Comprehensive strategic planning for the use and management of forest resources: The experiences of state governments in the United States

A 2003 survey found that 23 states are engaged in comprehensive forest resource planning activities. While the primary reason for such involvement is to establish direction for the use and management of a stateʹs forest resources, the format and content of individual stateʹs plans varies considerably. The study found that numerous professionals and stakeholder groups are engaged in state forest resource planning. Within a stateʹs natural resources agency, fish and wildlife professionals are the non-forestry staff most actively engaged in forest planning activities carried out by a stateʹs lead forestry agency. External to the state forestry agency, conservation, environmental, forest products, and landowner groups have the greatest involvement in development of comprehensive forest resource plans. Commonly cited reasons for not updating statewide comprehensive forest resource plans are the lack of financial and professional resources, shift in planning emphasis, lack of stakeholder support, plans prepared by non-forestry agencies, and changing agency information needs.