Treesearch

Forest Landscape Models (FLMs) project responses to different climate, disturbance, and management scenarios and can inform decision-making that shapes ecosystems. However, use of FLM outputs by decision makers can be hampered by a lack of transparency and credibility in the calibration of modeled processes. Landscape modelers typically use fine-scaled (i.e., plot- or stand-level) information to calibrate the growth functions central to FLMs, but methods vary widely and are often poorly documented. We suggest best practices for calibration and assessment of tree growth in FLMs adapted from...

Urban tree canopy (UTC) cover is rarely distributed equitably across social groups, space, and time. Over the past 20 years, research on the social, spatial, and temporal dynamics of UTC has grown considerably as municipalities adopt ambitious tree canopy cover goals. Yet less is known about how these three dimensions of tree canopy intersect. This paper brings these research areas together by examining i) which sets of social variables—population density, socioeconomic status, or lifestyle—are associated with UTC cover on residential lands, ii) how those relationships vary from front to...

Forest operations, including timber harvest, are an important component of managing forests. Operations are often planned or designed around anticipated weather based on past climate conditions. Climate change is altering current weather patterns and may complicate forest operations. With consideration of current climate in planning and practices, foresters, loggers, landowners, and land managers can continue efficient and sustainable forest operations. Adapting to climate change can begin with gathering relevant information, evaluating risks, and creating plans that reduce risk. It can...

Oak dieback disease caused by the fungus Paecilomyces formosus threatens oak trees in the Zagros forests in western Iran. Various insects, such as wood-infesting beetles (Coleoptera), may play a role in dissemination of P. formosus. We collected larvae and adult insects from branch wood of oak trees with dieback symptoms in the Zagros forests. For larval identification, the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COXI) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fungal isolates from wood and insects collected from the sampled oaks were identified by morphology, acid production on...

Understanding government experience with hazard buyouts can enhance future efforts. We conducted a study of state and local government perspectives about buyouts after Hurricane Sandy in the New York area, including three jurisdictions that participated in buyouts and two that did not. Respondents differentiated outcomes for buyout participants, which they saw as financially beneficial, and outcomes for residents remaining, including limited open space and risk reduction benefits. The perceived benefits and drawbacks of buyouts were dependent on site and local government characteristics....

This document provides descriptions and definitions to help users interpret and understand key concepts presented on the Climate Change Atlas website. Information is intended to support users in exploring and using the data and model outputs in the Climate Change Atlas. As users progress through this document, information builds upon previous concepts with exercises and examples. The guide concludes with a more in-depth description of the scientific methods used to model species habitat suitability, migration potential, and adaptability scores. This document will serve as an archive of...

A 2017 analysis of the urban forest in San Diego, California, reveals that this area has an estimated 4.9 million live trees across all ownerships. The most common tree species by number are Chinese banyan, arroyo willow, Japanese cheesewood, Aleppo pine, and pygmy date palm. Trees in San Diego are estimated to store about 289,000 tons of carbon (1.1 million tons of carbon dioxide [CO2]) valued at $49.3 million. In addition, it is estimated that these trees remove about 34,600 tons of carbon per year (or 127,000 tons CO2 per year, valued at $5.9 million per year, an amount roughly equivalen...

The National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS) is conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis program, to collect information on the attitudes, behaviors, and other characteristics of America's private forest ownerships. This report provides documentation and results from the 2017 to 2018 iteration of the NWOS, which is referenced by the terminal year, 2018. The term "corporate ownerships" collectively refers to large corporate ownerships, which are companies owning 45,000+ acres of forest land, and small corporate ownerships, which include...

The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service conducts the national forest inventory of the United States. Although FIA assembles a myriad of forest resource information, many analyses rely on the fundamental attributes of tree volume, biomass, and carbon content. Due to the chronological development of the FIA Program, numerous models and methods are currently used across the country, contingent upon the tree species and geographic location. Thus, an effort to develop nationally consistent methods for prediction of tree volume,...

Constructed soils are soils that are created with a mixture of various materials. An innovative soil exchange program - the Clean Soil Bank (CSB) in New York City allows recycling of clean glacial outwash sediments excavated from depth at construction sites. One previous study showed that soils constructed from CSB sediment and compost can effectively support crop growth in community gardens, but no research has been conducted on its potential usage as a medium for tree growth. Moreover, biochar has been used to improve soil quality, but its efficacy for street trees incorporated into...