Treesearch

Background. Media wildfire coverage can shape public knowledge on fire-related issues, and potentially influence management decisions, so understanding the content of its coverage is important. Previous research examining media wildfire coverage has primarily focused on either a single fire or issue, and provides little insight about the range of wildfire-related topics discussed in the media. Aims. We aimed to assess wildfire topics covered in print media between 1986 and 2016 across the USA, Canada and Australia. Methods. Machine learning-based automated content analyses were conducted...

Estimating forest aboveground biomass (AGB) at large scales and fine spatial resolutions has become increasingly important for greenhouse gas accounting, monitoring, and verification efforts to mitigate climate change. Airborne LiDAR is highly valuable for modeling attributes of forest structure including AGB, yet most LiDAR collections take place at local or regional scales covering irregular, non-contiguous footprints, resulting in a patchwork of different landscape segments at various points in time. Here, as part of a statewide forest carbon assessment for New York State (USA), we...

The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the Forest Service, an Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides what is arguably the most valuable forest resource dataset in the United States. These data are the basis for numerous inquiries across a wide range of forest-related attributes at various spatial and temporal scales. While user-friendly analytical tools are publicly available to facilitate the use of the data without expert knowledge, there is a need for detailed documentation of the underlying sampling and estimation procedures. The audience for this information...

Tree-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) comprises a significant carbon flux within forested watersheds. Few studies have assessed the optical properties of tree-derived DOM. To increase understanding of the factors controlling tree-derived DOM quality, we measured DOM optical properties, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and calcium concentrations in throughfall and stemflow for 17 individual rain events during summer and fall in a temperate deciduous forest in Vermont, United States. DOC and calcium fluxes in throughfall and stemflow were enriched on average 4 to 70 times incident fluxes...

Beaver-related restoration (BRR) has gained popularity as a means of improving stream ecosystems, but the effects are not fully understood. Studies of dissolved oxygen (DO) and water temperature, key water quality metrics for salmonids, have demonstrated improved conditions in some cases, but warming and decreased DO have been more commonly reported in meta-analyses. These results point to the contingencies that can influence outcomes from BRR. We examined water quality related to beaver ponds in a diverse coastal watershed (Umpqua River Basin, OR, USA). We monitored water temperature...

In August, the Federal Reserve Board of Governor’s focus for a "housing reset" was in full force. Month-over-month data continued a negative movement in many data categories. Year-over-year data were similar. Single-family permits decreased again, which foreshadows further moderation in single-family activity in the forthcoming months. The impact of increasing borrowing costs, slow income growth, and still-elevated house prices have resulted in a major obstacle for new and existing house sales. The number of potential buyers is dwindling quickly, and first-time buyers also are being...

The non-timber forest product paradox is alive and well: while these products are part of the lives and livelihoods of billions of people across the globe, there is little product information available, and they continue to be overlooked in global and national statistics, forest policies and interventions. This chapter argues that non-timber forest products are a key to unlocking the bioeconomy, moving from a narrow subject focus on biotechnology and a narrow geographical focus on Western Europe to embracing new ways of thinking about a forest-based bioeconomy. Such reorientation is an...

Almost one-third of the world’s nations are taking action to transit to a bioeconomy. Most strategies focus on eliminating fossil fuel dependence by improving the use of forest biomass. While important, this draws attention away from the billions of people worldwide directly consuming or selling non-timber forest products (NTFPs), providing other opportunities for transiting to a bioeconomy. We contend an urgent need to move beyond thinking of the bioeconomy as a tool primarily to reduce the use of petrochemicals to include common daily uses of sustainably sourced natural resources. This...

Assimilating non-timber forest products (NTFPs) into forest management is needed for efficient forest-based bioeconomies. In transitioning from classical linear economic and industrial models to a progressive bioeconomy, forest resources will be central in providing a range of products. More than ever, attention is focused on increasing and improving forest productivity while addressing tensions between potentially conflicting objectives. In this context, integration of NTFPs requires consideration of compatibilities and trade-offs between forest managements goals, and appropriate actions...

Different models as well as planting prioritization and optimization schemes based upon diverse ecological, social, and economic goals and preferences have been used to develop more efficient and effective tree planting schemes. We compare tree planting prioritization scenarios identified from i-Tree Landscape's priority planting index to optimal scenarios identified from a spatially explicit multi-objective decision support framework at the census block group level in the Bronx, NY. We explore four scenarios with varying objectives considering populations below the poverty line, avoided...