Special Forest Products on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests: a research-based approach to management

Special forest products (SFPs) are gathered from more than 200 vascular and fungal species on the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) and Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF). This report documents those SFPs and proposes an approach to managing them in the context of legislation directing the U.S. Forest Service to institute a program of active SFP management. Based on the literature and primary research conducted on and around the GMNF and FLNF, we offer a system for classifying SFPs according to the likely sustainability of harvesting practices and present a suite of possible management strategies for each category. The report also includes suggestions for development of sustainable harvest guidelines, design of permit programs and fees, and opportunities for collaborative management. These suggestions incorporate insights from 40 individuals interviewed for the research. We dedicate a section to discussing results in terms of five key provisions of the U.S. Forest Service rule pending at the time of press. Objectives of the approach recommended here include effectively allocating scarce management resources, fostering voluntary compliance, and broadening the benefits and beneficiaries of forest management.