Opportunity for the New Natural Resource Economy on National Forests? A Case Study of the Malheur National Forest and Potential Impacts on Grant and Harney County Residents

Abstract

Declines in timber harvest and changing economic opportunities in communities adjacent to National Forest have challenged the traditional socioeconomic fabric of many communities. Paralleling reductions in harvest levels, new resource management activities are beginning to emerge which may have the potential to replace parts of this lost economic driver. This report uses the Malheur National Forest as a case study for the opportunity of the new natural resource economy, which includes activities such as restoration, recreation and sustainable natural resource management. As many communities are still struggling to initiate and realize economic benefits, this research hopes to build capacity for communities, stakeholders and land managers to understand and measure the socio-economic effects of new land management activities.