Project Overview
Forest management is an increasingly complex discipline that requires the balancing of economics and ecology in the face of changing markets and climate. Beyond providing lumber, pulp and other forest products, forests provide many additional goods and services that benefit society. These include sequestering carbon, providing habitat for wildlife, maintaining water quality and quantity and others. Understanding both how forests will change over time and how society values the goods and services they provide is critical to the successful management of Minnesota's forests.
The goal of the Forest Change Assessment and Simulation Tool (ForCAST) is to provide forestry professionals and land managers with the information they need to better understand and plan for an uncertain future.
Funding
Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).