Treesearch

When managing forests for biodiversity or sustainability, attention must be given to how silvicultural practices affect genetic diversity. A new generation of DNA-based markers affords a greater detail of genetic analysis than previously possible. These new markers, SSRs or microsatellites, have been used to demonstrate genetic diversity and infer evolutionary history of red pine, something that has not been possible with other markers. SSR markers developed by the Forest Service Research Biotechnology Unit are also being used to monitor how methods of sustainable timber management affect...

Research planning in the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station has followed a grass roots model for more than two years-ROADMAP, a research and development management plan. The goals for research within ROADMAP include understanding, protecting, managing, and utilizing forest ecosystems. There are nine research themes set to help achieve these goals, each with a set of research initiatives that describe contemporary and future science. Development of the "Silviculture and Resource Management Theme" has helped the Station define and communicate the role of silviculture to a variety of...

Although much has been written concerning the ecology and disturbance history of hemlock - white pine - northern hardwood (Nichols 1935; Braun 1950) forests of the Allegheny Plateau (Lutz 1930a; Morey 1936; Hough and Forbes 1943; Runkle 1981 ; Whitney 1990; Abrams and Owig 1996) few studies have investigated the distribution and successional dynamics of oak in this region.

The use of silvicultural treatments in hardwood stands presents opportunities for increasing the growth and yield of quality sawtimber and enhancing the suitability of the site for use by numerous species of wildlife. Planners, loggers, and managers must consider multiple aspects of the ecosystem when making silvicultural decisions. In this paper we demonstrate an integrated expert system called FOREX and explain how it can be used to make silvicultural decisions that integrate potential growth and yield, logging technology, economics, wildlife, markets, log prices, and the time value of...

The United States' 1993 Climate Change Action Plan called upon the forestry sector to sequester an additional 10 million metric tons/yr by the year 2000. Forests are currently sequestering carbon and may provide opportunities to mitigate fossil fuel emissions in the near-term until fossil fuel emissions can be reduced. Using the analysis of carbon budgets based on forest inventories, we analyze the impact of forest management activities on carbon storage at the state and national level.

Three current issues serve as examples to convey the role of genetics in management. (1) Consequences of silvicultural systems on the genetic resource of tree species are limited to one generation of study and isozyme (qualitative) data. Results of simulated data for diameter (quantitative data) over several generations, illustrate the pitfalls of working towards balanced uneven-aged silvicultural systems in northern red oak, under natural regeneration constraints and existing management direction. (2) Comparisons of section boundaries within an ecological classification system and...

Successful communication of old-growth management, including the role of silviculture, is achieved by integrating as a working whole the topics addressed in this workshop. We have used research, technology transfer and adaptive management to achieve this integration on the Allegheny National Forest. Program success depends on scientists and practitioners working together. Scientists spend more time in joint technology transfer activities and helping practitioners implement operational-level trials of new silviculture, including co-development of inventory and monitoring plans. Practitioners...

When policymakers choose to reduce the amount of wood harvested on National Forest lands, the demand for wood products must be met by reducing consumption, increasing recycling, substituting nonrenewable resources, or importing more wood. Reducing the amount consumed and increasing the amount recycled will not significantly impact global demand, and both substitution of nonrenewable resources and increased importation of wood products have negative consequences. Establishing high-yield plantations of genetically improved trees grown using intensive silviculture on federal lands may allow...

In our day-to-day struggles, we must keep our eyes on what is going on. The bottomline questions are, will we be harvesting timber 10 years from now, or will the Forest Service as an agency even exist 10 years from now? The author is not optimistic, but still holds some hope. That hope is in silviculturists and others who are willing to step forward and speak out.

As the advancing front of the gypsy moth continues its spread throughout Ohio, silviculturists on the Wayne National Forest are preparing themselves for potential gypsy moth outbreaks in the coming decade. Through a cooperative effort between the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station and Northeastern Area, Forest Health Protection, the Wayne National Forest, Ohio, is utilizing computer models to identify high-risk stands and evaluate the predicted outcome of several management options.