scholarly journals Potential Hurricane Wind Risk to US Rural and Urban Forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Cole ◽  
David J Nowak ◽  
Eric J Greenfield
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Urban Forests ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
The United States ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Forest Damage ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Hurricane Wind ◽  
Rural And Urban

Abstract Hurricanes cause billions of dollars in damage annually in the United States and are projected to increase in intensity in the coming years. By exploring historical patterns of hurricanes and exposure of these hurricane-force winds across the landscape, areas of potentially high threat to future hurricane winds can be revealed. Combining potential threats from hurricane winds with forest data reveal the areas with the greatest potential threats to this important resource. Not surprisingly, most of the threats to forests occur in the Southeast, but the greatest threats to urban forests overall occur along the Northeast coast and in metropolitan centers in the Southeast. Overall, 4.6% of the nation’s rural forest basal area is within zones of the highest risk from hurricane winds. Information on regional and local scale variations in hurricane risk can be used to aid policies and local forest management to improve forest health and sustainability. Study Implications: By understanding the broad and small scale variations in potential exposure to hurricanes, forest managers can be better prepared to potentially minimize forest damage and help prepare for potential use or clean-up of damaged forest areas. Although the general patterns of potential risk to forests from hurricanes are not surprising, variations among counties and states can be used to help direct state and national policies, and local scale variations in risk can be integrated within forest management plans to improve long-term forest health and sustainability. Maps and data on potential future hurricane risks are available online.

Post-hurricane forest management responses in the southern United States

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Pete Bettinger, PhD ◽  
Krista L. Merry, MS ◽  
Jeffrey Hepinstall, PhD
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The United States ◽  
Southern United States ◽  
Service Needs ◽  
Strong Winds ◽  
Social Recovery

Although people living along the southeastern and Gulf coasts of the United States may have limited experience dealing with major hurricane damage, hurricanes are imminent and pose potentially dire consequences to forest resources. In addition to understanding the physical and biological reactions of forests to extreme weather conditions, there are a number of managerial responses that should be considered based on this past experience. This article presents a summary of the more pertinent forest management responses, and where appropriate, highlights situations where these were beneficial to the overall (economic, ecological, social) recovery effort. Management responses address not only the immediate needs for clearing roads and restoring basic service needs, but also the longer-term issues related to timber salvage, reforestation, forest health, and fire danger. The damage from strong winds and storm surges may also result in serious consequences for ecological values. However, challenges and issues related to the restoration of forests and forest-related values may require several years to address. Therefore, the objective of this review article is to provide a summary of the experiences of forest land managers, researchers, and emergency planners who have directly responded to severe storms affecting the southern United States.

scholarly journals A Comparative Analysis of Five Forest Certification Programs

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Rocio Gutierrez Garzon ◽  
Pete Bettinger ◽  
Jacek Siry ◽  
Jesse Abrams ◽  
Chris Cieszewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
The Other ◽  
Forest Certification ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
International Expansion ◽  
Certification Programs ◽  
National Programs

International expansion of forest certification programs has occurred over the last three decades. Both public and private organizations have shown increased interest in becoming certified by one or more forest certification bodies, to assure the public that forest resources are managed adequately in sustaining forest health and socio-economic viability. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) program is globally used as a benchmark to implement forest certification at the national and regional levels. The Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) and the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) are also used throughout the United States. In Europe, individual countries such as Bulgaria and Turkey have also developed national forest certification programs. The SFI, ATFS and Bulgarian programs are further endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The results of a qualitative analysis comparing the FSC forest certification program with the SFI, the ATFS, and the two European national programs (Bulgarian and Turkish) suggest that differences in these programs are not necessarily related to their language, but to the level of detail and prescriptiveness of each program. We find that the FSC is much more detailed and prescriptive in nearly all aspects considered for forest certification. In particular, we find that most of the elements considered in the FSC Principle 6 (Environmental Impact) are either only superficial, or not addressed at all, in the other four programs. Furthermore, the other programs appear to be less comprehensive and detailed in the substance of the FSC monitoring and assessment principles. In a few areas, the Turkish program requires more quantitative indicators for assessing forest management than the other programs. Though a comparison of the legal framework related to forest management in each of the studied countries was briefly introduced, our study focuses on the certification schemes themselves; it may contribute to policy discussions in the future development and implementation of other certification programs.

scholarly journals Urban forest management in small Ontario municipalities

2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (02) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. John Barker ◽  
W. Andy Kenney
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Urban Forests ◽  
The United States ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Legislative Framework ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Urban Forest Management

Urban forestry has emerged as an important and timely discipline in an urbanizing world. The practice of urban forestry has focused mainly on large urban centres but urban forests in small municipalities provide the same benefits to the residents within and around them. Small municipalities face many challenges similar to those in urban centres but a lack of resources may worsen the negative effects on small municipalities. Urban forestry in Ontario is undertaken by municipalities with little involvement from upper-level governments. Thus, the effectiveness of urban forestry in Ontario is inconsistent and sporadic, with many small municipalities unable to manage urban forests optimally. Ontario's legislative framework governing urban forestry is critiqued and compared to the system employed in the United States. Recommendations are provided for action toward a centralized urban forestry program in Ontario.

scholarly journals Comparison of Forest Stand Condition Between Thinned and Unthinned Blocks Under Collaborative Forest Management of Western Lowlands of Nepal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kajol Belbase ◽  
Arun Sharma Poudel ◽  
Sagar Godar Chhetri
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Growing Stock ◽  
Shorea Robusta ◽  
Forestry Practices ◽  
Regeneration Status ◽  
Forest Condition

Abstract BackgroundAfter a successful implementation of community forestry practices, since 2003 collaborative forest management has been implementing in Nepal. Due to naive approaches of managing forest land in Nepal, the information regarding the forest condition under silviculture practices is very low. The purpose of the study was to understand the regeneration status in the harvested plot and make the comparison of crop stands between the thinned and unthinned plot. MethodHarvested, Thinned, and Unthinned block of Tilaurakot Collaborative Forest was chosen for the study. Eccentric circular plots with radii 11.29m was taken for trees, 5.64m for poles, 2.82m for saplings, and 1.78m for seedling was taken to collect data from each of the selected blocks. Altogether, 71 plots were taken from harvested (11), thinned (30), and unthinned (30) block. Results The result shows seedling and sapling in the harvested block were 14,974 and 3,368 per hectare, respectively. Also, the study identified that the number of seedling and sapling in the thinned block were higher than the unthinned block. However, the growing stock and basal area per hectare in the thinned block were lower than the unthinned block. The number of trees per hectare was lesser in the thinned block (86 per ha) than an unthinned block (140 per ha). Similarly, the number of poles per hectare were lesser in the thinned block (346 per ha) than an unthinned block (370 per ha). Also, the important valve index (IVI) of Sal (Shorea robusta) was found more than other species in harvested, thinned, and unthinned blocks. ConclusionsThe study suggest that the condition of regeneration was better after the opening of the canopy and thinning promotes the growth of trees and undergrowth vegetation. Thus, policy makers should give emphasis on using the silvicultural operations in forest management to maintain the forest health.

Renewable Energy on Tribal Lands: A Feasibility Study for a Biomass-to-Energy Plant on the Cocopah Reservation in Arizona

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Lauren K. D’Souza ◽  
William L. Ascher ◽  
Tanja Srebotnjak
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
The United States ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Plant ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Alternative Investment

Native American reservations are among the most economically disadvantaged regions in the United States; lacking access to economic and educational opportunities that are exacerbated by “energy insecurity” due to insufficient connectivity to the electric grid and power outages. Local renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biomass offer energy alternatives but their implementation encounters barriers such as lack of financing, infrastructure, and expertise, as well as divergent attitudes among tribal leaders. Biomass, in particular, could be a source of stable base-load power that is abundant and scalable in many rural communities. This case study examines the feasibility of a biomass energy plant on the Cocopah reservation in southwestern Arizona. It considers feedstock availability, cost and energy content, technology options, nameplate capacity, discount and interest rates, construction, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and alternative investment options. This study finds that at current electricity prices and based on typical costs for fuel, O&M over 30 years, none of the tested scenarios is presently cost-effective on a net present value (NPV) basis when compared with an alternative investment yielding annual returns of 3% or higher. The technology most likely to be economically viable and suitable for remote, rural contexts—a combustion stoker—resulted in a levelized costs of energy (LCOE) ranging from US$0.056 to 0.147/kWh. The most favorable scenario is a combustion stoker with an estimated NPV of US$4,791,243. The NPV of the corresponding alternative investment is US$7,123,380. However, if the tribes were able to secure a zero-interest loan to finance the plant’s installation cost, the project would be on par with the alternative investment. Even if this were the case, the scenario still relies on some of the most optimistic assumptions for the biomass-to-power plant and excludes abatement costs for air emissions. The study thus concludes that at present small-scale, biomass-to-energy projects require a mix of favorable market and local conditions as well as appropriate policy support to make biomass energy projects a cost-competitive source of stable, alternative energy for remote rural tribal communities that can provide greater tribal sovereignty and economic opportunities.

Craft Beer's Unlikely Alchemist

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 78-90
Author(s):  
Theresa McCulla
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Assembly Line ◽  
The United States ◽  
Risk Tolerance ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Intellectual Curiosity ◽  
Brewing Industry ◽  
Washing Machine ◽  
Craft Beer ◽  
History Of

In 1965, Frederick (Fritz) Maytag III began a decades-long revitalization of Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, California. This was an unexpected venture from an unlikely brewer; for generations, Maytag's family had run the Maytag Washing Machine Company in Iowa and he had no training in brewing. Yet Maytag's career at Anchor initiated a phenomenal wave of growth in the American brewing industry that came to be known as the microbrewing—now “craft beer”—revolution. To understand Maytag's path, this article draws on original oral histories and artifacts that Maytag donated to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History via the American Brewing History Initiative, a project to document the history of brewing in the United States. The objects and reflections that Maytag shared with the museum revealed a surprising link between the birth of microbrewing and the strategies and culture of mass manufacturing. Even if the hallmarks of microbrewing—a small-scale, artisan approach to making beer—began as a backlash against the mass-produced system of large breweries, they relied on Maytag's early, intimate connections to the assembly-line world of the Maytag Company and the alchemy of intellectual curiosity, socioeconomic privilege, and risk tolerance with which his history equipped him.

Forest Management In Mongolia – A Review Of Challenges And Lessons Learned With Special Reference To Degradation And Deforestation

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Gradel ◽  
Gerelbaatar Sukhbaatar ◽  
Daniel Karthe ◽  
Hoduck Kang
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Hydrological Regime ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Driven System ◽  
The Status

The natural conditions, climate change and socio-economic challenges related to the transformation from a socialistic society towards a market-driven system make the implementation of sustainable land management practices in Mongolia especially complicated. Forests play an important role in land management. In addition to providing resources and ecosystem functions, Mongolian forests protect against land degradation.We conducted a literature review of the status of forest management in Mongolia and lessons learned, with special consideration to halting deforestation and degradation. We grouped our review into seven challenges relevant to developing regionally adapted forest management systems that both safeguard forest health and consider socio-economic needs. In our review, we found that current forest management in Mongolia is not always sustainable, and that some practices lack scientific grounding. An overwhelming number of sources noticed a decrease in forest area and quality during the last decades, although afforestation initiatives are reported to have increased. We found that they have had, with few exceptions, only limited success. During our review, however, we found a number of case studies that presented or proposed promising approaches to (re-)establishing and managing forests. These studies are further supported by a body of literature that examines how forest administration, and local participation can be modified to better support sustainable forestry. Based on our review, we conclude that it is necessary to integrate capacity development and forest research into holistic initiatives. A special focus should be given to the linkages between vegetation cover and the hydrological regime.

Planning Replicable Small Flow Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Developing Nations

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gaber ◽  
M. Antill ◽  
W. Kimball ◽  
R. Abdel Wahab
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Development Program ◽  
The United States ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Funding Agency ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Technology Choice

The implementation of urban village wastewater treatment plants in developing countries has historically been primarily a function of appropriate technology choice and deciding which of the many needy communities should receive the available funding and priority attention. Usually this process is driven by an outside funding agency who views the planning, design, and construction steps as relatively insignificant milestones in the overall effort required to quickly better a community's sanitary drainage problems. With the exception of very small scale type sanitation projects which have relatively simple replication steps, the development emphasis tends to be on the final treatment plant product with little or no attention specifically focused on community participation and institutionalizing national and local policies and procedures needed for future locally sponsored facilities replication. In contrast to this, the Government of Egypt (GOE) enacted a fresh approach through a Local Development Program with the United States AID program. An overview is presented of the guiding principals of the program which produced the first 24 working wastewater systems including gravity sewers, sewage pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants which were designed and constructed by local entities in Egypt. The wastewater projects cover five different treatment technologies implemented in both delta and desert regions.

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