Introduction

This paper describes the people and resources of U.S. Tropical Islands (Table 1) and the potential impacts and opportunities associated with the S&PF Redesign effort being undertaken by the USDA Forest Service.

The U.S. Tropical Islands (USTIs) contain virtually all of the tropical forests of the United States. Most have significant indigenous populations involved in traditional subsistence lifestyles; all have highly diverse native ecosystems with unique and often endangered flora and fauna and significant coral reef systems; all have relatively small land masses subject to high land use and development pressure; all are highly susceptible to environmental perturbations such as invasive species, storm, and climate change; and most have economies highly dependent on the mainland United States. Many of these islands have played historic roles in trade and national security due to their strategic locations. Today, at least in the Caribbean, the islands are stepping stones for movement of people (aliens), drugs, weapons, and invasive species all of which destabilize local communities and may threaten national security.

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Tropical Forests of the United States; Applying USDA State and Private Forestry Programs