The Experts below are selected from a list of 3999 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
R.f. Fisher - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The role of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative in forest landscape changes in Texas, USA
Patterns and Processes in Forest Landscapes, 2020Co-Authors: João Azevedo, X. Ben Wu, Michael G. Messina, Jimmy R. Williams, R.f. FisherAbstract:We studied the changes in landscape pattern and function resulting from the application of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) in East Texas, USA. Changes in landscape structure were studied by comparing landscapes with different management histories. A methodology to integrate landscape and stand pattern dynamics with processes was developed based upon modeling and simulation. The effects of pattern on processes were analyzed with this methodology considering the quality, quantity and configuration of vertebrate habitat and hydrological processes.
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Effects of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative on Landscape Pattern and Processes
2020Co-Authors: João Azevedo, X. Ben Wu, Michael G. Messina, Jimmy R. Williams, R.f. FisherAbstract:We used simulation modeling to study the changes in landscape pattern and function resulting from the application of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program in East Texas, USA. Changes in landscape structure were examined by comparing landscapes with different management histories. The effects of pattern on processes were analyzed considering vertebrate habitat quality and configuration and hydrological processes such as water and sediment yield. Landscapes managed according to the SFI program presented increased general fragmentation. The application of measures under SFI increased habitat diversity in the landscape as well as Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) values for most of the species. Habitat for species requiring large patches of mature forest was almost absent. Landscapes managed under the SFI program showed lower sediment yield at the watershed level than those under the non-SFI program due to higher channel erosion related to the absence of buffer strips in the non-SFI scenario.
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Effects of the Sustainable Forestry initiative on the quality, abundance, and configuration of wildlife habitats
Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 2006Co-Authors: João Azevedo, X. Ben Wu, Michael G. Messina, R.f. FisherAbstract:Abstract We analyzed the effects of landscape measures within the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program on the suitability, abundance and spatial pattern of vertebrate habitats based on modeling and simulation of landscape and stand structure in a forested watershed in East Texas. Eight vertebrate species representing guilds established according to breeding and foraging requirements were selected: American beaver (Castor canadensis), American woodcock (Scolopax minor), pine warbler (Dendroicapinus), downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens), barred owl (Strix varia), wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris), fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) and gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Habitat suitability of the landscape in general increased with the implementation of SFI measures and habitat conditions were more diverse and even. Fragmentation and establishment of narrow and elongated habitat areas in a network configuration were the main consequences of the implementation of SFI measures in terms of h...
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Impacts of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Landscape Level Measures on Hydrological Processes
Water Resources Management, 2005Co-Authors: JoÃo C. Azevedo, Michael G. Messina, Jimmy R. Williams, R.f. FisherAbstract:The effects on hydrological processes of the application of the landscape level measures included in the Sustainable Forestry initiative (SFI) program were analyzed through simulation. A landscape scenario where limitation of harvesting units’ size, imposition of a green-up interval, and establishment of streamside management zones (SMZ) were simulated was compared with a reference scenario where no SFI rules were followed. An intensively managed forested landscape located in East Texas, USA, was used as the study area. The HARVEST landscape model was used to simulate landscape pattern and a modified version of the APEX model was used to simulate hydrological processes. Water and sediment yields were generally small within the observation period and most of the runoff and erosion observed occurred during intense storm events. Water and sediment yield at the subarea level and water yield at the watershed level were similar in both scenarios. However, sediment yield at the watershed level was higher in the non-SFI scenario. The differences were due to the reduction in channel erosion resulting from the presence of SMZs. The effect of buffer zones in terms of sediment deposition was not different between scenarios, which can be attributed to the level slopes of the study area. Landscape measures of the SFI program, namely buffer zones, seem important in reducing channel degradation, particularly during major storm events, in intensively managed forest landscapes in East Texas.
Annika M Felton - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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commercial harvesting of ficus timber an emerging threat to frugivorous wildlife and Sustainable Forestry
Biological Conservation, 2013Co-Authors: Annika M Felton, Damian I Rumiz, Nelly Villaroel, Colin A Chapman, David B LindenmayerAbstract:Abstract There is an extensive ecological literature documenting the importance of fig trees (Ficus spp.) as providers of food and other resources for many tropical animals. What is less apparent is that some Ficus species form free-standing stems that are targeted in logging operations. Despite the potential implications of such harvesting for biological conservation, the existence of this market has largely gone unrecognized by ecologists and conservation biologists. Here we describe the extent of this market in the Neotropics and discuss its implications for wildlife conservation and Sustainable Forestry. We find that large-scale commercial harvesting of Ficus timber primarily occurs in Bolivia, although some logging concessions in Peru and Brazil also harvest trees from this genus. Annually extracted volumes increased after records began being collected in Bolivia in 1998, peaked in 2005–2007 at approximately 34000 m3/year, but are currently relatively low, partly due to the effects of the global financial down-turn of 2008–2009. We suggest that this presents an opportunity to re-assess current Ficus harvesting policies before further market expansion and harvest intensification could occur. We emphasize that because selective logging maintains tree species composition, structure, and disturbance regimes to a much greater extent than forest-converting land-use alternatives, it is important that opportunities to ensure ecologically Sustainable forest management are identified and acted upon. We therefore call on forest ecologists, certification agencies, and conservation biologists to engage with the issue of commercial scale harvesting of Ficus.
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Commercial harvesting of Ficus timber – An emerging threat to frugivorous wildlife and Sustainable Forestry
Biological Conservation, 2013Co-Authors: Annika M Felton, Damian I Rumiz, Nelly Villaroel, Colin A Chapman, David B LindenmayerAbstract:Abstract There is an extensive ecological literature documenting the importance of fig trees (Ficus spp.) as providers of food and other resources for many tropical animals. What is less apparent is that some Ficus species form free-standing stems that are targeted in logging operations. Despite the potential implications of such harvesting for biological conservation, the existence of this market has largely gone unrecognized by ecologists and conservation biologists. Here we describe the extent of this market in the Neotropics and discuss its implications for wildlife conservation and Sustainable Forestry. We find that large-scale commercial harvesting of Ficus timber primarily occurs in Bolivia, although some logging concessions in Peru and Brazil also harvest trees from this genus. Annually extracted volumes increased after records began being collected in Bolivia in 1998, peaked in 2005–2007 at approximately 34000 m3/year, but are currently relatively low, partly due to the effects of the global financial down-turn of 2008–2009. We suggest that this presents an opportunity to re-assess current Ficus harvesting policies before further market expansion and harvest intensification could occur. We emphasize that because selective logging maintains tree species composition, structure, and disturbance regimes to a much greater extent than forest-converting land-use alternatives, it is important that opportunities to ensure ecologically Sustainable forest management are identified and acted upon. We therefore call on forest ecologists, certification agencies, and conservation biologists to engage with the issue of commercial scale harvesting of Ficus.
Thomas Knoke - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Sustainable development and Sustainable Forestry analogies differences and the role of flexibility
European Journal of Forest Research, 2010Co-Authors: Andreas W Hahn, Thomas KnokeAbstract:Various approaches have been developed to achieve sustainability in Forestry, under changing social needs and, consequently, changing definitions of sustainability. This has led to the confusing situation in which various groups have different understandings of the meaning of ‘sustainability’. Likewise, the concepts utilized to achieve sustainability, often with a poorly defined objective, are sometimes not clear and/or inconsistent as a systematic overview regarding definitions and concepts is lacking. Based on a literature review, this paper discusses related terms such as sustainability, sustained yield management, Sustainable Forestry, Sustainable forest management and Sustainable development: their history, concepts and relationships, from a European perspective. Finally, flexibility is proposed as a solution to overcome the identified shortcomings at all scales, while focussing on the enterprise level. The origin of the sustainability concept in Forestry was first driven by forest experts, while participatory elements have been considered since the more recent idea of Sustainable development. Since then, much effort has been made to achieve intragenerational fairness by creating an improved participatory process. Concurrently, the original idea of Sustainable Forestry as long-term and future-oriented management, considering future generations’ needs fell behind. An increasing standing timber volume in Europe and the discussion on climate change brought new interest in how to cope with risks in the context of pervasive future uncertainties within the scope of promoting Sustainable development. Although the consideration of risk has been concentrated on as a topic in forest science in recent years, studies have mainly focused on the enhancement of forest resistance against disturbances. However, precaution and risk avoidance alone are probably insufficient to achieve an improved Sustainable development that focuses on intergenerational fairness, as these more defensive approaches may disregard important management opportunities involved with an uncertain future. A perhaps more promising approach, the idea of future options and the ability to respond to changing social and biophysical circumstances (i.e. flexibility) as criteria for Sustainable development have only shown a shadowy existence up to now. To further develop the consistency of sustainability concepts, a shift of sustainability approaches from continuity towards flexibility options is proposed.
Celia Eicheldinger - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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impacts of forest stewardship council fsc and Sustainable Forestry initiative sfi forest certification in north america
Journal of Forestry, 2012Co-Authors: Susan E Moore, Frederick W. Cubbage, Celia EicheldingerAbstract:We conducted e-mail surveys of organizations that had received forest management certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in the United States and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) in the United States and Canada to determine if forest certification has changed forest management practices and if the changes are practically and statistically different between systems. The results indicate that forest certification prompted substantial changes in practices. On average, firms implemented 13‐14 changes in Forestry, environmental, social, and economic/system practices to obtain or maintain forest certification. Although there was no statistical difference between systems in the total number of changes, there were many differences in the implementation of specific forest practices, with FSC firms required to make more environmental/forest management changes and SFI firms required to make more economic/system changes. Forest managers believed that the benefits of forest certification were greater than the disadvantages. SFI managers rated the benefits of forest certification higher than FSC managers, but also rated the disadvantages higher. Most organizations felt certification accomplished their objectives and were likely to recertify, thus indicating their endorsement of the process.
Xian De Zhuo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the research on the bp neural network based pre warning system for the Sustainable Forestry economic development
International Conference on Robotics and Automation, 2013Co-Authors: Xian De ZhuoAbstract:The Sustainable Forestry economic development is a typical non-linear complex system, so traditional statistical methods are hard to be used for the pre-warning. This paper constructs the pre-warning index system for the Sustainable Forestry economic development, and then builds a pre-warning model for it by applying the BP artificial neural network technology. This model provides a technical means for the pre-warning analysis of the Sustainable Forestry economic development as well as the decision-making basis for the Forestry economic management and planning.
