Abstract
Forests occur within urban areas, at the interface between urban and rural areas (wildland-urban interface), and in rural areas. Urban forests contribute to clean air, cooling buildings, aesthetics, and recreation in parks. Development in the wildland-urban interface is increasing because of the appeal of owning homes near or in the woods. In rural areas, market factors drive land uses among commercial forestry and land uses such as agriculture. Across this spectrum, forests provide recreational opportunities, cultural resources, and social values such as aesthetics.
Keywords
forests,
wildland-urban interface
Citation
Joyce, Linda A.; Running, Steven W.; Breshears, David D.; Dale, Virginia H.; Malmsheimer, Robert W.; Sampson, R. Neil; Sohngen, Brent; Woodall, Christopher W. 2014. Forests [Chapter 7]. In: Melillo, J. M.; Richmond, T. C.; Yohe, G. W., eds. Climate change impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment. Washington, DC: U.S. Global Change Research Program. p. 175-194.