Finding Silver Linings in the Storm: An Evaluation of Recent Canada-US Crossborder Developments

Recently, a storm of activity has swirled around rules governing the tax treatment of Canada–US crossborder investment. The high degree of integration of the Canadian and US economies means that the effects of such tax changes can be significant. In a number of areas, however, undue restrictions on, or distortions of, crossborder investment remain, which could harm Canada’s economic interests.fiscal policy, border papers, Canada-US crossborder investment tax treatment

Managing trade-offs in landscape restoration and revegetation projects

Landscape restoration projects often have multiple and disparate conservation, resource enhancement and sometimes economic objectives, since projects that seek to meet more than one objective tend to be viewed more positively by funding agencies and the community. The degree to which there are tradeoffs among desired objectives is an important variable for decision-makers, yet this is rarely explicitly considered. In particular, the existence of ecological thresholds has important implications for decision-making at both the project level and the regional level. We develop a model of the possibilities and choices for an agency seeking to achieve two environmental objectives in a region through revegetation of a number of sites. A graphical model of the production possibilities sets for a single revegetation project is developed and different tradeoff relationships are discussed and illustrated. Then the model is used to demonstrate the possibilities for managing all such projects within a region. We show that where there are thresholds in the tradeoff relationship between two objectives, specialization (single- or dominant- objective projects) should be considered. This is illustrated using a case study in which revegetation is used to meet avian biodiversity and salinity mitigation objectives. We conclude that where there are sufficient scientific data, explicit consideration of different types of tradeoffs can assist in making decisions about the most efficient mix and type of projects to better achieve a range of objectives within a region

Prediction Models for Flight Activity of the Cranberry Girdler (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Wisconsin

Cranberry girdler, Chrysoteuchia topiaria, was monitored with pheromone traps in Wisconsin cranberry farms. Cumulative 50% capture was related to degree-days after first catch using air or soil temperature. An air temperature of O°C and soil temperature of 2°C were chosen as base temperatures for calculation of degree-days because they yielded estimates with the lowest coefficients of variation. Weibull functions were fitted to the relation- ship between cumulative percent capture and time or degree-days after first trap catch using air or soil temperatures. The models that predicted the date of 50% capture were evaluated with data from two other farms. Degree-days after first catch using soil temperatures predicted 50% catch with less variability than calendar date or degree-days after thaw of ice. but not significantly less variability than days after first catch or degree-days after first catch using air temperatures

Predatory Insects and Spiders From Suburban Lawns in Lexington, Kentucky

Predatory arthropods were caught in pitfall traps in suburban lawns in Lexington, Kentucky. The relative abundance of species of Lycosidae, Carabidae, and Staphylinidae was compared in Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue turf. Nine species of Lycosidae were collected from both the bluegrass and tall fescue lawns. More species or phena of Carabidae were collected from bluegrass than from tall fescue turf. More than 40 species or phena of staphylinids were collected from each grass habitat. Both Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue are inhabited by an abundant and diverse array of predatory arthropods

Community based forest management systems in developing countries and eligibility for clean development mechanism

Concerns have been raised among the scientific communities about the increased atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon sequestration rates can be maintained or increased by afforestation, reforestation, avoided deforestation, forest preservation and particular tending and cultural operations on existing forests. Of these, afforestation and reforestation are the only eligible project activities under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Of the three market-based mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol (KP), CDM is the only one designed for developing countries where, coincidently, community based forest management systems (CBFMS) are becoming the main form of forest management. Under these systems, enhanced natural regeneration, forest preservation and wise utilization through different sets of cultural and tending operations are widely practiced in Africa, Asia and Latin America. These systems are often more compatible with the essence of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) than are alternative management systems. Using Nepal as a case study, this paper highlights the importance of community forests in developing countries and then explains why many of them may not be eligible for CDM project activities. After that, some reasons why enhanced natural regeneration and forest preservation activities should be considered under the CDM project activities will be discussed. If community forests contribute to achieving the main objectives of CDM program as well as providing biodiversity benefits, and if they are the only socially acceptable and economically viable option, then they should be eligible under the CDM project activities. In particular, the CDM forest definition (>10% crown cover) should not be a barrier to their eligibility

Analysis of spacing for spotted gum plantations for maximising merchantable logs' volume in South East Queensland, Australia

Spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora subspecies Variegata) has the potential to be the major hardwood species for large-scale plantations in South East Queensland, Australia, but production research is limited due to the lack of age of research plots. Optimal spacing is a major subject of concern. Based on time series data from a spotted gum experiment site, growth performance is analysed for five spacing levels: ─11.3 m x 11.3 m (78 stems per hectare), 7.4 m x 7.4 m (182 sph), 5.4 m x 5.4 m (343 sph), 3.6 m x 3.6 m (771 sph) and 2.9 m x 2.9 m (1189 sph). The major objective was assumed to be to maximise total merchantable log volume. A growth model was produced, and the mean diameter at breast height (dbh) and total merchantable log volume for each spacing levels at a range of harvesting ages was estimated. From the analysis, the spacing level of 5.4 m x 5.4 m was found to be optimal for maximising merchantable log volume to 10 cm small-end diameter. Further analysis of mean dbh, height and volume of the largest 200 and 250 trees from this spacing level indicates that merchantable log volume could be maximised by retaining the 250 largest trees per hectare. The total financial revenue from the best spacing level in 25 and 30 years are predicted to be $13,637 and$17,779 per hectare, respectively. If full rotation data could be obtained, more reliable models could be produced, and a more accurate financial estimate could be made

Phenology of Oviposition of \u3ci\u3eDasyneura Oxycoccana\u3c/i\u3e (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Relation to Cranberry Plant Growth and Flowering

Eggs of cranberry tipworm, Dasyneura oxycoccana (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) were sampled in a Wisconsin cranberry marsh from 1990 through 1992. Oviposition began in May within one week after the first cranberry shoots elongated more than 5 mm. Oviposition fluctuated in June, then greatly decreased in July, after over 90% of cranberry flowers had opened. Some oviposition continued into August. Tipworm probably has greatly overlapping generations, as no distinct broods could be detected. Consequently, D. oxycoccana may be difficult to manage without control methods effective against multiple life stages

Spatial Representations of Possible Sites for Farm Forestry Plantations within an Agricultural Landscape

In this chapter, a method of identifying possible sites for future farm forestry plantations is discussed. Spatial representations of current and possible agricultural activities in the landscape are used to inform land-use and conservation planning. The criteria for selecting sites are derived from a combination of the conclusions from the landholder survey discussed in Chapter 5, government policy goals as stated in selected policy documents, and feedback obtained from a Multi-objective Decision Support System (MODSS) process discussed elsewhere in this report. The purposes of the analysis in this chapter are to: - develop a means of identifying potential forestry sites in a sub-region or catchment, for use in planning by catchment management or local government groups; - develop a spatial representation of potential forestry sites in a sub-region or catchment, to provide information to people engaged in consultation activities, such as the MODSS process; - model the changes in the value of agricultural output that would result from the conversion of land to forestry use. This is designed to provide further information to policy makers as to whether there are sound economic reasons for pursuing the goal of increasing the area devoted to farm forestry. It should be noted that achievement of the last of these objectives is severely limited by the lack of relevant biophysical data relating to forestry production in the study region, namely the Hodgson Creek Catchment, south-west of Toowoomba on the eastern Darling Downs. Therefore, the estimates are indicative only. In addition, the analysis is based on estimates of what could be produced in the way of conventional crop and livestock production from the region, not what is currently produced. A closer integration of the spatial component with the actual production would require a detailed on-ground survey, and given rotational land-use, would involve a highly complex model. An additional problem is that an infinite number of combinations of land-use activities and their locations across various locations in the region are possible. Therefore, the analysis compares the spatial distribution and value of broadacre, dryland cropping and pastoral activity with scenarios in which some land is used for plantations. This comparison has been undertaken by creating a representation of current land-use for the study area, based on existing spatial data sets and some interpretation of satellite imagery, and then adding possible farm forestry scenarios to create new land-use combinations for the catchment. The farm forestry scenarios were initially developed from the preferences of landholders as deduced from the survey response data discussed in Chapter 5, and from advice from local forestry extension personnel and Queensland State and Federal government policy goals in relation to farm forestry. The initial set of scenarios were then presented to a stakeholder group, as discussed in the MODSS section of this report, and modified according to their feedback, after which the modified scenarios were presented to an expert panel. The feedback from that exercise was used to refine and simplify the scenarios and these are the ones to be primarily considered in this chapter

Landholder Attitudes to Farm Plantations

This chapter contains an analysis of landholders' attitudes to the potential for establishing plantations on farms in medium rainfall areas (500-800 mm per year) where the current dominant forms of land-use are grain and fibre crop production and the grazing of sheep and cattle. The data collection method was a survey of landholders. Results were derived by statistical analysis of landholder responses to various questions and statements relating to themselves, the property they own or manage and their attitudes to farm forestry. The aim of the research was to identify what type of landholders, if any, might consider establishing plantations, where, on their properties they are most likely to establish them and what factors deter them from establishing plantations. This information can be used by researchers, policy-makers and land-use administrators to develop regional or catchment-scale land management plans that take account of the views of landholders. The specific aim of the researcher was to provide data that could be used as part of a Multi-objective Decision Support System (MODSS) but it was anticipated that the data could also be used in other forms of community engagement, such as consultation processes. A secondary goal of the researcher was to add to the stock of information on landholders' attitudes to farm forestry and, in particular, to consider the attitudes of landholders in the medium rainfall areas

Landholder Attitudes to Commercial Production of Native Forestry

This chapter contains an analysis of landholder attitudes to the potential for the commercialisation of native timber resources by private landholders in the medium rainfall areas. The analysis supplements the work on plantations in Chapter 5 and aims to provide information about landholder priorities that could be incorporated into a Multi-objective Decision-Support System (MODSS). It may also provide information that helps forestry extension personnel and policy-makers understand the attitudes and priorities of landholders. The chapter starts with a brief discussion of the reasons for considering the commercial potential of native forests on private land, followed by an outline of the methodology used to gather information about landholders' attitudes to utilising the native forest resource. The results are then discussed in light of previous studies, and some conclusions drawn from the analysis