Each decade, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service releases a report on US forest and rangeland conditions and trends. The 2020 Resources Planning Act (RPA) Assessment, released on July 24, uses new and improved analytical tools to assess the effects of socioeconomic and climate change on forest resources, water, natural disasters, wildlife, and more. Ultimately, the report finds that climate change and other factors are threatening critical landscapes across the United States.
Resources for the Future (RFF) and the USDA Forest Service unpacked the findings from the 2020 RPA Assessment on Tuesday, July 25. Our panel of leading land use, climate, and policy experts explored the implications of our changing forest resources and discussed what can be done to strengthen forests in the United States. The event also featured an opening address by US Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment Homer Wilkes.
