There has been increased public awareness of natural resource policy, including forest management. Public concern regarding forest management may have shifted from the extraction of timber for economic development, to maintaining the flow of the range of ecosystem services provided by forests, including provision of habitat for wildlife, protecting biodiversity, watershed management, and opportunities for recreation.
The public is increasingly aware of the importance of managing forests not just for timber production but also for their broader ecological benefits, including wildlife habitats, biodiversity conservation, water quality, and recreation.