bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Forest Plantations and Biodiversity: A Fresh Perspective
Authors: Stephens S. Sky , Wagner Michael R.
Published: April 2024

We examined the worldwide literature on biodiversity in forest plantations for the indicator organism assessed, species composition (native versus exotic), tree species diversity, and appropriateness of the comparisons made. Fifty percent of the studies used invertebrates, 36% birds, 6% mammals, and 6% vascular plants as bioindicators. We found that 76% of the existing literature compares exotic plantation forests to native/natural forests, 9% of studies compare native plantations to native/natural forests, and 3% examine plantations to plantations. Lower biodiversity in plantation forest compared to other forests was reported by 94% of the reviewed studies. However, some studies indicate higher biodiversity in plantation forests compared to other land uses such as agriculture. We argue that much of the literature reporting lower biodiversity in plantation forests is based on inappropriate comparisons. We suggest more appropriate approaches to assessing the effects of plantation forests on biodiversity.
The Development of Pine Plantation Silviculture in the Southern United States
Authors: Fox Thomas R. , Jokela Eric J. , Allen H. Lee
Published: April 2024

In the 1950s there were vast acreages of cutover forestland and degraded agricultural land across the South. Less than 2 million ac of southern pine plantations existed at that time. By the end of the 20th century, there were 32 million ac of southern pine plantations in the US South and this region is the wood basket of the world. The success story that is southern pine forestry was facilitated by the application of research results generated through cooperative work of the US Forest Service, southern forestry schools, state forestry agencies, and forest industry. This article reviews the contributions of applied silvicultural research in tree improvement, nursery management, site preparation, weed control, and fertilization to plantation forestry in the South. These practices significantly increased productivity of southern pine plantations. Plantations established in the 1950s and 1960s, which produced less than 90 ft3 ac−1 yr−1, have been replaced by plantations established in the 2000s, which may produce in excess of 400 ft3 ac−1 yr−1. Currently, southern pine plantations are among the most intensively managed forests in the world. Growth of plantations managed using modern, integrated, site-specific silvicultural regimes now can rival that of plantations of fast-growing exotic species in the Southern Hemisphere.
Understanding and Reaching Family Forest Owners: Lessons from Social Marketing Research
Authors: Butler Brett J. , Tyrrell Mary , Feinberg Geoff , VanManen Scott , Wiseman Larry , Wallinger Scott
Published: April 2024

Social marketing—the use of commercial marketing techniques to effect positive social change—is a promising means by which to develop more effective and efficient outreach, policies, and services for family forest owners. A hierarchical, multivariate analysis based on landowners' attitudes reveals four groups of owners to whom programs can be tailored: woodland retreat, working the land, supplemental income, and ready to sell. A prime prospect analysis segmenting landowners according to their level of engagement and interest in land management can be used to improve the efficiency of program implementation. Landowners showing low levels of engagement but high levels of interest are of special interest because they are likely to be receptive to a social marketing message and therefore should be a priority target for any such efforts. Using the demographic profile of the average family forest owner, newspapers and television were identified as important means for mass communication.
An Assessment of Geographic Information System Skills Used by Field-Level Natural Resource Managers
Authors: Merry Krista L. , Bettinger Pete , Clutter Mike , Hepinstall Jeffrey , Nibbelink Nathan P.
Published: April 2024

Geographic information systems (GIS) have become a standard tool to assist with mapping and spatial analysis needs of natural resource managers. Most recent graduates of university-level forestry and natural resource programs are required to complete a course in this area, and many employers expect recent graduates to have been exposed to the technology. Over the past 20 years, surveys of spatial technology have been conducted to assess needs of employers and capabilities of educational systems but have fallen short of identifying the needs of end users. We present one of the first surveys of end users, a set of recent graduates who are employed in natural resource management-related positions. The survey identifies the types of GIS software used by respondents, illustrates the processes and databases typically used, and highlights methods used to locate assistance when needed. Additionally, we discuss how to adapt GIS education to meet the needs of natural resource managers.
Decentralized Forest Management in South and Southeast Asia
Authors: Balooni Kulbhushan , Inoue Makoto
Published: April 2024

This article reviews the process of decentralization in forest management in developing countries in South and Southeast Asia. Decentralized forest management (DFM) is an alternative to centralized or state-regulated forest management, which transfers the forest use and management rights to local communities. It is a process of gradual change in forest management, which started in the 1970s when social forestry programs involving people's participation were first attempted and expanded in the 1990s when DFM policies were enacted to recognize the traditional forest rights of local communities. DFM has no single definition, depending instead on the state's willingness to move away from the command and control approach toward forest management. There are some plus points, but these are still limited and the drawbacks of decentralization far outweigh the gains.
Social Learning and Building Trust through a Participatory Design for Natural Resource Planning
Authors: Selin Steve W. , Pierskalla Chad , Smaldone David , Robinson Karen
Published: April 2024

Collaborative approaches to the management and planning of forest and natural resource systems have received much attention as managers adjust to an increasingly complex and turbulent society. Empirical studies are needed that evaluate new forms of collaborative management and assess initiative outcomes. Trail planning and management systems on the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia provided a unique opportunity to design and evaluate a participatory design known as a search conference. This article reports on the design, execution, and outcome-based assessment of a trails search conference, examining specifically the impact of the conference on social learning and trust building outcomes. Generally, the search conference was well received and social learning as well as trust building did occur. Resource managers are encouraged to use a search conference format to explore diverse perspectives on a set of management issues or identifying the range of concerns that different people have.
National Forest Visitor Spending Averages and the Influence of Trip-Type and Recreation Activity
Authors: White Eric M. , Stynes Daniel J.
Published: April 2024

Estimates of national forest recreation visitor spending serve as inputs to regional economic analyses and help to identify the economic linkages between national forest recreation use and local forest communities. When completing recreation-related analyses, managers, planners, and researchers frequently think of visitors in terms of recreation activity. When completing recreation visitor spending analyses we argue that visitors should be segmented based primarily on the type of recreation trip taken. Using survey data collected as part of the US Forest Service National Visitor Use Monitoring program we examine the efficacy of trip-type segmentation relative to one based on recreation activity. We show that spending averages developed for activity groups without regard to trip type provide an incomplete picture of recreation visitor spending. Ultimately, trip type is shown to have a greater role in influencing the level of recreation visitor expenditures than recreation activity. Implications for national forest planning and management are discussed.
An Analysis of the Australian Literature on Prescribed Burning
Authors: Oliveras Imma , Bell Tina
Published: April 2024

A wide range of scientific and technical literature regarding prescribed burning in Australia was collated and analyzed. Literature was classified according to the place of publication (local, state, national, and international) and the broad content of the publication (land management and ecology). Approximately the same number of publications dealing with land management and ecological issues were found. Until the 1990s, most of the documents were of local or state significance, but this trend has changed in the last 20 years and more Australian research is now finding the way into international journals. Most of the technical documents concerning land management were of a regional nature and patterns or outcomes from prescribed burning could not be easily extrapolated to a wider landscape. Consequently, conclusions relating to the effect of controlled burning were relatively conservative. Despite this, Australia remains one of the few countries with major knowledge and experience in the planned use of fire for fuel management and ecological purposes.
Visitor Preferences for Managing Wilderness Recreation after Wildfire
Authors: Brown Ryan N.K. , Rosenberger Randall S. , Kline Jeffrey D. , Hall Troy E. , Needham Mark D.
Published: April 2024

The 2003 Bear Butte and Booth (B&B) Fires burned much of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness in the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests, Oregon. A question for managers is how best to manage recreation in fire-affected areas in ways that minimize adverse impacts on visitor experiences and the recovering landscape. To help address this question, we used onsite surveys (n = 221) asking visitors in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness about their past use and postfire changes in use and their preferences for managing recreation after fires. Results indicated that recreation use declined after the fires, but declines were less than those after recent policy and management decisions such as the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program. Visitor preferences for managing postfire recreation were mixed. Some visitors supported little or no management, some preferred access and use restrictions coupled with camping regulations, and some preferred either access and use restrictions or camping regulations alone.
Landscape Modeling for Forest Restoration Planning and Assessment: Lessons from the Southern Appalachian Mountains
Authors: Xi Weimin , Coulson Robert N. , Waldron John D. , Tchakerian Maria D. , Lafon Charles W. , Cairns David M. , Birt Andrew G. , Klepzig Kier D.
Published: April 2024

Restoration planning, evaluation, and implementation are important in areas where abiotic disturbances (e.g., wildfires, hurricanes, and ice storms), biotic disturbances (e.g., outbreaks of native and exotic invasive pests and diseases), and anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., harvesting, planting, and fire exclusion) have altered forest landscapes. However, the effects of restoration practices are difficult to measure, and restoration goals often are unclear. Landscape modeling provides a tool for evaluating outcomes of various management scenarios and restoration strategies. In this article, we provide a framework for using landscape models for forest restoration. Specifically, we present a case study using LANDIS, a landscape simulation model of forest disturbance and succession, to explore the effects of restoration strategies for forests damaged by southern pine beetle in the southern Appalachians. Our research suggests that landscape models are valuable tools in the forest restoration decisionmaking process. Future work on landscape models for forest restoration and other related issues is discussed.
Timber-Sale Systems in the Balkan Region
Authors: Glavonjic Branko , Vlosky Richard
Published: April 2024

As the economies of the Balkan countries evolve, their forestry sectors are also in transition. In some countries, the forest sector transformation is close to meeting government objectives, whereas in other countries, the process has just begun. The process of forest sector transition is fraught with numerous problems; some because of entrenched past practices, while others are the consequences of a lack of knowledge or vision of how to move forward. One significant challenge for all Balkan countries is the implementation of effective wood sales systems. This article presents results from research conducted on wood-sale systems found in the Balkan region and suggests recommendations for improvement. The authors suggest continuation of cooperation between Balkan governments and international organizations and institutions, strengthening mutual cooperation and understanding between governments and industry, accelerating changes in legislation, and promoting timber sale compatibility with European Union countries.
Stone Age Principles for Modern Forest Management
Authors: Gravelle John A.
Published: April 2024

Forestland managers must deal with the complexity of balancing environmental sustainability with the economic demand for wood and alternate forestland uses. Decisions are not always easy, and looking to human history might provide a framework for dealing with modern forestland management issues. The Stone Age was a period when basic engineering skills were developed, animals were domesticated, and humans began establishing permanent settlements around agricultural crops. It was also a time when great stone structures like Stonehenge were built. By going back to the Stone Age, the roots of modern civilization, we might find some basic underlying principles that guided our ancestors, and they might be useful for modern management. I have called these five basic principles the Stone Age principles: (1) observe and learn from nature, (2) use the resources you have, (3) leverage skills and knowledge, (4) use teamwork, and (5) commit to the task.
Determining Stand Value and Log Product Yields Using Terrestrial Lidar and Optimal Bucking: A Case Study
Authors: Murphy Glen
Published: April 2024

Nine plots in three Douglas-fir stands of different tree sizes were scanned using terrestrial lidar systems. Tree locations in each plot and their stem profiles were automatically detected using commercially available software. Actual stem profile measurements were made on all trees after felling. Stems were optimally bucked based on log specifications and prices for two log markets: the western United States and New Zealand. Stand values and log product yields were estimated for the terrestrial lidar-derived data and compared with estimates based on the actual stem profiles. Stand and undergrowth density and tree size affected the accuracy of automated stem detection and stem profile measurements. After manual adjustments for stem quality and height, lidar-derived estimates of average stand value and log product yields were within 7% of actual estimates. Differences were noted between stand types and markets. Suggestions for future research are provided.
Ecosystem Management in the US Forest Service: A Persistent Process but Dying Discourse
Authors: Predmore S. Andrew , Copenheaver Carolyn A. , Mortimer Michael J.
Published: April 2024

Eleven executives of the US Forest Service were interviewed to explore the current status and meaning of ecosystem management (EM). The main method of inquiry was open-ended questions, but these questions were complemented by a questionnaire, designed to elicit further conversation about ideas often associated with EM. Participants indicated that EM is still practiced by managers but is seldom used in the agency's environmental speech. The idea that EM is of declining importance to the agency's discourse was also supported by the lack of agreement in participant definitions of EM, where the importance of “scale” and “systems thinking” were the only commonly included ideas in participant definitions of EM. Participants commonly noted the ambiguity and controversy surrounding objectives-oriented components of EM, while process-oriented components were widely accepted by our participants. Our analysis suggests that despite the reduced importance of the term ecosystem management, many of EM's component ideas, particularly those addressing management processes, continue to compete in the agency's broader environmental discourse.
How Will the Changing Industrial Forest Landscape Affect Forest Sustainability?
Authors: Gustafson Eric J. , Loehle Craig
Published: April 2024

Large-scale divestiture of commercial forestlands is occurring in the United States. Furthermore, increasing demand for cellulose for bioenergy may modify forest management practices widely enough to impact the spatial characteristics of forested landscapes. We used the HARVEST timber harvest simulator to investigate the potential consequences of divestiture and increased harvest from existing stands for bioenergy on landscape indicators of sustainability in a working landscape in upper Michigan. Divestiture tended to reduce the amount of older forests, increased fragmentation, reduced public access, and decreased the volume of wood extracted from the landscape. Increasing bioenergy production also reduced older forests, increased fragmentation of age classes, and reduced fragmentation of forest types, while increasing wood volume extracted. Our results suggest that divestiture and increased harvest for bioenergy will have negative effects on most indicators of ecological sustainability studied, although it is less clear whether these effects are ecologically significant because the slopes of the negative relationships are relatively small at the divestiture rates studied.
Forest Management Policy and Community Well-Being in the Pacific Northwest
Authors: Charnley Susan , Donoghue Ellen M. , Moseley Cassandra
Published: April 2024

This study uses a multiscale, multimethods approach to examine the effects of declining timber harvests on the well-being of forest communities in the Pacific Northwest as a result of the Northwest Forest Plan (the Plan). We found that the effects of declining timber harvests were variable and depended on the importance of the timber sector in a community in the late 1980s, the extent to which federal timber supported that sector, and the degree to which local residents depended on US Forest Service jobs. In addition, we found that other goods, services, and opportunities associated with federal lands declined under the Plan, further affecting communities by curtailing private and public sector business and employment opportunities. Community effects also depended on the unique circumstances of a community. A socioeconomic well-being index we developed indicated that overall, communities within five miles of a federal forest were not doing as well as communities farther away.
Litigants' Characteristics and Outcomes in US Forest Service Land-Management Cases 1989 to 2005
Authors: Gambino Portuese Beth , Malmsheimer Robert W. , Anderson Amanda , Floyd Donald , Keele Denise
Published: April 2024

This research identifies and analyzes all parties involved in 949 US Forest Service land-management court cases initiated between 1989 and 2005. We identified 2,501 parties, the frequency and type of their involvement, and their success rates. Almost 75% of the parties were only involved in one case. All 12 of the most frequent parties opposing the US Forest Service were environmental organizations, whereas the top 12 most frequent US Forest Service supporters included four different types of organizations. Repeat US Forest Service opponents were more successful than nonrepeat opponents. However, only one US Forest Service opponent involved in an average of one or more cases per year won more cases than they lost, and one-half of these opponents settled more often than the average settlement rate. By identifying litigants, policymakers, stakeholders, and the public can understand the prevalence of repeat and one-time litigants and can assess strategies to address these types of parties' propensity to litigate.
Using an Activity and Place-Based Typology to Explain Visitor Motivations
Authors: Morgan Mark , Messenger Brian
Published: April 2024

Formulating unbiased policies for outdoor recreation is difficult because managers should weigh the relative contributions of activities and settings. This procedure is complicated by supply and demand factors, agency mandates, political pressure, and revenue shortfalls. Because policymaking is a subjective process, some visitors are affected by management decisions more than others. Motivations play an important role in visitor satisfaction, as does the meanings of activities and places. Sometimes these factors are overlooked by managers. This study combined the activity involvement and place attachment scores of visitors at the Eleven Point National Scenic River in southern Missouri into a 2 × 2 typology. Based on these results, a three-level specialization continuum was developed to explain visitors' motives for recreational participation. These findings suggest that a framework combining activity and place meanings has some advantages over using a traditional activity-based approach.
Wildland-Urban Interface Maps Vary with Purpose and Context
Authors: Stewart Susan I. , Wilmer Bo , Hammer Roger B. , Aplet Gregory H. , Hawbaker Todd J. , Miller Carol , Radeloff Volker C.
Published: April 2024

Maps of the wildland– urban interface (WUI) are both policy tools and powerful visual images. Although the growing number of WUI maps serve similar purposes, this article indicates that WUI maps derived from the same data sets can differ in important ways related to their original intended application. We discuss the use of ancillary data in modifying census data to improve WUI maps and offer a cautionary note about this practice. A comparison of two WUI mapping approaches suggests that no single map is “best” because users’ needs vary. The analysts who create maps are responsible for ensuring that users understand their purpose, data, and methods; map users are responsible for paying attention to these features and using each map accordingly. These considerations should apply to any analysis but are especially important to analyses of the WUI on which policy decisions will be made.
Wildfire Suppression Cost Forecasts for the US Forest Service
Authors: Abt Karen L. , Prestemon Jeffrey P. , Gebert Krista M.
Published: April 2024

The US Forest Service and other land-management agencies seek better tools for anticipating future expenditures for wildfire suppression. We developed regression models for forecasting US Forest Service suppression spending at 1-, 2-, and 3-year lead times. We compared these models to another readily available forecast model, the 10-year moving average model, and found that the regression models do a better job of forecasting the expenditures for all three time horizons. When evaluated against the historical data, our models were particularly better at forecasting the more recent years (2000–2007) than the less sophisticated models. The regression models also allowed us to generate, using simulation methods, forecast statistics such as the means, medians, and confidence intervals of costs. These additional statistics provide policymakers, wildfire managers, and planners more information than a single forecast value.
Tradeoffs among Ecosystem Benefits: An Analysis Framework in the Evaluation of Forest Management Alternatives
Authors: Álvarez Milagros , Field David B.
Published: April 2024

This article presents an analysis framework to develop and compare forest management alternatives by quantifying the tradeoffs among several forest ecosystem benefits. First, we present a modeling environment that estimates future outcomes simulated over a period of time given a set of management goals, existing laws and regulations, and the capacity of the forest ecosystem to provide quantified forest ecosystem values. This environment integrates image processing, geographic information systems, growth and yield simulation, and linear programming software. Second, we propose the use of Euclidean distances as a decision support tool that allows an analysis of the social, economic, and environmental values provided within each scenario. We found that the use of Euclidean distances as a decision support tool represents a simple and flexible way to compare management alternatives. The normalization of the different forest ecosystem benefits, estimated in their own units, allows analysts to compare and integrate them together without having to translate these values into a common measurement unit. We tested this analysis framework on 36,000 ac of state-owned land in western Maine.
Perspectives of Woody Biomass for Energy: Survey of State Foresters, State Energy Biomass Contacts, and National Council of Forestry Association Executives
Authors: Aguilar Francisco , Garrett H. E. ‘Gene’
Published: April 2024

State foresters, state energy biomass contacts, and members of the National Council of Forestry Association Executives were surveyed to gather perceptions on items that should be included in a definition of woody biomass. Participants also rated different renewable energies and the particular opportunities and challenges that the utilization of woody biomass faces to become a sustainable energy feedstock. Ninety-seven responses from 43 different states and the District of Columbia suggest that a definition of biomass should not differentiate between naturally regenerated forest stands and plantations or private and public forestlands. There is a lower level of approval for the inclusion of biomass from old-growth or late successional forests and tree needles/leaves in a woody biomass definition. Participants rated the use of combustion as the woody biomass energy platform with the highest potential to become a sustainable source of energy at the state level. There are regional differences in the stated potential of various renewable energy technologies. Some of the greatest opportunities for the use of woody biomass include the generation of locally produced energy and additional work opportunities for harvesters and loggers. Costs of harvesting and transporting biomass material from the field to an energy facility are the greatest challenges facing the development of woody biomass energy initiatives. Any policy effort aimed at promoting wider woody biomass use should consider regional and local resources and social and economic conditions and foster competition among renewable energy platforms.
Consumer-Grade Global Positioning Systems Performance in an Urban Forest Setting
Authors: Wing Michael G.
Published: April 2024

Consumer-grade global positioning system (GPS) receivers are available for several hundred dollars or less and can be used for urban forestry measurement applications provided that acceptable accuracies are achieved. Potential applications include locating and mapping trees, arbor facilities, and urban infrastructure. We examined the measurement accuracy and reliability of six identical contemporary consumer-grade GPS receivers that collected data simultaneously at two distinct test courses. One test course was located in an open field and the other test course simulated an urban forest landscape with partial tree canopy cover and several buildings blocking a view of the horizon. We also varied data collection techniques by using 1, 10, and 30 point averages to examine the influence of different point averages on measurement accuracy and precision. Measurement accuracies for all GPS receivers averaged 1.8 m from true position at the open field course and 3.8 m from true position at the urban forest course with variations depending on when the courses were visited. We also found that although six identical receivers were used to collect measurements simultaneously and in close proximity to one another, there were statistically significant differences in the measurement accuracies of the receivers. However, no statistically significant influence of different point averaging (1, 10, and 30) on measurement accuracy was detected.
Afforestation and Local Residents in County Kerry, Ireland
Authors: Carroll Matthew , Ní Dhubháin Áine , Nugent Ciaran
Published: April 2024

A strong case can be made for the global benefits of afforestation, particularly in areas with a history of deforestation. One challenge of afforestation, however, is that the trees have to be put in someone's “backyard.” Local responses to afforestation depend in large part on local context. This study looks at local reactions to the planting of new forests in County Kerry, Ireland. Based on interviews with a cross-section of local residents and local actors we identify a number of social positives and negatives associated with afforestation as seen through the eyes of local people. We recommend even greater attention to the relationship of land use and local community development as forestry moves forward in the present day Ireland.
The Wildland–Urban Interface: Evaluating the Definition Effect
Authors: Platt Rutherford V.
Published: April 2024

The wildland–urban interface (WUI) is the area where human-built structures and infrastructure abut or mix with naturally occurring vegetation types. Wildfires are of particular concern in the WUI because these areas comprise extensive flammable vegetation, numerous structures, and ample ignition sources. A priority of federal wildland fire policy in the United States is to help protect communities threatened by wildfire, creating a demand for maps of the WUI. In this study, five models of the WUI are compared for four counties in the United States. The models are all based on the widely cited characteristics of the WUI published in the Federal Register, although they differ slightly in their focus (vegetation or housing) and implementation (the details of the WUI definition). For models that differ in focus, I describe how the purpose of the map led to different results. For conceptually similar models, I assess how different effects—the “dasymetric effect,” the “settlement representation effect,” and the “merging buffer effect”—influence the extent of the WUI in different counties. The differences between the WUI maps can be more or less pronounced depending on the spatial distribution of housing, vegetation, and public land. No single mapping approach is unequivocally superior, and each has tradeoffs that need to be fully understood for use in management.
The Effects of Forest Regeneration on Preferences for Forest Treatments among Foresters, Environmentalists, and the General Public
Authors: Kearney Anne R. , Tilt Jenna R. , Bradley Gordon R.
Published: April 2024

This study explored changes in forest preferences among three different groups—foresters, environmentalists, and the general public (n = 410)—over a 7-year period for five different forest treatment types. Preferences were assessed for near views of clearcut, two-age cut, patch cut, group selection, and commercial thin. Results show that time since harvest significantly affected preference, with preferences generally increasing over time, but that the rate and pattern of preference change varied considerably according to the forest treatment type and the population group. The pattern of the initial harvest—specifically, the size of the openings and the uniformity of the harvest pattern across the landscape—appeared particularly important in influencing preference change. In addition, results show that although preferences among the groups tended to converge over time for less-intensive treatments, foresters' preferences remained higher than those of the other groups for more-intensive treatments (i.e., patch cut, two age, and clearcut). These results caution against overreliance on static preference studies when incorporating aesthetic considerations into forest planning decisions. Results also caution the forestry community against overestimating the positive effects of green-up on nonforester preferences, particularly for areas of intensive harvesting.
Rebuilding Spatial Forest Inventories from Aggregated Data
Authors: Schwab Olaf , Maness Thomas C.
Published: April 2024

The limited availability of data sets with a sufficiently high spatial scale and resolution can pose a significant challenge in the development and testing of new forest management and economics modeling approaches. This article describes and tests an algorithm for generating an ecologically and statistically consistent data set for the province of British Columbia by projecting publicly available aggregated forest inventory information back onto a landscape grid. The dispersal procedure assigns specific combinations of ecosystem, tree species, site quality, and age class parameters for each mapping tile, allowing for the use of standard growth and yield modeling procedures in simulating forest growth over time. Although ecosystem assignments were relatively accurate, significant location errors within forest management units remain for species, site quality, and age class assignments.
Incorporating Acquisition Costs in Forestland Open Space Programs: Lessons from Conservation Biology and Applications
Authors: Nordman Erik , Wagner John E.
Published: April 2024

The tools for cost-effective biodiversity conservation are well documented, but rarely implemented. These tools for prioritizing candidate properties can be used for managing forestland open space programs. We reviewed the benefit targeting, benefit score–cost ratio, binary linear programming (BLP), and benefit-loss–cost targeting approaches. A case study in Brookhaven, New York, showed that more conservation benefits are secured by using prioritization techniques that include acquisition costs. The acquisition costs for all properties were estimated using a hedonic model of public open space purchases. The benefit score–cost ratio approach does not guarantee an optimal portfolio of open space properties determined by BLP, but results in more cost-effective choices than benefit targeting and is more flexible than BLP. Forest resource managers have broad interdisciplinary training and are well suited to implementing cost-effective forestland conservation techniques.
Do You Hear What I Hear: Better Understanding How Forest Management Is Conceptualized and Practiced by Private Forest Landowners
Authors: Davis Miriam L.E. Steiner , Fly J. Mark
Published: April 2024

The discrepancy between the amount of privately owned forestland and the amount of well-managed privately owned forestland has been attributed to a variety of factors including the time, money, and knowledge required to manage private forestland and the degree to which forest management services offered by natural resource professionals reflect private forest landowner (PFL) interests. These views assume the value of forest management is, or can be, mutually understood but may have ignored mutual understanding of the concept itself. This Tennessee survey compares how PFLs conceptualize forest management with traditional definitions and finds most landowners surveyed believe they manage their forestland. Relationships were identified between how forest management is conceptualized, whether PFLs believe they manage their forestland (or not), and forest management behavior. Results suggest incorporating landowner forest management conceptualizations and beliefs may more effectively engage PFLs in forest management than focusing on the value of forest management alone.
Twenty-Five Years of Intensive Forest Management with Southern Pines: Important Lessons Learned
Authors: Jokela Eric J. , Martin Timothy A. , Vogel Jason G.
Published: April 2024

A commitment to long-term forest research provides the basis and opportunity to understand developmental processes and stand dynamics over an entire rotation. The southeastern United States has undergone a significant evolution in forest management practices over the last 60 years, especially in regard to the intensification of pine plantation silviculture. However, few studies have examined production relationships for an entire rotation. This article reviews results from a rotation-length experiment that tested factorial combinations of understory competition control and sustained fertilizer additions on the productivity and stand dynamics of loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii) in north central Florida. After 25 years, fertilizer and competition control treatments increased site index (base age, 25 years) from 64 to 87 ft in loblolly pine and from 75 to 88 ft in slash pine. In addition, these cultural treatments increased total stand stem volume accumulation by 1.8–2.2-fold compared with the control treatments for slash and loblolly pine, respectively; the proportion of volume in high-value product classes such as chip-n-saw (C/S) and sawtimber was also increased in both species (e.g., 39% in C/S and sawtimber in the loblolly pine control treatment versus 74–87% in the fertilizer and/or weed control treatments). Overall, results from this study, as well as others in the region, highlight the overriding importance of soil nutrient supply on long-term productivity of southern pine stands.
The Identification of Criteria and Indicators to Evaluate Hazardous Street Trees of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A Delphi Study
Authors: Maruthaveeran Sreetheran , Yaman Amat Ramsa
Published: April 2024

Trees have been playing important roles in our lives for centuries; however, too often, city councils in Malaysia are unaware about the consequences of a tree failure such as property damage and personal injury. Identifying hazardous trees and taking appropriate corrective actions can protect property and save lives. A study was conducted to identify the criteria and indicators needed to identify hazardous street trees in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Delphi method was used in this study to solicit the opinion from the experts through a series of questionnaires. This study generated and identified 6 criteria and 38 indicators that arborist need to evaluate to identify hazardous street trees in Kuala Lumpur. Hopefully the generated criteria and indicators will be an initial step for Malaysian park managers as they implement their hazard tree management programs.
Forest Service Use of Nonmarket Valuation in Fire Economics: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Loomis John , González-Cabán Armando
Published: April 2024

The need for monetary benefits of protecting spotted owl old-growth forest habitat from fire in the early 1990s was the catalyst for application of nonmarket valuation techniques to fire management within the US Forest Service. Two large-scale general public surveys successfully established that the contingent valuation method (CVM) could be used to estimate both state-level and national-level benefits for fire prevention and fire suppression in endangered species critical habitat. By the late 1990s large-scale wildland–urban interface fires resulted in the need to measure what the general public would pay for prescribed burning and mechanical fuel reduction programs. To reduce the expense of conducting original surveys, we use past results to offer benefit transfer of the existing results as a plausible interim technique to provide nonmarket benefits the general public receives from fire prevention and suppression. We also offer some insights as to the next frontiers in CVM application to wildland fire.
Maturity Selection versus Improvement Selection: Lessons from a Mid-20th Century Controversy in the Silviculture of Ponderosa Pine
Authors: O'Hara Kevin L. , Youngblood Andrew , Waring Kristen M.
Published: April 2024

Two rival silvicultural systems for promoting multiaged ponderosa pine stands emerged in the 1930s and 1940s. Maturity selection was developed to move the vast ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) acreage in eastern Oregon and Washington into regulation to limit bark beetle losses. In the Southwest, improvement selection was designed to improve residual growing stock by making stands less susceptible to wind, lightening, and dwarf mistletoe. The primary difference between the systems was the treatment of undesirable smaller trees. Maturity selection tended to ignore them whereas improvement selection removed them. Improvement selection appeared to place a greater emphasis on the future whereas maturity selection focused more on current economic values. The controversy subsided by 1960 because of increased interest in even-aged systems. Although these systems have largely been forgotten, they provide interesting insights to the current trend of increased use of multiaged systems. Both systems involved greater volume removals at longer cutting cycles than current systems.
Estimating Regional Wood Supply Based on Stakeholder Consensus for Forest Restoration in Northern Arizona
Authors: Hampton Haydee M. , Sesnie Steven E. , Bailey John D. , Snider Gary B.
Published: April 2024

Thinning treatments focused on small-diameter trees have been designed to restore fire-adapted ponderosa pine ecosystems. Estimating the volume of wood byproducts derived from treatments can assist with agency planning of multiyear thinning contracts that sustain existing and attract new wood product businesses. Agency, local government, industry, and environmental representatives were engaged to assess the level of agreement on restoration treatments in northern Arizona. Participants unanimously agreed on appropriate management across two-thirds of the 2.4 million ac analysis area and defined desired posttreatment conditions using forest structure information derived from remotely sensed data. Results indicate that an estimated 850 million ft3 of stem volume and 8.0 million green tn of tree crown biomass could be generated from tree thinning to reestablish fire-adapted conditions and stimulate new economic opportunities while meeting social and environmental criteria. Wood supply defined by stakeholders exceeded current utilization levels by 88% when extrapolated over the next 10 years.
Geographic Information System-Based Spatial Analysis of Sawmill Wood Procurement
Authors: Anderson Nathaniel M. , Germain René H. , Bevilacqua Eddie
Published: April 2024

In the sawmill sector of the forest products industry, the clustering of mills and wide variation in forest stocking and ownership result in sawlog markets that are complex and spatially differentiated. Despite the inherent spatial attributes of markets for stumpage and logs, few studies have used geospatial methods to examine wood procurement in detail across political boundaries. This article provides a visual representation of wood procurement pressure across the Northern Forest region of the northeastern United States based on a spatial analysis of woodshed maps provided by 273 sawmills in the United States and Canada. The analysis also includes the predicted woodsheds of 280 nonrespondent mills, which were modeled based on mill characteristics and location. In general, maps emphasize the magnitude of softwood procurement on industrial and investment-oriented forestlands in northern Maine, but also highlight distinct spatial procurement patterns in New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Sensitivity analyses of woodshed boundary uncertainty suggest that procurement pressure in existing hotspots will intensify if procurement range is restricted by high transportation costs. The methods used to visualize resource procurement in this study have the potential to benefit a broad range of stakeholders including industry, policymakers, and landowners.
Dissemination of Forest Health Research Information in the Rocky Mountains
Authors: Jacobi William R. , Crump Amanda , Lundquist John E.
Published: April 2024

An important objective of forest health research is that it is applicable to and used by end users. A survey, interviews, and two case studies determined how to best transfer research to US Forest Service end users in the Rocky Mountain Region. The survey indicated research information was most often found via the Internet, peer-to-peer interactions, publications, specialist visits, and field days. However, the most preferred methods were site visits by specialists, field days, and peers. Interviewees indicated that increased workloads and decreased budgets restricted them from staying current with research findings. Case studies found transferring findings directly from a researcher can be inefficient while using boundary spanners reduces researchers' efforts on technology transfer. To be better disseminated to end users, research findings should use face-to-face media, be easy to interpret and quick to use, and build on or establish trust between researchers, boundary spanners, and end users.
Southern Hardwood Varietal Forestry: A New Approach to Short-Rotation Woody Crops for Biomass Energy
Authors: Merkle Scott , Cunningham Michael
Published: April 2024

Varietal forestry appears poised to make significant contributions to the production of woody crops for timber, pulp and paper, and biomass energy in the southeastern United States. The projected productivity gains with southern pine somatic seedling technology make a strong case for adopting parallel technologies with southern hardwoods. Systems for producing somatic seedlings of multiple southern hardwoods have been developed and in some aspects are already more amenable to scale-up and manipulation than conifer systems. The feasibility of scaling up production of elite, varietal hardwoods using somatic embryogenesis has already been established. By combining this propagation system with hybrid breeding, thousands of somatic seedlings of elite hybrid sweetgum and hybrid yellow-poplar have been generated, some of which have shown impressive biomass productivity in field tests. Varietal, blight-resistant chestnuts now being developed may have even greater potential to be deployed for biomass plantations and other applications in the southern Appalachians.
Homeowners' Perspectives on the Parcel Approach to Wildland Fire Mitigation: The Role of Community Context in Two Colorado Communities
Authors: Brenkert-Smith Hannah
Published: April 2024

Current policy seeks to address the wildland fire problem by increasing awareness and capacity to address risk within wildland–urban interface communities. The primary recommendation for property owners facing risk is fuel reduction at the parcel level. Little is known, however, about how property owners understand and/or feel about available options. This study reveals widely held skepticism about the efficacy of the parcel approach to wildland fire mitigation in two fire-prone Colorado communities. Furthermore, it highlights the role community context plays in shaping how community members characterize the wildland fire risk they face as well as how to address the limits associated with the parcel approach to mitigation. Facilitating cooperative efforts within communities and between communities and fire and forest managers may not only increase community capacity, but also provide managers an opportunity to understand and integrate local concerns into the presentation of fire mitigation information and shift from “one size fits all” recommendations to programs that attend to community context.