Forest Biology and Watershed Management Stories
Growing Old Forests
Plantation pine trees, which cover over 37 million acres in the Southeastern United States, provide a multitude of environmental benefits while generating revenue for landowners. As a tree grows, the quality of the wood increases and forest economists in the Forest and Wildlife Research Center recently studied how expanded tree harvest would improve landowners’ profit margin. Economists found that while harvesting even-aged loblolly pine at 10 years would bring in $5.06 per ton, pine harvested at 30 years would sell for $37.92 per ton. Scientists presented these results to sawmills and surveyed to see if they would pay a premium for this pine harvested on a delayed rotation. Over half answered they would pay a premium to purchase this Grade 1 sawtimber.
Implementing delayed harvests benefit both the landowner financially and environmentally by raising their selling price and providing habitat for wildlife.
2019
Afforestation Benefiting the Environment
The USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), established nearly 40 years ago, has evolved from focusing on soil and water quality to addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gases through carbon sequestration. Researchers at Mississippi State's Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC), led by Dr. Austin Himes, are working with the USDA to assess the greenhouse gas contributions of CRP forested land. Their goal is to calibrate the DayCent model, which simulates greenhouse gas fluxes, by comparing the emissions and sequestration in CRP forests versus agricultural land. The team has measured greenhouse gases at 49 hardwood and 24 pine sites across multiple states and plans to expand their research. They aim to improve the accuracy of the DayCent model and better understand the impact of these forests on climate change mitigation.
The project also provides valuable field experience for students, particularly those working on greenhouse gas research. Despite challenges, the research has been exciting and provides insights that will aid USDA efforts in reducing greenhouse gases through conservation programs.
2023
Anticipating Invasive Insect Impact Before the Threat Arrives
Invasive insects, like the emerald ash borer and the redbay ambrosia beetle, wreak havoc on native ecosystems, kill hundreds of millions of trees, and cost hundreds of millions of dollars per year in lost revenue, management costs, and loss of ecosystem services in North America. Dr. Ashley Schulz, assistant forestry professor, is part of a team working to predict whether insect species will highly-impact North American conifers and hardwoods before they arrive here. team has a dataset of 300 European insects that have not yet arrived in North America and is establishing a baseline to determine which insects will be risky. The work was published in Biological Invasions and the team is now incorporating their models into a new pest predictor tool for i-Tree, a peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service and Davey Tree Expert Company that produces forestry analysis and benefits investment tools. The research is funded through the United States Geological Survey John Wesley Powell Center, the USDA Forest Service National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council, and the MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center.
Collaborators include the University of Maine, Dartmouth College, the University of Georgia, Colorado State University, Arkansas State University, University of Wisconsin, University of Washington, University of Nebraska, the USDA Forest Service, the United States Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center, and Davey Tree Expert Company.