Spatial Analysis of the Attributes of Working Forest Conservation Easements in the State of Georgia

Abstract

Working forest conservation easements (WFCEs) are increasingly used to protect working forests. However, their attributes such as forest management activities, landowner goals, landscape features, and land uses vary significantly. Understanding the trends and patterns in these attributes is essential to comprehend the conservation, ecological, and economic implications of WFCEs. This study analyzed the spatial relationships of easement attributes by examining WFCEs managed by three easement-holding organizations in Georgia, by text-mining the attributes from the contracts and the baseline reports. Results revealed a strong spatial correlation in the distribution of WFCEs concerning landowners’ goals, land use types, recreational opportunities, and forest management activities. Similarly, significant clusters of WFCEs were identified near state-protected forestlands to maintain habitat connectivity. The findings help understand the concentrations and variations of easement attributes and serve as a working guide to landowners and easement-holding organizations to locate and strategically target easements in Georgia.

Keywords:

• Conservation organization
• ecosystem service
• forest management
• landowner
• land use
• spatial analysis
• timberland investment