Forest Sciences Commons^™

Economic And Policy Implications Of Forest-Based Bioenergy Production In Kentucky, Jonathan Franklin Catron

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Interest in using woody biomass from forestlands for energy production has reemerged in recent years. In Kentucky, bioenergy has great potential to help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, questions still remain about economic and other social effects associated with forest-based bioenergy production. This study investigates some of the economic implications of harvesting woody biomass for bioenergy production alongside traditional forest products in Kentucky. Results show that forest-based bioenergy can increase financial return to nonindustrial private forest owners. This study also investigates social impacts and drivers of forest-based bioenergy in Kentucky. Results indicate that a variety of issues will have …

Private Landowner Intent To Supply Forest Biomass For Energy In Kentucky, Zachary John Leitch

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is taking steps to expand bioenergy production in response to federal policy initiatives as well as environmental and energy security concerns. The success of this industry will be impacted by the supply of feedstock available from private individuals who own a majority (78%) of forest resources in the state. Despite a developing body of bioenergy research, little is known concerning the social availability of forest biomass for energy production. This study measures intent to harvest energy wood among family forest owners using a mail-­‐based survey and tests the effect of educational materials provided to participants. The …

A Hydrologic Characterization Of Three Headwater Mountain Wetlands In Eastern Kentucky, Usa, Catherine Hoy

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Three small (< 1 ha) mountain wetlands located in eastern Kentucky, host populations of two rare orchids, the white fringeless orchid, Platanthera integrilabia, and the crested yellow orchid, Platanthera cristata. Recently, concern has arisen about the persistence of the orchids. To better understand these wetlands and determine if hydrology is affecting the orchid populations, a hydrologic characterization study was initiated in 2009. Each wetland was equipped with a well nest consisting of piezometers, tensiometers, and a shallow well with a data logging pressure transducer. Chemistry and stable isotopes analysis (deuterium and ¹⁸O) of groundwater and precipitation were analyzed, and soil, topographic and channel cross-section surveys were conducted. Hydrology data suggest the primary source of water …

Effectiveness Of Elevated Skid Trail Headwater Stream Crossings In The Cumberland Plateau, Christopher D. Reeves

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

One of the primary concerns associated with timber harvesting is the production of sediments from stream crossings. While research has shown that using improved haul road crossings can mitigate sediment production in perennial streams compared to the use of unimproved crossings little research has been undertaken on temporary skidder crossings of headwater streams, a situation common to a significant percentage of ground skidding operations. This experiment consisted of a controlled replicated testing of the effectiveness of four types of temporary skidder stream crossings (unimproved ford, corrugated culvert, wood panel skidder bridge, and PVC pipe bundle) relative to bedload and suspended …

Socio-Economic Study Of Community Forests In Mid Hills Region Of Nepal, Birendra K.C.

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

This research looks at some issues confronting community forestry in Nepal. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to analyze the issues confronting community forestry in mid hills region of Nepal. Results indicate that experts as well as local community users think positive aspects of community forestry to be more important than its negative aspects. In addition, through the comparison of three forest types, Alnus nepalensis found to be the most important forest type for conservation and Schima-Castanopsis to be the most important forest type for local benefits. Similarly, results also indicate that increase in carbon prices lengthen an optimal rotation …

Effects Of Midstory Removal And Shoot Clipping On The Growth And Development Of Three Oak Species, Jared Matthew Craig

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Problems developing tall oak seedlings of high abundance have become a concern throughout many eastern hardwood forests. The decline in oak seedling recruitment into canopy positions is often attributed to the increasing abundance of shade tolerant midstory species, especially red maple (Acer rubrum L.). Studies have shown that increasing light to the understory by way of a midstory removal has the ability to favor oak seedlings over competitors. The majority of studies to date have examined northern red (Quercus rubra L.) and cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.) on productive sites, but relatively little is …

A Comparison Of Noninvasive Survey Methods For Monitoring Mesocarnivore Populations In Kentucky, Bryan Matthew Tom

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Harvest data are typically used to evaluate mesocarnivore population dynamics in many states, including Kentucky. While relatively easy to collect, these data are subject to reporting biases, and inferences about population trends can often only be made at coarse spatial scales. Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), bobcat (Lynx rufus), and coyote (Canis latrans) populations in Kentucky are managed primarily through harvest data used to establish future harvest quotas. Increasingly, noninvasive survey methods have been used to characterize a number of population parameters for a variety of species; however, successful use of these methods is often …

Control And Passive Treatment Of Runoff From Horse Muck Storage Structures Using Rain Gardens, Hillary K. Otte

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Runoff from livestock operations may contain a variety of pathogens and high levels of nutrients and other harmful contaminants, and is of particular concern in central Kentucky as watersheds are threatened by waste generated from a high concentration of equine activity. Rain gardens are a type of stormwater management tool used to capture and passively treat runoff. This project aimed to incorporate rain gardens into the horse muck storage structures at a thoroughbred facility in the Canr Run watershed in Lexington, Kentucky. Water quality data from soil water within two rain garden muck pads and two control pads, and grab …

Development And Deployment Of A Bioreactor For The Removal Of Sulfate And Manganese From Circumneutral Coal Mine Drainage, C. B. Mastin, J. D. Edwards, Christopher D. Barton, Anastasios D. Karathanasis, Carmen T. Agouridis, Richard C. Warner

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Surface mining, in the form of contour mining and mountain-top removal, is a common means for retrieving coal in the Appalachian Coal Belt region of Kentucky. Overburden or excess spoil generated by these two methods is placed in valley fills. Traditionally Constructed fills have been shown to adversely impact headwater ecosystems via stream burial and through alterations to the hydrology, sediment supply, water quality and biological composition of downstream reaches. Mine drainages emanating from the toe of valley fills often contain elevated levels of total dissolved solids and heavy metals. Drainage chemistry from Guy Cove, a valley fill located in …

Lessons In Forging Sustainable Partnerships For Rice Self-Sufficiency In Calabarzon, Mimaropa, And Bicol Regions, Mayo Grace C. Amit, Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

In an era of polyvocality and multi-stakeholder partnership, the authors trace the beginnings of an initiative of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and other program partners in addressing food security concern through a devolved agricultural extension service. Building on inter-organizational relations theory and partnership building, UPLB served as a partnership broker among the provincial governments, municipal governments, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Units, the local state universities and colleges, and civil society organizations. The paper documents the beginnings and nuances in brokering partnerships and cites the challenges associated with promoting transdisciplinarity in UPLB known to protect specialized …

6th Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference, Trey Anderson, David Creech, Greg Grant, Matthew W. Mcbroom, James Van Kley, Hans M. Williams

Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference

No abstract provided.

A New Model For Simulating Climate Change And Carbon Dynamics In Forested Landscapes, Caren C. Dymond, Robert M. Scheller, Sarah Beukema

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

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

Retention Of Canopy Trees As Biological Legacies For Balancing Woody Biomass Production And Biodiversity In Managed Aspen Forests Of The Great Lakes Region, Amber M. Roth

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Green-tree retention under the conceptual framework of ecological forestry has the potential to provide both biomass feedstock for industry and maintain quality wildlife habitat. I examined the effects of retained canopy trees as biological legacies (“legacy trees”) in aspen (Populus spp.) forests on above-ground live woody biomass, understory plant floristic quality, and bird diversity. Additionally, I evaluated habitat quality for a high conservation priority species, the Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera). I selected 27 aspen-dominated forest stands in northern Wisconsin with nine stands in each of three legacy tree retention treatments (conifer retention, hardwood retention, and clearcuts or …

Effects Of Elevated Atmospheric Co2 And O3 On Wood Density, Antomical Proerties And Decomposition Of Northern Hardwoods, Emmanuel Ebanyenle

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Anthropogenic activities continue to drive atmospheric CO₂ and O₃ concentrations to levels higher than during the pre-industrial era. Accumulating evidence indicates that both elevated CO₂ and elevated O₃ could modify the quantity and biochemistry of woody plant biomass. Anatomical properties of woody plants are largely influenced by the activity of the cambium and the growth characteristics of wood cells, which are in turn influenced by a range of environmental factors. Hence, alterations in the concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ and / or O₃ could also impact wood anatomical properties. Many fungi derive their metabolic resources …

Evaluating Northern Hardwood Management Using Retrospective Analysis And Diameter Distributions, Nan C. Pond

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Northern hardwood management was assessed throughout the state of Michigan using data collected on recently harvested stands in 2010 and 2011. Methods of forensic estimation of diameter at breast height were compared and an ideal, localized equation form was selected for use in reconstructing pre-harvest stand structures. Comparisons showed differences in predictive ability among available equation forms which led to substantial financial differences when used to estimate the value of removed timber. Management on all stands was then compared among state, private, and corporate landowners. Comparisons of harvest intensities against a liberal interpretation of a well-established management guideline showed that …

Habitat Associations Of The Golden-Winged Warbler In Honduras, Ruth E. Bennett

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The global population of the Neotropical migrant Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) has declined steadily over the past fifty years. While factors influencing this decline have been well researched on the breeding grounds, little is known about the distribution and habitat requirements of this warbler on its stationary non-breeding range. Recent efforts to quantify the non-breeding habitat requirements of this warbler have focused on Colombia and Costa Rica, though the species ranges as far north as the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. To address the gap in knowledge from the northern portion of the non-breeding range, I conducted 80 serial point-count …

Assessing Land Use And Land Cover Change In Tropical Dry Forest Or Northern Chinandega, Nicaragua From 1985 To 2011, Jonathan W. Malette

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The objective of this study is to gain a quantitative understanding of land use and land cover change (LULCC) that have occurred in a rural Nicaraguan municipality by analyzing Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) images. By comparing the potential extent of tropical dry forest (TDF) with Landsat 5 TM images, this study analyzes the loss of this forest type on a local level for the municipality of San Juan de Cinco Pinos (63.5 km²) in the Department of Chinandega. Change detection analysis shows where and how land use has changed from 1985 to the present. From 1985 to …

Managerial Perseptions On Corporate Social Responsbility: A Transatlantic Comparison Between Forest Products Companies In Europe And North America, Aino A. Virtanen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) addresses the responsibility of companies for their impacts on society. The concept of strategic CSR is becoming increasingly mainstreamed in the forest industry, but there is, however, little consensus on the definition and implementation of CSR. The objective of this research is to build knowledge on the characteristics of CSR and to provide insights on the emerging trend to increase the credibility and legitimacy of CSR through standardization. The study explores how the sustainability managers of European and North American forest companies perceive CSR and the recently released ISO 26000 guidance standard on social responsibility.

The …

The Development Of Old-Growth Structural Characteristics In Second-Growth Forests Of The Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky, U.S.A., Robert James Scheff

Online Theses and Dissertations

Prior to Euro-American colonization beginning in the late 1700s and subsequent periods of land conversion and intensive resource extraction, most forest on the Cumberland Plateau in Kentucky would have existed in a state meeting one or more of the definitions of old-growth forest in use today. However, many recovering, mature forests currently exist that might be redeveloping old-growth structure and function. To assess the development of old-growth forest characteristics in second-growth forests, 70 - 90 year old (young) and 140 - 160 year old (old) hardwood forests in the Daniel Boone National Forest were examined for a suite of structural …

Monitoring The Invasion Of An Exotic Tree (Ligustrum Lucidum) From 1983 To 2006 With Landsat Tm/Etm + Satellite Data And Support Vector Machines In Córdoba, Argentina, Gregorio I. Gavier-Pizarro, Tobias Kuemmerle, Laura E. Hoyos, Susan I. Stewart, Cynthia D. Huebner, Nicholas S. Keuler, Volker C. Radeloff

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

In central Argentina, the Chinese tree glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) is an aggressive invasive species replacing native forests, forming dense stands, and is thus a major conservation concern. Mapping the spread of biological invasions is a necessary first step toward understanding the factors determining invasion patterns. Urban areas may function as propagule sources for glossy privet because it has been used as a landscaping tree for over a century. The objectives of this paperwere to 1)map the patterns of glossy privet expansion from1983 to 2006 using a time series of Landsat TM/ETM+images, and 2) analyze the spatial pattern …