Activities of the Alabama Consortium

on Forestry Education and Research,

1993–1999

John Schelhas

Activities of the Alabama Consortium

on Forestry Education and Research,

1993–1999

John Schelhas

Southern

Research

Station

General

Technical

Report

SRS–49

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest Service

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest Service

Southern

Research

Station

General

Technical

Report

SRS–49
The Author

John Schelhas is a Research Forester, Southern Research Station, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Tuckagee, AL 36088.

Cover photo: Students from Tuskegee and Auburn Universities examine a

longleaf pine in Tuckegee National Forest. (Left to right) Sarah Crim,

Edward Hunter, Patrick McIntire, Laura Robinson, John Schelhas, and

Brittanian Medina.

The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the

U. S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service.

March 2002

Southern Research Station

P.O. Box 2680

Asheville, NC 28802
i

Activities of the Alabama

Consortium on Forestry

Education and Research, 1993–1999

John Schelhas
ii
iii

Table of Contents

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

The Alabama Consortium ................................................................................................................................................................ 2

Socioeconomic Research ................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Forest Operations Research ............................................................................................................................................................ 5

Educational Activities....................................................................................................................................................................... 6

The Future ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 7

Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Consortium Publications ................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Appendix A—Research Areas and Topics from 1993 Consortium Workshop ............................................................................. 15

Appendix B—Forest Service-Funded Consortium Research Projects: Social Science ............................................................... 17

Appendix C—Forest Service-Funded Consortium Research Projects: Forest Operations.......................................................... 26

Page
i v
1

Activities of the Alabama

Consortium on Forestry

Education and Research, 1993–1999

John Schelhas

Abstract

The Alabama Consortium on Forestry Education and Research was established in 1992 to promote communication and

collaboration among diverse institutions involved in forestry in the State of Alabama. It was organized to advance forestry

education and research in ways that could not be accomplished by individual members alone. This report tells the story of the

consortium’s first 8 years, documenting its collaborative projects and accomplishments. It contains the historical record of the

development of consortium objectives and priorities, as well as details about collaborative research projects and publications in

two areas: socioeconomic relationships between forests and people, and forest operations.

Keywords: Forest operations, forestry education and research, people and forests.

Introduction

In the early 1990s, a group of forestry research, education,

and management organizations in Alabama formed the

Alabama Consortium on Forestry Education and Research.

This experience is notable because it reached across

institutional and racial boundaries that historically have

often proved divisive. They believed that by opening lines

of communication and promoting collaborative projects

every organization would benefit and all participants could

help reach a larger, shared goal of sustainable forest

management in the State of Alabama.
2

The consortium has endured many changes in its

membership and composition, proving that its goals and

purpose are larger than those of the individuals involved.

This report describes the consortium’s history and its

accomplishments through 1999 and was assembled for

several reasons. The first of these was to benefit the

consortium itself by providing an historical perspective and

the documentation necessary to inform current and future

activities. It also offers useful information about the

consortium’s experiences to people and organizations in

other States and regions seeking to open creative dialog and

promote collaborative relationships among diverse forestry

institutions. The collaborative relationships and projects of

the consortium show both the practical benefits and larger

ideals that can be realized through such an effort. Finally,

this report documents two main research efforts of the

consortium: socioeconomic relationships between forests

and people, and forest operations for ecosystem

management. These are issues of continuing importance in

forestry education and research, and we want to ensure that

this information is widely available to professionals and

researchers in forestry and its allied fields.

The collaboration of consortium members has been key to

reaching our common goals and realizing our shared

purposes. Therefore, we have included appendices that

reflect, as closely as possible, input provided in a

consortium workshop, as well as a list of Forest Servicefunded consortium research projects.

The Alabama Consortium

The Alabama Consortium on Forestry Education and

Research was established in 1992 through a Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU) among three important academic

institutions: Alabama A&M University, Auburn University,

and Tuskegee University and two U.S. Department of

Agriculture Forest Service units: the National Forests in

Alabama and the Southern Forest Experiment Station, which

is now the Southern Research Station. The MOU resulted

from a determined commitment by members of all these

institutions, including Tom Ellis, Sam Foster, Walter Hill, Jim

Shuford, and John Yancy, to combine the strengths of three

land grant universities with the strengths of the Forest

Service to better serve society. The Alabama Forestry

Commission joined the consortium in 1993. The purpose of

the consortium is to enhance the environmental, social, and

economic benefits from forest resources of Alabama and

other States through expanded education of undergraduate

and graduate students, collaborative research programs, and

technology transfer.
3

Socioeconomic Research

One of the first goals of the consortium was to establish a

program of socioeconomic research based at Tuskegee

University. Historically, research in the South has focused

on either the biophysical or the economic aspects of forestry

with relatively little attention to the social dimensions. By

the early 1990s, however, there was widespread recognition

that effective forest policy and management required

understanding forest-people interactions from the full range

of social science perspectives. Such understanding will

better guide policymaking and forest management. The

socioeconomic research goal of the consortium was defined

as “developing procedures, methodology, and infrastructure

to effectively incorporate broader social aspects into

traditional forestry economic and/or legal research in the

South.” Specific objectives included (1) addressing social

issues of concern to various public groups and

stakeholders; (2) exploring the social impacts and

interactions of forestry in the South, especially rural

development and its potential benefits; (3) addressing issues

related to forestry and private lands, including the

motivations of private landowners, community needs and

objectives, and the environmental effects of forestry; and (4)

using all the effectiveness of these objectives to improve

forest policies.

An early activity of the consortium was a workshop of social

scientists who identified forestry related sociological and

socioeconomic research needs in the mid-South (December

14–17, 1993; Southern Forest Experiment Station, New

Orleans, LA). The Forest Service national priorities were

identified as ecosystem management and understanding of

the human dimensions of natural resource management.

Southern Research Station participants challenged members

to conduct research that was truly collaborative, i.e., at least

two institutions working together. The universities wanted

to ensure that research efforts would be consistent with their

current emphases and mandates: (1) Alabama A&M

University would focus on public participation, (2) Auburn

University would focus on science, and (3) Tuskegee

University would focus on management activities and their

social impacts.

Workshop discussions produced a list of 24 research topics

that were grouped into 5 topic areas (appendix A). Using

these topics, workshop participants proposed the research

project “Human Dimensions to Implementing Ecosystem

Management on Lands in and Adjacent to National Forests

in Alabama.” They outlined three objectives that would meet

the needs of each institution and promote active

collaboration:
4

1. Develop a sociodemographic profile of landowners living

adjacent to the National Forests in Alabama and assess

their participation in Federal and State forestry programs

[Forestry Incentive Program (FIP), Stewardship Incentive

Program (SIP), TREASURE Forest, Conservation Reserve

Program (CRP)], and their forest management activities.

(Lead institution: Tuskegee University.)

2. Assess the influence of spatial distribution of land

ownership on ecosystem management. (Lead institution:

Auburn University.)

3. Assess the influence of public participation on ecosystem

management. (Lead institution: Alabama A&M

University.)

Over the next 5 years, a number of consortium projects

falling under these three general problem areas were funded,

and two additional research directions were established: (1)

explore legal aspects of property rights and forests, and (2)

tenure of land and forest owners (appendix B). The projects

have provided student training and produced a number of

publications.

In December 1999, consortium social science researchers met

at Tuskegee University to develop an agenda that would

guide future research efforts. Their meeting led to the

development of a problem statement and identification of

research priorities:

Problem statement: Segments of Alabama’s population have

been underserved by forestry and forest management

because of race and or ethnicity, gender, or resource

limitations. Addressing these inequities requires more

specific knowledge and better understanding of the social,

economic, and cultural relationships between people and

forests in the South.

The following research priorities were established:

1. Develop adequate and accurate information on the

characteristics and needs of underserved landowners from

existing data sources, e.g., census data, county records,

and surveys. Important information for Alabama and the

South includes both descriptive and spatial data on land

ownership, forests uses, and forest values (economic,

social, and cultural); relationships between national

forests and adjacent communities; participation in

conservation extension services and assistance programs;

and the social and economic importance of the forest

industry.

2. Understand the changing role of southern forests in

farming systems and rural economies in a global economy,
5

and develop new strategies for forest-related rural

development. Promising avenues for forest-related rural

development include: value-added production, secondary

manufacturing, specialty forest products, forestry

techniques for limited-resource landowners, hunting, and

forest-based recreation.

3. Understand how changes in national forest management

affect minority and limited-resource communities and

landowners. National forests are now being managed with

more consideration to their ecological and social

relationships with surrounding lands. New approaches to

management, such as ecosystem management, watershed

management, and collaborative management require new

research approaches and data. Research on the

relationships that people have with their national forests

will play a fundamental role in evaluating alternative

policies and management options; it will enhance the

ecological, hydrological, social, and economic

contributions that forests make to society.

Forest Operations Research

In 1994, a research program in forest operations was

established in conjunction with the consortium, “Developing

and Implementing Ecologically Sensitive and Economically

Feasible Forest Operations—The Alabama Consortium.”

The goal of this program was to develop and demonstrate

environmentally, socially, and economically feasible forest

operations for implementing ecosystem management. The

program sought to establish partnerships and

interdisciplinary studies to:

1. Improve scientific understanding of how forest operations

can manipulate fundamental processes controlling forest

ecosystem attributes.

2. Investigate the effects of several types of forest

operations on these processes in order to reduce negative

impacts.

3. Examine the socioeconomic perspectives on operations

within ecosystems and the manner in which system

attributes are commonly valued.

Researchers and representatives of the consortium held an

initial technical workshop to identify forest operations

research needs, and potential collaborators. Following a

Request for Proposals, three research projects were funded:

1. Ecologically and economically sustainable site-preparation

methods for public and private forest lands.
6

2. Cut-to-length1 systems for implementing ecosystem

management.

3. Implications of bottomland hardwood management at the

landscape scale.

Several additional projects were added, and nine projects

now have been funded under this program (see appendix C).

The forest-operations studies generated numerous research

publications, student training opportunities, and technology

transfer workshops and tours. The consortium has held two

major demonstrations on the Tuskegee National Forest,

where participants visited several forest-operations research

study sites. Several field tours have been conducted on the

Yeager tract study site in north Alabama for industrial and

Forest Service representatives.

Educational Activities

In addition to conducting socioeconomic and forest

operations research, the consortium also is developing

collaborative education and training.

Cooperative Educational Programs

In 1995, the presidents of Tuskegee and Auburn Universities

signed a Memorandum of Agreement formally establishing a

“3+2” program between their institutions. Participating

students study for 3 years at Tuskegee and 2 years at

Auburn, receiving a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from

Tuskegee and a Master of Forestry (M.F.) degree from

Auburn. By December 1999, four students had enrolled in

this program. All students successfully completed 1 year at

Auburn to earn their B.S. degrees in Natural Resources at

Tuskegee. One of these students went on to earn an M.F.

degree at Auburn, and another is completing a Master of

Business Administration degree at Auburn. The other two

students have entered graduate programs at Tuskegee.

Consortium members also have collaborated in academic

courses. Tuskegee and Auburn experimented with

electronically linked courses in 1995, when Warren Flick’s

class in environmental law at Auburn (10 students) was

linked to Ramble Ankumah’s class in environmental

problems at Tuskegee (6 students). Faculty at Auburn and

Alabama A&M have conducted photogrammetry and or

Geographic Information System and or remote sensing

seminars for forest resource students at Tuskegee.

1

 Cut-to-length is a ground-based system in which felled trees are

processed at the stump into defined log lengths.
7

Facility Sharing

Since 1993, students in Alabama A&M’s 8-week summer

Forestry Field Techniques have spent the first 2 weeks of

their program at Auburn University’s Solon Dixon Forestry

Education Center. This has added an important new

dimension to the Alabama A&M summer forestry program.

Student Support And Education

The consortium has facilitated opportunities for summer

internships and employment. From 1993 to 1995, the Forest

Service, Southern Research Station, has funded summer

internships for two Alabama A&M students per year at

Auburn University (three students received internships

under this program). Tuskegee University students have had

internships and summer employment opportunities at

Auburn and at the Forest Service research laboratory in

Auburn.

The Forest Service-funded consortium research projects

have provided graduate student assistantships for students

at all three universities.

The Future

In the year 2000, the consortium continued to expand

forestry education and research activities in Alabama. It is

now undergoing strategic planning to identify new

initiatives by which consortium support and effort can

produce synergistic results that will benefit all of its

members. The consortium is also evaluating the possible

benefits of expansion, either through recruiting new

members from Alabama or by involving neighboring States.

Conclusion

The Alabama Consortium on Forestry Education and

Research represents an innovative, collaborative effort by

three universities, the State of Alabama, and the Forest

Service to enhance the environmental, social, and economic

benefits received from forest resources in Alabama and the

South. After 8 years, the consortium is well established and

has had considerable success in enhancing the education of

natural resource professionals and developing new

knowledge tools for sustainable forest management.

Consortium participants continue to find it a useful vehicle

for addressing their common goals and interests.
8

Consortium Publications

Bliss, John C.; Sisock, Mary L.; Birch, Thomas W. 1998.

Ownership matters: forestland concentration in rural Alabama.

Society and Natural Resources. 11(4): 404–410.

Boyd, Robert S.; Miller, James H. 1997. Forest herbicide site

preparation treatments have little impact on plant diversity 11

years post-treatment. In: Proceedings of the Ecological Society of

America. Supplement to the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of

America. 78(4): 58.

Busby, Rodney L.; Kolison, Stephen H., Jr. 1998. Incorporating

socio-economic information in national forest plan evaluation. In:

Proceedings of the 1997 convention of the Society of American

Foresters; 1997 October 4–8; Memphis, TN. SAF–98–02.

Bethesda, MD: Society of American Foresters: 242–244.

Carter, Emily; McDonald, Timothy. 1997. Interaction among

machine traffic, soil physical properties and loblolly pine root

proliferation in a Piedmont soil. In: Waldrop, Thomas A., ed.

Proceedings of ninth biennial southern silvicultural research

conference; 1997 February 25–27; Clemson, SC. Gen. Tech. Rep.

SRS–20. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest

Service, Southern Research Station: 368–372.

Carter, Emily; McDonald, Timothy. 1997. Soil strength response

of a forested Typic Rhodudlt to machine traffic [Abstract]. In:

American Society of Agronomy, 61st annual meeting; [Date of

meeting unknown]; Anaheim, CA. [Place of publication unknown]:

[Publisher unknown]: 291.

Carter, Emily; McDonald, Tim; Samuelson, Lisa. 1996. Root

damage from forwarder traffic-preliminary results. In: Proceedings

of the 1996 ASAE annual international meeting; 1996 July 15–18;

Phoenix, AZ. ASAE Pap. 965001. St Joseph, MI: American

Society of Agricultural Engineers. [Not paged].

Carter, Emily; Rummer, Bob; Stokes, Bryce. 1997. Site

disturbances associated with alternative prescriptions in an upland

hardwood forest of northern Alabama. In: Proceedings of the 1997

ASAE annual international meeting; 1997 August 10–14;

Minneapolis. ASAE Pap. 975013. St Joseph, MI: American Society

of Agricultural Engineers. [Not paged].

Dubois, Mark R.; Stockman, Jeffrey L.; Golden, Michael S.

1997. Silvicultural assessment of alternative harvesting treatments

in North Alabama upland forests. In: Meyer, D.A. Proceedings of

25th annual hardwood symposium, 25 years of hardwood

silviculture: a look back and a look ahead; 1997 May 7–10;

Cashiers, NC. [Place of publication unknown]: National Hardwoods

Lumber Association: 113–122.

Essex, Lou D. 1998. Resettlement and community development in

Skyline Farms, Jackson County Alabama. Normal, AL: Alabama

A&M University. 46 p. M.S. Thesis.

Gan, J.; Kolison, S.H., Jr.; Miller, J.H. 2000. Public preferences

for nontimber benefits of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands

regenerated by different site preparation methods. Southern Journal

of Applied Forestry. 24(3): 145–149.

Gan, J.; Miller, J.H. 2001. In the eye of the beholders: public views

on the aesthetic value of pine stands regenerated by different

methods. Forest Landowner. 60(2): 16–21.
9

Gan, Jianbang; Kolison, Stephen. 1999. Minority forest

landowners in southeastern Alabama. Southern Journal of Applied

Forestry. 23(3): 175–178.

Gan, Jianbang; Kolison, Stephen H.; Miller, James H. 1998.

Public preferences of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands generated

by different site preparation methods. In: Wagner, R.G.;

Thompson, D.G., comps. Third international conference on forest

vegetation management: popular summaries; 1998 August 24–28;

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. For. Res. Info. Pap. 141. Sault

Ste. Marie, ON: Ontario Forest Research Institute, Ontario

Ministry of Natural Resources: 97–99.

Gan, Jianbang; Kolison, Stephen H.; Miller, James H.;

Hargrove, Tasha M. 1996. Nontimber benefits generated by

different forest ecosystem management regimes: a case of the

Tuskegee National Forest. In: Proceedings of the 1996 Society of

American Foresters convention; 1996 November 9–13;

Albuquerque, NM. Bethesda, MD: Society of American Foresters:

457–458.

Gan, Jianbang; Kolison, Stephen H.; Miller, James H.;

Hargrove, Tasha M. 1998. Effects of site preparation on timber

and nontimber values of loblolly pine plantations. Forest Ecology

and Management. 107: 47–53.

Gan, Jianbang; Kolison, Stephen H.; Miller, James H.;

Hargrove, Tasha M. 1998. Site preparation methods and their

impacts on timber and nontimber values of forest stands. In:

Waldrop, Thomas A., ed. Proceedings of ninth biennial southern

silvicultural research conference; 1997 February 25–27; Clemson,

SC. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–20. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 26–30.

Grace, J.M., III. 1996. Assessment of surface erosion control

techniques on newly constructed roads. Auburn, AL: Auburn

University. 70 p. M.S. thesis.

Grace, J.M., III. 1998. Sediment export from forest road turn-outs: a

study design and preliminary results. Presented at the 1998 ASAE

annual international meeting; 1998 July 12–15; Orlando, FL. Pap.

987026. St Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural

Engineers. [Not paged].

Grace, J.M., III. 1999. Control of sediment export from a forest

road in central Alabama. In: Proceedings of the 1999 ASAE annual

international meeting; 1999 July 18–21; Toronto, Ontario,

Canada. Pap. 995048. St. Joseph, MI: American Society of

Agricultural Engineers. [Not paged].

Grace, J.M., III. 1999. Surface erosion control techniques on forest

cut/fillslopes in north Alabama. In: Proceedings, seventh

international conference on low-volume roads; transportation

research record 1652; [Date of meeting unknown]; [Location of

meeting unknown]. [Place of publication unknown]:

Transportation Research Board and National Research Council:

227–234. Vol. 2.

Grace, J.M., III. 2000. Forest road sideslopes and soil conservation

techniques. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 55(1): 96–101.

Grace, J.M., III; Rummer, B.; Stokes, B.J.; Wilhoit, J. 1998.

Evaluation of erosion control techniques on forest roads.

Transactions of the ASAE. 41(2): 383–391.
10

Grace, J.M., III; Wilhoit, J.; Stokes, B.; Rummer, R. 1996.

Surface erosion control techniques on newly constructed forest

roads. In: Proceedings of the 1996 ASAE annual international

meeting; 1996 July 15–18; Phoenix, AZ. ASAE Pap. 97–5107. St

Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural Engineers. [Not

paged].

Grace, John M.; Rummer, Bob; Stokes, Bryce J. 1997. Sediment

production and runoff from forest road sideslopes. In: Proceedings

of the 1997 ASAE annual international meeting; 1997 August 10–

14; Minneapolis. ASAE Pap. 97–5019. St Joseph, MI: American

Society of Agricultural Engineers. [Not paged].

Hargrove, Tasha M. 1997. Site preparation methods and their

impacts on timber and nontimber values. Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee

University. 62 p. M.S. thesis.

Hargrove, Tasha M.; Gan, Jianbang; Kolison, Stephen, Jr.

1996. Public desire for and valuation of nontimber forest products

from the Tuskegee National Forest. In: Proceedings, 1996 southern

forest economics workshop; 1996 March 27–29; Gatlinburg, TN.

Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee. [Not paged].

Heard, Michael S. 1998. Attitudes and perceptions of forest

stakeholders regarding land management planning on U.S. Forest

Service lands in Alabama. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee.

170 p. Ph.D. dissertation.

Hendrix, Shannon Rae. 1998. Factors affecting conservation

practice behavior of CRP participants in Alabama. Normal. AL:

Alabama A&M University. 74 p. M.S. thesis.

Kabango, Kabwayi. 1999. Valuation on non-priced forest outputs

from the industrial forests in southern Alabama.Tuskegee, AL:

Tuskegee University. 65 p. M.S. thesis.

Lockaby, B.G.; Miller, J.H.; Clawson, R.G. 1995. Influences of

community composition on biogeochemistry of loblolly pine

(Pinus taeda) systems. American Midland Naturalist. 134:

176–184.

McDonald, T.P.; Seixas, F. 1996. Soil compaction effects of

forwarding and its relationship with drive train configuration. In:

Proceedings of 1996 ASAE annual international meeting; 1996

July 15–18; Phoenix, AZ. ASAE Pap. 97–5107. St Joseph, MI:

American Society of Agricultural Engineers. [Not paged].

McDonald, T.P.; Seixas, F.; Stokes, B.J. 1995. Soil compaction

effects of forwarding with wide tires and tracks. In: Proceedings of

1995 ASAE annual international meeting: sustaining our biosphere;

1995 June 18–23; Chicago. ASAE Pap. 95–7203. St Joseph, MI:

American Society of Agricultural Engineers. [Not paged].

McDonald, T.P.; Stokes, B.J.; Rummer, R.B.; Seixas, F. 1995. A

skidder-mounted ripping tool for skid trail bulk density

remediation. In: Proceedings of 1995 ASAE annual international

meeting: sustaining our biosphere; 1995 June 18–23; Chicago.

ASAE Pap. 95–7205. St Joseph, MI: American Society of

Agricultural Engineers. [Not paged].

McDonald, Tim; Stokes, Bryce. 1997. Visual quality assessment of

alternative silvicultural practices in upland hardwood management.

In: Ball, John J.; Starnes, Lawson W., eds. Proceedings: forest

operations for sustainable forests and healthy economies: 20th

annual meeting; 1997 July 28–31; Rapid City, SD. Brookins, SD:

South Dakota State University: 165–169.
11

McDonald, Tim; Way, Tom; Lofgren, Bjorn [and others]. 1997.

Load and inflation pressure effects on soil compaction of forwarder

tires. In: Proceedings: certification - environmental implications

for forestry operations: joint conference of Canadian woodlands

forum, Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, and international

union of forest research organizations; 1996 September 9–11;

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Quebec City, Canada: Canadian Pulp

and Paper Association: E67–E70.

McDonald, Timothy P. 1997. A system for drawing synthetic images

of forested landscapes. In: Waldrop, Thomas A., ed. Proceedings of

ninth biennial southern silvicultural research conference; 1997

February 25–27; Clemson, SC. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–20. Asheville,

NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern

Research Station: 623–626.

McDonald, Timothy P.; Seixas, Fernando. 1997. Effect of slash

on forwarder soil compaction. Journal of Forest Engineering. 8(2):

15–26.

Mehmood, Sayeed R.; Zhang, Daowei. 1998. Factors influencing

the enactment of State property rights laws. In: Kluender, Richard

A., ed. Valuing non-timber forest resources: timber is passé:

Proceedings of the 1997 southern forest economics workers

meeting; 1997 March 19–21; Little Rock, AR. Little Rock, AR:

University of Arkansas at Monticello: 183–188.

Miller, James H. 1997. Soil nutrient alteration over 12 years after

herbaceous and woody plant suppression in a loblolly pine

plantation. In: Proceedings of the Ecological Society of America;

1997 August 10–14; Albuquerque, NM. Supplement to the Bulletin

of the Ecological Society of America. 78(4): 148.

Miller, James H.; Gan, Jianbang; Kolison, Stephen. 1998. A

multi-attribute assessment of site preparation effects on the

socioeconomic and ecological attributes of loblolly pine (Pinus

taeda) stands. In: Wagner, R.G.; Thompson, D.G., comps. Third

international conference on forest vegetation management:

popular summaries; 1998 August 24–28; Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario,

Canada. For. Res. Info. Pap. 141. Sault Ste. Marie, ON: Ontario

Forest Research Institute, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources:

445–447.

Murdock, Phillip C. 1999. The socio-economic impacts of reduced

timber harvesting in Alabama forests on local communities.

Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee University. 82 p. M.S. thesis.

Onianwa, Okwudili O.; Wheelock, Gerald C.; Dubois, Mark

R.; Warren, Sarah T. 1999. Assessing the retention potential of

conservation reserve program practices in Alabama. Southern

Journal of Applied Forestry. 23(2): 83–87.

Rummer, Bob; Carter, Emily; Stokes, Bryce; Klepac, John.

1997. Strips, clearcuts, and deferment cuts: harvest costs and site

impacts for alternative prescriptions in upland hardwoods. In:

Meyer, D.A. Proceedings of 25th annual hardwood symposium, 25

years of hardwood silviculture: a look back and a look ahead; 1997

May 7–10; Cashiers, NC. [Place of publication unknown]: National

Hardwoods Lumber Association: 103–112.

Schilling, E.; Lockaby, B.G.; Rummer, R.; Stokes, B. 1996.

Belowground response to harvesting in a hardwood floodplain

ecosystem [Abstract]. In: Southern forested wetlands ecology and

management meeting; 1996 March 25–27; Clemson University,

SC. [Place of publication unknown]: [Publisher unknown]. [Number

of pages unknown].
12

Schilling, E.; Lockaby, B.G.; Rummer, R. 1996. Carbon cycling in

a deciduous floodplain ecosystem: belowground responses following

harvest [Abstract]. In: Ecological Society of America meeting;

1996 August 11–15; Providence, RI. [Place of publication

unknown]: [Publisher unknown]. [Number of pages unknown].

Seixas, F.; McDonald, T.P.; Stokes, B.J.; Raper, R.L. 1995. Effect

of slash on forwarder soil compaction. In: Sustainability, forest

health & meeting the nation’s need for wood products: Proceedings

of the 1995 annual meeting of the council on forest engineering;

1995 June 5–8; Cashiers, NC. Portland, OR: Council on Forest

Engineering. [Not paged].

Seixas, F.; Stokes, B.; Rummer, R.; McDonald, T. 1996.

Harvesting soil impacts for selected silvicultural prescriptions. In:

Proceedings of IUFRO P3.07 meeting, the way ahead with

harvesting and transportation technology; 1995 August 6–12;

Tampere, Finland. Corvallis, OR: International Union of Forestry

Research Organizations XX World Congress: 230–238.

Seixas, Fernando; McDonald, Tim. 1997. Soil compaction effects

of forwarding and its relationship with 6- and 8-wheel drive

machines. Forest Products Journal. 47(11/12): 46–52.

Thompson, J.D. 1996. Water quality impacts from forest road

stream crossings. Auburn, AL: Auburn University. 105 p. M.S.

thesis.

Thompson, J.D.; Taylor, S.E.; Gazin, J.E. [and others]. 1996.

Water quality impacts from low water stream crossings. In:

Proceedings of 1996 ASAE annual international meeting: managing

today’s technology; 1996 July 14–18; Phoenix, AZ. ASAE Pap.

96–5015. St Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural

Engineers. [Not paged].

Toms, C.W.; Wilhoit, J.H.; Rummer, R.B. 1996. Animal logging

in the Southern United States. In: Proceedings of 1996 ASAE

annual international meeting: managing today’s technology; 1996

July 14–18; Phoenix, AZ. ASAE Pap. 96–5005. St Joseph, MI:

American Society of Agricultural Engineers. [Not paged].

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Engineering

Research Unit. 1995. Cut-to-length systems: planning and

applications. Unpublished report. On file with: U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Forest

Operations Unit, 520 Devall Drive, Auburn, AL 36849. 145 p.

[Workshop binder].

Warren, S.T. 1995. Forest landowners in and around the Tuskegee

National Forest: interim research results. In: Paper presented at the

1995 Professional Agricultural Workers’ Conference; 1995

December 3–6; Tuskegee, AL. Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee University.

[Number of pages unknown].

Warren, Sarah T. 1998. A framework for understanding property

rights and responsibilities in forest land. In: Meeting in the middle:

driving forces, forging solutions: Proceedings of the 1997

convention of the Society of American Foresters; 1997 October 4–

8; Memphis, TN. SAF–98–02. Bethesda, MD: Society of

American Foresters: 218–224.

Warren, Sarah T.; Zabawa, Robert E. 1998. The origins of the

Tuskegee National Forest: nineteenth- and twentieth-century

resettlement and land development programs in the black belt

region of Alabama. Agricultural History. 72(2): 487–508.
13

Zabawa, Robert; Kolison, Stephen, Jr. 1994. An Alabama

consortium on forestry education and research study: an

examination of forestry-related socio-economic research needs in

the mid-South. Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee University. 8 p. +

appendices.

Zabawa, Robert E.; Warren, Sarah T. 1998. From company to

community: agricultural community development on Macon

County, Alabama, 1881 to the new deal. Agricultural History.

72(2): 459–467.

Zhang, Daowei; Warren, Sarah; Bailey, Conner. 1998. The role

of assistance foresters in nonindustrial private forest management:

Alabama landowners’ perspectives. Southern Journal of Applied

Forestry. 22(2): 101–110.

Zhang, Daowei; Warren, Sarah; Bailey, Conner. 1998. The role

of assistance foresters in nonindustrial private forest management:

Alabama landowners’ perspectives. In: Kluender, Richard A., ed.

Valuing non-timber forest resources: timber is passé: Proceedings of

the 1997 southern forest economics workers meeting; 1997 March

19–21; Little Rock, AR. Little Rock, AR: University of Arkansas

at Monticello: 149–154.
14
15

Appendix A

Research Areas and Topics from 1993 Consortium Workshop1

Ecosystem Management

1. The impact of environmental policies on forest management and utilization (focus on industry and individual landowners);

2. Impact of ecosystem management on private forests;

3. Ecological consequences of the independent contractor system, e.g., southern wood supply;

4. Minority landowner and labor impacts due to ecosystem management and environmental regulations, e.g., on the scale of

ownership;

5. The differential impact of ecosystem management on minority populations, both positive and negative (focus on landowners,

labor, etc.);

6. Small-scale harvesting techniques;

7. The sociological constraints to implementing ecosystem management, e.g., ownership, cooperation, education, perceptions

and or misconceptions, etc.; and

8. The impact of urbanization on ecosystem management.

Minority Landowner Concerns

1. Forest industries and resources and human capital development, e.g., timber industry support of human capital development;

2. Landowner perception of and participation in USDA Forest Service and forest-related programs;

1

 Zabawa, Robert; Kolison, Stephen H., Jr. 1994. An Alabama consortium on forestry education and research study: an examination of forestryrelated socio-economic research needs in the mid-South. Final Rep. FS–SO–4802, Grant 19–93–098. New Orleans: U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station; Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee University. 8 p. + appendices. On file with: U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 701 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113.
16

3. Minority landowner and labor impacts due to ecosystem management and or environmental regulations, e.g., on the scale of

ownership;

4. The differential impact of ecosystem management on minority populations, both positive and negative (focus on landowners,

labor, etc.); and

5. Minority (versus non-minority) landowner reinvestment in timber.

Rural Development

1. Timber dependency and development;

2. Forest industries and resources and human capital development, e.g., timber support of human capital development;

3. Investment potential of forest-related industries;

4. Community recruitment of forest-related industries—the costs and benefits, e.g., the role of infrastructure, tax incentives, etc.,

on recruitment;

5. Role of Tenn-Tom (Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway) on rural community development; and

6. Minority (versus non-minority) landowner reinvestment in timber.

Recycling

1. Sociological implications of paper recycling and impacts on specific groups, e.g., pulp mills, contractors (minority) , etc.; and

2. Sociological impediments to paper recycling, e.g., education, economics, incentives, access, etc.

Public Input (Participation)/Policy

1. The impact of environmental policies on forest management/utilization and ecosystem management, e.g., focus on the

industry and the individual landowner;

2. Public input in public and private land management planning, e.g., the appeals process; and

3. Impact of changes in the Northwest region on the timber industry in the southern region.
17

Appendix B

Forest Service-Funded Consortium Research Projects

Social Science

 1. Public participation for ecosystem management: identifying effective public participation procedures, values, and

perceptions.

Goals and Objectives:

Provide a comprehensive method for collecting and analyzing public input, participant characteristics, group interactive

mechanisms, and information dissemination techniques from which recommendations can be made for effective public

participation in forest plan development.

Activities:

• Survey National Forests in Alabama stakeholders in forest plan development.

• Measure participant characteristics and motivation.

• Measure participant perceptions and stated beliefs of stakeholders with regard to conservationist and utilitarian attitudes.

Researchers Institutions Agreement No. Dates

Michael Heard Alabama A&M Univ. 19–93-098 10/94–1/97

 2. Identifying effective public participation procedures, bioindicators for ecosystem management, and economic tradeoffs.

Goals and Objectives:

Examine the bioindicators of healthy ecosystems based on values of various public groups (stakeholders) participating in

national forest planning.
18

Activities:

• Conduct literature review on bioindicators for ecosystem management.

• Compile data sources for implementing a linear programming model on the impacts of public values on forest management

activities.

• Compile a list of stakeholders and participants in Forest Service public participation efforts, draft questionnaire, and plan

Delphi procedures.

Researchers Institutions Agreement No. Dates

Michael Heard Alabama A&M Univ. 19–94–098 10/94–9/96

Warren Flick Auburn Univ. 19–94–097 10/94–9/96

 3. Socio-demographic profile and spatial distribution of landowners in and around Tuskegee National Forest.

Goals and Objectives:

Identify the opportunities, incentives, and constraints in implementing ecosystem management.

Activities:

• Elicit the goals, objectives, and concerns of private landowners adjacent to and within Tuskegee National Forest.

• Produce a social, economic, and demographic profile of private landowners adjacent to and within Tuskegee National Forest.

• Determine landowner participation in forestry incentive programs.

• Develop a GIS system for integrating and analyzing spatial, ecological, social, economic, and demographic data on landowners

adjacent to and within the Tuskegee National Forest.
19

Researchers Institutions Agreement No. Dates

John Bliss Auburn Univ. 19–94–094 10/94–9/96

Larry Teeter Auburn Univ. 19–94–094 10/94–9/96

Steve Kolison Tuskegee Univ. 19–94–095 10/94–1/97

Robert Zabawa Tuskegee Univ. 19–94–095 10/94–1/97

4. Postcontract plans for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres: a case study of Alabama farmers.

Goals and Objectives:

Provide insights into the potential use and allocation of Alabama land presently enrolled in Federal and State forestry and

conservation incentive programs, in order to determine and predict potential change for land under conservation programs.

Activities:

• Gather and analyze data regarding the future use of currently expiring CRP contracts.

• Determine conservation retention plans.

• Analyze CRP participants’ social, economic, and demographic characteristics.

• Analyze policy implications of the disposition of CRP lands.

Researchers Institutions Agreement No. Dates

Odili Onianwa Alabama A&M Univ. 10–95–074 10/95–3/97

Gerry Wheelock Alabama A&M Univ. 10–95–074 10/95–3/97

Mark Dubois Auburn Univ. 10–95–069 10/95–3/97

Steve Kolison Tuskegee Univ. 10–95–069 10/95–3/97
20

5. Property rights in the Federal courts and the claims court.

Goals and Objectives:

Provide insight into the cross-boundary, coordinated decision-making required in implementing ecosystem management on

public and private lands by examining the legal implications of recent Supreme Court decisions regarding property rights.

Activities:

• Locate and interpret Federal court opinions (district and 11th judicial circuit, Claims Court, Federal Circuit, and D.C. Circuit) on

property rights.

• Determine trends in the interpretation and application of Supreme Court rulings concerning regulatory takings under the 5th

Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Researchers Institutions Agreement No. Dates

Michael Heard Alabama A&M Univ. 19–95–072 10/95–9/96

Warren Flick Auburn Univ. 19–95–070 10/95–9/96

6. Forest tenure1 and rural well being in Alabama.

Goals and Objectives:

Improve rural development strategies through enhancing understanding of the influence of forest tenure upon rural well being

and development.

1 Sociologists use the term tenure to describe bundles of rights and obligations related to use and ownership and land and resources that are recognized

by some authority.
21

Activities:

• Determine existing forest ownership patterns in Alabama with respect to ownership category and tract size.

• Analyze the historical evolution of existing forest tenure patterns and develop probable future ownership scenarios.

• Examine relationships between existing forest tenure patterns and rural well being.

Researchers Institutions Agreement No. Dates

Sunil Nepal Alabama A&M Univ. 10–95–073 10/95–9/97

John Bliss Auburn Univ. 10–95–068 10/95–9/97

7. Female forest land ownership strategies in the South: management options, opportunities, and constraints.

Goals and Objectives:

Discover if women who own and manage forest land are competing equitably in one of the strongest economic sectors in the

South.

Activities:

• Identify who participates in managing female-owned forest and woodland, e.g., owner, consulting or extension forester, forest

industry.

• Understand the objectives of their forest management decisions, e.g., timber, wildlife, recreation, and combinations thereof.

• Determine individual and institutional constraints to and opportunities for increased benefits to female forest landowners as a

result of owner control of forest management decision-making.

Researchers Institutions Agreement No.

Sarah Warren USDA Forest Service Internal

Ellene Kebede Tuskegee Univ. Collaborator

Wanjiru Gichuhi Tuskegee Univ. Collaborator
22

8. Private and public hunting lands in the Southeastern United States: effects of changing property patterns on rural

communities.

Goals and Objectives:

Discover if hunting pressures on public lands are elevated due to use by populations increasingly excluded from private lands.

Activities:

• Describe the impact of changing property ownership patterns in the Southeast.

• Determine the trends in fee hunting, land leasing, the development of private hunting club lands, and other types of enclosure

of private property.

• Determine the demand for, supply of, and distribution of subsistence hunting opportunities.

Researchers Institutions Agreement No.

Sarah Warren USDA Forest Service Internal

Robert Zabawa Tuskegee Univ. Collaborator

9. The origins of the Tuskegee National Forest: 19th and 20th century land development and resettlement programs in Alabama.

Goals and Objectives:

To discover and describe the allocation and distribution of resettlement project lands, beginning with Creek Indian Removal in

1836 and continuing through the creation of Tuskegee National Forest.

Activities:

• Determine if the original goals of two Farm Security Administration programs—the relocation of subsistence farmers from

nonproductive lands and the subsequent creation of the national forest, coupled with resettlement of these farmers—were

met.

• To analyze the social relationships involved in the transfers of land ownership and changes in productivity.
23

Researchers Institutions Agreement No. Dates

Sarah Warren USDA Forest Service Internal

Robert Zabawa Tuskegee Univ. SRS–30–CA–96–039 9/96–6/99

Joseph Betecadu Alabama A&M Univ. SRS–30–CA–96–038 9/96–4/99

10. The socioeconomic impacts of reduced public timber harvest on local communities: a case study in Alabama and a

decision-making model for national forests in the United States.

Goals and Objectives:

To provide a comprehensive assessment of socioeconomic impacts of reductions in timber sales on National Forests in Alabama.

Activities:

• Characterize the socioeconomic status of the counties in Alabama with national forests.

• Assess the level of dependency of these Alabama counties on employment and income generated by national forest timber

production.

• Determine the local socioeconomic impacts of reduced harvest levels in National Forests in Alabama.

Researchers Institutions Agreement No. Dates

Stephen Kolison Tuskegee Univ. SRS–30–CA–96–043 9/96–6/00

Jianbang Gan Tuskegee Univ. SRS–30–CA–96–043 9/96–6/00
24

11. Maintaining the estate of limited-resource-forest landowners

Goals and Objectives:

Evaluate alternatives to the current form of ownership transfer between generations of forest landowners, with particular

attention to alternatives for limited resource landowners.

Activities:

• Determine the extent of land ownership for limited resource forest landowners.

• Identify the problems associated with maintaining the estates of limited resource forest landowners with case studies.

• Advance alternative solutions for the case studies showing the benefit that can be achieved through estate planning.

• Develop a set of teaching modules to explain the alternatives available to limited resource forest landowners.

Researchers Institutions Agreement No. Dates

Robert Tufts Auburn Univ. SRS–33–CA–98–441 9/98–5/01

Mark Dubois Auburn Univ. SRS–33–CA–98–441 9/98–5/01

Robert Zabawa Tuskegee Univ. SRS–33–CA–98–443 9/98–5/01

12. Evaluation of program participation behavior of limited resource forest landowners in Alabama.

Goals and Objectives:

Evaluate limited resource forest landowners’ participation behavior in conservation cost-share programs in Alabama.

Activities:

• Survey limited resource forest landowners to collect qualitative and quantitative information on characteristics, attitudes, and

other factors that influence participation behavior.
25

Researchers Institutions Agreement No. Dates

Odili Onianwa Alabama A&M Univ. SRS–33–CA–99–737 8/99–8/01

Gerald Wheelock Alabama A&M Univ. SRS–33–CA–99–737 8/99–8/01

Jianbang Gan Tuskegee Univ. SRS–33–CA–99–725 8/99–8/01

Mark Dubois Auburn Univ. SRS–33–CA–99–725 8/99–8/01
26

Appendix C

Forest Service-Funded Consortium Research Projects

Forest Operations

1. Ecologically and economically sustainable site preparation methods for public and private lands.

Goals, objectives, and activities:

To characterize a full spectrum of site preparation methods and the resulting even-aged and uneven-aged stands at 11–15 years

old; comparing and contrasting structures, plant composition/diversity, nutrient cycling/retention functions, soil improvement/

degradation trends, and aesthetic attributes. Study cases are in the Tuskegee, Talladega, and Bankhead National Forests, and on

three industrial forestry sites.

To perform integrated economic evaluation and projection of the stands’ commodity and non-commodity values that result from

these site preparation investments.

To provide demonstration sites, educational opportunities, and multidisciplinary networking of managers and researchers to

further management of multi-resource values on landscapes encompassing National Forests, forest industry, and nonindustrial

private forest lands.

Research Coordinator:

Jim Miller, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4105, Vegetation Management Research and Longleaf Pine

Research for Southern Forest Ecosystems).
27

Cooperators:

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4105, Vegetation Management Research and Longleaf Pine Research for

Southern Forest Ecosystems), Alabama A&M University, Auburn University, Tuskegee University, National Forests in Alabama

(Tuskegee, Talladega, and Bankhead Districts), Union Camp Corporation, and Kimberly Clark Corporation

2. Cut-to-length systems for implementing ecosystem management.

Goals, objectives, and activities:

Determine if cut-to-length systems are capable of achieving stand manipulations with acceptable ecological effects and

economic performance for a range of stand improvement and health cuttings.

• Evaluate system productivity and costs, site effects, and stand effects for selected systems.

• Determine the effect of prescription (size, volumes, spacing) on operation.

• Examine the relationship of machine configuration to soil disturbance.

• Provide technology transfer on national forest lands through establishment of permanent plots, a field demonstration, and a

workshop.

Research Coordinator:

Bob Rummer, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies

for Ecological Management of Forest Resources).

Cooperators:

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for Ecological

Management of Forest Resources), Alabama A&M University, Auburn University, Tuskegee University, National Forests in

Alabama (Tuskegee District and Supervisor’s Office).
28

3. Evaluation of alternative prescriptions in upland hardwood forests.

Goals, objectives, and activities:

An assessment of machine productivity, tree regenerations, soil impacts and movement, and aesthetics of four silviculture

treatments: (1) clearcut, (2) corridor cut, (3) high basal area cut (deferment), and (4) control of randomized block design replicated

three times. Additional comparisons include importance of aspect (north vs. south) and time of harvest (dormant vs. growing

season).

Research Coordinator:

Bryce Stokes, USDA Forest Service, National Headquarters, formerly with the Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/

Engineering Systems and Technologies for Ecological Management of Forest Resources).

Cooperators:

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for Ecological

Management of Forest Resources), Alabama A&M University, Auburn University, National Forests in Alabama (Bankhead

District and Supervisor’s Office), Morgan County Forestry Planning Commission, Alabama Forestry Commission, Champion

International

4. Water quality effects of temporary stream crossings.

Goals, objectives, and activities:

To assess the sediment generation associated with three alternatives for crossing small streams: (1) culverts, (2) fords, and (3)

temporary bridges. Sediment generation will be determined for the life cycle of crossings, including construction, use, and

removal/stabilization.

Research Coordinator:

Steve Taylor, Auburn University
29

Cooperators:

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for Ecological

Management of Forest Resources), Auburn University (Department of Agricultural Engineering and Department of Botany and

Microbiology), National Forests in Alabama (Shoal Creek District and Supervisor’s Office).

5. Assessment of surface erosion control techniques on forest roads.

Goals, objectives, and activities:

Evaluate the effectiveness of three erosion control techniques on sediment yield and runoff volume from newly constructed

forest side slopes. The study compares (1) erosion mat, (2) native seed mixture, and (3) exotic seed mixture, on the basis of

sediment yield, runoff, and cost. The study will provide a better understanding of soil movement and runoff trends from erosion

control treatments used on cut and fill slopes.

Research Coordinator:

John Grace, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for

Ecological Management of Forest Resources).

Cooperators:

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for Ecological

Management of Forest Resources), Auburn University (Department of Agricultural Engineering), National Forests of Alabama

(Shoal Creek District).
30

6. Control of sediment export from forest access systems.

Goals, objectives, and activities:

Evaluate sediment reduction techniques used on turn-out ditches of forest roads. Four treatment methods (vegetation, rip-rap,

sediment fences, and settling basins) will be evaluated to determine their effects on sediment export. Results will provide

valuable knowledge required to improve current turn-out ditch BMPs, promote sustainable ecosystem management, and protect

forest water quality.

Research Coordinator:

John Grace, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for

Ecological Management of Forest Resources)

Cooperators:

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for Ecological

Management of Forest Resources), National Forests of Alabama (Tuskegee National Forest), Alabama Forestry Commission

(Macon County).

7. Implications of bottomland hardwood management at the landscape scale: evaluations of biogeochemical effects of harvesting

options.

Goals, objectives, and activities:

Determine the impact of partial vs. clearcut management on belowground carbon cycling and nutrient processes.

Research Coordinator:

Graeme Lockaby, Auburn University
31

Cooperators:

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for Ecological

Management of Forest Resources), Auburn University (School of Forestry), Tuskegee University (Forest Resources Program),

International Paper Company.

8. Assessment of economic efficiency and environmental impacts of major timber harvesting systems in Alabama.

Goals, objectives, and activities:

Identify major timber harvesting systems currently used or under development in Alabama. Evaluate cost effectiveness of these

systems, and provide an accurate assessment of environmental impacts of each associated harvesting systems.

Research Coordinator:

John Grace, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for

Ecological Management of Forest Resources)

Cooperators:

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for Ecological

Management of Forest Resources), Tuskegee University (School of Agricultural and Home Economics).

9. Assessment of cumulative effects of forestry practices at multiple landscape scales.

Goals, objectives, and activities:

Streamside management zones (SMZ) are the primary practice to control nonpoint source pollution in actively managed forested

watersheds. Characterize the water quality impacts of three SMZ treatments: (1) clearcut and regenerate SMZ prior to upslope

harvest, (2) partial cut and enhance SMZ prior to harvest, and (3) no cutting in the SMZ. Specifically
32

• Characterize hydrological variations, such as water table depth, stream discharge, and channel morphology,

• Evaluate water physical and chemical responses, such as temperature, suspended solids, nitrate, pH, and ammonium,

• Assess nutrient cycling in the SMZ through litterfall and soil mineralization,

• Examine benthic invertebrate population responses to manipulations.

Research Coordinator:

Bryce Stokes, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies

for Ecological Management of Forest Resources)

Cooperators:

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station (SRS–4703, Biological/Engineering Systems and Technologies for Ecological

Management of Forest Resources), Auburn University, International Paper, Union Camp, American Forest and Paper

Association, National Council of the Paper Industry for Air and Stream Improvement.
Schelhas, John. 2002. Activities of the Alabama Consortium on forestry education

and research, 1993–1999. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–49. Asheville, NC: U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 32 p.

The Alabama Consortium on Forestry Education and Research was established in

1992 to promote communication and collaboration among diverse institutions

involved in forestry in the State of Alabama. It was organized to advance forestry

education and research in ways that could not be accomplished by individual

members alone. This report tells the story of the consortium’s first 8 years,

documenting its collaborative projects and accomplishments. It contains the

historical record of the development of consortium objectives and priorities, as well

as details about collaborative research projects and publications in two areas:

socioeconomic relationships between forests and people, and forest operations.

Keywords: Forest operations, forestry education and research, people and forests.
The Forest Service, United States Department of

Agriculture (USDA), is dedicated to the principle of

multiple use management of the Nation’s forest

resources for sustained yields of wood, water, forage, wildlife, and

recreation. Through forestry research, cooperation with the States

and private forest owners, and management of the National Forests

and National Grasslands, it strives—as directed by Congress—to

provide increasingly greater service to a growing Nation.

The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and

activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion,

age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or

family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for

communication of program information (Braille, large print,

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202)

720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office

of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call

(202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity

provider and employer.