Can uneven-aged management improve the economic performance of longleaf pine?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Susaeta ◽  
Kotryna Klizentyte ◽  
Ajay Sharma ◽  
Damian C. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Land Conservation ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Southern Us ◽  
Forest Ecosystem Services

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) is a keystone tree species in the Coastal Plain of the southern US. To reverse habitat loss and restore critically important forest ecosystem services in this region dominated by private landownership, longleaf pine’s economic performance must be addressed. Uneven-aged forest management has been suggested as a viable alternative for longleaf pine, but evidence of its economic performance under uneven-aged versus even-aged management is lacking. Here, we compare the economic viability of three competing longleaf pine management scenarios–thinned even-aged, unthinned even-aged (conservation and non-conservation land objectives), and uneven-aged–considering timber and nontimber benefits. We find that managing existing uneven-aged longleaf pine forests with a 10-year cutting cycle is economically preferred to even-aged management for land conservation ($1643.9 ha-1 versus $1548.8 - $1641.6 ha-1). However, these estimates exclude costs associated with switching to uneven-aged management ($174.3 - $694.9 ha-1), which are considerable. Annual subsidies between $5 - $22 ha-1 for 50 years would be required to offset costs of conversion to uneven-aged management. For establishment of new LLP stands, uneven-aged would be the economically-preferred management approach that provides higher economic gains ($176.9 ha-1) than unthinned, high density even-aged management when the primary objective is timber production.

Silviculture that sustains: the nexus between silviculture, frequent prescribed fire, and conservation of biodiversity in longleaf pine forests of the southeastern United States

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 2724-2736 ◽  
Author(s):  
R J Mitchell ◽  
J K Hiers ◽  
J J O'Brien ◽  
S B Jack ◽  
R T Engstrom
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Patterns And Processes ◽  
Conservation Of Biodiversity

The longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forest ecosystems of the US southeastern Coastal Plain, among the most biologically diverse ecosystems in North America, originally covered over 24 × 106 ha but now occupy less than 5% of their original extent. The key factor for sustaining their high levels of diversity is the frequent application of prescribed fire uninterrupted in time and space. Pine fuels, critical to application of fire and regulated by canopy distribution, provide the nexus between silviculture and fire management in this system. Typical silvicultural approaches for this type were, in large part, developed to maximize the establishment and growth of regeneration as well as growth and yield of timber, with much less regard to how those practices might influence the ability to sustain prescribed burning regimes or the associated biodiversity. However, many landholdings in the region now include conservation of biodiversity as a primary objective with sustained timber yield as an important but secondary goal. This review synthesizes the literature related to controls of biodiversity for longleaf pine ecosystems, and silvicultural approaches are compared in their ability to sustain natural disturbance such as fire and how closely they mimic the variation, patterns, and processes of natural disturbance regimes while allowing for regeneration.

scholarly journals Use of Forested Habitat by Breeding Birds in the Gulf Coastal Plain

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey E. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Slash Pine ◽  
Forested Wetland ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Gulf Coastal Plain ◽  
Bird Species Richness

Abstract I compared birds present during the breeding season in four forest types in the Conecuh National Forest located on the Gulf Coastal Plain in Alabama: (1) longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) that had been subject to several recent burns, (2) longleaf pine that had been subject to few or no recent burns, (3) planted slash pine (P. elliottii), and (4) various forested wetland habitats ranging from stream-side riparian habitat to cypress (Taxodium distichum) ponds. I found significantly higher total individuals and significantly higher bird species richness in the two natural forest types—burned longleaf pine and riparian habitats—than either unburned longleaf or slash pine. To maintain greatest diversity and abundance of birds, managers of forests on the Gulf Coastal Plain should (1)preserve wetland habitat, (2) not convert stands of longleaf pine to stands of slash pine, and (3) regularly burn longleaf pine stands. South. J. Appl. For. 22(3):133-137.

Public Preferences for Longleaf Pine Restoration Programs in the Southeastern United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sydney Oluoch ◽  
Pankaj Lal ◽  
Bernabas Wolde ◽  
Andres Susaeta ◽  
Josè R Soto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Water Yield ◽  
Public Preferences ◽  
The Public ◽  
Forest Ecosystem Services ◽  
Red Cockaded Woodpecker

Abstract Longleaf pine (LLP) (Pinus palustris Mill.) is well known for its role in supporting healthy ecosystems in the southeastern (SE) United States (US). The decline of LLP forest ecosystems has led to a consensus among stakeholders that restoration efforts are needed. However, there is still a lack of robust understanding of the utilization of nonmarket ecosystem services of LLP forests. These challenges have presented major barriers to landowner acceptance of subsidized LLP restoration programs. Understanding the tradeoffs between forest ecosystem services is critical to restoring LLP in the SE US. This study employs the best-worst choice (BWC) method to assess public preferences toward hypothetical LLP restoration programs that consider ecosystem services such as recreation, timber production, carbon sequestration, water yield, and wildlife diversity. We surveyed a representative sample of n = 953 respondents from Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida, and results showed that residents in all four states are willing to pay for LLP restoration, with the highest average willingness to pay (WTP) for forest recreation ($20.39), followed by red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) conservation ($13.37) and carbon sequestration ($13.32). This research provides important public preference information on ecosystem services that is critical in forming sustainable LLP restoration programs. Study Implications This study is useful from a policy assessment perspective for evaluating benefits and costs of LLP restoration programs in the SE US, for informing program design, and understanding tradeoffs between LLP ecosystem services. The public plays an important role in influencing environmental policy choices, including LLP restoration programs.

scholarly journals A Generational Change in Site Index for Naturally Established Longleaf Pine on a South Alabama Coastal Plain Site

2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Boyer
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Site Quality ◽  
Generational Change ◽  
Index Data ◽  
Second Growth

Abstract Research on longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) has been carried out for over 50 yr on a coastal plain site in south Alabama. Studies have included the original second-growth stands and also naturally established third-growth stands. Site index data revealed that estimated site index values for third growth generally exceeded those for second growth. Age 50 site index in 16 study compartments with second growth near index age averaged 66 ft. Estimated site index for third-growth stands recorded in 17 different compartments averaged 81 ft. Nine of the 16 compartments with second-growth stands now include third growth about 40 yr in age. This provided an opportunity to make a direct comparison of generational site index differences within the same compartments. Site index for second growth averaged 65 ft (range 61 to 70 ft), while third growth averaged 83 ft (range 77 to 87 ft). Reasons for this large increase in apparent site quality are unknown, but since soils are the same, some climate changes may be suspect. South. J. Appl. For. 25(2):88–92.

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) Branch Pruning by Prescribed Fire

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P McGuire ◽  
John S Kush ◽  
J Morgan Varner ◽  
Dwight K Lauer ◽  
J Ryan Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Wood Quality ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Prescribed Fires ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Southeastern Us ◽  
Tree Survival ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Efforts to restore longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) in the southeastern US require substantial artificial regeneration. Once established, important questions remain about when to introduce fire. We investigated the impact of initial planting density on tree branching and how prescribed fire might interact with tree architecture and survival. A particular focus was on how prescribed fires could “prune” lower branches. Lower density plantings (897 trees ha−1) had more and larger live lower branches than higher density plantings (2,243 trees ha−1). Fire was effective in pruning lower branches regardless of season burned, but fire in the growing season was more effective at pruning. Branches up to a height of 1.5 to 2 m were killed by fire. Fire applied in August caused greater damage with more needles scorched and/or consumed and more stem char. Prescribed fire did not impact longleaf pine tree survival. In general, fire applied to longleaf pine facilitated pruning lower branches that affect long-term wood quality, an additional argument for its utility in restoration and management of these ecosystems.

Fire Season Effects on Flowering Characteristics and Germination of Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) Savanna Grasses

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Shepherd ◽  
Deborah L. Miller ◽  
Mack Thetford
Keyword(s):  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Fire Season
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