Journal of Forestry

St. Clair, J Bradley; Howe, Glenn T; Kling, Jennifer G

doi: 10.1093/jofore/fvz064pmid: N/A

The 1912 Douglas-Fir Heredity Study is one of the first studies undertaken by the US Forest Service, and one of the first forest genetics studies in North America. The study considers provenance variation of 120 parent trees from 13 seed sources planted at five test sites in the Pacific Northwest. The unique, long-term nature of the study makes it valuable to revisit and consider its biological and historical significance. This analysis considers how far climatically Douglas-fir populations may be moved without incurring unacceptable declines in growth and survival. Results indicate that Douglas-fir seed sources may be moved at least 2° C cooler or warmer and still retain good long-term survival and productivity. However, projected future climate change beyond 2° C may lead to lower survival and productivity. One option to address these concerns is assisted migration; however, if seed sources are moved beyond 2–3° C to a cooler climate in anticipation of warming, or from a more continental to a maritime climate, we are likely to see increased mortality and associated losses in productivity in the near-term. Lessons from this study include: (1) pay attention to good experimental design; we were able to overcome limitations from the design by using new statistical approaches; (2) maladaptation may take time to develop; poorer survival was not evident until more than two decades after planting; and (3) long-term studies may have value for addressing new, unforeseen issues in the future.

Conrad, Anna O; Crocker, Ellen V; Li, Xiaoshu; Thomas, William R; Ochuodho, Thomas O; Holmes, Thomas P; Nelson, C Dana

doi: 10.1093/jofore/fvz056pmid: N/A

Oaks (Quercus spp.) are keystone species in many ecosystems and are ecologically as well as economically valuable. The objective of this study was to gather and evaluate information from a diverse group of oak experts on current and future biotic and abiotic threats to oaks in the eastern United States. Using a Delphi survey method with three iterative surveys, we found that oak decline and climate change were identified as critical current and future threats, respectively, in this region. Focusing on climate change, experts were asked a series of questions to assess its potential future temporal and spatial impact on oaks. With respect to climate change, the majority of experts surveyed believe climate change will manifest gradually, although they were generally uncertain about the geographical distribution of climate change in the future, i.e., the areas where oaks are likely to be impacted by climate change in the future. New/emerging pests and pathogens were seen as the most critical future threat by the third survey round. Results from this study can be used to better inform management practices and research priorities for ensuring resilient oak resources for the future.

Greene, Rachel E; Evans, Kristine O; Gray, Michael T; Jones-Farrand, D Todd; Wathen, William G

doi: 10.1093/jofore/fvz063pmid: N/A

Forestlands in the Southern United States provide important ecological and socioeconomic services that are under increasing pressure from development and other stressors. We used a coproduction approach with 50+ stakeholders to create a qualitative, spatially explicit Forest Retention Index to provide a gradient of future forest retention likelihood on presently forested lands. An estimated 17.7 million acres are at high risk of forest loss by 2060. These losses are largely driven by urbanization, but sea-level rise plays a key role in some coastal areas. Approximately 59 percent of southern forest is projected to be retained with High or Very High likelihood but is unevenly distributed among southern states. Approximately 8 percent of highly biodiverse forest is at high risk of land-use conversion. This tool provides a collaborative, transparent, and defensible mapping product that can aid in identification of key areas where retaining forest is critical to maintaining ecological and socioeconomic integrity.

Kern, Christel C; Kenefic, Laura S; Dockry, Michael J; Cobo-Lewis, Alan

doi: 10.1093/jofore/fvz057pmid: N/A

Research, largely focused on academia, has shown demographic differences in perceptions and experiences of workplace culture in science fields, including natural resources. Less is known about experiences of those working for government institutions. This study examined relationships between demographic characteristics (gender, scientific discipline, years as a scientist), experiences of discrimination or harassment, and perceptions of career success and satisfaction as reported in a survey by 100 research scientists in the US Forest Service: a hierarchical federal agency with explicit goals for workforce diversification. Approximately half the survey respondents, and more women than men, indicated that they had experienced work-related discrimination or harassment. Survey respondents identified gender as the most common basis of discrimination. Although most felt successful and satisfied in their careers, this perception was lower among those who had experienced discrimination or harassment. These findings highlight challenges of workforce diversification, especially in hierarchical institutions where organizational structure favors conformity.

Markowski-Lindsay, Marla; Catanzaro, Paul; Zimmerer, Rebekah; Kittredge, David; Markowitz, Ezra; Chapman, Daniel A

doi: 10.1093/jofore/fvz058pmid: N/A

Understanding family forest owner (FFO) estate planning decisionmaking is fundamental to ensuring the survival of landscapes that provide many public goods, but little is known about how land-based estate planning differs by gender. Analyses of a survey of FFOs in northeastern United States indicated that female FFOs rate themselves with lower levels of land-based estate planning self-efficacy—being less prepared, confident, and financially able to move forward with planning the future of their land than males. Of the FFOs who had positive levels of land-based estate planning self-efficacy, females were more likely to want to keep their land undeveloped than males. Our research suggests that increasing land-based estate planning self-efficacy of female FFOs may lead to higher rates of keeping land undeveloped for regions with FFOs similar to those of the northeast. We recommend ways in which foresters and programs could play an important role in increasing land-based estate planning self-efficacy.

Butler, Sarah M; Schelhas, John; Butler, Brett J

doi: 10.1093/jofore/fvz060pmid: N/A

Family forest owners own more forestland in the United States than any other group. There have been no national studies of racial and ethnic minority family forest owners in the United States, in spite of increasing attention to diversity in forestry. Using the US Forest Service’s National Woodland Owner Survey data, we sought to better understand minority owners by looking at their characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors. Of the over 4 million family forest ownerships with 10+ ac in the United States, minorities comprise 6.6 percent of the ownerships and own 5.1 percent of the 265 million ac. Although many similarities exist between minority and nonminority owners, such as reasons for owning land and concerns, minority landowners tend to be more regionally located, have smaller forest holdings, are less likely to manage their forests, and are less likely to have participated in assistance programs. Broad insight into the attitudes and behaviors of minority family forest owners can help policymakers, program directors, and outreach coordinators begin to understand the needs of minority landowners, providing this historically underserved group with tools they need to attain their forest management and land-use goals. By increasing minority landowner engagement, we can hopefully slow the loss of land by minority landowners.

Ontl, Todd A; Janowiak, Maria K; Swanston, Christopher W; Daley, Jad; Handler, Stephen; Cornett, Meredith; Hagenbuch, Steve; Handrick, Cathy; Mccarthy, Liza; Patch, Nancy

doi: 10.1093/jofore/fvz062pmid: N/A

The importance of forests for sequestering carbon has created widespread interest among land managers for identifying actions that maintain or enhance carbon storage in forests. Managing for forest carbon under changing climatic conditions underscores a need for resources that help identify adaptation actions that align with carbon management. We developed the Forest Carbon Management Menu to help translate broad carbon management concepts into actionable tactics that help managers reduce risk from expected climate impacts in order to meet desired management goals. We describe examples of real-world forest-management planning projects that integrate climate change information with this resource to identify actions that simultaneously benefit forest carbon along with other project goals. These examples highlight that the inclusion of information on climate vulnerability, considering the implications of management actions over extended timescales, and identifying co-benefits for other management goals can reveal important synergies in managing for carbon and climate adaptation.

doi: 10.1093/jofore/fvz068pmid: N/A

January 2020 This Journal of Forestry quiz is approved for 4.5 continuing forestry education (CFE) hours in Category 1-CF by the Society of American Foresters. Successful completion of the self-assessment, defined as a cumulative score of at least 70%, is required to earn CFE credit. CFE approval is valid for one year from the issue date of publication and participants may submit the quiz at any time during that period. The quiz contains questions from these 5 articles: Threats to Oaks in the Eastern United States: Perceptions and Expectations of Experts Using a Co-Production Approach to Map Future Forest Retention Likelihood in the Southeastern US Discrimination and Career Satisfaction: Perceptions from US Forest Service Scientists Minority Family Forest Owners in the United States Forest Management for Carbon Sequestration and Climate Adaptation As presented by Conrad et al., oak decline is typically attributed to compounding tree stress due to a combination of: a) Armillaria spp., oak wilt, and defoliation. b) age, drought, and insects. c) predisposing factors, inciting factors, and contributing factors. Based on weighted totals, Conrad et al. found which of the following were identified as the most critical current and future threats, respectively, after the third survey? a) Oak decline and an unknown new or emerging (exotic) pest/pathogen b) Climate change and a new or emerging (exotic) pest/pathogen c) Gypsy moth and climate change Greene et al.’s Mapping the South’s Forests of the Future project leveraged existing regional and partnership-driven conservation plans to produce a comprehensive geospatial inventory of: a) a network of sustainable lands and waters to prioritize for protection from energy development. b) prioritized areas of forest retention and restoration. c) the gradient of uncertainty surrounding coastal forest response to sea level rise. Results of the Greene et al. study estimate which of the following? a) More than 100 watersheds in the conterminous US have relatively high densities of at-risk species where there are also high expected increases in housing density over the next 25 years. b) Approximately 59% of southern forest with High or Very High likelihood of retention now will be lost by 2060. c) 17 million acres of forested land in the southeastern US are at high risk of being converted to non-forest cover by 2060. Among respondents to the Kern et al. survey, what percentage reported the discrimination they experienced was based on gender? a) 52% b) 51% c) 32% A key result identified by Kern et al. is that gender interacted with organizational source. Which of the following best describes the nature of that interaction? a) Men reported no difference in rates of discrimination from outside the organization as from within the FS. b) Women reported nearly the same rates of discrimination from outside organizations as from within the FS. c) Men and women reported almost no discrimination from outside organizations despite experiencing discrimination from within the FS. According to Butler et al., the NWOS estimates minority FFOs own how much total forest land in the US? a) 10.5 million acres b) 5.1 million acres c) 36% of FFO forest land While acknowledging the sample size of minority FFOs in their study is low, when comparing minority to non-minority FFOs, Butler et al. found which of the following? a) Minority land owners were more likely to have recreated on their land in the past 5 years. b) Non-minority FFOs were less likely to post their land to restrict access and/or use by the general public. c) Minority FFOs were more likely to state they are ‘very concerned’ or ‘concerned’ with trespassing on their land. As described in Ontl et al., the Practitioner’s Menu of Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Forest Carbon Management was developed to provide: a) “menus” of potential management actions that managers can choose depending on project objectives, anticipated site-level climate impacts, and other constraints and opportunities. b) a carbon management resource for forest managers that includes an explicit integration of climate change adaptation into broad-to-prescriptive forest carbon management actions. c) assessments of climate change impacts and vulnerability that inform users about climate change impacts that may affect carbon sequestration in their geographic area of interest. Ontl et al. conclude that the Forest Carbon Management Menu and the case studies demonstrating its use highlight which consideration for planning adaptation actions for effective forest carbon management? a) Considering extended time-scales can reveal synergies between adaptation and mitigation. b) Consideration of climate vulnerability may decrease options for management actions to enhance forest carbon. c) Carbon is often the most desired forest benefit now cited by landowners. Copyright © 2019 Society of American Foresters This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model)