Forests and Drinking Water
Healthy, well-managed forests are critical in securing clean, affordable drinking water for our future.
Source water protection efforts need to be proactive and need to happen NOW. Prevention is always less expensive and more effective than restoration, so we cannot wait for problems to occur to react.
Forest landowners represent a huge part of landscape in the southeast, and their participation is crucial to protecting our drinking water.
Utilities are the other crucial element, and are already taking an active role by setting aside funds to acquire, conserve, and promote sound management of forestland.
The next step is for Utilities and Landowners to work together, as exemplified by Central Arkansas Water, Beaver Water District, and the Savannah River Clean Water Fund.
Forest conservation benefits everyone, and has ancillary benefits such as flood mitigation.
Healthy forests are critical to the future of our drinking water.
Southeastern Partnership for Forests and Water http://southeasternpartnership.org
Southern Group of State Foresters www.southernforests.org