Articles tagged with Forestry
New research by the USDA Forest Service suggests that reduced acid rain and warmer temperatures are behind the resurgence of red spruce. The study found that over 75% of red spruce trees exhibited increasing growth since 2001, indicating a positive response to recent climate shifts.
A meta-analysis of 126 case studies from five continents reveals mixed-species forest stands are more ecologically valuable and resilient. These forests also exhibit greater productivity, particularly in areas with favorable water supplies.
A new analysis of the 2013 Douglas Complex fire reveals that young plantation forests experienced higher severity fires than nearby public forests. Daily weather was the most significant driver, but ownership, forest age, and topography also played critical roles.
A Kyoto University researcher has captured the first Yanbaru whiskered bat in Okinawa since its discovery in 1996. The critically endangered species was found to have a range-restricted habitat within the Yanbaru Forest, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
The study found that between 2009 and 2014, tree cover in urban areas declined by 0.7 percent, resulting in the loss of 36 million trees. This decline has significant impacts on air quality, energy costs, noise reduction, and human health. The annual benefits derived from US urban forests are estimated at $18 billion.
New research from Virginia Tech shows that personal outreach to landowners is vital to the success of conservation programs. Landowners who accompanied conservation biologists on site visits had higher trust in the agency and better perceptions of program outcomes. The study highlights the importance of face-to-face interactions in sha...
Researchers developed a framework to assess forest management strategies in Oregon, finding that these approaches increased net ecosystem carbon balance by 72% from 2011-2015. By 2100, the strategies resulted in a 56% increase in NECB, with benefits for water availability and biodiversity.
The study reveals that new WUI area expanded by over 46 million acres, with significant growth in the East region. The expansion poses broad challenges for natural resource management and wildfire management, highlighting the need for effective planning and policy to reduce risk.
A new study finds that reforested areas in the US can absorb significant amounts of carbon, with existing forests capable of sequestering an additional 1-2 billion tons of carbon over 100 years. Researchers analyzed soil profile observations and remote sensing data to determine the rate at which soils absorb carbon.
As climate change raises summer temperatures, research suggests that wetter summers could produce unexpected impacts such as disease outbreaks and crop failures. Subtropical and temperate regions are expected to experience warmer, wetter extremes, threatening ecosystems and human communities.
Climate projections for the Pacific Northwest reveal a warmer future under high greenhouse gas concentrations, with temperatures expected to rise between 1.5 and 7 degrees Celsius. The regional consensus among climate models indicates that the region will become considerably warmer in the next century.
Pennsylvania has developed effective ash-management plans to combat the emerald ash borer, which offers a model for other regions. The plans include tree inventory, monitoring, management tools, and education, tailored to each community's conditions and goals.
Research found that forest density significantly affects near-ground temperatures, with dense forests creating cooler microclimates. The study's maps can aid conservation and land-use planning efforts to protect cold-adapted species.
The researcher will create computer models to evaluate national and regional forest management policies and their impact on ecology, economy, and society. The goal is to provide information for improved forest stewardship in a changing world.
A recent study by UPV/EHU researchers shows that the interaction between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) controls forestry productivity in the Iberian Peninsula. The research reveals how these climate modes affect droughts, winters, and ecosystem productivity.
A survey of residents near two national parks in Panama found that jaguars deserve increased protection due to human-jaguar conflict. The study suggests that educating stakeholders about the connection between healthy ecosystems and jaguar survival is crucial for effective park management.
Researchers found that old-growth forests with diverse tree sizes and species can buffer the effects of warming temperatures on birds. The study suggests that large trees function as heat sinks during warm periods and multiple canopy layers provide climate buffering effects, supporting stable populations of some bird species.
Researchers found that areas recently treated with controlled burns fared better in the 2013 Rim Fire. The best predictor of fire severity was how severe the area last burned, indicating that reducing initial burn severity can limit future fires.
A new study suggests that dominant forest tree mycorrhizal type affects understory plant invasions, with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) forests more vulnerable to invasive species. This research helps explain the establishment and spread of invasive plants in forests.
Archaeologist Alan Sullivan argues that prehistoric people used fire to promote the growth of edible plants such as amaranth and chenopodium. Lab analysis found ancient pollen from clay pots with only six out of 6,000 grains identified as corn.
The USDA has awarded grants to promote sustainable forest and rangeland management through innovative projects addressing emerging issues in the Western Gulf region and beyond. These projects aim to empower landowners and managers with science-based decision-making tools and resources to achieve conservation and economic goals.
Researchers found that young, managed forests cause higher stress levels and lower survival rates in willow tits due to reduced food availability and increased predation risks. About 92% of the birds sheltering in older trees survived the winter, compared to nearly 73% in younger plantations.
A set of fundamental tactics can be used to combat the challenges brought on by pests in rapidly changing forests. Eight general tactics for improved pest management include growth of practical theory, improved biosecurity, and management plans that anticipate continuing change.
A new study by Virginia Tech researchers tracks land cover changes in the Chobe district of Northern Botswana, providing critical information for governments and nonprofit organizations. The study reveals a long-term trend of decreasing woodland cover and increasing shrubland, with fire being a driving force in land cover change.
A new study reveals that bat wing prints can be used to identify individual bats with high accuracy, similar to fingerprint identification. The technique involves analyzing the unique patterns of collagen-elastin bundles in wing tissue, which remain intact even when wings are damaged.
Researchers found that mechanically thinning and prescribed burns can reduce fire-severity by up to 60% when used optimally. The study's findings have implications for forest management teams across the US, highlighting the importance of fire in ecosystem restoration.
A new study by The Nature Conservancy found that better land management practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 11.3 billion tonnes per year, equivalent to halting oil burning. Natural climate solutions could deliver 37% of the emissions reductions needed to hold global warming below 2 degrees Celsius by 2030.
A study led by University of California, Davis found that spotted owls prefer forests with tall trees (over 105 feet) and high canopy cover, rather than dense understory. This discovery could resolve the management dilemma of balancing owl habitat with forest resilience to wildfires and droughts.
Researchers found that indigenous groups intentionally used fire to manage plant-life in temperate rain forests, leaving trees alive and keeping the forest open. The study suggests that this practice has been ongoing for centuries, contradicting traditional views of these forests as 'pristine' and 'untouched'.
The rehabilitated forest in Drabo harbours about 600 plant species and serves as a sanctuary for many animals. The restoration project has increased West-African forest species while declining pantropical weedy species.
A 30-year forest regeneration experiment in Interior Alaska shows that planting white spruce seedlings is the most effective method to produce a spruce-dominated stand, with broadcast seeding as the next best option. The study's findings provide valuable insights for forest landowners and reforestation practices.
A study from the University of Missouri found that salamanders breeding in the fall move to new ponds less often than those breeding in spring. This discovery could lead to better forest management and conservation strategies by taking into account a species' breeding season when managing populations.
Researchers are creating a holistic view of river thermal regimes using measurements over time and space, enabling more effective management and conservation efforts. The incorporation of these data has significant implications for the future of river science.
A new study in BioScience explores the role of thermal landscapes in rivers, shedding light on how humans affect water temperature patterns. The research highlights the importance of fine-scale data and models to restore ecological balance and prevent degradation of riverine ecosystems.
A new study finds that private land conservation data is often inaccessible, hindering effective conservation efforts and taxpayer investments. The researchers suggest addressing capacity shortfalls in federal agencies and revising policies to improve transparency and accountability.
The USDA is providing funding to help private forestland owners and ranchers make informed decisions about their natural resources. NIFA investments will enhance the sustainability of forest and rangeland resources through education programs, supporting well-managed forests and rural economic development.
A new statistical model has been developed to help guide forest management decisions under climate change. The model uses future climate scenarios to produce more accurate predictions than previous methods, allowing for the design of strategies that mitigate climate change impacts on loblolly pine plantations.
The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced $6.3 million in available funding for projects supporting resilient agriculture and forestry production systems. These investments will help producers, land managers, and decision-makers develop valuable tools to address climate-related challenges.
A 68-year study found that frequent burning of forests can lead to diverse ecosystems with small trees and herbaceous plants, while annual burning creates tall canopy trees with wide spaces. The study suggests land managers should plan fire use strategically based on forest goals.
A new study suggests that high deer populations in England are damaging the natural habitat needed by many ground-nesting woodland birds. Eating wild venison could help reduce deer numbers and support the re-emergence of these species, according to University of Nottingham ecologist Dr Markus Eichhorn.
Seasonally inundated areas in the Amazon heart may be weak spot to climate-induced collapse and fires, spreading to surrounding forests. Fire-related savannas dominate flooded parts when rainfall drops below 1500 mm/year.
A new project led by UTIA faculty will recruit 14 undergraduate Research and Extension Fellows to explore agro-ecological farming in western Belize. The team will work with local partners to empower forest and wildlife stewardship while increasing the students' skills to become leaders in agricultural and conservation efforts globally.
Researchers from the University of Limerick are leading a €4.9m project to produce carbon fiber from forestry by-products, aiming to halve its CO2 footprint. The LIBRE project expects to reduce production costs by 30% and bring down the environmental impact of carbon fiber manufacturing.
A study found that the average distance from any point in the United States to the nearest forest increased by 14% between 1990 and 2000. This increase is more pronounced in rural areas than in urban settings, posing challenges for wildlife and broad effects on ecosystems.
Forest losses in western US and rural areas led to a 2.96% decline in national forest cover, equivalent to the size of Maine. This study highlights the importance of proactive conservation management to address habitat losses and species declines.
The UTIA project used aerial acoustic recordings to track at-risk avian species on DoD facilities, improving compliance with environmental regulations. The project was recognized as the DoD's Project of the Year for 2016 for resource conservation and resiliency.
A new study adds 25 frog species to the known fauna of Mount Oku, Cameroon, highlighting a staggering 48% of the amphibians as threatened with extinction. The researchers also review the region's conservation efforts and identify key threats such as forest loss, climate change, and diseases.
A study in California found that high-severity wildfires hinder natural conifer regeneration, with only 60% of plots showing seedling growth five to seven years after fire. A new tool developed by researchers can help foresters prioritize which lands to replant and when.
Researchers found that reducing timber revenues can increase biodiversity indicators and improve landscape multifunctionality. Combining forest growth simulations with multiobjective optimization, they concluded that diversified forest management planning is necessary to resolve conflicts between objectives.
A $1.7 million grant will study climate change impacts on the Menominee Nation's forest, informing decision-making about forest management. The project aims to understand how tribal values inform forest management decisions in a changing climate.
The University of Illinois-led project aims to calculate the economic benefits of urban forestry on health care costs. It will use Kaiser Permanente data to examine the relationship between green spaces and health expenditures among over 4 million members.
A recent study found that mixed-severity fires, also known as 'Goldilocks fires,' can increase biodiversity of birds in California forests over time. The research suggests that forest managers should prioritize managing forests to promote a mixture of intensities, resulting in a mosaic of patches with different burn severities.
A recent study published by the University of Montana forest ecology professor Andrew Larson estimated that burned white fir forests in Yosemite alone could produce an average crop of over 1 million morels per year. The research provides concrete data on morel abundance, supporting park rules allowing personal use picking.
A new study estimates California's street trees provide benefits worth $1 billion, including carbon storage, air pollutant removal, and energy savings. The study also highlights the need for tree diversification and density management to optimize urban forest performance.
Researchers found that diverse land use can balance out uncertainties and provide optimal multitasking for ecosystem services. The area mosaic concept resulted in 46% forestry utilization with indigenous alders and exotic pines, balancing out 10% extensive pasture and 20% intensive pasture utilization.
Family forest owners prioritize natural values over financial gain, controlling 286 million acres of US forestland. Limited written forest management plans and professional forestry advice are prevalent among owners.
A University of Vermont-led study finds that insect outbreaks, such as mountain pine beetle and western spruce budworm infestations, significantly reduce wildfire severity. This contrasts with popular attitudes linking the two, and provides new insights for forest management and policy applications.
Researchers found that old-growth forests can reduce maximum spring and summer air temperatures by as much as 2.5 degrees Celsius compared to plantation forests. This cooling effect is due to the dense canopy and complex understory vegetation of old-growth forests, which create microclimates for temperature-sensitive species.
University of Missouri researchers analyzed historical forest surveys from the 1800s to gain insights into how natural disturbances and human actions shape forest conditions. They found that historical forests had more total biomass, likely sequestering more carbon than current forests.
The USDA Forest Service's new interactive guide, Southern Forest Products - An Economic Engine, tells the story of forest products in the South over the last decades. Using FIA data loaded onto the Esri ArcGIS Online platform, the guide provides a constantly updated guide to southern timber product outputs and mills that process them.