Post-wildfire seeding in forests of the western United States: An evidence-based review

Broadcast seeding is one of the most widely used post-wildfire emergency response treatments intended to reduce soil erosion, increase vegetative ground cover, and minimize establishment and spread of non-native plant species. We conducted an evidence-based review to examine the effectiveness and effects of post-wildfire seeding treatments on soil stabilization, non-native species invasion, and plant community recovery in the western U.S. We reviewed 94 scientific papers and agency monitoring reports identified using a systematic search protocol. As sampling designs have become more rigorous in recent years, evidence that seeding is effective in reducing erosion has decreased. Of highest and high quality studies evaluating soil erosion, 92% (11 of 12) were published since 2000, none of which showed an effective result. Before 2000, the majority of the studies (71%) fell into the lowest quality categories, of which 72% showed seeding to be effective. The majority of studies (20 of 27, 74%) evaluating soil erosion in seeded versus unseeded controls showed that seeding did not reduce erosion relative to unseeded controls. Even when seeding significantly increased vegetative cover, seeded sites rarely supported plant cover levels considered sufficient to stabilize soils within the first and second year post-wildfire. Of the 11 studies evaluating seeding effectiveness for curtailing invasions of non-native plant species, an almost equal percentage found seeding treatments to be either effective (54%, 6 studies) or ineffective (45%, 5 studies). However, the majority of effective and ineffective treatments (83% and 80%, respectively) used non-native species. Sixteen of 26 studies (62%) evaluating seeding effects on plant communities reported that seeding suppressed recovery of native plants, although data on long-term impacts of this reduction are limited. The literature suggests that post-wildfire seeding does little to protect soil in the short-term, has equivocal effect on invasion of non-native species, and can have negative effects on native vegetation recovery, although long-term studies are needed to assess lasting impacts of seeded species.     

International bioenergy synthesis—Lessons learned and opportunities for the western United States

This synthesis examines international opportunities for utilizing biomass for energy at several different scales, with an emphasis on larger scale electrical power generation at stand-alone facilities as well as smaller scale thermal heating applications such as those at governmental, educational, or other institutional facilities. It identifies barriers that can inhibit bioenergy applications, and considers international cases of successful bioenergy production with a focus on Europe and Brazil. Based on the review of international bioenergy applications, important ecosystem service issues having relevance to western U.S. forests are discussed, including hazardous fuel reduction, community development, and sustainability of the wood products industry.     

Objectives and considerations for wildland fuel treatment in forested ecosystems of the interior western United States

Many natural resource agencies and organizations recognize the importance of fuel treatments as tools for reducing fire hazards and restoring ecosystems. However, there continues to be confusion and misconception about fuel treatments and their implementation and effects in fire-prone landscapes across the United States. This paper (1) summarizes objectives, methods, and expected outcomes of fuel treatments in forests of the Interior West, (2) highlights common misunderstandings and areas of disagreement, and (3) synthesizes relevant literature to establish a common ground for future discussion and planning. It is important to understand the strengths and limitations of fuel treatments to evaluate their potential to achieve an objective, develop sensible fire management policies, and plan for their effective use. We suggest that, while the potential of fuel treatment to reduce wildfire occurrence or enhance suppression capability is uncertain, it has an important role in mitigating negative wildfire effects, increasing ecosystem resilience and making wildfire more acceptable.     

Market impacts of hypothetical fuel treatment thinning programs on federal lands in the western United States

This paper addresses the economics of forest fuel thinning programs on federal lands in the U.S. West, and presents a model of regional timber and product market impacts. The issue of economics is vital to the debate about fire management, and this paper presents market implications of two alternative silvicultural strategies, even-aged and uneven-aged thinning. Projections are based on a regional market model called FTM—West (Fuel Treatment Market model—West), which uses the method of price-endogenous linear programming to project annual market equilibria for softwood timber and wood products in the western United States from 1997 to 2020. The model takes into account variability in tree and log size, as well as economic effects of variable size class on harvest costs, log value, product recovery and mill capacity. Results show large potential market impacts from expanded thinning on federal lands, but impacts vary by silvicultural regime due to differences in size–class distributions of trees available under different thinning regimes. A hypothetical even-aged thinning program (“thin-from-below” strategy) results in net negative market welfare over the projection period (2005–2020), while a hypothetical uneven-aged thinning program (thinning based on stand density index) results in positive net market welfare. Net welfare results are the same over a range of different subsidy and administrative fee assumptions. An implication is that even-aged thinning regimes on federal lands in the U.S. West are less economical and therefore will be less effective.     

Assessing the role of federal community assistance programs to develop biomass utilization capacity in the western United States

As forest biomass utilization becomes cost effective to harvest, more areas at risk of catastrophic wildfire can be thinned of dense brush and small diameter trees. In an effort to increase biomass utilization, the USDA Forest Service granted more than $36 million in National Fire Plan-Economic Action Program funds in the western United States during fiscal years 2001 to 2003. Interviews with program coordinators and grant recipients were used to characterize the types of investment strategies used and to assess accomplishments relative to national fuels reduction objectives. Findings include a strong emphasis on grants leveraging other funding sources, coordination of resources to increase utilization capacity, and the need for technical assistance to facilitate project design and implementation. We conclude that community assistance programs may help to create the type of utilization capacity necessary to reduce hazardous fuels, but that sustained progress will depend on synergistic activities on multiple fronts and improved demonstration of program accomplishments.     

美国的城市林业

本文介绍了城市林业的内涵以及在美国的发展简史。作者还对其经营范围、法规制定、价值计算、行道树管理、教育和科学研究等作了阐述。     

现代花艺之装饰美

现代花艺（也称为现代花卉装饰艺术）是区别于传统的西方式插花和传统东方式插花的花卉装饰艺术。它出现于上世纪60-70年代。最先在欧美流行。上世纪初,世界各国的政治、经济、文化等都在短时间内经历了巨变。在这种动荡不安、纷繁复杂的社会环境下,各种新奇的、另类的艺术理论应运而生。传统的文化观、审美观受到了严重的冲击,各艺术门类的全新的艺术尝试层出不穷,而且备受追捧,各种流派不断涌现。     

美国国家公园

正早在1851年,在狂热的加利福尼亚淘金热时期,一组荷枪实弹的士兵,自称是马里波萨营,来到层峦叠嶂的内华达山脉,他们被授予的任务是驱赶当地的土著人。时日他们正沿着山脊的西坡开始搜寻,不经意间闯入了一片山谷,峰回路转,眼前的景色瞬间发生了很大的变化,高耸的花岗岩崖壁围绕着郁郁葱葱的山谷,瀑布从几千英尺的上空呼啸着坠入谷底。队伍中一个     

美国西部生物质能源的利用

美国林产品杂志58卷1、2期合刊发表了David L．Nicholls等人的一篇关于森林生物质能源利用的论文。     

State policies for agroforestry in the United States

Existing state legislation and programs pertaining to agroforestry were determined in a 1995 nationwide survey of state- employed natural resource professionals in the United States. At that time, only 20 of the 50 states had legislation that could be identified as pertaining to any of the five major agroforestry practices: windbreaks, riparian buffers, alley-cropping, silvopasture, or forest farming. Nine states had direct legislation specifically referring to one or more of these agroforestry practices, while the remaining 11 states had indirect legislation that could be construed as pertaining to agroforestry. Cost-sharing was the most commonly employed incentive in the direct legislation states and windbreaks were the most common practice in those states. Tax incentives and cost-sharing were the most favored approaches in the 11 states with indirect legislation. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

美国阻燃处理木材的现状

总结美国阻燃处理木材的规范与标准,介绍美国主要阻燃处理木材生产商的阻燃木材产品,分析主要阻燃剂的配方及合成工艺、处理木材的工艺与技术特点,为国内阻燃处理木材行业的技术发展提出建议.     

美国的山区流域管理

作者介绍了流域的概念和定义以及流域管理的起因,论述了美国山区流域管理所面临的问题和采取的治理措施,并阐述了流域管理中森林水文学的作用和效益。认为,美国的流域管理已经从单一的水资源调控发展到对整个流域以水土资源为核心的再生自然资源的保护、改良和多目标利用,以达到流域的可持续发展的目的。     

美国耐旱景观实践及启示

在水资源日益紧缺的背景下,耐旱景观在世界范围内受到重视,其原则广泛应用于干旱地区的景观营造并获得了巨大收益。文中介绍美国耐旱景观及其原则,解析耐旱景观的内涵,列举美国耐旱景观实践的具体做法,希望通过美国耐旱景观的实践能够让更多地区的景观建设获得启示并从中受益。     

为林业生产服务的美国林业科技体制

本文着重介绍了美国林业科技队伍状况、科研经费来源、选题和科技成果推广体系。并结合中国国情提出了具体建议。     

美国的扁桃业

美国是主要的扁桃生产国。１９世纪美国开始引种扁桃，经历了１００余年，发展成为一种重要产业。通过对美国加利福尼亚州扁桃的系统考察，介绍了该国扁桃引种栽培的情况，扁桃的经济价值，主要栽培品种以及苗木培育、种植、整形修剪、病虫害防治、采收、加工等方面的技术，对我国的扁桃引种栽培有一定的参考价值。     

美国的核桃业

美国是世界核桃主产国之一。自１８世纪引种至今已有２００多年的栽培历史,现已发展成为美国的一大绿色产业。在考察了美国的核桃主产地加利福利亚州后,先对美国的核桃栽培和生产概况作介绍,进而从主要栽培的核桃品种,主要栽培技术,核桃的采收、贮运、加工、销售等方面介绍了美国核桃的生产、经营情况,以便对美国的核桃业有所了解,以促进我国核桃的发展。     

Forestland ownership changes in the United States and Sweden

This article examines the changing structure and ownership of the forest products industry in North America and the Nordic countries. The authors explore company-specific perspectives on why some private forest products companies divest themselves of timberland ownership and others do not. The focus is on the United States, where the forest products industry has divested itself of substantial amounts of timberland, and on Sweden, where divestitures have been smaller. In both the United States and Sweden, forest products industries are large and forestland ownership has traditionally been an important component of the portfolio of an integrated forest products firm. The analysis presented here is based in part on literature about the vertical integration of markets.     

美国林业人才培养及启示

高层次林业人才培养是林业科学可持续发展的关键.美国高等林业教育在发展过程中积累了丰富的经验, 形成了较完备的教育体系.然而最近几十年来, 美国林业人才教育出现了一些值得关注的趋势, 一是某些早期的林业人才项目宣告提前结束或主动放弃认证资格; 二是研究型或具备博士学位授权的院校在逐渐收缩林业人才培养项目, 而科研力量相对较弱的大学却在逐渐增加林业教育项目.文中简述美国林业人才培养概况, 介绍美国林业人才培养项目的发展趋势, 分析美国人才培养所面临的挑战并探讨美国涉林院校对林业人才培养模式的调整, 提出我国林业人才教育培养的思考与启示.