Nexus between food, energy, water, and forest ecosystems in the USA
摘要
Efforts to promote appreciation for the multifaceted contributions of forests are particularly timely because of the many threats currently faced by forests. These threats include the world’s growing population, which is projected to top 9.1 billion by 2050; global climate change; land degradation; land scarcity; and deforestation. Already, human activities have destroyed 50 % of the forests that once existed under modern climatic conditions. The US Forest Service’s research and management activities are promoting the health, productivity, and resilience of forests and grasslands by, for example, advancing agroforestry, producing and applying science and technology that integrates energy production into sustainable forest and grassland management practices, and protecting water supplies by increasing the quality of aquatic habitats, reducing erosion, and decreasing peak flows. The US Forest Service must increase public understanding and support for such efforts to restore and create healthy landscapes that will supply vital resources to future generations.