ABSTRACT
Farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners manage two-thirds of the land base within the United States; therefore, it is essential to involve these individuals in strategies to increase carbon (C) storage. Similarly, the long-term sustainability of our nation’s biological diversity also requires proper stewardship of private lands (Gilbert and Dodds, 1992). These endeavors are not mutually exclusive given that proper C management can also improve wildlife habitat quality. Wildlife provides both marketable goods and recreation value in excess of $125 billion dollars annually within the United States (U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Census Bureau, 2002). To date, some existing Farm Bill programs have been instrumental in providing these benefits simultaneously, helping to conserve our nation’s natural resources. Given the diverse environmental concerns of modern society, future Farm Bill programs may need to be targeted at providing a full range of ecosystem goods and services.
