1、1 For more information, see CRS Report RS20822, Forest Ecosystem Health: An Overview.Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20985Updated April 10, 2003Stewardship Contracting for Federal Forestsname redactedNatural Resour
2、ce Economist and Senior Policy AnalystResources, Science, and Industry DivisionSummaryMany forests, especially the national forests, are widely thought to have unnaturallyhigh amounts of dead and dying trees, dense undergrowth, and dense stands of smalltrees. This biomass can exacerbate insect and d
3、isease infestations and wildfire threats.Because much of this biomass has little or no commercial value, some have proposedstewardship contracting to reduce these threats. Two approaches have been suggested:traditional service procurement contracts and contracts that include exchanging goods(timber)
4、 for stewardship services. Congress authorized goods-for-services contractingthrough FY2013 by amending a previous pilot program in the FY2003 OmnibusAppropriations law. This report discusses the advantages and limitations of each ofthese approaches. It provides background on the issue and is unlike