Andrew D. Carver

Nutrient Attenuation in Agricultural Surface Runoff by Riparian Buffer Zones in Southern Illinois, USA

Nutrients in overland flow from agricultural areas are a common cause of stream and lake water quality impairment. One method of reducing excess nutrient runoff from non-point sources is to restore or enhance existing riparian areas as vegetative buffers. A field scale study was conducted to assess the ability of remnant giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl.) and forest riparian buffer zones to attenuate nutrients in agricultural surface runoff from natural precipitation events. Two adjacent, 10.0 m wide riparian buffers were instrumented with 16 overland flow collectors to monitor surface runoff for nitrate, ammonium, and orthophosphate. Measurements were taken at 3.3 m increments within each buffer. The forest buffer significantly reduced incoming dissolved nitrate-N, dissolved ammonium-N, total ammonium-N, and total orthophosphate masses in surface runoff by 97, 74, 68, and 78 , respectively within the 10.0 m riparian buffer. Nutrient reductions within the cane buffer were 100 for all three nutrients due to relatively high infiltration rates. Significant reductions of total ammonium- N and total orthophosphate were detected by 3.3 m in the cane buffer and at 6.6 m in the forest buffer. Results suggest that both giant cane and forest vegetation are good candidates to incorporate into riparian buffer restoration designs for southern Illinois as well as in other regions within their native range with similar climatic and physiographic conditions.

Building Local Community Commitment to Wetlands Restoration: A Case Study of the Cache River Wetlands in Southern Illinois, USA

Natural resource professionals are increasingly faced with the challenges of cultivating community-based support for wetland ecosystem restoration. While extensive research efforts have been directed toward understanding the biophysical dimensions of wetland conservation, the literature provides less guidance on how to successfully integrate community stakeholders into restoration planning. Therefore, this study explores the social construction of wetlands locally, and community members’ perceptions of the wetland restoration project in the Cache River Watershed of southern Illinois, where public and private agencies have partnered together to implement a large-scale wetlands restoration project. Findings illustrate that the wetlands hold diverse and significant meanings to community members and that community members’ criteria for project success may vary from those identified by project managers. The case study provides managers with strategies for building community commitment such as engaging local citizens in project planning, minimizing local burdens, maximizing local benefits, and reducing uncertainty.

Forest-Sector Concerns in the Baltic States: Implications for an Expanded European Union

ABSTRACT European Union (EU) enlargement will create a significant impact on the forest sectors of both old and new member states. In recognition of the importance of integrating national forest policies with relevant EU strategies, this study examines the forest policy networks in countries with economies in transition and, more specifically, identifies issues of concern in the forest sectors of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (the Baltic States). Results from an open-ended survey show that the three countries share similar forest-sector concerns. Though the relative magnitudes of the concerns are similar, country-specific situations are emerging. A list of 22 individual highest ranking issues of concern in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania was compiled. Main areas of concern are (in rank of importance): (1) forest legislation; (2) top level forest administration; (3) private forestry; (4) aspects of economics; (5) environmental considerations; (6) human resources, research, and education; (7) timber processing and trade; and (8) public participation.

Forest policy networks in changing political systems: Case study of the Baltic states

Abstract The shift from the Soviet system to market economies has induced a wide range of changes in the forest sectors of the three Baltic states. The majority of these changes are the result of compromises made between stakeholders participating in forest policymaking and implementation. In this article it is argued that the relative success of the increasingly complex and dynamic environment of forest policy action arenas is ensured by interconnecting policy networks instead of hierarchical governance by the state. We map and characterize forest policy networks in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, while identifying the actors participating in forest policy formation and implementation. The forest policy networks of the Baltic states are compared against each other and with the situation during the last years of the Soviet system.

Assessing Stakeholder Perceptions: Listening to Avid Hunters of Western Kentucky

Presented are findings of an interpretive investigation of perceptions held by avid Kentucky hunters about white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herd quality and hunting regulations. Three facilitated focus groups with hunters and five follow-up key informant interviews were conducted and analyzed through an iterative qualitative analysis. Three distinct categories of hunter concerns emerged that reflected aspects of quality of experience, trust, and the regulatory environment. The findings suggested the need for wildlife agency personnel to develop methods to disseminate information about regulation-setting in a more consistent and meaningful manner. The article suggests that adoption of a complementary, qualitative-quantitative approach to data collection and analysis can assist in crafting more relevant questions on statewide quantitative surveys, thereby leading to more relevant results.

Natural Resource Agencies and Their Motivations to Partner: The Public Lands Partnership Model

Public land management agencies, such as the USDA Forest Service (USFS), utilize partnerships to accomplish a variety of tasks and meet specific targets. However, public agency personnel invest considerable time and energy to develop and maintain partnerships. Research on partnering motivations typically focuses on volunteers, nonprofit organizations and corporations, leaving the motivations of public agency personnel relatively unknown. This paper presents findings from a multiple partnership case study design on six national forests. The Public Lands Partnership Model (PLPM) is presented as a conceptualization of 13 motivations, classified into 3 distinct motivation types (i.e., interpersonal, intrapersonal, and institutional), that influence the propensity of agency personnel to partner. Additional influences, such as national forests’ external environment and internal commitment, need further exploration to confirm the PLPM and generalize results to the USFS and other agencies engaged in public land management partnerships.

Modeling timber mill procurement influence effects on interstate sawlog exportation

Over the last three decades the exportation rate of raw sawlogs from Illinois to neighboring states for processing has nearly doubled. While the exportation of sawlogs has adverse impacts on the Illinois wood products manufacturing sector and local forest landowners, little research has been conducted to understand how the spatial arrangement of timber mills affects sawlog exportation. This research models, in a spatial environment, timber mill procurement influence within southern Illinois and the surrounding region in an attempt to understand how the location of mills is a partial explanation of the increase in sawlog exportation. Assuming equal market power, timber mills within the study area were found to be arranged in a manner that results in low competition for sawlogs within Illinois and high competition in neighboring states. Spatial models incorporating differential market power based on mill size characteristics suggest that Illinois experiences little procurement pressure from high production mills operating within the State but is under procurement pressure from high production timber mills operating in neighboring states. D 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Factors influencing local attitudes and perceptions regarding jaguars Panthera onca and National Park conservation in Panama

Throughout its range in Latin America the jaguar Panthera onca is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and conflict with humans. Protected areas in Panama harbour some of the last remaining suitable habitat for jaguars and are vital to conservation. However, no previous studies had assessed which factors in particular affect the tolerance of rural Panamanians towards jaguars and National Park conservation, which is important to jaguar persistence. Whether these factors are consistent with previous research on human–carnivore coexistence is unclear. To address this we estimated the number of instances of depredation of cattle by jaguars, and assessed attitudes and perceptions of rural Panamanians. We conducted semi-structured interviews in two disparate study areas: Cerro Hoya National Park and Darien National Park. Depredation events were more frequent in the latter, but only residents of the former reported conflict between people and coyotes Canis latrans . Positive perceptions of jaguars and National Parks, and criticism of park management, increased with level of education and land ownership. Men were more open to receiving help on their farms to mitigate impacts of jaguars, and more tolerant of the presence of jaguars, than women. Residents from both study areas indicated high appreciation for their respective National Parks. We provide recommendations to improve community outreach and education initiatives, and suggest priority areas for future mitigation efforts concerning human–jaguar interactions in Panama.