The social & economic implications of alternative land uses involving pastoral farming and forestry in Northland : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics at Massey University

This thesis is a scenario study which examines the social and economic impacts of different types of forestry being established in an area of pastoral farmland in Northland, New Zealand. Detailed production, income, expenditure, employment and demographic data was collected from 57 of the 59 farms in the study area. This included expenditure direction data. Those businesses and schools which supported, and were in turn supported by, the study area farms were interviewed to find out the importance of these farms to their continued operation. This pastoral farming scenario is then compared with four forestry scenarios - two conventional forestry scenarios, plus a woodlot and finally an agroforestry scenario. In the first conventional forestry scenario all the study area farms (15,000 hectares) are planted in exotics and in the second about 3,000 hectares are planted. With the two farm forestry scenarios about 1,000 hectares are planted. In the first conventional forestry scenario forestry replaces pastoral farming, while in the second and the farm forestry scenarios pastoral farming and forestry are integrated. Variable results resulted from the comparison, with expenditure comparisons very sensitive to the time harvesting commences, the amount cut and the time span of the scenarios. (Thirty-five years.) These comparisons were also sensitive to the locality in which farming and forestry expenditure were being compared. Forestry expenditure would be markedly higher than farming expenditure once harvesting commenced. But farming has higher backward linkage multipliers and unless forestry processing plants are established, the conventional forestry developments in the scenarios imply a relative decline in regional incomes and employment. If forestry processing plants are established, an increase in regional incomes and employment is implied. Woodlot and agroforestry generally imply an increase in expenditure and employment without the drop in agricultural spending associated with conventional forestry activities on former pastoral farmland. Conventional forestry would result in disruption to the existing social structure. It may result in a long term population decline, but it is likely many ex-farm houses would be re-occupied. Woodlot and agroforestry would strengthen the existing social and economic structure. It is concluded that the Northland United Council's interest and concern about the afforestation of pastoral farmland is justified. However, the rural decline, the corporatisation of government departments, plus the impacts of forestry harvesting and wood processing are considered to be of more importance in the establishment of regional planning priorities

Workforce sustainability in the Chilean logging sector : an ergonomics approach : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

This thesis examines three key, related elements; social sustainability, forestry and ergonomics, and explores two relationships between these elements. The first relationship is between social sustainability and the Chilean forestry sector, with a focus on the forestry sector workforce and forestry working conditions. The second relationship is between social sustainability and ergonomics and the interconnections between these two bodies of knowledge. The study on which this thesis is based involved data collection over a period of several months from 347 forestry workers from two Chilean forest companies, along with interviews with 7 managers and contractors associated with these two companies and 3 experts in the area of forestry. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the impact of working conditions on the workforce in the Chilean forestry sector. Health and safety problems within the Chilean forestry sector are well recognised. Statistical information on the forestry sector indicated a steady increase in the number of occupational health (OH) problems over the years, with previous research attributing this to the working conditions. This background research is evidence of the problems of social sustainability faced by the Chilean workforce in particular, as well as those faced by the forestry sector worldwide. This study examines the relationship between forestry sector working conditions and the workers and identifies causes of problems between these elements. It also examines the strategies the Chilean forestry companies are using to address these issues. The findings indicate that even though working conditions in the Chilean forestry sector have been improved they continue to have a negative impact on workers in terms of occupational health, which in turn has reduced the market attractiveness of the sector. This last aspect also influences replacement of the working population, which is resulting in an ageing population in the Chilean forestry sector. This ageing population is associated with increasing OH issues and reductions in the productivity of the sector where the main activities are still based on human (non-mechanized) labour. The findings discuss the strategies that forestry organisations have implemented to improve the sustainability of the workforce, and conclude that these strategies are not enough to assure sustainability in the Chilean forestry sector as they continue to focus on the prevention of accidents rather than on the sources of the OH problems. None of the strategies pay attention to the wellbeing of the workforce and the development of resources, aspects the workers themselves demand. Forestry organisations therefore need to improve their strategies in this area. The second relationship this thesis explores is between social sustainability and ergonomics. The literature review found that both disciplines share some of the same principles. It also showed that the ergonomics approach is helpful and appropriate to determine the impact of working conditions on workers; however there was a lack of empirical information to prove this potential. The findings of this thesis provide theoretical and practical information about the work that could be done when both disciplines work together. The ergonomics approach was extremely helpful in illuminating the reasons for the impact of working conditions on the workers and at the same time providing information about the problems of organisations and the needs of workers in order to create a sustainable workforce. Finally, this thesis provides sufficient information from a theoretical and practical of view to continue the further investigation in the forestry sector into social sustainability using an ergonomics approach

University-Based Forestry Research and The Little Red Hen

Universities have three basic mission areas: service, teaching, and research. Through the service mission, many forest landowners participate in forestry extension programs and use university-based out reach materials and resources. Many forest landowners also recognize the teaching mission of universities by interacting regularly with forestry professionals who were trained through academic programs accredited by the Society of American Foresters. These two mission areas, service and teaching, have been and continue to be relevant to millions of forest landowners across the nation. But what about university-based forestry research? As a forestry dean and as current president of the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs, and (just as importantly) as a forest landowner, I\u27d like to address three key questions about forestry research, including what this has to do with The Little Red Hen

Effects of post-fire logging on forest surface air temperatures in the Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon, USA

Following stand-replacing wildfire, post-fire (salvage) logging of fire-killed trees is a widely implemented management practice in many forest types. A common hypothesis is that removal of fire-killed trees increases surface temperatures due to loss of shade and increased solar radiation, thereby influencing vegetation establishment and possibly stand development. Six years after a wildfire in a Mediterranean-climate mixed-conifer forest in southwest Oregon, USA, we measured the effects of post-fire logging (> 90 per cent dead tree (snag) removal) on growing season surface air temperatures. Compared with unlogged severely burned forest, post-fire logging did not lead to increased maximum daily surface air temperature. However, dead tree removal was associated with lower nightly minimum temperatures (similar to 1 degrees C) and earlier daytime heating, leading to a 1-2 degrees C difference during the warming portion of the day. Effects varied predictably by aspect. The patterns reported here represent a similar but muted pattern as previously reported for microclimatic changes following clear-cutting of green trees. Effects of microsites such as tree bases on fine-scale temperature regimes require further investigation

Determinants of Private Afforestation in the Republic of Ireland

This paper employs a panel regression analysis using county-level data to quantify the relative importance of competing forestry and agricultural policy incentives in explaining trends in private afforestation in Ireland. It concludes that an increase in the level of up front payments to planters is the most cost efficient way of increasing planting levels. The introduction of the Irish agri-environment programme REPS has contributed to a significant decline in the level of forestry planting and offset the recent increases in the level of forestry grants and premia. Several policy reforms to encourage forestry planting in Ireland are proposed, including greater integration of forestry with the REPS scheme and increasing the value of the initial payment which farmers receive.

Transverse fracture properties of green wood and the anatomy of six temperate tree species

© Institute of Chartered Foresters, 2016. All rights reserved. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of wood anatomy and density on the mechanics of fracture when wood is split in the radial-longitudinal (RL) and tangential-longitudinal (TL) fracture systems. The specific fracture energies (Gf, J m-2) of the trunk wood of six tree species were studied in the green state using double-edge notched tensile tests. The fracture surfaces were examined in both systems using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM). Wood density and ray characteristics were also measured. The results showed that Gf in RL was greater than TL for five of the six species. In particular, the greatest degree of anisotropy was observed in Quercus robur L., and the lowest in Larix decidua Mill. ESEM micrographs of fractured specimens suggested reasons for the anisotropy and differences across tree species. In the RL system, fractures broke across rays, the walls of which unwound like tracheids in longitudinal-tangential (LT) and longitudinal-radial (LR) failure, producing a rough fracture surface which would absorb energy, whereas in the TL system, fractures often ran alongside rays

Evaluation of buffer-radius modelling approaches used in forest conservation and planning

Spatial modelling approaches are increasingly being used to direct forest management and conservation planning at the landscape scale. A popular approach is the use of buffer-radius methods, which create buffers around distinct forest habitat patches to assess habitat connectivity within anthropogenic landscapes. However, the effectiveness and sensitivity of such methods have rarely been evaluated. In this study, Euclidean and least-cost buffer-radius approaches were used to predict functional ecological networks within the wooded landscape of the Isle of Wight (UK). To parameterize the models, a combination of empirical evidence and expert knowledge was used relating to the dispersal ability of a model species, the wood cricket (Nemobius sylvestris Bosc.). Three scenarios were developed to assess the influence of increasing the amount of spatial and species-specific input data on the model outcomes. This revealed that the level of habitat fragmentation for the model species is likely to be underestimated when few empirical data are available. Furthermore, the least-cost buffer approach outperformed simple Euclidean buffer in predicting presence and absence for the model species. Sensitivity analyses on model performance revealed high sensitivity of the models to variation in buffer distance (i.e. maximum dispersal distance) and permeability of common landscape features such as roads, watercourses, grassland and semi-natural habitat. This indicates that when data are lacking with which to parameterize buffer-radius models, the model outcomes need to be interpreted with caution. This study also showed that if sufficient empirical data are available, least-cost buffer approaches have the potential to be a valuable tool to assist forest managers in making informed decisions. However, least-cost approaches should always be used as an indicative rather than prescriptive management tool to support forest landscape conservation and planning

The Annual Report

Transmittal Letter -- Statement of Purpose -- Board of Advisors -- Baked Alaska -- Farewell Dr. Carla Kirts -- People, activities, accomplishments -- 1992 Research Review -- Financial Statement & Funding -- Professional Staf

Understanding the evolution of native pinewoods in Scotland will benefit their future management and conservation

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is a foundation species in Scottish highland forests and a national icon. Due to heavy exploitation, the current native pinewood coverage represents a small fraction of the postglacial maximum. To reverse this decline, various schemes have been initiated to promote planting of new and expansion of old pinewoods. This includes the designation of seed zones for control of the remaining genetic resources. The zoning was based mainly on biochemical similarity among pinewoods but, by definition, neutral molecular markers do not reflect local phenotypic adaptation. Environmental variation within Scotland is substantial and it is not yet clear to what extent this has shaped patterns of adaptive differentiation among Scottish populations. Systematic, rangewide common-environment trials can provide insights into the evolution of the native pinewoods, indicating how environment has influenced phenotypic variation and how variation is maintained. Careful design of such experiments can also provide data on the history and connectivity among populations, by molecular marker analysis. Together, phenotypic and molecular datasets from such trials can provide a robust basis for refining seed transfer guidelines for Scots pine in Scotland and should form the scientific basis for conservation action on this nationally important habitat

Forest Financing in Latin America: The Role of the Inter-American Development Bank

This study includes an overview of financing and financial instruments for sustainable forestry and in particular the roles of the public and private sectors in financing. The study also discusses the role of the IDB financing in forestry, their mandate and comparative advantages and measures to promote demand for forest financing. The overall objective of this study is to present recommendations for the IDB's forest related lending and support to institutional and policy development in borrowing member countries. The recommendations in this paper may be used for future forestry considerations for rural development and natural resource management programs.Environmental Policy, Forests & forestry, Financial Policy, Biodiversity, Natural Resources Management, Environment, Forestry, Forest Financing