Is forest fragmentation driven by the spatial configuration of land quality? The case of western Oregon.

Ralph Alig; David J. Lewis; Jennifer J. Swenson

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2005.06.007

Treesearch

Is forest fragmentation driven by the spatial configuration of land quality? The case of western Oregon.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Ralph Alig, David J. Lewis, Jennifer J. Swenson

Year:

2005

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.06.007

Source:

Forest Ecology and Management 217: 266-274

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Abstract

We investigated spatial configuration of economic returns, to enhance models of forest fragmentation for western Oregon and western Washington. Drawing from spatial land rent theory, economic drivers of forest fragmentation at the landscape level include land quality comprised of attributes such as soil fertility or the distance of urban plots to amenities. We included the spatial configuration of land quality as independent variables in regressions for western Oregon. Results indicate that land quality fragmentation is a significant determinant of forest fragmentation. This holds both for a model using a forest fragmentation index composed of three fragmentation metrics, and separate models for each component or metric: percent non-forest, percent edge, and interspersion.

Keywords

Fragmentation, land quality, land rent, spatial configuration

Citation

Alig, Ralph J.; Lewis, David J.; Swenson, Jennifer J. 2005. Is forest fragmentation driven by the spatial configuration of land quality? The case of western Oregon. Forest Ecology and Management 217: 266-274