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• 11. [Article] Integrating Liana Abundance and Forest Stature into an Estimate of Total Aboveground Biomass for an Eastern Amazonian Forest

  This study provides an estimate of aboveground live biomass for an intact eastern Amazonian forest. An allometric regression biomass equation was developed to estimate the aboveground biomass of live lianas. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Integrating Liana Abundance and Forest Stature into an Estimate of Total Aboveground Biomass for an Eastern Amazonian Forest Author: Gerwing, Jeffrey J., Lopes Farias, Damiao Year: 2000 This study provides an estimate of aboveground live biomass for an intact eastern Amazonian forest. An allometric regression biomass equation was developed to estimate the aboveground biomass of live lianas. This equation, together with a previously published equation for trees, was then used to estimate the contributions of lianas and trees to the total biomass of forest patches in four stature classes: gap (openings in the canopy of at least 25 m2 with the dominant vegetation < 3 m high), low (3±15 m canopy height), medium (15±25 m canopy height), and high (> 25 m canopy height). Total stand-level biomass was estimated as the weighted average of the stature classes. In 130 ha of surveyed forest, forest stature classes were found in the following proportions: gap phase 8%; low stature 31%; medium stature 44%; and high stature 17%. Total aboveground biomass was found to be three times higher in high stature forest than in low. Liana biomass, however, showed the opposite result, being three times higher in low stature forest. Stand-level aboveground live biomass was estimated at 314 t ha-1 of which 43 t ha-1 (14%) was lianas. Liana leaf area index (LAI) ranged from 1.3 m m-2 in high stature forest to 5.3 m m-2 in low stature. Abundant lianas are generally interpreted as a sign of past forest disturbance. As forests throughout the Amazon basin are increasingly disturbed through human activities, it is likely that their biomass will be underestimated if the contribution of lianas is ignored. Title: Integrating Liana Abundance and Forest Stature into an Estimate of Total Aboveground Biomass for an Eastern Amazonian Forest Author: Gerwing, Jeffrey J., Lopes Farias, Damiao Year: 2000 This study provides an estimate of aboveground live biomass for an intact eastern Amazonian forest. An allometric regression biomass equation was developed to estimate the aboveground biomass of live lianas. This equation, together with a previously published equation for trees, was then used to estimate the contributions of lianas and trees to the total biomass of forest patches in four stature classes: gap (openings in the canopy of at least 25 m2 with the dominant vegetation < 3 m high), low (3±15 m canopy height), medium (15±25 m canopy height), and high (> 25 m canopy height). Total stand-level biomass was estimated as the weighted average of the stature classes. In 130 ha of surveyed forest, forest stature classes were found in the following proportions: gap phase 8%; low stature 31%; medium stature 44%; and high stature 17%. Total aboveground biomass was found to be three times higher in high stature forest than in low. Liana biomass, however, showed the opposite result, being three times higher in low stature forest. Stand-level aboveground live biomass was estimated at 314 t ha-1 of which 43 t ha-1 (14%) was lianas. Liana leaf area index (LAI) ranged from 1.3 m m-2 in high stature forest to 5.3 m m-2 in low stature. Abundant lianas are generally interpreted as a sign of past forest disturbance. As forests throughout the Amazon basin are increasingly disturbed through human activities, it is likely that their biomass will be underestimated if the contribution of lianas is ignored. Close

• 12. [Article] Evaluating the Success of Forest Restoration

  Forest restoration projects are occurring throughout the world. Restoration projects can vary greatly depending on the type of forest and the type of stressors that have caused ecosystem degradation and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Evaluating the Success of Forest Restoration Author: Adams, Josh Year: 2015 Forest restoration projects are occurring throughout the world. Restoration projects can vary greatly depending on the type of forest and the type of stressors that have caused ecosystem degradation and the need for restoration. Because of this variability, and because objective criteria for determining the success of restoration projects are lacking, it is difficult to evaluate the overall success of forest restoration projects. Using ecological standards developed for river restoration as a model, a similar set of standards was applied to forest restoration projects. The standards put forward can be used to evaluate the success of ecosystem restoration universally through the use of site-specific indicators of ecological success. This analysis found that many but not all of the criteria are being used to evaluate forest restoration success. Furthermore, the ecological health of the restored ecosystem is not always prioritized, as socioeconomic values are occasionally favored. Thus, it is important for a set of evaluation criteria primarily related to ecological health to be readily accepted by forest restoration practitioners. Title: Evaluating the Success of Forest Restoration Author: Adams, Josh Year: 2015 Forest restoration projects are occurring throughout the world. Restoration projects can vary greatly depending on the type of forest and the type of stressors that have caused ecosystem degradation and the need for restoration. Because of this variability, and because objective criteria for determining the success of restoration projects are lacking, it is difficult to evaluate the overall success of forest restoration projects. Using ecological standards developed for river restoration as a model, a similar set of standards was applied to forest restoration projects. The standards put forward can be used to evaluate the success of ecosystem restoration universally through the use of site-specific indicators of ecological success. This analysis found that many but not all of the criteria are being used to evaluate forest restoration success. Furthermore, the ecological health of the restored ecosystem is not always prioritized, as socioeconomic values are occasionally favored. Thus, it is important for a set of evaluation criteria primarily related to ecological health to be readily accepted by forest restoration practitioners. Close

• 13. [Article] Urban Forest Justice and the Rights to Wild Foods, Medicines, and Materials in the City

  Urban forests are multifunctional socio-ecological landscapes, yet some of their social benefits remain poorly understood. This paper draws on ethnographic evidence from Seattle, Washington to demonstrate ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Urban Forest Justice and the Rights to Wild Foods, Medicines, and Materials in the City Author: Poe, Melissa R., McLain, Rebecca J., Emery, Marla R., Hurley, Patrick T. Year: 2013 Urban forests are multifunctional socio-ecological landscapes, yet some of their social benefits remain poorly understood. This paper draws on ethnographic evidence from Seattle, Washington to demonstrate that urban forests contain nontimber forest products that contribute a variety of wild foods, medicines, and materials for the wellbeing of urban residents. We show that gathering wild plants and fungi in urban forests is a persistent subsistence and livelihood practice that provides sociocultural and material benefits to city residents, and creates opportunities for connecting with nature and enhancing social ties. We suggest that an orientation toward human-nature interactions in cities that conceptualizes the gathering of forest products as a legitimate social benefit may support and expand urban forest justice. Urban forest justice recognizes the rights of local people to have control over their own culturally appropriate wild food and health systems, including access to natural resources and to the decision-making processes affecting them. Title: Urban Forest Justice and the Rights to Wild Foods, Medicines, and Materials in the City Author: Poe, Melissa R., McLain, Rebecca J., Emery, Marla R., Hurley, Patrick T. Year: 2013 Urban forests are multifunctional socio-ecological landscapes, yet some of their social benefits remain poorly understood. This paper draws on ethnographic evidence from Seattle, Washington to demonstrate that urban forests contain nontimber forest products that contribute a variety of wild foods, medicines, and materials for the wellbeing of urban residents. We show that gathering wild plants and fungi in urban forests is a persistent subsistence and livelihood practice that provides sociocultural and material benefits to city residents, and creates opportunities for connecting with nature and enhancing social ties. We suggest that an orientation toward human-nature interactions in cities that conceptualizes the gathering of forest products as a legitimate social benefit may support and expand urban forest justice. Urban forest justice recognizes the rights of local people to have control over their own culturally appropriate wild food and health systems, including access to natural resources and to the decision-making processes affecting them. Close

• 14. [Article] Reducing Waste During Logging and Log Processing: Forest Conservation in Eastern Amazonia

  This article describes the waste associated with logging and log processing in eastern Amazonia and suggests methods for reducing both waste and forest damage as a result of logging.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Reducing Waste During Logging and Log Processing: Forest Conservation in Eastern Amazonia Author: Gerwing, Jeffrey J., Johns, Jennifer S., Vidal, Edson Year: 1996 This article describes the waste associated with logging and log processing in eastern Amazonia and suggests methods for reducing both waste and forest damage as a result of logging. Title: Reducing Waste During Logging and Log Processing: Forest Conservation in Eastern Amazonia Author: Gerwing, Jeffrey J., Johns, Jennifer S., Vidal, Edson Year: 1996 This article describes the waste associated with logging and log processing in eastern Amazonia and suggests methods for reducing both waste and forest damage as a result of logging. Close

• 15. [Article] Understory Species Patterns and Diversity in Old-Growth and Managed Northern Hardwood Forests

  Forest management can significantly affect both the diversity and spatial patterning of understory vegetation. However, few studies have considered both diversity and spatial patterning at a stand scale. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Understory Species Patterns and Diversity in Old-Growth and Managed Northern Hardwood Forests Author: Scheller, Robert M., Mladenoff, David J. Year: 2002 Forest management can significantly affect both the diversity and spatial patterning of understory vegetation. However, few studies have considered both diversity and spatial patterning at a stand scale. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of forest management on understory plant communities in northern hardwood forests and assess the processes governing differences in species composition, diversity, and spatial patterns. We sampled understory vegetation (all speciestall) and percentage of light transmission levels in three forest types in 12 mesic northern hardwood stands in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA: old-growth, undisturbed forests; even-aged forests resulting from clearcut logging (65–85 yr old); and uneven-aged forests with recent selective logging. Estimated understory species richness per stand, mean species richness per quadrat, and mean percent cover per quadrat were lower in old-growth forest than in even-aged, second-growth forests and lower in even-aged than in uneven-aged, second-growth forests. Differences in species composition among the three forest types were related to available light and to coarse woody debris; however, differences between the cover of most plant groups were not significant. The mean patch size of species diversity and cover is highly variable and could not be related to forest stand type. However, understory communities in old-growth forests have significantly smaller community patch sizes and larger compositional heterogeneity. Community patch size is correlated with both coarse woody debris and light heterogeneity. Each forest stand type produces a characteristic combination of understory composition, diversity, and spatial patterning of communities. Although harvesting has negligible effects on understory alpha diversity in these mesic hardwood forests, spatial structure is slower to recover and has not recovered in the even- and uneven-aged northern hardwood forests studied. If management objectives include preserving or restoring the ecological character of the forest, harvesting may need to be altered or delayed predicated on the character of the understory. Title: Understory Species Patterns and Diversity in Old-Growth and Managed Northern Hardwood Forests Author: Scheller, Robert M., Mladenoff, David J. Year: 2002 Forest management can significantly affect both the diversity and spatial patterning of understory vegetation. However, few studies have considered both diversity and spatial patterning at a stand scale. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of forest management on understory plant communities in northern hardwood forests and assess the processes governing differences in species composition, diversity, and spatial patterns. We sampled understory vegetation (all speciestall) and percentage of light transmission levels in three forest types in 12 mesic northern hardwood stands in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA: old-growth, undisturbed forests; even-aged forests resulting from clearcut logging (65–85 yr old); and uneven-aged forests with recent selective logging. Estimated understory species richness per stand, mean species richness per quadrat, and mean percent cover per quadrat were lower in old-growth forest than in even-aged, second-growth forests and lower in even-aged than in uneven-aged, second-growth forests. Differences in species composition among the three forest types were related to available light and to coarse woody debris; however, differences between the cover of most plant groups were not significant. The mean patch size of species diversity and cover is highly variable and could not be related to forest stand type. However, understory communities in old-growth forests have significantly smaller community patch sizes and larger compositional heterogeneity. Community patch size is correlated with both coarse woody debris and light heterogeneity. Each forest stand type produces a characteristic combination of understory composition, diversity, and spatial patterning of communities. Although harvesting has negligible effects on understory alpha diversity in these mesic hardwood forests, spatial structure is slower to recover and has not recovered in the even- and uneven-aged northern hardwood forests studied. If management objectives include preserving or restoring the ecological character of the forest, harvesting may need to be altered or delayed predicated on the character of the understory. Close

• 16. [Article] Forest Management Scenarios in a Changing Climate: Trade-Offs Between Carbon, Timber, and Old Forest

  Balancing economic, ecological, and social values has long been a challenge in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, where conflict over timber harvest and old-growth habitat on public lands has been contentious ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Forest Management Scenarios in a Changing Climate: Trade-Offs Between Carbon, Timber, and Old Forest Author: Scheller, Robert M., Creutzburg, Megan K., Lucash, Melissa S., LeDuc, Stephen D., Johnson, Mark G. Year: 2017 Balancing economic, ecological, and social values has long been a challenge in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, where conflict over timber harvest and old-growth habitat on public lands has been contentious for the past several decades. The Northwest Forest Plan, adopted two decades ago to guide management on federal lands, is currently being revised as the region searches for a balance between sustainable timber yields and habitat for sensitive species. In addition, climate change imposes a high degree of uncertainty on future forest productivity, sustainability of timber harvest, wildfire risk, and species habitat. We evaluated the long-term, landscape-scale trade-offs among carbon (C) storage, timber yield, and old forest habitat given projected climate change and shifts in forest management policy across 2.1 million hectares of forests in the Oregon Coast Range. Projections highlight the divergence between private and public lands under business-as-usual forest management, where private industrial forests are heavily harvested and many public (especially federal) lands increase C and old forest over time but provide little timber. Three alternative management scenarios altering the amount and type of timber harvest show widely varying levels of ecosystem C and old-forest habitat. On federal lands, ecological forestry practices also allowed a simultaneous increase in old forest and natural early-seral habitat. The ecosystem C implications of shifts away from current practices were large, with current practices retaining up to 105 Tg more C than the alternative scenarios by the end of the century. Our results suggest climate change is likely to increase forest productivity by 30–41% and total ecosystem C storage by 11–15% over the next century as warmer winter temperatures allow greater forest productivity in cooler months. These gains in C storage are unlikely to be offset by wildfire under climate change, due to the legacy of management and effective fire suppression. Our scenarios of future conditions can inform policy makers, land managers, and the public about the potential effects of land management alternatives, climate change, and the trade-offs that are inherent to management and policy in the region. Title: Forest Management Scenarios in a Changing Climate: Trade-Offs Between Carbon, Timber, and Old Forest Author: Scheller, Robert M., Creutzburg, Megan K., Lucash, Melissa S., LeDuc, Stephen D., Johnson, Mark G. Year: 2017 Balancing economic, ecological, and social values has long been a challenge in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, where conflict over timber harvest and old-growth habitat on public lands has been contentious for the past several decades. The Northwest Forest Plan, adopted two decades ago to guide management on federal lands, is currently being revised as the region searches for a balance between sustainable timber yields and habitat for sensitive species. In addition, climate change imposes a high degree of uncertainty on future forest productivity, sustainability of timber harvest, wildfire risk, and species habitat. We evaluated the long-term, landscape-scale trade-offs among carbon (C) storage, timber yield, and old forest habitat given projected climate change and shifts in forest management policy across 2.1 million hectares of forests in the Oregon Coast Range. Projections highlight the divergence between private and public lands under business-as-usual forest management, where private industrial forests are heavily harvested and many public (especially federal) lands increase C and old forest over time but provide little timber. Three alternative management scenarios altering the amount and type of timber harvest show widely varying levels of ecosystem C and old-forest habitat. On federal lands, ecological forestry practices also allowed a simultaneous increase in old forest and natural early-seral habitat. The ecosystem C implications of shifts away from current practices were large, with current practices retaining up to 105 Tg more C than the alternative scenarios by the end of the century. Our results suggest climate change is likely to increase forest productivity by 30–41% and total ecosystem C storage by 11–15% over the next century as warmer winter temperatures allow greater forest productivity in cooler months. These gains in C storage are unlikely to be offset by wildfire under climate change, due to the legacy of management and effective fire suppression. Our scenarios of future conditions can inform policy makers, land managers, and the public about the potential effects of land management alternatives, climate change, and the trade-offs that are inherent to management and policy in the region. Close

• 17. [Article] Forest Restoration in a Mixed-Ownership Landscape under Climate Change

  The article presents a study regarding forest management associated with climate change. It mentions that preservation endeavors and restoration schemes should diminish current threats like unsuited forest ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Forest Restoration in a Mixed-Ownership Landscape under Climate Change Author: Ravenscroft, Catherine, Scheller, Robert M., Mladenoff, David J., White, Mark A. Year: 2010 The article presents a study regarding forest management associated with climate change. It mentions that preservation endeavors and restoration schemes should diminish current threats like unsuited forest management and development while integrating possible effects of climate change. It also stresses that an adaptive approach to management can be the most efficient strategy of forest restoration given the doubts of climate change impacts. Title: Forest Restoration in a Mixed-Ownership Landscape under Climate Change Author: Ravenscroft, Catherine, Scheller, Robert M., Mladenoff, David J., White, Mark A. Year: 2010 The article presents a study regarding forest management associated with climate change. It mentions that preservation endeavors and restoration schemes should diminish current threats like unsuited forest management and development while integrating possible effects of climate change. It also stresses that an adaptive approach to management can be the most efficient strategy of forest restoration given the doubts of climate change impacts. Close

• 18. [Article] Carbon Sequestration in Managed Temperate Coniferous Forests Under Climate Change

  Management of temperate forests has the potential to increase carbon sinks and mitigate climate change. However, those opportunities may be confounded by negative climate change impacts. We therefore need ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Carbon Sequestration in Managed Temperate Coniferous Forests Under Climate Change Author: Dymond, Caren C., Beukema, Sarah, Nitschke, Craig R., Coates, K. David, Scheller, Robert M. Year: 2016 Management of temperate forests has the potential to increase carbon sinks and mitigate climate change. However, those opportunities may be confounded by negative climate change impacts. We therefore need a better understanding of climate change alterations to temperate forest carbon dynamics before developing mitigation strategies. The purpose of this project was to investigate the interactions of species composition, fire, management, and climate change in the Copper–Pine Creek valley, a temperate coniferous forest with a wide range of growing conditions. To do so, we used the LANDIS-II modelling framework including the new Forest Carbon Succession extension to simulate forest ecosystems under four different productivity scenarios, with and without climate change effects, until 2050. Significantly, the new extension allowed us to calculate the net sector productivity, a carbon accounting metric that integrates aboveground and belowground carbon dynamics, disturbances, and the eventual fate of forest products. The model output was validated against literature values. The results implied that the species optimum growing conditions relative to current and future conditions strongly influenced future carbon dynamics. Warmer growing conditions led to increased carbon sinks and storage in the colder and wetter ecoregions but not necessarily in the others. Climate change impacts varied among species and site conditions, and this indicates that both of these components need to be taken into account when considering climate change mitigation activities and adaptive management. The introduction of a new carbon indicator, net sector productivity, promises to be useful in assessing management effectiveness and mitigation activities. Title: Carbon Sequestration in Managed Temperate Coniferous Forests Under Climate Change Author: Dymond, Caren C., Beukema, Sarah, Nitschke, Craig R., Coates, K. David, Scheller, Robert M. Year: 2016 Management of temperate forests has the potential to increase carbon sinks and mitigate climate change. However, those opportunities may be confounded by negative climate change impacts. We therefore need a better understanding of climate change alterations to temperate forest carbon dynamics before developing mitigation strategies. The purpose of this project was to investigate the interactions of species composition, fire, management, and climate change in the Copper–Pine Creek valley, a temperate coniferous forest with a wide range of growing conditions. To do so, we used the LANDIS-II modelling framework including the new Forest Carbon Succession extension to simulate forest ecosystems under four different productivity scenarios, with and without climate change effects, until 2050. Significantly, the new extension allowed us to calculate the net sector productivity, a carbon accounting metric that integrates aboveground and belowground carbon dynamics, disturbances, and the eventual fate of forest products. The model output was validated against literature values. The results implied that the species optimum growing conditions relative to current and future conditions strongly influenced future carbon dynamics. Warmer growing conditions led to increased carbon sinks and storage in the colder and wetter ecoregions but not necessarily in the others. Climate change impacts varied among species and site conditions, and this indicates that both of these components need to be taken into account when considering climate change mitigation activities and adaptive management. The introduction of a new carbon indicator, net sector productivity, promises to be useful in assessing management effectiveness and mitigation activities. Close

• 19. [Article] Evolution of Technology in the Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Program

  The US Forest Service (USFS), Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program is the nation’s forest census program that has been conducting inventories of private and public forested lands for over 80 years. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Evolution of Technology in the Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Program Author: Alobaidi, Sarah, Deshpande, Tejas, Nigg, Donavon, Ozdemir, Dilek, Smith, Mike, Wehner, Nicole Year: 2016 The US Forest Service (USFS), Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program is the nation’s forest census program that has been conducting inventories of private and public forested lands for over 80 years. This paper will discuss the history of the FIA program; how technology has changed, the way field crew’s conduct inventories, as well as look at what new technologies are available to the FIA program. The new endeavor into interior Alaska, approximately 112 million forested acres in size, is the last remaining forested area within the United States to be inventoried. In 2014, the US Forest Service FIA program conducted a pilot inventory in the Tanana Valley of Alaska. This paper looks at current ways the field teams conduct inventories, and how state-of-the-art remote sensing technologies can assist with data collection. Analysis of technologies in use resulted in a set of recommendations related to; 1) Earlier adoption of newer technologies, which in turn allows for earlier adoption of even more future technologies. 2) Tighter integrations at a project management level to ensure overlap is reduced where possible, and 3) Broader, more open relationships with scientific bodies at all levels of the organization resulting in more informed decision making with regards to technology adoption thus optimizing each field team’s data gathered from field plots. Title: Evolution of Technology in the Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Program Author: Alobaidi, Sarah, Deshpande, Tejas, Nigg, Donavon, Ozdemir, Dilek, Smith, Mike, Wehner, Nicole Year: 2016 The US Forest Service (USFS), Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program is the nation’s forest census program that has been conducting inventories of private and public forested lands for over 80 years. This paper will discuss the history of the FIA program; how technology has changed, the way field crew’s conduct inventories, as well as look at what new technologies are available to the FIA program. The new endeavor into interior Alaska, approximately 112 million forested acres in size, is the last remaining forested area within the United States to be inventoried. In 2014, the US Forest Service FIA program conducted a pilot inventory in the Tanana Valley of Alaska. This paper looks at current ways the field teams conduct inventories, and how state-of-the-art remote sensing technologies can assist with data collection. Analysis of technologies in use resulted in a set of recommendations related to; 1) Earlier adoption of newer technologies, which in turn allows for earlier adoption of even more future technologies. 2) Tighter integrations at a project management level to ensure overlap is reduced where possible, and 3) Broader, more open relationships with scientific bodies at all levels of the organization resulting in more informed decision making with regards to technology adoption thus optimizing each field team’s data gathered from field plots. Close

• 20. [Article] A New Model For Simulating Climate Change and Carbon Dynamics in Forested Landscapes

  Journal of Ecosystems & Management vol. 13 no. 2 2012 news brief .

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A New Model For Simulating Climate Change and Carbon Dynamics in Forested Landscapes Author: Dymond, Caren C., Scheller, Robert M., Beukema, Sarah Year: 2012 Journal of Ecosystems & Management vol. 13 no. 2 2012 news brief . Title: A New Model For Simulating Climate Change and Carbon Dynamics in Forested Landscapes Author: Dymond, Caren C., Scheller, Robert M., Beukema, Sarah Year: 2012 Journal of Ecosystems & Management vol. 13 no. 2 2012 news brief . Close