Is the water footprint an appropriate tool for forestry and forest products: The Fennoscandian case

The water footprint by the Water Footprint Network (WF) is an ambitious tool for measuring human appropriation and promoting sustainable use of fresh water. Using recent case studies and examples from water-abundant Fennoscandia, we consider whether it is an appropriate tool for evaluating the water use of forestry and forest-based products. We show that aggregating catchment level water consumption over a product life cycle does not consider fresh water as a renewable resource and is inconsistent with the principles of the hydrologic cycle. Currently, the WF assumes that all evapotranspiration (ET) from forests is a human appropriation of water although ET from managed forests in Fennoscandia is indistinguishable from that of unmanaged forests. We suggest that ET should not be included in the water footprint of rain-fed forestry and forest-based products. Tools for sustainable water management should always contextualize water use and water impacts with local water availability and environmental sensitivity

Nitrogen dynamics in stream and soil waters

The mountainous riparian corridor performs important hydrologic functions including nutrient transfers between the terrestrial (upslope) and aquatic (stream) ecosystems. Nitrate-nitrogen and ammonium-nitrogen concentrations were determined on water samples collected in 1993 and 1994 from a montane riparian zone in Northern Colorado. Soil water samples were collected from the riparian corridor and upslope systems, under both losing (summer reservoir releases) and gaining (spring snowmelt runoff) streamflow conditions. Statistical analyses using least square means contrasts were made to identify spatial and temporal differences between: 1) the upslope system and the riparian corridor, 2) the upslope system and the stream, and 3) the riparian corridor and the stream. The Sheep Creek riparian corridor may serve as a sink for nitrate-nitrogen in both gaining and losing streamflow conditions, and as a source for ammonium nitrogen in gaining streamflow conditions. The length of the source or sink period is relatively short and is not meant to suggest differences in site productivity. Streamflow generation mechanisms help determine if the riparian corridor is a nutrient sink or source.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202

Sediment filtration in a montane riparian zone under simulated rainfall

A 2 year study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of riparian vegetation to filter sediment from overland water flow. Three vegetation height treatments: clipped to the soil surface, clipped to a 10 cm height, and undisturbed were evaluated in 2 montane riparian vegetation communities (grass and sedge) in northern Colorado. Water was sprayed on 2 macro-plots (3 m X 10 m) and 2 micro-plots (0.6 m X 2 m) simultaneously at a rate of 60 mm hr-1 with a rotating boom rainfall simulator. Overland flow containing sediment was introduced at the upper end of the plots at a rate of 25 mm hr-1 to simulate runoff and sediment transport from an upland area. Two sediment sources were used, a sandy loam soil and a ground silica sediment (loam). Thirty kg of sediment were added to each macro-plot and 1.2 kg of sediment were introduced to each micro-plot (10 Mg ha-1). Sediment yields, at the downslope end of the plot, were greater when the finer silica sediment was introduced into overland flow as compared with sediment derived from the sandy loam soil. As expected the small micro-plots yielded more sediment and were often more sensitive to community and treatment differences than larger plots. We believe this resulted from the shorter travel distance. However, sediment filtration treatment effects were usually similar for both plot sizes. Sediment yields, measured at the outlet of the plots, did not decrease, or increase, as vegetation heights increased. Accurate prediction of sediment filtration from shallow flow in riparian zones required consideration of a combination of vegetation and soil surface characteristics.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202

Managing bark beetle impacts on ecosystems and society: Priority questions to motivate future research

Summary 1. Recent bark beetle outbreaks in North America and Europe have impacted forested landscapes and the provisioning of critical ecosystem services. The scale and intensity of many recent outbreaks are widely believed to be unprecedented. 2. The effects of bark beetle outbreaks on ecosystems are often measured in terms of area affected, host tree mortality rates, and alterations to forest structure and composition. 3. Impacts to human systems focus on changes in property valuation, infrastructure damage from falling trees, landscape aesthetics, and the quality and quantity of timber and water resources. 4. To advance our understanding of bark beetle impacts, we assembled a team of ecologists, land managers and social scientists to participate in a research prioritization workshop. 5. Synthesis and applications. We identified 25 key questions by using an established methodology to identify priorities for research into the impacts of bark beetles. Our efforts emphasize the need to improve outbreak monitoring and detection, educate the public on the ecological role of bark beetles, and develop integrated metrics that facilitate comparison of ecosystem services across sites

Managing Bark Beetle Impacts on Ecosystems and Society: Priority Questions to Motivate Future Research

Recent bark beetle outbreaks in North America and Europe have impacted forested landscapes and the provisioning of critical ecosystem services. The scale and intensity of many recent outbreaks are widely believed to be unprecedented. The effects of bark beetle outbreaks on ecosystems are often measured in terms of area affected, host tree mortality rates, and alterations to forest structure and composition. Impacts to human systems focus on changes in property valuation, infrastructure damage from falling trees, landscape aesthetics, and the quality and quantity of timber and water resources. To advance our understanding of bark beetle impacts, we assembled a team of ecologists, land managers and social scientists to participate in a research prioritization workshop. Synthesis and applications. We identified 25 key questions by using an established methodology to identify priorities for research into the impacts of bark beetles. Our efforts emphasize the need to improve outbreak monitoring and detection, educate the public on the ecological role of bark beetles, and develop integrated metrics that facilitate comparison of ecosystem services across sites