tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64482599136242061802024-03-09T21:45:51.729-05:00Central Pennsylvania ForestryDave Jackson provides this blog as a source of information to the Pennsylvania forestry community.
Updates and news items on forestry related subjects are posted regularly.David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.comBlogger636125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-81561637933737123342022-03-04T14:16:00.002-05:002022-03-04T14:16:15.024-05:00'Spongy Moth' Adopted as New Common Name for Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)<p><b>Translation of French name
based on destructive forest pest's sponge-like egg masses</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">March 2, 2022—"Spongy
moth" has been formally adopted as the new common name for the gypsy moth
species <i>Lymantria dispar</i> by the Entomological Society of America.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Entomological Society of America (ESA) Governing Board voted
unanimously last week to approve the addition of "spongy</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7s5r8Rmr_9RZ2UzBQ0BrNY_M354D86qzdW63jCGK3mCdsKSiJk5ayf9XgujmQinpZPXT9gc6H_49hgSPUEmL7IBMr1iULLM_1Oy6VwytI9wPMNyY3Fj-wGgInVbMUrBnH1v_OeSYhZociNQ0qduAIFB_mD4J0zfVPTqYucCH27H7H16_1W6NHpSHr1A=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7s5r8Rmr_9RZ2UzBQ0BrNY_M354D86qzdW63jCGK3mCdsKSiJk5ayf9XgujmQinpZPXT9gc6H_49hgSPUEmL7IBMr1iULLM_1Oy6VwytI9wPMNyY3Fj-wGgInVbMUrBnH1v_OeSYhZociNQ0qduAIFB_mD4J0zfVPTqYucCH27H7H16_1W6NHpSHr1A=s320" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /> moth" to
ESA's Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms List, completing a process
started in July 2021 when the previous name, "gypsy moth," was
removed due to its use of a derogatory term for the Romani people. The change
is the first undertaken by ESA's Better Common Names Project.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The name—derived from the common
name used in France and French-speaking Canada, "spongieuse"—refers
to the moth's sponge-like egg masses.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Lymantria dispar is a
damaging pest in North American forests, and public awareness is critical in
slowing its spread. 'Spongy moth' gives entomologists and foresters a name for
this species that reinforces an important feature of the moth's biology and
moves away from the out-dated term that was previously used," says ESA President
Jessica Ware, Ph.D. "We are grateful to the diverse community of people
and organizations who have been involved in this renaming process and have
committed to adopting 'spongy moth' as well."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The spongy moth is an invasive
pest of North American forests that can defoliate hundreds of tree and shrub
species. Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, it was introduced in
Massachusetts in the 1800s and is now widespread in the northeastern United
States and eastern Canada and costs hundreds of millions of dollars each year
in damage and prevention and control efforts. A primary way the spongy moth
spreads is via these egg masses when transported on firewood, outdoor
equipment, and vehicles. Public awareness of the L. dispar egg mass and its
sponge-like appearance is important in controlling the pest, as the insect
spends most of its life cycle (10 months) in the egg stage.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Through its addition to the ESA
Common Names List, "spongy moth" will now be adopted for use in
articles published in ESA's scientific journals and in presentations and
posters at ESA conferences, as well as in ESA's website, social media, and
public policy documents.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ESA encourages other organizations
and individuals who work in research or management of Lymantria dispar to
transition to the use of "spongy moth" in communications, documents,
and publications as time and resources allow in coming months and years. The
Better Common Names Project has published a toolkit for adopting the new name,
with recommendations, frequently asked questions, and a flyer for raising
public awareness.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"'Spongy moth' is already
beginning to appear in media stories and other online resources, which we're
excited to see. But we know this name change won't happen overnight," Ware
says. "Particularly in books or print products, or regulations related to
L. dispar, phasing in use of the new name may take some time. ESA will continue
to provide supporting resources for organizations adopting this change."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The name "spongy moth" was recommended
by a working group that included more than 50 scientists and professionals who
work in research or forest management settings in both the United States and
Canada, as well as Romani scholars working on human rights issues. The group
gathered name suggestions and additional input from a broad array of interested
individuals and organizations, including entomologists, forestry professionals,
federal agencies, state departments of agriculture and natural resources,
conservation groups, pest control and plant protection organizations, and
Romani people. More than 200 name proposals were evaluated, and a list of seven
finalist names was shared with these groups for consideration, with more than
1,000 responses received. "Spongy moth" was put forth for a two-week
comment period beginning January 25, and comments were reviewed by the ESA
Common Names Committee and ESA Governing Board prior to final approval.</span></span>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-80142164196958671132022-01-24T11:48:00.000-05:002022-01-24T11:48:06.497-05:00PDA Lifts Black Walnut Thousand Cankers Quarantine<p>Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture
Secretary Russell Redding announced that the department has lifted a quarantine
in place since August 2014, because Thousand Cankers Disease no longer
threatens Pennsylvania’s black walnut trees. Pennsylvania leads the nation in
production and exports of hardwood lumber, and the disease was once thought to
be a significant threat to the state’s $36 billion hardwoods industry.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Quarantines are excellent tools
to help protect our agriculture industry and our economy from disease and
pests,” said Sec. Redding. “When science demonstrates that the disease is no
longer a threat, restrictions on commerce are no longer necessary. We remain
vigilant against invasive species and disease threats, but the quarantine as a
tool has done its job.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Thousand Cankers Disease is caused
when walnut twig beetles, which carry a fungus called <i>Geosmithia morbida</i>,
tunnel beneath the bark of walnut trees, causing small cankers to form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over time, repeated beetle attacks and
resulting cankers disrupt the movement of water and nutrients throughout the
tree, causing branches and limbs to die and eventually killing the tree.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Several peer-reviewed, published
research studies have shown that despite the presence of the beetles and
fungus, native black walnuts in Pennsylvania have been largely unaffected by
the disease. Black walnut constitutes about one percent of Pennsylvania’s
hardwood forests and is highly sought after for furniture and other valuable
products, as well as the nuts it produces.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Efforts to control walnut twig
beetles using parasitic wasps are still underway and the department will
continue to monitor the presence of the insects, fungus and disease in
Pennsylvania.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The quarantine restricted movement
of materials from walnut trees, living or dead, including nursery stock, green
lumber and firewood, as well as roots, branches, mulch and other debris. It
applied to Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
Affected businesses in those counties will be notified of the action this
month.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture also issued a quarantine in 2007 prohibiting the movement of
firewood of all types and species into Pennsylvania unless it is labeled as
"kiln-dried" and/or is USDA-certified. This quarantine, still in
effect, is designed to help slow the spread of nonnative, invasive forest pests
and diseases that are often moved long distances hidden in firewood.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Campers and homeowners can help
protect Pennsylvania's urban, suburban and forested areas from nonnative
invasive forest pests and diseases by the following:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Buy
and burn locally cut firewood,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Burn
any firewood already brought from another area. Don’t leave it behind or take
it with you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The <a href="https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol52/52-3/82.html" target="_blank">repealed Thousand CankerDisease quarantine order</a> can be found in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.<o:p></o:p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-33507025889248969122022-01-24T11:10:00.000-05:002022-01-24T11:10:11.486-05:00New NOAA State by State Climate Summaries<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiWxjkxhWiQyp4ym1xse40fvVqsUXLpRiXJrjztd8tu29cTm54oZVCZZGZ-q9B067V_ccj1bap5ztWunBvpEEcvVS5CPme-p2l99NobH3zJOwtQfgmDI37ifuVjQEulXEWlRdH4F0vcNdJ3kKELqt-xkqUYasSv-udyiwdFZVEKcrGDoJwt1HW9m8rUQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiWxjkxhWiQyp4ym1xse40fvVqsUXLpRiXJrjztd8tu29cTm54oZVCZZGZ-q9B067V_ccj1bap5ztWunBvpEEcvVS5CPme-p2l99NobH3zJOwtQfgmDI37ifuVjQEulXEWlRdH4F0vcNdJ3kKELqt-xkqUYasSv-udyiwdFZVEKcrGDoJwt1HW9m8rUQ=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">NOAA has released a set of new
climate summaries for each state. Their website says: “The State Climate
Summaries spell out recent local conditions for each state and provide insights
about the state’s climate outlook based on historical trends.”</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The State Climate Summaries
provided here were initially produced to meet the demand for state-level
climate information in the wake of the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment.
This 2022 version provides new information and extends the historical climate
record to 2020 for each state. The summaries cover assessment topics directly
related to NOAA’s mission, specifically historical climate variations and
trends, future climate model projections of climate conditions during the 21st
century, and past and future conditions of sea level and coastal flooding.
Additional background information and links are given.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Searchable state information can
be found at: <a href="https://statesummaries.ncics.org/">https://statesummaries.ncics.org/</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These are worth your time looking
at your state and bookmarking your state’s page. They are also good reference
documents if you need a quick source of climate information in summary form for
your state.</span><o:p></o:p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-62762368066682239312021-12-27T12:31:00.002-05:002021-12-27T12:31:25.646-05:00Pennsylvania Banning Callery (Bradford) Pear<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBnKM-ozNx1GcRUtx23vp69XfCpRaCTm0ajGt7nSg3LiBE77ztepXy07tXfsdzve6Oh7ZXTc-3i-nYXwxwy174qNGelnCXYYASuP4sFw3nZoPwVkjEVeUyKZxuudhXkO5pdnozvWG6L0XHKvG2rI7Eqwtq066qWA0cCC9LdT5k6hDmyhVbVNAh_3EvFQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBnKM-ozNx1GcRUtx23vp69XfCpRaCTm0ajGt7nSg3LiBE77ztepXy07tXfsdzve6Oh7ZXTc-3i-nYXwxwy174qNGelnCXYYASuP4sFw3nZoPwVkjEVeUyKZxuudhXkO5pdnozvWG6L0XHKvG2rI7Eqwtq066qWA0cCC9LdT5k6hDmyhVbVNAh_3EvFQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />Harrisburg, PA – The PA Department
of Agriculture added Callery pear, or Pyrus calleryana, commonly called
Bradford Pear to a list of noxious weeds — plants that cannot be legally sold
or cultivated in the state. The popular, non-native, flowering fruit tree
naturalizes, spreading from planted landscapes, crowding out other plants and
disrupting native ecosystems. The ban on sale and cultivation will take effect
February 9, 2022 with enforcement phased in over two years.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"Callery pear is another
non-native plant that was brought to this country for its beauty and rapid
growth, without regard for its long-term potential to harm our environment and
food supply," said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. "Banning
the sale of an invasive plant is an important tool to stop its spread and is a
step we take only after careful consideration of the damage it causes and its
potential for continued harm to our ecosystem and economy."</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Enforcement of the ban will be
phased in over two years to allow time for nurseries and landscaping businesses
to eliminate it from their stock and replace the trees with alternatives that
pose less threat to the environment and agriculture. The department has
established an exemption procedure for breeders who own the rights to varieties
that have been researched and proven sterile, and will consider exempting these
varieties from the ban.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Callery pear was brought to the
U.S. in the early 1900s by researchers looking for a fire blight-resistant
species that could be bred with European pear to increase fruit production. It
has garnered attention in recent years as a prolific invader that can easily
spread into woodlands, pastures, fields and natural areas.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Property owners should control the
tree's spread on their land and consider native alternatives when planting new
trees. Find native alternatives and information on how to control the plant on
the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website, dcnr.pa.gov.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The timeline for the two-year
rollout of the ban is as follows:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Winter 2021 - Callery pear added to Pennsylvania's Controlled plant and
Noxious Weed list as a Class B weed. Class B weeds are those that are so
prolific they cannot realistically be eradicated. These plants are targeted for
control measures.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">February 2022 – Nursery and landscape businesses will receive notice
from the department, advising them to immediately begin adjusting propagation,
ordering and planting of Callery Pear to decrease inventory.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">February 2023 – The department will issue letters of warning to any
plant merchant still selling Callery Pear, providing a date in February 2024
after which remaining inventory will be subject to a destruction order. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">February 2024 – The department will issue Stop Sale and destruction
orders to plant merchants selling or distributing Callery Pear.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Merchants with questions should
contact <a href="mailto:ra-plant@pa.gov">ra-plant@pa.gov</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Find more information about
Callery pear and other noxious, controlled and poisonous plants in
Pennsylvania<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>visit <a href="http://agriculture.pa.gov">agriculture.pa.gov</a>.
For comprehensive information about controlling numerous invasive plants in
Pennsylvania, visit:<a href="https://extension.psu.edu/forests-and-wildlife/forest-management/invasive-and-competing-plants">https://extension.psu.edu/forests-and-wildlife/forest-management/invasive-and-competing-plants</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-16255802330505911052021-12-07T08:07:00.001-05:002021-12-07T08:07:33.722-05:00New Video on Invasive Species by NY DEC<p> <span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">New York State (NYS) Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) brings you, “Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species”. It tells the story of invasive species in NYS and how the DEC and their partners are tackling them. </span></p><p><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">One of the biggest ways you can help stop invasive species is by educating friends, family, and neighbors about the small choices they can make that have a big impact, such as:
Using local firewood, cleaning, draining, and drying your watercraft and gear, removing mud and debris off your equipment, boots, gear, and pets. </span></p><p><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Uninvited was filmed in 2018. Invasive species move fast; Since the time of filming there have been some updates to the information provided in the film.</span></p><p><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Check it out at: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKh8Lc31rm8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKh8Lc31rm8</a></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NKh8Lc31rm8" width="320" youtube-src-id="NKh8Lc31rm8"></iframe></div><br /><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto"><br /></span><p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-11492538316285906012021-10-11T10:24:00.001-04:002021-10-11T10:24:50.038-04:00Barberry Added to List of Plants Illegal to Sell in Pennsylvania<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56XiL2MxX-r-X6-OniG9UtT_NJF0HHR6W3zbdPJKJh23Yx80mnRqgIQoOC2qk8xWcp1plIq_7V6qXy4MtxZWx2vH81f78lQmL0-pDmc7OVm851VOo2wuXYcsrzix2B-5YHruNv8ONkVP0/s2048/20190919_135548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56XiL2MxX-r-X6-OniG9UtT_NJF0HHR6W3zbdPJKJh23Yx80mnRqgIQoOC2qk8xWcp1plIq_7V6qXy4MtxZWx2vH81f78lQmL0-pDmc7OVm851VOo2wuXYcsrzix2B-5YHruNv8ONkVP0/s320/20190919_135548.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Beginning October 6, 2021, Japanese
barberry and two other invasive plant species were added to the list of plants
that are illegal to propagate or sell in Pennsylvania.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee placed a notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin on August 7 officially adding the following species to
the Noxious Weed List as Class B noxious weeds: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>Berberis
thunbergia</i>, Japanese barberry<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>Microstegium
vimineum</i>, Japanese stiltgrass<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>Alliaria
petiolate</i>, garlic mustard<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This becomes effective 60 days
after notice.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Most notable is the addition of
Japanese barberry, a popular nursery and landscaping plant. Until the
Department of Agriculture develops a process to apply for permission to sell
sterile varieties, both sterile and nonsterile varieties are banned.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The first two years of enforcement
will be incremental, to allow for outreach to plant merchants, landscape
professionals, and other states to enable the industry to work towards
compliance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Noxious weeds are determined to be
injurious to public health, crops, livestock, and agricultural land or other
property and cannot be sold, transported, planted, or otherwise propagated in
Pennsylvania. Class B noxious weeds are widely established and cannot feasibly
be eradicated. You can learn more about the Pennsylvania’s Noxious weed law by
clicking <a href="https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/NIPPP/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-84748665089825378612021-09-28T10:23:00.000-04:002021-09-28T10:23:45.882-04:00Audubon’s Healthy Forests Guide is Now Available!<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4tD657DXP0i_fs7NNv8QAFg0FMWiZmy5woKHKufgXsViIUfJW2hJrtECHFY5sD6SEm-wSl-NkrWTeOduAwlaWXuO3nPGs3ZtAZWv7pfOI4qC-UcPqrVouYmC5eMurAU4bVWC9-J0a2hz/s2048/IMG_1075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4tD657DXP0i_fs7NNv8QAFg0FMWiZmy5woKHKufgXsViIUfJW2hJrtECHFY5sD6SEm-wSl-NkrWTeOduAwlaWXuO3nPGs3ZtAZWv7pfOI4qC-UcPqrVouYmC5eMurAU4bVWC9-J0a2hz/s320/IMG_1075.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Audubon
Mid-Atlantic's newest resource for Pennsylvania is here, along with two updated
companion publications. Designed for industry professionals, including
consulting and public-lands foresters, <i style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;"><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpa.audubon.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fhealthyforests_final.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cdrj11%40psu.edu%7C9d2c4b40b1f0476c264a08d9827d9486%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C637684298922396666%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=AKpOBwfk5a708xmzM7jpgLuL18LSBLFY9MhHonhCXko%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Healthy Forests: A Bird-based Silvicultural Guide for
Forestry Professionals</span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-style: normal;">,</span></a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;">
is chock full of silviculture guidance, management scenarios, and ideas for
successful bird-friendly forestry. </span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The guide weaves
together effective, traditional forest management techniques with bird-friendly
practices that support multiple objectives, including wildlife habitat
enhancement/creation, timber production, forest regeneration, and recreation.
Understanding that every forest property, client, and situation is unique, the
guide includes sections like 'Selling Silviculture' with tips for engaging
landowners. The ‘Silvicultural Options and Scenarios’ section describes
effective management solutions for common forest conditions and issues found
across the Mid-Atlantic region.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Available
alongside the <i>Healthy Forests Guide</i> are two companion pieces:
the <i>Forest Birds Pocket Guide </i>and the <i>Healthy Forests
Quick Start Guide. </i> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The <i><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpa.audubon.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fforestbirdpocketguide_2020_rev_compressed.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cdrj11%40psu.edu%7C9d2c4b40b1f0476c264a08d9827d9486%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C637684298922406613%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=XoVRsg3WHZ2TTZUvOOYWDPoXJMMfYrGXIYVOeKjHox4%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Forest Birds Pocket Guide</span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-style: normal;"> </span></a></i>includes detailed descriptions of the
habitat and forest conditions needed by 18 priority bird species in
Pennsylvania. It’s an easy-to-use companion to the Healthy Forests Guide
with supplemental material to help inform management decisions for priority
birds. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #201f1e;">The <i><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpa.audubon.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fquick_start_guide_final.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cdrj11%40psu.edu%7C9d2c4b40b1f0476c264a08d9827d9486%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C637684298922406613%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=igD8GM0vr99oFeKl460NEuN%2F7OghXl4mUAclXy3qTUE%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Healthy Forests Quick Start Guide</span></a></i> is
the perfect tool for those of you who are already familiar with incorporating
bird-friendly practices into forest management prescriptions. It’s concise,
relevant, and easy to use, with everything you need on just a single
page. </span><span style="color: #201f1e; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Audubon’s Healthy
Forests Guide benefitted from critical funding and partnerships with Natural
Resources Conservation Service, Hamer Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation, Ruffed Grouse Society, PA Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources, Pennsylvania Game Commission, The Nature Conservancy, Penn State
Extension, American Forest Foundation, U.S. Forest Service, and the Appalachian
Mountains Joint Venture. Each was instrumental in helping to develop this guide
so that it would be useful and relevant to foresters across the commonwealth. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpa.audubon.org%2Fconservation%2Fhealthy-forests-downloads&data=04%7C01%7Cdrj11%40psu.edu%7C9d2c4b40b1f0476c264a08d9827d9486%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C637684298922416568%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=z2jSlw6YO2fjoHQCYoyBY3muE9LIleAGM4XEWDyb21Q%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Learn
more and download the guides here.</span></span></a></span></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-54671985519427322812021-05-27T10:26:00.003-04:002021-05-27T10:26:37.828-04:00Bees Are Essential<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWhqkOQNPwp9PRbRCil0UBqF0kEwFDr9R81FPQCBNrq91ozRZrJYyR9_XFQVmIuJJfDV5J_gtRVjcgerryzbJTh1efW6CAhArsXsF9ZOpn3g-Ta_VT3DdpJA_VXmZT1VI_W1gWnvMuFDc/s499/Bee+Basics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWhqkOQNPwp9PRbRCil0UBqF0kEwFDr9R81FPQCBNrq91ozRZrJYyR9_XFQVmIuJJfDV5J_gtRVjcgerryzbJTh1efW6CAhArsXsF9ZOpn3g-Ta_VT3DdpJA_VXmZT1VI_W1gWnvMuFDc/s320/Bee+Basics.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The USDA Forest Service and the
Pollinator Partnership have teamed up to produce an excellent 40-page full
color publication entitled <b><i><a href="https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/SC/Bee_Basics_North_American_Bee_ID.pdf" target="_blank">Bee Basics: An Introduction to Our Native Bees</a></i></b>.
It is authored by Beatriz Moisset, Ph.D. and Stephen Buchmann, Ph.D. with Illustrations
by Steve Buchanan. This publication shares a close up look at this treasure of
native bees. They provide an invaluable ecosystem service, pollination, to 80
percent of flowering plants. Bees pollinate approximately 75 percent of the
fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown in this country.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Native bees are a hidden treasure,
they can be found anywhere in North America, where flowers bloom. Native
pollinators have been pollinating the continent’s flowering plants since long
before the arrival of honey bees. Even in today’s altered landscapes, native
pollinators continue to do the yeomen’s share of pollination, especially when
it comes to native plants. The world as we know it would not exist if there
were no bees to pollinate the earth’s 250,000 flowering plants.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some native bees and other
pollinators are experiencing population declines and range reductions. Many of the same factors affecting honey bee
health are also affecting native bee species health as well. A number of
government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and private individuals are
creating pollinator gardens throughout the country that will benefit native bees
and other pollinators. Helping native bees is essential to our continued
survival, health, and well-being. These
animals benefit us all because of the invaluable ecosystem services they
provide to the environment and to our farms, forests, and gardens.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Get involved, observe bees with
close focusing binoculars; plant a small pollinator garden; or help a neighbor,
student, or family member drill small holes in scrap lumber to create a bee house.
Do your share to make sure this precious legacy continues. <b><a href="https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/SC/Bee_Basics_North_American_Bee_ID.pdf" target="_blank">Click here</a></b> to read the full
publication. </span></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-18828334903826303752021-05-25T10:06:00.000-04:002021-05-25T10:06:05.086-04:00Timber sales publication will serve as a guide for landowners<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-clz3tFObuh3voIwayBTvwD2KqYweWfLjeFQhLF-_zYULTf_HJ_EbG_zxvjNsqqMGivEprKBbb6TFDDCr1k_byFDaB7Bao62veyNeTvMaeJZ7ImZyactngBxcYC1aLpOADmGbum3eayK/s2048/20200415_093526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-clz3tFObuh3voIwayBTvwD2KqYweWfLjeFQhLF-_zYULTf_HJ_EbG_zxvjNsqqMGivEprKBbb6TFDDCr1k_byFDaB7Bao62veyNeTvMaeJZ7ImZyactngBxcYC1aLpOADmGbum3eayK/s320/20200415_093526.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Timber harvesting
is an important management tool. When conducted with care and planning, it
allows owners to manage forests to meet multiple objectives. Landowners choose
to conduct timber sales for a variety of reasons. The decision to harvest may
be recommended in a management plan or it may be unexpected.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Regardless of the
reason, a successful timber harvest that meets landowner goals begins with a
forest resource professional developing a plan. Timber harvesting is a time
when landowners can improve their woods for what they value, such as enhancing
wildlife habitat, or cause real damage from which the woods might not recover
for generations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A new publication
from Penn State Extension titled, “Timber Sales: A Guide to Selling Timber,” is
available to help landowners understand how timber sales are conducted. This 12-page
publication outlines a seven-step process. “It will assist forest landowners in
understanding how a timber sale is conducted and how to retain the services of
a forestry professional,” said Dave Jackson, forestry educator and publication
co-author.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
“It is not a definitive how-to guide as
much of the process will depend on each specific situation.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Timber harvesting
is not a process to be entered into lightly. Harvests involve complex decisions
across many issues, including ecology, forest operations, business, law, taxes,
marketing and negotiation. Harvests have both short- and long-term consequences
for the landowner and the forest. This publication is a first step in helping
landowners understand some of these consequences and how they can ensure a
successful outcome.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Selling timber is
complicated and requires substantial investments in time and a thorough
understanding of the industry. Timber sales have the potential to impact site
productivity, wildlife habitat, water quality, aesthetics, income, taxes,
estate planning — the list goes on.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Those
lacking the proper level of experience should use this publication as a
reference to understand how foresters can help and what they strive to
accomplish on the landowner’s behalf.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A satisfactory
harvest experience is no accident; it is the result of thoughtful planning and
hard work. Planning is critical to ensuring a positive outcome, one that meets landowner
objectives and sustainability guidelines.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> To
ensure a successful timber sale, landowners must have a clear understanding of
the process, this new Extension publication can help.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
publication, “<b>Timber Sales: A Guide to Selling Timber,</b>” is available as a free
downloadable PDF; printed copies are available for purchase. To view the full
publication, visit </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://extension.psu.edu/timber-sales-a-guide-to-selling-timber"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">https://extension.psu.edu/timber-sales-a-guide-to-selling-timber</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
or call 877-345-0691.</span></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-84516482005313726722021-04-26T16:04:00.004-04:002021-04-26T16:17:50.452-04:00Learning Among Forest Landowners and Professionals<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vBhsWkxuAbwNduzPbE0NbI98h6-6LsxDZzR9vPHqkMUMdsQYGJYXmZH22vyP9eMcW_E-N700JdxCNwsR_02YDRKmVt6zx1erKn5dHvQpYLupTYFF-6rSPKdGEwEsR_tcXnI7qB62AyDw/s2048/20190504_154419.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vBhsWkxuAbwNduzPbE0NbI98h6-6LsxDZzR9vPHqkMUMdsQYGJYXmZH22vyP9eMcW_E-N700JdxCNwsR_02YDRKmVt6zx1erKn5dHvQpYLupTYFF-6rSPKdGEwEsR_tcXnI7qB62AyDw/s320/20190504_154419.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Join us for this interactive
webinar, presented in partnership with Penn State Extension, PA DCNR William
Penn State Forest District, and the Brandywine Conservancy. It will
explore some of the common perceptions (both true and false) held by
Pennsylvania's private forest (woodland) landowners. Statements commonly made
by landowners about their woods, wildlife, forest pests, timber management, and
the intersection between forest management and conservation easement
protections will be used to facilitate sharing and learning. Using a
collaborative learning approach, the presenters will ask participants what they
think about several statements presented to them. Participants will be
encouraged to write in their responses and share personal thoughts and
experiences during the webinar. The presenters will then respond and share
their own comments and knowledge. Questions and further discussion will be
encouraged after each statement is covered. </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sanford Smith and David Jackson of
Penn State Extension will lead the discussion with input from Steve Wacker, PA
DCNR William Penn State Forest District Manager, and Stephanie Armpriester and
Kristen Frentzel of the Brandywine Conservancy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The webinar will be presented on Thursday, May 13th from 7:00 - 8:30 PM (EDT) online via Zoom. Pre-registration is required. You can register <b><a href="https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/events/stewardship-series-learning-among-forest-landowners-and-professionals" target="_blank">here</a></b>.</span></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-76345284108303210272021-04-20T17:46:00.000-04:002021-04-20T17:46:02.057-04:00New Landowner Guidance for Bat Conservation<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_VeoW0ME9xKS0DQaCnT6gIIMOJxy-WB4qqvhu7yTZjiVJjB1tXYMM6oWuWtcDT1hGTVSz2KtYTJyWW-J99AKVHm_U3iTL_O1_I0TkFt-MT_9J_Lfw3lo1VucyxQK0jb5EiII_qa9QvXj/s275/Bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_VeoW0ME9xKS0DQaCnT6gIIMOJxy-WB4qqvhu7yTZjiVJjB1tXYMM6oWuWtcDT1hGTVSz2KtYTJyWW-J99AKVHm_U3iTL_O1_I0TkFt-MT_9J_Lfw3lo1VucyxQK0jb5EiII_qa9QvXj/s0/Bat.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: US National Park Service</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Almost all North American bats
rely on forests for survival. Individual forest landowners can play a large
role in supporting these important animals, and a new publication authored by
the <b><a href="https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/" target="_blank">White-nose Syndrome Response Team</a></b> offers guidance on how.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/misc_2020_perry_001.pdf" target="_blank">Forest Management and Bats</a></b>
describes how active forest management can improve forest health and
productivity while maintaining and enhancing bat habitat. </span></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-33523016777816989942021-04-08T09:58:00.000-04:002021-04-08T09:58:28.649-04:00Control Invasive Shrubs in Spring <p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT6jwuzTx55dG-FpsuR9N0DQRAcsDJS-tnKhJOk3ZyAkD32dGNVoHBRxaqu91zvbrJBdcd7A1SRhC3bk4CpXahb_7fYSGyoq1RApC4da5vp6MHkDsBch0ZFy-tfuix7frExsTA_W5Ko-L/s2048/20200408_135126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT6jwuzTx55dG-FpsuR9N0DQRAcsDJS-tnKhJOk3ZyAkD32dGNVoHBRxaqu91zvbrJBdcd7A1SRhC3bk4CpXahb_7fYSGyoq1RApC4da5vp6MHkDsBch0ZFy-tfuix7frExsTA_W5Ko-L/s320/20200408_135126.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrub honeysuckle leafing out early</td></tr></tbody></table>Basal bark herbicide applications
are targeted treatments you can make year-round yet are particularly effective
and simple to apply in spring. Most common invasive shrub species are easily
controlled with these applications. They include Japanese barberry, shrub
honeysuckles, autumn olive, multiflora rose, privet, and many others. These
species are common invaders of woodlands and natural areas across the mid-Atlantic
region.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Most invasive shrubs tend to leaf
out early in the spring, well before our native tree and shrub species do and
before most perennial plants have emerged from the ground. By leafing our
early, they can be easily spotted by scanning across the woodland understory or
an early successional meadow. This characteristic makes them easy to find and
identify as invasive thus allowing you to identify where these invaders are located.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Basal bark herbicide applications permit
you to be very specific and targeted in your control efforts. This application
allows you to place the herbicide directly onto the stems of the invasive
shrubs when native trees and shrubs are still dormant. In addition, because
most perennial plants have not emerged yet, applications to lower stems can be
made very easily and efficiently. Making applications this time of year greatly
minimizes the possibility of damaging desirable native plant species.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Basal bark herbicide applications
are made using a low-pressure backpack sprayer to wet the lower 12–15 inches of
the stem using a solid cone or flat fan nozzle. To be effective, it is
important to wet the entire stem, root collar area, and any exposed roots.
Basal bark herbicides use an oil carrier (commercially available basal oil,
diesel fuel, no. 1 or no. 2 fuel oil, or kerosene) to penetrate the bark. Commercially
available basal oils come in either mineral or vegetable-based formulations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">To make basal bark herbicide
applications there are a few pieces of equipment you will need, including a
backpack sprayer; my preference is a Birchmeier backpack. Birchmeier’s are a commercial
grade backpack with viton seals that will hold up to oil-based formulations.
The wand that comes with the sprayer will work but I would suggest changing the
nozzle to a Y1 or Y-2 brass adjustable cone. If making basal bark applications
to large acreage you may also want to consider investing in the B & G Extenda-Ban
low-volume basal wand. This wand in a commercial grade wand with a shut off valve
built into the tip. This prevents over-applying and dripping product from target
to target. It will save you money in the long run.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Numerous products are labeled for
basal bark applications. The ester formulation of triclopyr is the active
ingredient of choice for woodland applications. It is found in a number of
different products and in ready to use formulations. The herbicide is mixed
with basal oil at a 20% rate for low-volume applications. This means each
gallon solution will contain a mixture of 20% herbicide and 80% basal oil.
Note, this is the low-volume application rate where you are applying a
concentrated solution to the stem but NOT to the point where run-off at the
groundline is noticeable.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3nq5bynU5-tpxXc5VgHqsmyzjf7M6XjUmmtsIlx-z7sW7xZP4jdsZP8BKZBZjIKjgnHU2phoauQiWM1OCu8_E-LO1OSodrNrOULEts-RYu3O4LqQbOp5i2ygAZq4_fd16t28ic5OXdwY/s2048/IMG_0859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2042" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3nq5bynU5-tpxXc5VgHqsmyzjf7M6XjUmmtsIlx-z7sW7xZP4jdsZP8BKZBZjIKjgnHU2phoauQiWM1OCu8_E-LO1OSodrNrOULEts-RYu3O4LqQbOp5i2ygAZq4_fd16t28ic5OXdwY/s320/IMG_0859.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese barberry controlled with basal bark herbicide<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Triclopyr ester formulations are
general use herbicides, meaning in Pennsylvania they can be purchased and
applied by the landowner to their own property. They contain 61.6% triclopyr-ester
active ingredient unless using a ready-to-use formulation, which are only 13.6%
active ingredient. Triclopyr ester is a systemic herbicide absorbed by the
plant through the bark and translocated throughout the plants vascular system.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Triclopyr works by disturbing
plant growth. It accumulates in plant meristems, cells where growth takes
place, causing uneven cell division and growth. Triclopyr binds to soil organic
matter and clay particles, which limits its movement in the soil and prevents
root uptake by desirable plants. It biodegrades quickly with half the active
ingredient degraded by soil microorganisms and sunlight within 30–45 days. The
herbicide is classified as only slightly toxic with a CAUTION signal word on
the product label.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Basal bark herbicide treatments
allow for targeted invasive shrub control in spring with little danger of
off-site and nontarget species damage. They are well suited for treating
small-diameter stems. Basal bark herbicide applications provide year-round
application flexibility but are particularly effect at controlling invasive
shrubs in spring when they are just starting to leaf out. Triclopyr ester herbicides
control a wide range of species including the most problematic invasive shrubs.
It is a general use herbicide, meaning landowners can purchase and apply it to
their own properties without certification in Pennsylvania. Be sure to read and
follow the herbicide label, it is a legal document.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">To read the full article and view a short video visit the <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/control-invasive-shrubs-in-spring-with-basal-bark-herbicide-applications" target="_blank">Penn State Extension web site</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-16156334363255621372021-03-30T16:59:00.000-04:002021-03-30T16:59:17.244-04:00American Chestnut Videos<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymNNHGq8IrgOARHS4y2fy-qvWpZ-V1CkJAHtQXLDkKAVrXsuYZB661yE3Et0_RJ2DJeA-uBi5QjlcklmwpT3ZigCMNRdYjyjMka_HkFm23IHBREeW6Mz08x3_rr7WoHXJY84tRYYFZheg/s2048/Chestnut+Blight1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymNNHGq8IrgOARHS4y2fy-qvWpZ-V1CkJAHtQXLDkKAVrXsuYZB661yE3Et0_RJ2DJeA-uBi5QjlcklmwpT3ZigCMNRdYjyjMka_HkFm23IHBREeW6Mz08x3_rr7WoHXJY84tRYYFZheg/s320/Chestnut+Blight1.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Below you will find links to three videos on the American chestnut. The videos provide valuable updates about the restoration of the species following it's demise from the blight. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">These first two videos, from
the USDA Forest Service’s Southern Research Station, are on restoration of the
American chestnut in the southern Appalachians. The videos feature information
on the Southern Research Station’s chestnut research, the National Forest
System’s silvicultural program, The University of Tennessee’s Tree Improvement
Program, and The American Chestnut Foundation’s backcross breeding
program.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IQyqrlgg3k" target="_blank">Restoration Research ofthe American Chestnut (Part 1 Intro)</a></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The American chestnut was once a
common and abundant tree species that occupied 200 million acres in the eastern
hardwood forests of North America. The species had a cultural significance and
was a keystone species, providing wildlife with food and habitat sources. Two
non-native pathogens led to the chestnut's extirpation in the 20th century, but
efforts are underway to conserve and restore this iconic tree.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnYvUHW04QU" target="_blank">Restoration Research ofthe American Chestnut (Part 2: Science in Action)</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The USDA Forest Service, The
University of Tennessee, and other partners showcase their research on the
American chestnut (<i>Castanea dentata</i>), a species that was extirpated by a
non-native pathogen (<i>Cryphonectria parasitica</i>) that causes chestnut blight
disease. Over 4,000 hybrid chestnuts that were bred for blight-resistance were
planted on three national forests since 2009, and research is still ongoing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This next video is by Dr. William
A. Powell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Powell is the Director of
the <a href="https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/" target="_blank">American Chestnut Research & Restoration Project at the SUNY College of
Environmental Science and Forestry</a>. His team has focused on enhancing blight
tolerance by adding only a couple genes to the approximately 38,000 gene pairs
in the chestnut genome using the tools of genetic engineering (GE). This is
important because these GE tools retain all of the American chestnut genes
required for its adaptation to its forest ecosystem.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The most promising gene tested to
date comes from bread wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>) and encodes an oxalate
detoxifying enzyme, called oxalate oxidase (OxO). This gene is a common defense
gene found in many plants and it can confer enhanced blight tolerance in
American chestnut. The original blight tolerant trees have been outcrossed to
susceptible American chestnut trees through three generations to date,
increasing genetic diversity and local adaptation. Environmental impact
experiments have been completed and these trees are currently under federal
review before being released to the public and to restoration programs. This video
describes the program and its current progress toward restoring this keystone
species.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mhMdUryolU&t=4s" target="_blank">The Chestnut Tree: Bringing Back an American Icon</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Billions of American Chestnut
trees used to grow in America—and then a fungal blight spread throughout its
native range. By the 21st century, this population had all but disappeared. Using
revolutionary technology, the American Chestnut Research & Restoration
Project aims to resuscitate the Castanea dentata. In this Stories of Impact
video, William A. Powell (SUNY ESF) and Rex Mann (The American Chestnut
Foundation) discuss the American chestnut and their goal of restoring the
iconic tree to its former glory. Supported by the Templeton World Charity
Foundation, this first-of-its-kind project is engineering a blight-resistant
chestnut and reintroducing it to its native habitat.</span><o:p></o:p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-49072872342214840582021-03-22T11:54:00.000-04:002021-03-22T11:54:10.979-04:00How to Talk About Hunting Webinar Series<p><span style="color: #403f42; font-size: 12pt;">How to Talk About
Hunting Webinar Series to Provide Research-Based Communications Instruction</span><span style="color: #403f42; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #403f42; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVhqVnCHoYvBJ7YFrMltSgjKbbFQQjUjoLxzhDMhDK1GlZswqgJf6kZY3iJGJCL2LZGi6EWAMfSgTXxmBq9H8LGrCbgVN7N_LtfasoC2G1oWC6Bn9-MiiAQhsx0-L994vybEtq3UcxVNm/s2048/Dave+Hunting+12-08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVhqVnCHoYvBJ7YFrMltSgjKbbFQQjUjoLxzhDMhDK1GlZswqgJf6kZY3iJGJCL2LZGi6EWAMfSgTXxmBq9H8LGrCbgVN7N_LtfasoC2G1oWC6Bn9-MiiAQhsx0-L994vybEtq3UcxVNm/s320/Dave+Hunting+12-08.JPG" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br />HARRISONBURG, Virginia</b><span style="color: #403f42; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> – <a href="https://responsivemanagement.com/">Responsive Management</a>, in partnership with the <a href="https://www.nrahlf.org/" target="_blank">Hunters’ Leadership Forum of the NRA</a> and
the support of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, will
conduct a free webinar series covering material from the new book, <b>How to
Talk About Hunting: Research-Based Communications Strategies</b>.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Humans
have hunted for almost 2 million years, and more than 11 million Americans
continue to hunt today. In addition to providing numerous cultural and
ecological benefits, hunters contribute the bulk of state-based funding for
wildlife conservation in the United States. Additionally, every fish and
wildlife agency across the United States is legislatively mandated to manage
and provide opportunities for hunting. Despite these facts, legal, regulated
hunting remains vulnerable to the volatile nature of public opinion. The future
of hunting and an integral portion of conservation funding in America depend on
cultural support. This means that wildlife professionals must use language that
resonates with non-hunters and those unfamiliar with hunting.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
How to Talk About Hunting webinar series includes four separate sessions
devoted to individual areas of focus from the book. Webinar presenters include
Mark Damian Duda, founder and executive director of Responsive Management and
senior author of How to Talk About Hunting: Research-Based Communications
Strategies; Sam Nelson, founding partner of A-Game Speech and Debate Consulting
and a senior lecturer at Cornell University; and Armands Revelins, researcher
and consultant with A-Game Speech and Debate Consulting and Assistant Director
of Speech & Debate Programs and Director of Policy Debate at Cornell
University.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
webinar series includes the following sessions:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Webinar
1: Why Communicating About Hunting Is Important</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (Thursday, April 15, 2021, 12:00-1:00 pm
EDT). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
first webinar will explain why communicating about hunting is important and
focus on the implications of effective communications about hunting (agency
mandates, conservation funding, etc.). This webinar will also provide an
overview of the fundamentals of effective communications. The webinar will be
presented by Mark Damian Duda and Sam Nelson.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Webinar
2: Attitudes Toward Hunting, Animal Rights, Animal Welfare, and Dominionism</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (Friday, April 16, 2021, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
second webinar will focus on content and major takeaways from Chapters 4
(“Attitudes Toward Hunting”) and 5 (“Attitudes Toward Animal Rights, Animal
Welfare, and Dominionism”). This webinar will provide participants with a
thorough overview of the latest research that underpins the communications
guidelines. The webinar will be presented by Mark Damian Duda.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Webinar
3: Communications Strategies </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Thursday,
April 22, 2021, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
third webinar will provide extensive instruction on formal and informal
communications strategies, including persuasive tactics and effective
messaging. Content in this webinar will draw on Chapters 9 (“Debating About
Hunting”) and 10 (“Developing Formal Communications Programs in Support of
Hunting”) of the book. The webinar will be presented by Sam Nelson and Armands
Revelins of A-Game Speech & Debate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Webinar
4: Talking About Hunting: Don’ts and Dos</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
(Friday, April 23, 2021, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
final webinar will present the most important “don’ts” and “dos” for
communicating about hunting, drawing primarily on the final chapter of the
book. This webinar will focus on the core guidelines and best practices for
effective communications about hunting. The webinar will be presented by Mark
Damian Duda and Sam Nelson.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Click <b><a href="https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Awc9sImGSbe-Z44tDGu7Ig" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> to register for the webinars.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By
taking a proactive approach to communications, hunters, conservationists, and
members of the wildlife profession will become more effective proponents of the
North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. In doing so, they will help to
build the public support for hunting that remains essential in today’s society.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For
questions or additional information about the webinar series, please contact us
at <a href="mailto:research@responsivemanagement.com">research@responsivemanagement.com</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Webinar
participants will receive a free copy of <b>How to Talk About Hunting</b>
thanks to the generous support of Hunters’ Leadership Forum donors. If you do
not already have a copy, please email Peter Churchbourne at <a href="mailto:PChurchbourne@nrahq.org">PChurchbourne@nrahq.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-30072325992090155202021-03-18T13:14:00.001-04:002021-03-18T13:14:10.453-04:00USDA Seeks Input on Climate Smart Ag and Forestry<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaxV_lT9L555y2LDZ0Cj_cQXbZKRCqSl7nOR-nddj2vZndswEYaArFVNag2fmC-yPgFEFHLf2qiBUEpV1Rw51HObXUS0qtXmqfv-3HgjMxafqfzrMvjO38BayuZB3jwLizingZL-1Y5Qw/s778/stelprdb1165810.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaxV_lT9L555y2LDZ0Cj_cQXbZKRCqSl7nOR-nddj2vZndswEYaArFVNag2fmC-yPgFEFHLf2qiBUEpV1Rw51HObXUS0qtXmqfv-3HgjMxafqfzrMvjO38BayuZB3jwLizingZL-1Y5Qw/s320/stelprdb1165810.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The USDA is currently seeking
public comment on President Biden’s Executive Order on “<b>Tackling the Climate
Crisis at Home and Abroad</b>.” As you all know, Pennsylvania is a forest and
forest products industry leader, so we should ensure that our voices are
reflected in the comments.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“USDA wants to understand how to
best use their programs, funding and financing capacities, and other
authorities, and how to encourage the voluntary adoption of climate-smart
agricultural and forestry practices that decrease wildfire risk fueled by climate
change and result in additional, measurable, and verifiable carbon reductions
and sequestration and that source sustainable bioproducts and fuels. This
public input will be considered as USDA prepares recommendations to expand
climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices and systems. The feedback
requested through this Executive Order is far-reaching; it encompasses the best
use of USDA programs, funding and financing capabilities, authorities, and
encouragement of voluntary conservation adoption.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There are four main categories on
input, each with specific questions that the USDA wants public comment on:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Climate-Smart
Agriculture and Forestry<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">2.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Biofuels,
Wood and Other Bioproducts, and Renewable Energy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">3.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Addressing
Catastrophic Wildfire<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">4.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Environmental
Justice and Disadvantaged Communities</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The public comment period is open
through April 30. Comments can be submitted online via <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> under Docket No.
USDA-2021-0003. Additional information is available on the USDA website. Please
feel free to share this email with stakeholder, members, and others who would
like to provide comment.<o:p></o:p></p><br /></span></div><p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-76737574040035200682021-03-16T11:46:00.002-04:002021-03-16T11:46:35.099-04:00DEP Provides Guidance on Erosion & Sedimentation Plan Reviews<p><span style="color: windowtext;"></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlLV5gqPVerW5pCAsNbHMiquHC1KtpTHSs0M1VCFiH9z8-eM1Nonbz0PDvNK07IFLakngtXSm5adjEXbmRD9maL_u9gYwuiJp_I1h4koUjOHHgXUy1yA6r4SX9UFIRLkIZnriBvQH8WIC/s2048/P1010019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlLV5gqPVerW5pCAsNbHMiquHC1KtpTHSs0M1VCFiH9z8-eM1Nonbz0PDvNK07IFLakngtXSm5adjEXbmRD9maL_u9gYwuiJp_I1h4koUjOHHgXUy1yA6r4SX9UFIRLkIZnriBvQH8WIC/s320/P1010019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Many
timber harvesters in Pennsylvania are running into issues with municipal
ordinances that require written Erosion & Sedimentation Control Plans
(E&S Plans) be submitted to and approved by the local County Conservation
District prior to the granting of a timber harvesting permit, even when there
is no state regulatory requirement to do so. Most, if not all, County
Conservation Districts charge a review fee for these approvals, and those fees
unnecessarily add several hundred or even thousands of dollars to the cost of a
timber harvesting operation.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">Through
Act 38 of 2005, also known as “ACRE” (Agriculture, Communities and Rural
Environment) the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has
specifically addressed this issue with a number of municipalities across the
state. While each ordinance issue reviewed through ACRE is unique and fact
specific, and the determinations of one review do not necessarily have
predictive value as to how the OAG would handle future cases, the OAG has
stated that <i>“The [Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP]
erosion and sediment control regulations do not require submission of an
E&S plan to the Conservation District and the Conservation District has not
role in DEP’s approving of such plans.</i>” The OAG further stated “<i>The
Township may, at its own expense, submit an applicant’s E&S Plan to the
Conservation District for review to check compliance with the regulations.</i>”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">Because
the Conservation Districts’ authority is delegated to them by DEP, the
Pennsylvania Forest Products Association wrote a letter to the Department in
July of 2020 about this issue and requested that the Conservation Districts be
provided with guidance on E&S plan reviews. In their December 2nd response,
DEP provided the following guidance to the Conservation Districts, which might
also be helpful to timber harvesters and administrators.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -13.45pt;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">·</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">Districts are not prohibited from
reviewing E&S Plans under the ACRE law</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">.
If a landowner/operator or municipality requests a District to review an
E&S Plan, the District may do so.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -13.45pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -13.45pt;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">·</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">Even where an E&S Plan is not required
to be reviewed prior to earth disturbance, <b>if an E&S Plan is required to
be developed and implemented, it must be available on site during all stages of
the earth disturbance activity </b>(25 Pa. Code § 102.4(b)(8)). DEP or the
District can request to review the E&S Plan at any time during an
inspection or upon complaint (25 Pa. Code § 102.4(b)(9)). If a landowner/operator
refuses to provide their E&S Plan upon request in one of these situations,
the refusal may constitute a violation of Chapter 102 and should be addressed
through appropriate enforcement means.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -13.45pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -13.45pt;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">·</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">According to the Attorney General, <b>municipalities
may not require a landowner/operator to submit an E&S Plan to DEP or a
District if Chapter 102 does not require such a review</b>. Although DEP does
not enforce the ACRE law, DEP respects the opinion of the Attorney General. If
a District is aware of a municipal ordinance that requires a landowner to
submit an E&S Plan for review outside of Chapter 102 requirements, the
District can suggest that the municipality review their ordinance and the
opinions of the Attorney General’s office on this issue. The District cannot
provide legal advice, however the Attorney General’s website provides
publicly-available resources on the ACRE law that may be of assistance to the
municipality (see, for example, <a href="http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/resources/acre/">www.attorneygeneral.gov/resources/acre/</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -13.45pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -13.45pt;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">·</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">Districts and municipalities may enter
into MOUs that include the review of timber harvesting E&S Plans, however,
in accordance with the opinion of the Attorney General, any such MOU should not
require that landowners/operators submit E&S Plans to the District if not
otherwise required to do so under Chapter 102</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">.
An MOU that allows the municipality to submit E&S Plans for review at the
municipality’s sole expense is acceptable. Districts should review any existing
MOUs with municipalities to ensure that the MOU is not in conflict with the
opinions of the Attorney General regarding the ACRE law.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -13.45pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -13.45pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 97%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">Both
letters are available on the Pennsylvania SFI <a href="https://sfiofpa.org/page/environmental-regulations/#ACRE" target="_blank">website</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"></span><p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-59786492608742741272021-03-10T11:47:00.008-05:002021-03-12T08:30:14.440-05:00Spotted Lanternfly 2021 Quarantine Increases<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAc24GZArZd3WKBDiUms0Oe7tGbCcSBTU2Yr7r95FlPWObkARpTR42qfyTtoLn8gM9Vb1mNjVwlhObisugjyx4L5Un_nLa1XBPn79_-V_YwliOKkZOcPz8xRa3qgeX3SgNfd2qoOoEYfZv/s2048/IMG_1755.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAc24GZArZd3WKBDiUms0Oe7tGbCcSBTU2Yr7r95FlPWObkARpTR42qfyTtoLn8gM9Vb1mNjVwlhObisugjyx4L5Un_nLa1XBPn79_-V_YwliOKkZOcPz8xRa3qgeX3SgNfd2qoOoEYfZv/s320/IMG_1755.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture has just added 8 counties to the spotted lanternfly
quarantine, creating a total of 34 counties under a state-imposed quarantine.
These include: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Cambria, Cameron,
Carbon, Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Huntingdon,
Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mifflin, Monroe,
Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike,
Schuylkill, York, Wayne, and Westmoreland.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A county is placed under
quarantine when</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdGoxK-20hDAHXj1NVAjngja4ASPOX0P6J4Y33pD_6L37DpM1w_Fi377a3-cB_fZdjJQ0AvreVbPCu40I15OjFcmllk36Zq047p27cxaPaa56tQ3c5dSN9SRjYecAw-mADAvd1gelYakH/s650/Quarantine.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdGoxK-20hDAHXj1NVAjngja4ASPOX0P6J4Y33pD_6L37DpM1w_Fi377a3-cB_fZdjJQ0AvreVbPCu40I15OjFcmllk36Zq047p27cxaPaa56tQ3c5dSN9SRjYecAw-mADAvd1gelYakH/s320/Quarantine.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">evidence of a reproducing population of spotted lanternflies,
such as an egg mass, is found by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The
newly added 8 counties are not completely infested, but rather have a few
municipalities with a known infestation, which led to a quarantine being placed
on the entire county. This action is taken as a precaution and reflects the
importance of awareness for early detection and stopping this pest in these new
areas.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The spotted lanternfly quarantine
regulates the movement of plants, plant-based materials, and outdoor household
items out of the quarantine area to keep this pest from spreading. Businesses/ organizations
that operate in or travel through quarantined counties are required to obtain a
spotted lanternfly permit. A permit shows other businesses and states that a
company has done its due diligence to avoid transporting the pest to new areas.
This applies to the entire county quarantined, not just the affected
municipalities. Businesses should plan to become permitted as soon as possible
and may send any questions regarding the permit to <a href="mailto:SLFPERMIT@pa.gov">SLFPERMIT@pa.gov</a> . Additionally, businesses
may check whether they need a permit by using <b><a href="https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/Entomology/spotted_lanternfly/quarantine/Pages/Do-I-Need-a-Permit.aspx">this resource</a></b>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Because the populations in the
new areas are much smaller compared to the original population in southeastern
Pennsylvania, it is critical that we do our part to prevent further spread of
this insect to new areas. If you see it, destroy it, take a photo if possible
and make note of when, where and how many were seen. Then, report it by calling
the spotted lanternfly hotline at 1-888-422-3359 or report it online <b><a href="https://extension.psu.edu/have-you-seen-a-spotted-lanternfly">here</a></b>.
Be sure that you do not move any life stage of spotted lanternfly, including
the egg masses.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Newly found spotted lanternfly
populations will be intensively managed by the Pennsylvania and U.S.
Departments of Agriculture with the goal of local eradication. To that end,
regulatory representatives may need access to properties near the infestation
area to conduct treatments or monitoring. We encourage cooperation with these
treatments. These officials will always provide proper documentation and
identification. They will not ask for any form of payment.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The success of stopping the
spotted lanternfly depends on help from the public to look for and report signs
of the pest. It is easier to stop a few than it is a few hundred. To learn more
about the spotted lanternfly including pictures, visit the <b><a href="https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly">Penn State Extension website</a></b>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-74972890888519647262021-02-19T17:23:00.001-05:002021-02-19T17:23:19.265-05:00Trees and Climate<p><span style="font-family: arial;">It is easy to understand the importance of planting trees when talking about climate change, but cutting them down is not often, if ever, mentioned. Having just finished posting a six-part series on trees, wood products, and carbon I thought you all might be interested in the below article as well. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As we just witnessed the terrible destruction out west due to the terrible wildfire season they experienced we have seen first-hand the importance of managing our forests. We also know that wood is a very environmentally friendly product. Not only is it renewable and biodegradable but it is also has a very low carbon footprint when used and is carbon neutral as new trees sequester carbon on harvested sites. So how do we get to where the general public understands how important it is not only to grow new trees but also to use and manage the existing trees.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Let me know what you think about Jonah Bader's opinion piece.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/10/opinions/climate-plant-and-cut-trees-down-bader/index.html" target="_blank">Plant trees, sure. But to savethe climate, we should also cut them down</a></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Opinion by Jonah Bader</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Updated 8:34 PM ET, Wed February
10, 2021</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Jonah Bader is an associate
producer for "Fareed Zakaria GPS." The views expressed in this
commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(CNN) Democrats have set their
sights on passing major climate legislation, but with a razor-thin majority in
Congress, they need to look for common ground with Republicans. One of the most
promising ideas is to plant a vast number of trees -- and also to cut them
down.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">President Joe Biden has announced
an ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. That would mean switching to
renewable energy, expanding public transit, retrofitting buildings, and a host
of other policies to slash greenhouse gas emissions. But even in the best-case
scenario, it won't be possible to eliminate all emissions. The idea of
"net-zero emissions" is that any remaining emissions can be fully
offset by so-called "negative emissions" -- methods of sucking carbon
out of the atmosphere.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Planting trees is the most
straightforward way to do that. Trees absorb CO2 for photosynthesis and store
it as cellulose and lignin, the main components of wood.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Planting trees may also be the
most popular climate policy. Even former President Donald Trump loved the idea.
He championed an international initiative to plant 1 trillion trees, which
would be enough to soak up at least a decade of global emissions. When
Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman, a professional forester, introduced the
"Trillion Trees Act" last year, he was joined by a bipartisan group
of co-sponsors that included House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">According to the World Resources
Institute, the US alone could add 60 billion new trees to deforested lands,
agricultural or urban areas, and sparse eastern forests that aren't prone to
wildfires. Forests in the western US, on the other hand, are prone to
wildfires, and that calls for putting down the shovel and reaching for the axe.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wildfires turn trees from asset to
liability. Last year's record blazes in California belched twice as much CO2 as
the entire state's power plants. It's one of the terrible feedback loops of
climate change, where wildfires beget more wildfires.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To break the cycle, it's often
necessary to sacrifice individual trees for the good of the whole forest. If
large trees are packed densely together, flames can spread easily between them,
so "selective thinning" can reduce the risk of large fires. The same
goes for small trees, which can act as "ladder fuel" by transmitting
fires from the forest floor up to the treetops. Dead trees that are still
standing, dried out like matchsticks, pose another fire hazard that can be
neutralized with chainsaws.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Selective thinning can also help
stop the spread of diseases and insects that, like fires, destroy millions of
acres of US woodlands each year. Think of it as social distancing for trees.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>There’s more…….to read the rest of
the article <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/10/opinions/climate-plant-and-cut-trees-down-bader/index.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</b></span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-3376557656401417422021-02-19T10:57:00.000-05:002021-02-19T10:57:15.976-05:00Penn State Extension Hosting Deer Impact Summit February 18, 2021 <div><br /></div><div><b>Penn State Extension to host deer impact assessment, mitigation webinar series</b></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1u5wjZQcXOy7gGRg_dWDtfeXrVouL5m4pFZ8N2AEK3DLztmJXGAljX30cSpzp_-73UJhmuA_30w-M2-0uplVwTScMS4AzXzH5xnQFxNjFOhdAWqBDKXglNhXqS0go26Ybokl6o5oEVxe/s1638/Deer+APD+Woodlot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="1638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1u5wjZQcXOy7gGRg_dWDtfeXrVouL5m4pFZ8N2AEK3DLztmJXGAljX30cSpzp_-73UJhmuA_30w-M2-0uplVwTScMS4AzXzH5xnQFxNjFOhdAWqBDKXglNhXqS0go26Ybokl6o5oEVxe/s320/Deer+APD+Woodlot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>UNIVERSITY PARK,
Pa. — A new three-session webinar series offered by Penn State Extension provides
a roundup of current information and strategies to help natural resource
managers understand, assess, and manage deer impact in forested systems.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The “<a href="https://extension.psu.edu/deer-impact-assessment-and-mitigation-summit" target="_blank">Deer Impact Assessment and Mitigation Summit</a>,” slated for March 25, March 30, and April 1,
successively builds content to help attendees frame and understand the issue of
deer impact, accurately assess that impact, and use assessment information to
strategize management actions on the landscape. Each session runs from noon-2 p.m.,
incorporating three or four different presentations and at least a 30-minute
facilitated question-and-answer period with all speakers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sessions will be
led by experts from Penn State Extension and feature speakers from the USDA
Forest Service, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Pennsylvania Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources, Penn State, Cornell University, Harvard
University, and the National Deer Association.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This program has
been approved for professional development credits by three organizations: the Society of American Foresters (six
Category 1 credits, Certified Forester Program); The Wildlife Society (six
Category 1 credits, Certified Wildlife Biologist Program); and the PA
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (2 years of continuing education units).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Recordings of each
session will be shared with all attendees, but professional development credits
are available for live attendance only. To register and for full program
information, visit </span><b><a href="https://extension.psu.edu/deer-impact-assessment-and-mitigation-summit"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">https://extension.psu.edu/deer-impact-assessment-and-mitigation-summit</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The program
outline is as follows:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">--March 25: “Understanding
Deer, Deer Impact Issues, and Deer Management.” Experts will discuss the
context for current conditions regarding deer and deer impact in the region;
how we got to where we are today; how deer impact and interact with the
landscape; and current trends, issues, and management approaches.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">--March 30: “Assessing
and Measuring Deer Impact in the Landscape.” Experts will discuss practical
strategies and indicators for evaluating, measuring, and classifying levels of
deer impact to inform management planning; and how managers may select
appropriate evaluation strategies, differentiate levels of impact in
standardized ways, and incorporate long-term impact assessment in management
planning.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">--April 1: “Mitigating
Deer Impact in Natural Resource Management Approaches.” Experts will discuss
considerations for planning practical deer impact mitigation strategies once
existing or potential impact is determined to be significant through
assessment; how landscape-scale context factors in to current and expected
future deer impact; how exclosures may be most efficiently used to minimize
deer impact in certain areas and over time; and how multiple mitigation
approaches can be combined within a broader management plan across multiple
areas and over time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-47840152450606487272021-02-15T08:53:00.001-05:002021-02-15T10:05:12.276-05:00A Geneticist's Take on Tackling the Emerald Ash Borer<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The emerald ash borer is the most
damaging invasive forest insect pest in North America, having killed hundreds
of millions of ash trees across the U.S. since it was introduced. Finding and
breeding emerald ash borer-resistant trees may be a key strategy in combatting
this pest. U.S. Forest Service research on this was recently featured in an
article in </span><a href="https://science.sciencemag.org/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Science Magazine</a><span style="font-family: arial;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Can an ambitious breeding
effort save North America’s ash trees?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By Gabriel Popkin, Nov. 12, 2020</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhDY9SPAjsC0xty4MqgOrgSSNRVJPYOaPwXNkY0fiXZeKJ1QuQRjmHeHVuUBm2ZdAo0JmISltelrk9xSxhjMXXC6ZhiiqxZGWoANX8xJyko3zBdi0xdWEQlfuuFWpYjlELG_clwUMiuCo/s2048/DSC02584-B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhDY9SPAjsC0xty4MqgOrgSSNRVJPYOaPwXNkY0fiXZeKJ1QuQRjmHeHVuUBm2ZdAo0JmISltelrk9xSxhjMXXC6ZhiiqxZGWoANX8xJyko3zBdi0xdWEQlfuuFWpYjlELG_clwUMiuCo/s320/DSC02584-B.JPG" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />DELAWARE, OHIO—On a weekday
morning in August, just one pickup truck sat in the sprawling visitors’ parking
lot here at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Forestry Sciences
Laboratory. A decades long decline in research funding had been slowly quieting
the place—and then came the pandemic.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But in a narrow strip of grass
behind a homely, 1960s-era building, forest geneticist Jennifer Koch was
overseeing a hive of activity. A team of seven technicians, researchers, and
students—each masked and under their own blue pop-up tent—were systematically
dissecting 3-meter-tall ash trees in a strange sort of arboreal disassembly
line. Over 5 weeks, the researchers would take apart some 400 saplings, peeling
wood back layer by layer in search of the maggot-like larvae of the emerald ash
borer (<i>Agrilus planipennis</i>), the most devastating insect ever to strike
a North American tree. Since the Asian beetle was first discovered in Michigan
in 2002, it has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees across half the
continent and caused tens of billions of dollars of damage.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“We have contests for who can
successfully pull out the smallest larvae and the biggest larvae,” Koch says.
“People get pretty excited and competitive about it. You have to do something,
because it is very tedious—and [the larvae] are really gross.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The larvae kill ash trees by
burrowing into them to feed on bark and, fatally, the thin, pipelike tissues
that transport water and nutrients. They then transform into iridescent green
beetles about the size of a grain of rice that fly off to attack other trees.
Dead larvae excite Koch and her team the most. Those finds signal trees that,
through genetic luck, can kill emerald ash borers, rather than the other way around.
Such rare resistant trees could ultimately help Koch achieve her ambitious
goal: using time-tested plant-breeding techniques to create ash varieties that
can fend off the borer and reclaim their historic place in North American
forests.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read the rest of the story <b><a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/can-ambitious-breeding-effort-save-north-america-s-ash-trees" target="_blank">click here</a></b>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-82167448153829273182021-01-29T11:49:00.000-05:002021-01-29T11:49:14.766-05:00American Chestnut Online Course<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3pi2vnJMWmtor1egVi0dgvgqN9BOjEbcyEFcMit022C-SeFqAESIvGFxL7QeG-hQ57I7wwSyJHFburSTfQdVEB_PJ72YbmEWPlweGnn1WNZX5Sjq3RlwN2yFUlpAw7NbnjbuZahyphenhyphen5Q9-/s2048/chestnut-course-final.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1463" height="437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3pi2vnJMWmtor1egVi0dgvgqN9BOjEbcyEFcMit022C-SeFqAESIvGFxL7QeG-hQ57I7wwSyJHFburSTfQdVEB_PJ72YbmEWPlweGnn1WNZX5Sjq3RlwN2yFUlpAw7NbnjbuZahyphenhyphen5Q9-/w313-h437/chestnut-course-final.png" width="313" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">A free, interactive, online course, ‘An Introduction to
the American chestnut (<i>Castanea dentata</i>)’ is now available from the USDA
Forest Service Southern Research Station. The learner will be introduced to the
ecology, silvics, cultural importance, historical significance, and demise of
the tree species that once occupied 200 million acres in the eastern United
States.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The American chestnut was once one of the most abundant
and common tree species in the east, before it was virtually eliminated by a non-native
tree disease, the chestnut blight fungus (<i>Cryphonectria parasitica</i>).
American chestnut wood was highly valued for its rot resistance, and the nuts
were traded for a variety of goods and services in rural Appalachian
communities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The course includes a glossary and various resources the
learner can download including links to dendrology tables, external webpages, and
published scientific papers. It is available for free to anyone through a
simple registration process. The course is self-paced and will take
approximately one hour to complete. A certificate of completion qualifies
for 1 CFE credit with the Society of American Foresters.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The course was developed by Stacy Clark, research
forester with the U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station and adjunct
faculty in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries at the
University of Tennessee. To access the course and registration instructions,
<a href="https://srs.fs.usda.gov/products/courses/#chestnut" target="_blank">click here</a>. Use web browsers Edge or Chrome: If you have questions regarding the
course, please contact Stacy Clark directly at <a href="mailto:stacy.l.clark@usda.gov" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">stacy.l.clark@usda.gov</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span>or 865-318-8391.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Current Restoration Efforts:</b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The American chestnut and chestnut blight is a classic example of what can
happen when our forests succumb to invasive pests and pathogens. Because of its
environmental, economic, and cultural importance, many tools have been brought
to bear on the chestnut blight problem over the past century. A team at SUNY ESF has
focused on enhancing blight tolerance by adding only a couple genes to the
approximately 38,000 gene pairs in the chestnut genome using the tools of
genetic engineering (GE). These GE tools retain all
of the American chestnut genes required for its adaptation to its forest
ecosystem. For more on this program and its current progress toward restoring this
keystone species view this You Tube video entitled <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mhMdUryolU&feature=emb_logo" target="_blank">The Chestnut Tree: Bringing Back an American Icon</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For more information on the American Chestnut visit the <a href="https://acf.org/" target="_blank">American Chestnut Foundation</a> web site.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-47194728065582367652020-12-26T13:17:00.000-05:002020-12-26T13:17:40.151-05:00Forests and Climate Truths<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
global momentum behind the vision to plant a trillion trees is fueling expanded interest in forests as a climate change solution. This
increased interest has brought increased scrutiny and numerous questions. Can forests capture enough
carbon to make a meaningful contribution? Will we lose this stored carbon to
wildfires? Does harvesting timber and forest management help or hurt our forest carbon sink? This article written by Jad Daley, president and CEO of the American Forest Foundation, presents five truths, grounded in science, that provide a common foundation for the
public and decision-makers to shape America's policies on forests and climate
change.</span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">5 Truths about U.S. Forests for Climate</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By Jad Daley, President & CEO of <a href="https://give.americanforests.org/" target="_blank">American Forests</a></span></p><p class="hj hk fq hl b hm jl hn ho hp jm hq hr hs jn ht hu hv jo hw hx hy jp hz ia ic di dz" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="718a"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELG2247SHRpqK0EQZc4yTeGVNHqcnorXzOZngFQd258TmndYxm1OdgcBFAdLGKwJNNlk1eYTlret0-PompGRj2Iojd844kuONVWLrczDWbdVNUvwkMNy4nuOVOcsw-o7OJ8suDXsk2dfx/s1920/CArbon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELG2247SHRpqK0EQZc4yTeGVNHqcnorXzOZngFQd258TmndYxm1OdgcBFAdLGKwJNNlk1eYTlret0-PompGRj2Iojd844kuONVWLrczDWbdVNUvwkMNy4nuOVOcsw-o7OJ8suDXsk2dfx/s320/CArbon.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The global momentum behind the <a class="do jq" href="https://www.1t.org/" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong class="hl cv">vision to plant a trillion trees</strong></a>
is fueling unprecedented interest in forests as a climate change
solution. But this increased interest has brought increased scrutiny.
Can forests capture enough carbon to make a meaningful contribution?
Will we lose this stored carbon to wildfires? Does harvesting timber
help or hurt our forest carbon sink?</span><p></p><p class="hj hk fq hl b hm jl hn ho hp jm hq hr hs jn ht hu hv jo hw hx hy jp hz ia ic di dz" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="6e04"><span style="font-family: arial;">These
five truths, grounded in science, can provide a common foundation for
the public and decision-makers to shape America’s efforts on forests and
climate change.</span></p><p class="hj hk fq hl b hm jl hn ho hp jm hq hr hs jn ht hu hv jo hw hx hy jp hz ia ic di dz" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="6e04"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">America’s forests are already providing a climate solution.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Step one is to keep our existing forests as forests.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Planting trees = more forests to capture carbon.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes active forest management = more carbon gains.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Wood products store carbon and reduce emissions from manufacturing.</span></li></ol><span style="font-family: arial;">To read the full story click here: <a href="https://medium.com/@AmericanForests/5-truths-about-u-s-forests-for-climate-54c741922a7a" target="_blank">American Forests</a></span><p></p><p class="hj hk fq hl b hm jl hn ho hp jm hq hr hs jn ht hu hv jo hw hx hy jp hz ia ic di dz" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="6e04"> </p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-54376078275414612412020-12-23T10:31:00.000-05:002020-12-23T10:31:23.287-05:00The Woods in Your Backyard<p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Penn
State Extension webinar series will help landowners care for their woods</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh26E1XZAeH6fA3DbaOXY-COlorLzZW2_kZz0rMc7I1gF3hGBivwKN-VFcZkHubn1b7Yo0G2ATOEmh44DiU-ZKCwjb1SwaTOvp2N1WHUFEzFsi7MHXFsUjJRnHPeWXTtWq-EWPXVFUTW3U/s2048/WIYBY+Facebook+Post+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1717" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh26E1XZAeH6fA3DbaOXY-COlorLzZW2_kZz0rMc7I1gF3hGBivwKN-VFcZkHubn1b7Yo0G2ATOEmh44DiU-ZKCwjb1SwaTOvp2N1WHUFEzFsi7MHXFsUjJRnHPeWXTtWq-EWPXVFUTW3U/s320/WIYBY+Facebook+Post+Image.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Do you have woods in your
backyard? Penn State research estimates that nearly half a million
Pennsylvanians own a small patch of woodland — something fewer than 10 acres in
size. In fact, the majority of Pennsylvania landowners have fewer than 10 acres.
These small patches add up to about a million acres, or about 10 percent of our
state’s privately-held woodlands.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The “Woods in Your Backyard” webinar series teaches land
stewardship through nine live, one-hour, online evening lectures that can be viewed
on your home computer.
Sessions run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on
Wednesday nights for nine weeks beginning Jan. 27. All lectures are recorded
and can be viewed later if a live session is missed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sponsored by Penn State Extension and the Center for
Private Forests, the University of Maryland Extension, the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, and the Alliance for the
Chesapeake Bay: Forests for the Bay Program, the webinar series is designed
specifically, but not exclusively, for small-acreage owners.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">These small lots, whether wooded or not, can provide numerous benefits. By
enhancing existing woodland or creating new natural areas on your property, you
can enjoy wildlife, recreation, aesthetics, improved water quality and reduced
energy costs. Owners of even the smallest landscapes can make a positive
difference in their environment through planning and implementing simple
stewardship practices.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The workshop series introduces the
manual, “The Woods in Your Backyard:
Learning to Create and Enhance Natural Areas Around Your Home.” All registrants
will receive the full-color, 108-page publication, a $29 value. This
self-directed book will guide you through the process of developing and
implementing projects to enhance your land’s natural resources.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Topics covered
in the webinars include the following:</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 81.0pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Why Backyard
Woods are Important”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 81.0pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Importance
of Woods to Healthy Watersheds”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 81.0pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Trees
and Shrubs for Different Sites and Objectives”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 81.0pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Providing
and Enhancing Wildlife Habitat”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 81.0pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Forest Ecology
and Woodlot Management Techniques”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 81.0pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Invasive
Plant Identification and Control”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 81.0pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: arial;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Converting
Open Land to Meadows and Woods”</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 81.0pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">“Healthy
Woods: Common Insects and Diseases”</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 81.0pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">For more information and to
register, visit the Penn State Extension website at </span><a href="https://extension.psu.edu/woods-in-your-backyard-webinar-series" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">https://extension.psu.edu/woods-in-your-backyard-webinar-series</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">or call 877-345-0691. The registration
deadline is Jan. 20, 2021.</span></span></p>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-61198080923317529912020-12-15T13:40:00.000-05:002020-12-15T13:40:26.386-05:00Storing and Sequestering Carbon: Pennsylvania’s Forest Resource<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Imagine the
Opportunity of a Smaller Carbon Footprint<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At the
2020 Pennsylvania Farm Show the Hardwoods Development Council (HDC) hosted the
Pennsylvania Hardwoods exhibit. The exhibit’s theme was <i>Imagine the
Opportunities of a Smaller Carbon Footprint</i>. The exhibit was made possible
by a collaboration between the HDC and the three Pennsylvania Hardwood
Utilization Groups (HUGs): Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, Keystone Wood
Products Association, and the Northern Tier Hardwood Association.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
Hardwoods exhibit featured educational displays, all pertaining to how
implementing sustainable forestry practices and the use of hardwood products
can help reduce one’s carbon footprint. These articles will provide information
pertaining to each of the themes that were displayed. This is the sixth, and
final, in the series of articles.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: arial;">Article 6: Storing
and Sequestering Carbon: Pennsylvania’s Forest Resource </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By Jonathan
Geyer and Dave Jackson</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Let us start by
taking a closer look at Pennsylvania’s forest resource. Based on the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA)
program, 2019 data, Pennsylvania has more than 16.6 million acres of forest
land and is 58% forested. From this data we also know that Pennsylvania has the
largest hardwood forest volume of any state. The Commonwealth has historically
provided about 10% of the nation’s supply of hardwood lumber and leads the U.S.
in lumber exports.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In addition, the
Commonwealth’s has 121.6 billion board feet of standing sawtimber volume. It
has increased 7% since 2013, with an estimated 7,600 board feet per acre. Despite
the increased mortality brought about by pest outbreaks, net growth has remained
relatively stable, between 3.0 and 3.1 billion board feet per year. Timber harvests
in Pennsylvania account for the removal of roughly 1-1.3 billion board feet in
wood products annually. Considering growth, mortality, and harvesting
(removals) Pennsylvania’s sawtimber volume is increasing by approximately 2
billion board feet annually!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To put into perspective what one billion board
feet of wood looks like – one board foot is a piece of lumber 12 inches wide by
12 inches long and 1-inch thick – one billion board feet is a stack of lumber
2½-feet high by 5-feet wide, spanning from Harrisburg to Houston, Texas (Figure
1).</span></p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQD94pJ00XgWDqfxg2XRT2oEuiIlJKrAsNckxw6zlAhpUZoLFyXRBnWeoovxgFfNTJzHNvMO9mZUx0U4Ah8pXwS2QHcu_p095A7vniA-QJ2AVN-J0D0YeDmA48zMxmjpZZbhQNLkkpWrR/s536/Storing+Carbon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="536" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQD94pJ00XgWDqfxg2XRT2oEuiIlJKrAsNckxw6zlAhpUZoLFyXRBnWeoovxgFfNTJzHNvMO9mZUx0U4Ah8pXwS2QHcu_p095A7vniA-QJ2AVN-J0D0YeDmA48zMxmjpZZbhQNLkkpWrR/w400-h283/Storing+Carbon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Figure 1: Pennsylvania’s forest products industry harvests between 1 and 1.3 billion board feet of wood volume annually.</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Using FIA data, we can also research the history
of Pennsylvania’s standing wood volume (Figure 2). This graph illustrates the standing
sawtimber volume of Pennsylvania’s forests from 1955-2019. In just 64 years the
Commonwealth wood volume has increased over 5 times! This is due to a variety
of reasons, sustainable forest management practices, farmland conversion to
forest, and our forest rebounding from the previous centuries’ land clearing
and unsustainable harvesting practices. </span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DUb6fRd9vAFwdU48kP354UGITonnfCuNSJZM_wGNm9cvVJj_78hH8G4RVsd6xxOYaXGtIy6JBiqQDmyqCQCPAuB-daI_Gl8UF6CGDSTl7LYkfQ9gIPZY6jUhkzHM6OxtWSWyfqblvd5S/s772/Volume+Standing+Sawtimber+Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="772" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DUb6fRd9vAFwdU48kP354UGITonnfCuNSJZM_wGNm9cvVJj_78hH8G4RVsd6xxOYaXGtIy6JBiqQDmyqCQCPAuB-daI_Gl8UF6CGDSTl7LYkfQ9gIPZY6jUhkzHM6OxtWSWyfqblvd5S/w400-h266/Volume+Standing+Sawtimber+Table.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Figure 2: Since 1955, the sawtimber volume in Pennsylvania has increased more than five times all while harvests continued to remove approximately 1 billion board feet of lumber annually.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">What does all
this mean for carbon storage and sequestration in Pennsylvania’s forests? Forests
both store carbon, in carbon pools, and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Carbon
storage is the amount of carbon retained within the forest. Typically, carbon
storage levels increase with forest age and peak in NE forests when they are
greater than 200 years old.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<span style="line-height: 107%;">Carbon sequestration on the other hand, is the
process of removing carbon from the atmosphere. Trees do this through photosynthesis.
The rate at which forests sequester carbon changes over time. In NE forests
carbon sequestration typically peaks when forests are around 30-70 years old. Forest-level
sequestration rates generally decline with age, regardless of tree species or
soil conditions.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2yNnGU1TQWcJ77paHUfxvlKGzQeWA4GSBt8L3zkegda_4s2nR8PDYw0vdlRpMGiQwnKF0GxQAyTBnIWgc9ddnQYIJ2Fl7ObnUDkTUl8iB-fhWSQBQIiDolTqrPsThyphenhyphenlgVWDWBtyHkPnX/s2048/Standing+Trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2yNnGU1TQWcJ77paHUfxvlKGzQeWA4GSBt8L3zkegda_4s2nR8PDYw0vdlRpMGiQwnKF0GxQAyTBnIWgc9ddnQYIJ2Fl7ObnUDkTUl8iB-fhWSQBQIiDolTqrPsThyphenhyphenlgVWDWBtyHkPnX/w300-h400/Standing+Trees.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Figure 3: In NE forests, carbon sequestration typically peaks when forests are around 30-70 years old.</b></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">The age of the
forest not only influences the rate at which they sequester carbon but also the
amount of carbon they store. A forest’s maximum rate of carbon sequestration
happens when trees range in size from sapling, approximately 4 inches in
diameter, through medium sawtimber, trees up to 16 inches in diameter. The
maximum amount of carbon storage happens when trees are large sawtimber in size,
greater than 18 inches in diameter. A forest composed of both young trees and
old trees will have high rates of sequestration from the younger trees while
maintaining the storage capacity and sequestration rates of the surviving older
trees.</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<span style="line-height: 107%;">Maximizing carbon storage and sequestration is
only part of the global carbon picture. To understand the full role forests play
in the carbon cycle, one must consider both the amount of carbon stored in
forest products and the amount of carbon saved when wood is used in place of
more carbon-intensive materials, such as aluminum, plastic, steel and concrete.
All carbon removed from the forest during a timber harvest is not immediately
returned to the atmosphere. Approximately one-third of the forest products
harvested in the NE United States are made into products with long life spans,
such as furniture, flooring, and cabinets (Figure 4).</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcpAL968kt4Muf8j_eTWU4djDJe9LFSIGTL_l1792Bf6G7wid6bs84I6SIpdaZwSlJFDUE52cx03Hw5uVwknLVNS5b-ck3Li5heJYUL-lW3Q221e08hbKd1AnmFpTLyGQPO0DD4Pfl1oo/s801/Red+Oak+Flooring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="801" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcpAL968kt4Muf8j_eTWU4djDJe9LFSIGTL_l1792Bf6G7wid6bs84I6SIpdaZwSlJFDUE52cx03Hw5uVwknLVNS5b-ck3Li5heJYUL-lW3Q221e08hbKd1AnmFpTLyGQPO0DD4Pfl1oo/w400-h300/Red+Oak+Flooring.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Figure 4: Approximately one-third of the forest products harvested in the NE United States are made into products with long life spans such as this red oak floor.</b></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">If we decide to
continue using wood because it is the most environmentally friendly choice, but
do not use wood harvested in Pennsylvania, then it must be imported from somewhere.
If it comes from outside the state, it takes energy and carbon emissions to
bring those wood products to our region. Using locally sourced wood not only
increases the overall carbon sequestered, but also adds to the local economy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">It is important
to understand the whole forest carbon story. This necessitates looking beyond
the local level to both the regional and global scale and includes considering
the role forest products play. The land-use decisions of Pennsylvania’s
landowners will have a profound impact on our forests’ ability to sequester and
store carbon and therefore the role they play in mitigating climate change. The
greatest impact forest owners can have on carbon is to ensure their land
remains a forest, i.e., keep forests as forests.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Reference: </b><a href="https://masswoods.org/sites/masswoods.org/files/Forest-Carbon-web_1.pdf">Forest Carbon:An Essential Natural Solution for Climate Change</a>, By Paul
Catanzaro, University of Massachusetts and Anthony D’Amato, The University of
Vermont</p></span></span></span></div>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448259913624206180.post-2019425907307807742020-11-18T08:20:00.000-05:002020-11-18T08:20:13.421-05:00Timber Industry Update<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I saw this in the <a href="https://www.morningagclips.com/american-timber-industry-crippled-by-double-whammy/" target="_blank">Morning Ag Clips</a>
and thought I would share with my readers.
It was written by Andrew Muhammad, Professor of Agriculture and Resource
Economics at the University of Tennessee.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">American timber industry
crippled by double whammy</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Trade war, COVID-19 pandemic,
natural disasters all take their toll on the timber industry</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">PUBLISHED ON November 17, 2020</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">WASHINGTON — The forestry sector –
landowners, logging companies and sawmills – have lost an estimated US$1.1
billion in 2020. Devastating wildfires and Hurricane Laura have played a part,
but the COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to significant losses. If
workers are required to stay home, then no trees will be felled or logs sawed
into lumber.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLGu70rduhkfP-DKKrW5qkzE1ZCFA9IjeqNHcyrYvzO2YJhodMoaYyvn_kFQNB3gvjocXhDDY6laxGptfPlwhfCJiqWG-XYx3OLYs_068gjcK0yWhfcEKaOkwDAZNTp1hfoXpfHwAMdFt/s2048/IMG_20150812_135040964_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLGu70rduhkfP-DKKrW5qkzE1ZCFA9IjeqNHcyrYvzO2YJhodMoaYyvn_kFQNB3gvjocXhDDY6laxGptfPlwhfCJiqWG-XYx3OLYs_068gjcK0yWhfcEKaOkwDAZNTp1hfoXpfHwAMdFt/s320/IMG_20150812_135040964_HDR.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />These losses have been exacerbated
and amplified because of a longstanding trade war that has severely curbed the
sale of U.S. forestry products to foreign markets, particularly China.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am a professor of economics with
a specialty in international agricultural trade, trade policy and global food
demand. My work at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is
informed by my nearly 10 years as a senior economist with USDA researching
international trade issues affecting agriculture and forestry.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">The US-China connection<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Forest product exports in the
U.S., including logs and lumber, were valued at $9.6 billion in 2018, according
to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Forest products are the third leading
U.S. agricultural export sector after soybeans and corn. In 2018, China
accounted for nearly $3 billion of U.S. forest product exports.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The forest products relationship
between China and the U.S. is complex. The U.S. sells logs and lumber to China;
China uses the logs and lumber to produce finished wood products, such as
furniture and hardwood flooring; and China exports these finished wood products
to the world. Interestingly, the U.S. market is the leading destination for
these exports. In 2018, U.S. imports of wooden furniture and other wood
products from China exceeded $9 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This raises an obvious question:
Why doesn’t the U.S. simply make furniture and flooring? The answer is wages.
The wage differential between U.S. and Chinese workers makes it more profitable
to sell logs and lumber to China and then buy back finished wood products.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Since the demand for products like
logs and lumber is directly linked to the demand for finished wood products
like furniture and flooring, any decline in the latter negatively affects U.S.
forest product exports. To say that what happens in China does not necessarily
stay in China is an understatement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">A vulnerable industry takes the
hit</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">COVID-19 has caused a major
disruption on U.S. forest exports and hindered production because of lockdowns,
business closures and production stoppages. Many of these supply disruptions
started in China, where lumber was being turned into furniture, chairs and
other goods where the pandemic began.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">However, another major factor has
been the interruption of demand because of decreased incomes and delayed
purchases by consumers. In the U.S., furniture sales decreased as much as 66%
in April 2020 when stay-at-home orders went into effect. As of August of this
year, U.S. imports of wood furniture and other wood products from China were
down by nearly $2 billion, or 40%.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Consequently, U.S. forest product
exports as of August 2020 had dropped by more than $670 million overall, with
exports to China down by more than $100 million. Geographically, most of these
losses are in the South, a loss of $246 million, followed by the West, with
losses of $183 million, and the Northeast, with losses of $143 million. In
addition, these substantial losses are compounded by a multiplier effect that
go beyond the raw export numbers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaGa9wXamZlpFoMB2EeGtdGYT4Dpr11OKYJI9yRgwGqoleEF5jA6Y_ZfuP8JP98qRSIhxzcd9145VXtJjajdAFSD_3c32UnJgWjes_eBprqu8gJpoWICE-MOEzhc9sr2UGZydHhYRoXzI/s609/timber+chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="609" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaGa9wXamZlpFoMB2EeGtdGYT4Dpr11OKYJI9yRgwGqoleEF5jA6Y_ZfuP8JP98qRSIhxzcd9145VXtJjajdAFSD_3c32UnJgWjes_eBprqu8gJpoWICE-MOEzhc9sr2UGZydHhYRoXzI/w447-h328/timber+chart.jpg" width="447" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">In my state of Tennessee, for
instance, the forestry sector provided nearly 100,000 jobs and had an annual
economic impact of more than $24 billion in 2017, accounting for nearly 3% of
Tennessee’s economy. This, of course, was before the COVID-19 pandemic and the
U.S. trade war, which has devastated the forestry sector. When considering the
related activities associated with the forestry sector, such as trucking or
equipment, total income and job losses are likely double the direct losses from
export sales.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">The economic fallout of the
trade war<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prior to the pandemic, the
U.S.-China trade war had already made the forestry sector vulnerable because of
the tariffs that the Chinese government imposed on U.S. timber and the
resulting loss in exports. The industry was in a crisis when COVID-19 hit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2018, President Trump ordered
that tariffs be imposed on Chinese imports, including a 10% tariff on furniture
and related goods from China. In retaliation, the Chinese government imposed
tariffs on many U.S. agricultural goods, including 25% tariffs on U.S. logs and
lumber. This double taxation resulted in nearly halving the export to China –
from $3 billion in 2018 to $1.6 billion in 2019. The trade war, compounded by
COVID-19, has had a major negative effect on forest products export sales –
from timber harvest and lumber production to timber exports – which hurts
working people including loggers and mill workers. Sawmills, in particular,
have taken a serious hit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How is this related to the current
pandemic? In January 2020, the U.S. and China signed the Phase One Trade
Agreement. Based on the details of the agreement, timber and other forest
product exports to China were expected to reach more than $4 billion in 2020.
The fact that current export sales to China, as of August of 2020, were only $1
billion suggests that COVID-19 is having an even larger impact than the numbers
reveal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">–Andrew Muhammad<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Professor of Agriculture and
Resource Economics<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">University of Tennessee</span></span>David R. Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10274227503840900875noreply@blogger.com0