Forest Fights and Forest Rights: Working Forests as a Strategy for Reducing Tensions in New York State

Abstract

The politics of forest land use are rooted in two tensions: how land is used, and whose interests are represented in land use decisions. We analyzed the potential of a large-scale New York State “working forest” land transaction to navigate these tensions. We reviewed the distribution of property rights outlined in management plans, and interviewed representatives from environmental groups, public agencies, timber interests, and local communities. We found alignment between designated land uses and the ecological and socioeconomic goals expressed by diverse interviewees. We interpret this as a relaxation of tensions, reflecting the embrace of socioeconomic issues by conservation organizations and the benefits of investing in local outreach. Our analysis highlights how this public–private transaction successfully navigated the political economy of forest management, yet the durability of such arrangements remains unclear. We identify a need to study the motivations and interests underlying the integration of socioeconomic considerations into contemporary conservation.