ABSTRACT
Wisconsin’s economy, like that of the nation as a whole, is in transition from manufacturing and natural resource development to a greater reliance upon services. Even in the services sector, natural resources—rural waters and rural lands—are central to the burgeoning hospitality-recreation-tourism industry. Management and planning decisions about Wisconsin natural resources and Wisconsin land will have a profound impact upon the future of this sector. A large number of issues and vulnerabilities exist relative to Wisconsin’s future land base. Salinization, soil erosion, water pollution and other forms of resource degradation have been observed throughout Wisconsin’s agricultural system. As with agriculture and recreation-tourism, Wisconsin’s forestry subsector must have additional product and marketing opportunities if it is to retain its capacity and remain highly viable. While the amount of land devoted to agriculture in Wisconsin has declined, the size of the average farm has increased very substantially.
