Dynamics of forest composition and growth in Alabama of USA under human activities and climate fluctuation

Integrated analysis of forest dynamics under both anthropogenic influence and climatic change is crucial to indicating emergent patterns and meeting objectives of climate change mitigation. In this study, a long-term forest inventory data (1960s-2010s) in Alabama, USA were analyzed for patterns in relation to human activities and climate fluctuation. The results indicated that the species (or species groups) composition in Alabama’s forests was significantly different between all reported times, except for 2012–2015 based on Simpson’s index. Eastern hemlock trees declined dramatically. The overall forest communities became less homogeneous. Positive or negative correlation existed in the abundance of many species. The distribution of tree abundance along diameters for tree species followed exponential models. Both annual tree mortality and net growth rate increased from the 1960s. The total volume of growing stock increased from 14.4 million cubic feet in 1963 to 39.5 million cubic feet in 2016. The average volume of growing stock per acre also increased linearly with annual average air temperature, but not with annual precipitation. Based on the patterns of Alabama’s forests under climate fluctuation and human activities, some suggestions on developing strategies for the sustainability of Alabama forest were discussed.     

Factors Associated with Black-Owned Land Loss

ABSTRACT

Since the 1982 report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, special emphasis has been focused on Black fanners in the United States. Of particular importance has been the crisis surrounding Black-owned land loss. Historically, this decline has been due to take-away strategies such as tax sales, partition sales, and accelerated foreclosures by larger land owners and members of the political establishment. At the same time, these schemes were aided by the fact that the traditional mode of land transfer among Black owners was without a legal document or will. Using survey results from Black farmers from the Black Belt region of South-Central Alabama, this paper: (1) briefly examines the positive influence of land ownership on farmers; (2) discusses land loss and the factors behind this phenomenon; (3) considers the overall risk environments surrounding the issue of land loss and how these environments might affect current and future generations of farmers; and (4) proposes avenues for action.