Treesearch

An assessment of the vegetation resources of southwest Alaska was made by using an inventory design developed by the Pacific Northwest Research Station. Satellite imagery (LANDSAT MSS), high-altitude aerial photography, and ground sampling were the major components of the design. Estimates of area for all land cover classes in the southwest region were produced. Additionally, more intensive sampling provided data for estimation of timber resources in the forest land component. Field data collection was conducted from 1991 to 1994, and data compilation progressed through 1995.

There are 234 fungal species listed in the record of decision (ROD) for amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management planning documents within the range of the northern spotted owl. There are four strategies to established guidelines for the survey and management of various organisms, including amphibians, mammals, bryophytes, mollusks, vascular plants, lichens, arthropods, and fungi. Strategy 1 (S1) entailed compiling all known distribution and ecological information on 147 fungus species. Other strategies convey protection or encourage the collecting of additional geographic...

Declines in timber harvests on public lands and new market opportunities have rekindled an interest in nontimber forest products. Such products as edible mushrooms, medicinal plants, and floral and holiday greens provide alternative sources of revenue and employment for rural communities. This paper describes and analyzes the contribution of the nontimber forest product industries in the Pacific Northwest from economic, social, and ecological perspectives. We conclude that promises of replacement for declining timber harvests has been largely unfulfilled: the nontimber forest product...

Stream temperatures were measured during summer months, 1978 to 1984, at 12 forested watersheds near John Day, Oregon, to determine temperature characteristics and assess effects of three range management strategies of increasing intensity. Maximum temperatures in streams of the 12 watersheds ranged from 12.5 to 27.8 oC. Maximum stream temperatures on four watersheds exceeded 24 oC, the recommended short-term maximum for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha ). Streams with greater than 75 percent stream shade maintained acceptable stream temperatures for...

This paper describes the process used to conduct the 16 risk assessment panels and a subsistence working group held during revision of the Tongass land management plan. It provides an overview of how results from the panels were used by forest managers in plan-related decisionmaking, discusses some reactions to the effort, and identifies some opportunities to improve the process. The panel results provided estimates of the relative risk that implementation of a range of alternative approaches to management of the Tongass National Forest would pose to the continued persistence across the...

Method is described for assessing the competing demands for forest resources in a forest management plan by addressing economics values, economic impacts, and perceptions of fairness around each demand. Economics trends and forces that shape the dynamic ecosystem-economy relation are developed. The method is demonstrated through an illustrative analysis of a forest-management decision in the southern Appalachian Mountains.

Probability sampling methods applicable to estimate recreational use are presented. Both single- and multiple-access recreation sites are considered. One- and two-stage sampling methods are presented. Estimation of recreational use is presented in a series of examples.

Local (county) variations in key social and economic indicators are important in Oregon and Washington. Covered employment, wage and salary, unemployment, and population data for 1987 through 1997 showed regional trends in these indicators, which are compared with national trends. Future updates will be published in the “Production, Prices, Employment, and Trade in Northwest Forest Industries” series from the Pacific Northwest Research Station.

Decreased root biomass in forest trees in response to anthropogenic pollutants is believed to be one of the first steps in forest health degradation. Although decreased root biomass has been observed in controlled experiments, ozone eff€ects on mature tree roots in natural stands has not previously been documented. Here we report standing root biomass of ponderosa pine at three sites in the San Bernardino Mountains distributed along a known, long-term pollution gradient of ozone and nitrogen deposition. Trees at each site were assessed for foliar ozone injury and below-ground attributes,...

As part of the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project, 198 small communities were assessed for their ability to deal with change and the characteristics that contribute to this ability. Scientists conducted on-the-ground studies and had communities assess themselves.The data revealed complex differences, patterns, and underlying relationships. Large populations and diverse economies contributed to resiliency. Other crucial factors include civic leadership, how well communities work together toward common goals, and the presence of amenities (the attractiveness of both the...