Browsing by Subject "Forest management"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    American Indian Gathering and Recreation Uses of National Forests
    (2004) McAvoy, Leo; Shirilla, Paul; Flood, Joseph
    This paper identifies and describes the patterns of use of the Chippewa National Forest (Minnesota) by Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe members; and, the use patterns of six national forests in northwest Montana by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The paper also identifies conflicts tribal members encounter while using the forests and makes recommendations regarding the management of national forests in light of tribal members' use of these lands. The implications from both study areas indicate that Forest Service managers should pay more attention to cooperative approaches, and potential co-management of forest resources that are near American Indian reservations. Managers need to be more sensitive to American Indians' uses and values associated with national forests and other protected lands that are close to reservations. They also need to be aware of the history of government and tribal relations, as well as tribal member traditional and historic uses of forests.
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    Cloquet Forestry Center Research Papers and Reports 1912-2011
    (Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 2012) Severs, Ronald; Alm, Alvin A; Olson, Rylie
    This listing is an update of a listing published by Avin Alm in 1988 titled: Cloquet Forestry Center Papers and Reports for the 75-Year Period From 1912-1987. This paper provides a listing of reports, theses, and journal articles covering work conducted or materials and services provide at the University of Minnesota, College of Food Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Cloquet Forestry Center. The listing covers the period from 1912-2011. A total of 903 papers are listed. Although considerable effort was made to make the list as complete as possible it may be that there are some omissions. Hopefully, readers of the list will assist in providing any additional citations that can be in a future update. The listing is divided into two sections. Section I is in alphabetical sequence by authors last name. Section II provides a cross reference by subject matter with citation numbers referring to the Section I alphabetical listing. The compilation of early research publications related to the Cloquet Forestry Center is the result of the wisdom of early Directors who saw the value of documenting research activity of the time. A chronological listing from 1912 to 1960 was complied by Dr. Bruce A. Brown, Cloquet Forestry Center Director from 1960-1974 and additional compilations by Dr. Al Hallgren, Cloquet Forestry Center Director from 1975-1987. Their efforts are acknowledged as well as the help and assistance of the various University of Minnesota faculty and staff whom provided additional listings. Since 1947 funding for supporting long term research at the Cloquet Forestry Center has been provided in part by MAES Project No. MIN-40-015: Dynamics, Management and Sustainable Use of Northern Forest Ecosystems.
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    Effects of Soil Compaction and Organic Matter Removal on Ground-flora Diversity in the Great Lakes Forests
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 1996) Host, George E
    Soil is one of the key factors regulating the productivity and diversity of forest ecosystems. Soil organic matter resulting from the decomposition of leaf litter provides an important reservoir of nutrients for future forest growth. The structure of soils, in conjunction with soil texture, determines the ability of a soil to retain moisture. Forest harvest operations, through the use of heavy equipment and slash management practices, have the potential to damage soil structure and remove organic matter from the forest floor. We lack a clear understanding, however, of which soil types are most susceptible, and what degree of impact soils can sustain before the potential productivity and diversity are reduced. To address this issue, a nationwide Long-Tenn Soil Productivity (LTSP) study was initiated to assess the effects of logging operations on the structure and organic matter content of forest soils (Powers et al. 1990). In the Lake States, study plots were installed on the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Huron National Forests. These plots represent the range of soil textures which occur across the Lake States: silt loams, clays, and sands, respectively. Using an experimental approach, different levels of soil compaction and organic matter removal were applied to harvested aspen stands across this soil gradient. Aspen reproduction, forest biomass, and the diversity of the ground-flora layers are being monitored on an annual or biennial basis to assess their response to these treatments. The results of this experiment will allow us to predict the degree of protection required to sustain productivity and floristic diversity in aspen stands across a range of common Lake State soil types. The Lake States LTSP study has included an analysis of floristic diversity to the suite of measurements made on the study plots. Biodiversity and forest management has become a critical issue in the Lake States Forests. In Minnesota's Generic Environmental Impact Statement, diversity was one of the key focal issues. Ground-flora has received wide use in ecological indicators and in ecological land classification systems across the Great Lakes (Spies and Barnes 1986, Host and Pregitzer 1991, Coffmann et al. 1983, Shadis et al. 1995). A primary objective of this study was assess the response of the ground-flora community to the soil compaction and organic matter removal treatments within the LTSP study. This response can be assessed not only on a year-by-year basis, but also in describing the rate and trajectory of recovery toward the compositional state of the uncut forest.
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    Forest carbon offsets: a multiple methods assessment of potential supply from family forest landowners
    (2013-03) Miller, Kristell Anne
    Forests serve as important terrestrial carbon sequestration sinks. By modifying current forest management practices, the amount of carbon sequestered within US forests can be increased. In response to industry and state/regional commitments to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon is now a commodity that can be sold in the marketplace. Practices that enhance sequestration ability can generate carbon credits that can be sold to entities wishing to offset emissions. Family forest landowners own 42% of the nation's forest land and could contribute substantially to sequestration efforts, but only if they are willing to participate in forest offset projects. Little is known regarding this audience's views toward carbon markets, the management changes and commitments that would be necessary, and the types of incentives, compensation or assistance that would be required to encourage their participation. To address this information gap, I used both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to assess family forest owner interest in both carbon management and carbon markets. First, a mail survey of family forest owners in the Lake States (Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin) was used develop a profile of landowner interest and estimate the regional supply of forest offsets using logistic regression. Next, focus groups with Lake States landowners were conducted to obtain further insight on opportunities and barriers to managing for forest carbon offsets. Finally, a national assessment of state forestry agencies was conducted to gather their perspectives on family forest owner interest in managing for carbon and carbon offsets. The assessment also identified and described state programs currently available to assist forest landowners who want to manage for carbon or carbon offsets. Multiple triangulation methods were used to compare the major findings of each study segment and make final study conclusions.
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    Integrated emerald ash borer management: Testing a novel approach to assess stakeholder perceptions
    (2023-01-23) Schneider, Ingrid; Rannow, Brett; Russell, Matt; Gupta, Angela; Windmuller-Campione, Marcella; ingridss@umn.edu; Schneider, Ingrid
    These data describe Minnesota state park visitors' perceptions, attitudes, preferences, and behaviors pertaining to landscapes managed in response to emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) and EAB itself. Two primary datasets are included: 1) Onsite data captured from visitors at Fort Snelling, Lake Bemidji, and Wild River state parks and 2) Data obtained from online surveys. These data aim to inform researchers and managers of the public's understanding of EAB, their acceptance of common Minnesota forest management strategies, their intended visitation behaviors in response to management surrounding EAB, and preferences for landscapes managed in response to EAB. Coding manuals, data descriptions, and participant consent forms are included. Data were released to provide transparency and data to potential stakeholders and interested parties.
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    Monitoring Herpetofauna on St. Louis County Biophysical Plots, 1996: Inventory Results and Preferred Sampling Methods
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 1997) Montgomery, Kent; Niemi, Gerald J
    Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) have been experiencing declines in populations worldwide. Explanations for these declines include increased ultraviolet radiation, decreased water quality, and habitat alterations. Although the causes of these losses are unknown, the point remains that this vertebrate group may be one of the most sensitive indicators of environmental health. Identifying habitat requirements of herpetofaunal communities and monitoring trends in their populations may enable forest managers to better understand the effect of forest management activities upon wildlife dependent on forested habitats. We initiated herpetofaunal inventories during 1996 on selected biophysical plots established within the Boulder Lake Management Area by St. Louis County Land Department personnel. Northern white cedar, eastern white pine, and early successional habitats were selected for inventory A variety of inventory techniques were used within each habitat, including drift fences, cover boards, and calling anuran (frogs and toads) surveys. The sampling efficiency, cost effectiveness, and durability of each technique were evaluated. Recommended protocols for herpetofaunal inventory on St. Louis County biophysical plots included in this report were created based upon these evaluations.
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    The role of harvest gaps in the plant diversity of a northern hardwood forest of Northern Wisconsin, USA
    (2011-08) Kern, Christel
    Recent losses of biodiversity in managed forests have invigorated the need for natural disturbance-based management that sustains the many goods and services expected from forests. Regionally, declines in species diversity of managed northern hardwood forests have prompted the need for alternative approaches to forest management. One approach to natural disturbance-based management is using harvest gaps to emulate natural gaps that result from canopy disturbances. In this dissertation, I examine harvest gaps and their influence on ground-layer plants in the context of canopy gap theory. With the help of others, I measured four planted tree species and ground-layer vegetation (woody and herbaceous) abundance within a field experiment located in a second-growth northern hardwood forest of northern Wisconsin. The experimental approach included a gap opening gradient (five gap sizes, 6, 10, 20, 30 and 46 m diameter, and undisturbed reference areas) and a temporal gradient (0, 2, 6, and 13 years after gap creation). Ground-layer plant community composition and functional traits differed among gap sizes supporting theory. Gaps of all sizes differed in composition from undisturbed areas and all pair-wise combinations of gap size also differed in composition, except the 6 m and 10 m gaps. Compositional differences in gap size were evident two years after gap creation and grew more pronounced over the 13 year period. Species' functional traits and micro-environments were related to variation in ground-layer composition. The correlation between gap size and ground-layer plant composition provides evidence for gap partitioning by the ground-layer community in this forest. In addition, medium gap sizes were more diverse than smaller or larger gaps, supporting the concept that intermediate disturbances maximize species diversity. Furthermore, survival and growth of planted yellow birch, white pine, red oak, and hemlock seedlings was lower than expected growth and survival based on prior empirical and theoretical results. Growth and survival responses to gap sizes are dampened by deer browsing and shrub competition. This dissertation argues that harvest gaps play a role in plant diversity at multiple scales and provides an ecological framework for management decisions regarding gap size and its relationship to the ground-layer plant community.