Treesearch

In order to compare families that are planted on different sites, many forest tree breeding programs include common families in their different series of trials. Computer simulation was used to examine how many common families were needed in each series of progeny trials in order to reliably compare families across series. Average gain and its associated variation stabilized after the addition of four to six common families.

Shifting patterns of land use in the United States are associated with many of today's environmental concerns. Land-use shifts occur because of relative changes in land rents, which are determined in part by financial returns in commodity markets. In recent decades, more than 3 million ac shifted annually in or out of US forest use. Cross amounts of land-use change are an order of magnitude larger than net changes. Between 1982 and 1997, a net amount of 3.6 million ac was added to the US nonfederal forest land base. Area of developed uses is projected to increase by about 70 million ac by...

The retention of trees in harvest units is an integral part of forest management practices on federal lands in the northwestern United States (U.S.), yet the ecological benefits that result from various levels or patterns of retained trees remain speculative. Large scale and long term silviculture experiments are needed to evaluate the effects of alternative forest management strategies on biological diversity, yet they are rarely undertaken due to the substantial commitments of time and resources required. The Demonstration of Ecosystem Management Options (DEMO) study was initiated by...

The intuitive explanation for why an economy grows or develops often involves the ways in which land (resources), labor, and capital interact. Here we review the literature for what is known about the different pathways for economic growth and development in resource-abundant regions. We discuss the effectiveness of the forest products industry as a determinant of economic development and how comparative advantages of different forest goods and services have changed. Much of our discussion is based on southeast Alaska where the development of a forest products industry was seen as offering...

Estimates of crown fire hazard are presented for existing forest conditions in Montana by density class, structural class, forest type, and landownership. Three hazard reduction treatments were evaluated for their effectiveness in treating historically fire-adapted forests (ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), dry mixed conifer) that rate high/moderate for fire hazard. Comprehensive restoration treatments that address density, structure, and species composition of high-hazard forests are significantly more effective at...

This paper reviews literature on the influence of nonmarket amenity resources on population migration. Literature reviewed includes migration and demographic studies; urban and regional economics studies of amenities in labor markets, retirement migration, and firm location decisions; nonmarket valuation studies using hedonic price analysis of amenity resource values; land use change studies; and studies of the economic development influence of forest preservation. A synthesis of the literature finds that the influence of amenities is consistently shown to be a positive factor contributing...

The Maybeso Experimental Forest is in southeast Alaska within the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States and home to the Northern Hemi-sphere's largest temperate rain forest. Located about 42 miles west of Ketchikan, Alaska, it is on Prince of Wales Island, the largest island of the Alexander Archipelago and the third largest island in the United States. The Maybeso watershed, near Hollis, was chosen in 1956 as an experimental forest to investigate the effects of timber harvesting on salmon streams, forest regeneration, and tree growth because it was a...

This report is a summary of timber resource statistics for western Oregon, which includes Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Counties. Data were collected as part of a statewide multiresource inventory. The inventory sampled all private and public lands except those administered by the National Forest System and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The National Forest System and BLM provided data from regional inventories. Area information for parks and...

Contemporary wood utilization research needs in the Western United States are examined in this problem analysis. Key focal areas include: A. Changes in forest management actions and policies affect forest conditions and people, which in turn affect wood quality and wood utilization opportunities. B. Effects of natural disturbances (e.g., wildfire, insect outbreaks) on wood quality, wood utilization, and people are poorly understood. C. Regional differences throughout the Western States are poorly understood in the context of wood utilization. D. Technical assistance and feasibility...

Massive wildfires in recent years have given urgency to questions of how to reduce fire hazard in Western forests, how to finance the work, and how to use the wood, especially in forests crowded with small trees. Scientists have already developed tools that estimate fire hazard in a forest stand. But hazard is more difficult to estimate at a landscape scale, involving concepts from forestry, fire science, economics, ecology, and geography. Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) BioSum is a tool that integrates these concepts and connects existing computer models. People use it to analyze the...