Northeastern Area

Forest Sustainability and Planning

Sustainability Assessments

These questions about forest sustainability demonstrate the strong ties among the environmental, social, and economic aspects of forests. In order to manage our forests for long-term sustainability, we need good information to guide our management decisions.

Sustainability assessments are conducted to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the wide range of conditions that affect forest sustainability. Criteria and indicators are often used to assess and plan for forest sustainability. The criteria define broad categories, or goals, for sustainable forest management and the indicators provide specific measurements within each criterion. The Northeastern Area and the Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters have agreed to monitor a base set of 18 forest sustainability indicators.

Links to sustainability assessments using criteria and indicators

• Lessons learned from NH use of criteria and indicators
• National Report on Sustainable Forests—2003
• Forest Sustainability Assessment for the Northern United States NA–TP–05–03
• Forest Sustainability Assessment for the Northern United States NA–TP–01–07CD
• Sustainability Assessment Highlights for the Northern U.S.
• Great Lakes Sustainable Forestry Criteria and Indicators
• Forest Service Local Unit Criteria and Indicators Development
• Oregon Sustainable Forestry Indicators Projects
• The State of the Nation’s Ecosystem by the Heinz Center

Links to other types of sustainability assessments

• Northern Forest Lands
• Great Lakes Ecological Assessment
• New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania-Connecticut Highlands Regional Study
• Southern Forest Resource Assessment

For more information contact:
Sherri Wormstead
Sustainability and Planning Coordinator
swormstead@fs.fed.us or 603-868-7737