Approximately every two years NASF conducts a survey of its 59 members to capture key information about the non-federal forestlands in the U.S. and the role of State Foresters in enhancing their value, representing public interests, and protecting these lands from threats. A new report from NASF, "State Foresters by the Numbers: Data and Analysis from the 2008 NASF State Forestry Statistics Survey," summarizes the responses received from NASF-member agencies for fiscal year 2008. Key findings from the new analysis include:
- State forestry agencies manage 49 million acres of forestland in the U.S., one-third more acreage than is managed by forest industry.
- On average state forestry agencies spend 79 percent of their budgets providing services to private and local government-owned forestland and other wildland areas in their states.
- Program expenditures for Landowner Assistance, Urban & Community Forestry, Forest Legacy, Forest Recreation, and Forest Health programs have increased by $100 MM, or 44 percent, in the past ten years.
- State Foresters face increasing demands for services, such as wildfire protection, water quality, and landowner assistance, at a time when funding sources for programs are vulnerable to budget cutbacks.
- Over $1.6 B annually is spent by state forestry agencies on wildfire, protection, prevention and suppression.