ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to identify some of the impediments to consensus by examining some of the forest management policy issues and related legislation that have a bearing on community stability and providing a brief overview of economic literature related to community stability. Despite frequent reaffirmations of congressional intent, the proper role of the Forest Service regarding community stability remains ambiguous. Most of the decision regarding community stability must be resolved in the political arena. A community is a dynamic concept; so attempts to define boundaries may be chasing a will-o'-the-wisp. But geographical limits to dependent communities must be delineated for community stability policies to be meaningful. The growing importance of retirement income could contribute to the diversification of forest resource-based economies in rural areas. K. P. Connaughton found that transfer payments were the fastest growing component of the economic base sectors of timber-dependent communities in northern California.
