people and the long-term health of ecosystems. In addition, public land management requires being responsive to the public and their elected representatives, and ensuring that public agencies are efficient, effective, and representative of the diversity of the American public. In this paper, the results of an informal survey of key stakeholders, and U.S. Forest Service employees with direct public contact are summarized. There are a host of public concerns about genetic diversity and tree improvement on public land. At the broadest level, species choice and the decision to artificially or naturally regenerate are issues in their own right, and yet are often linked to genetic concerns. If artificial regeneration is an option, there is the general concern about the impacts of changes in the genetics of future trees on components of the ecosystem. These concerns lie in three main areas: (1) reduction of genetic diversity, (2) loss of adaptation, and (3) changes in other ecosystem components from the directed selection of trees. At the current time, citizens range widely in their knowledge and concern about these issues. Developing policy to address public concerns can be approached through a variety of perspectives. Silvicultural techniques, including genetic resource management, are tools toward broader policy objectives for public land management. These objectives are currently the subject of much debate and controversy. Given that the broader policy context is dynamic, some policy options for genetics in public land management include (1) gene conservation only, (2) no frills, (3) appropriate technology with public support, and (4) application of economic criteria. Also discussed is the need for a framework to coordinate local and national policies regarding gene resource management.