Douglas R. Carter

Short-rotation woody crops and phytoremediation: Opportunities for agroforestry?

Worldwide, fuelwood demands, soil and groundwater contamination, and agricultures impact on nature are growing concerns. Fast growing trees in short rotation woody crop (SRWC) systems may increasingly meet societal needs ranging from renewable energy to environmental mitigation and remediation. Phytoremediation, the use of plants for environmental cleanup, systems utilizing SRWCs have potential to remediate contaminated soil and groundwater. Non-hyperaccumulating, i.e., relatively low contaminant concentrating, species such as eucalypts (Eucalypts spp.), poplars (Populus spp.), and willows (Salix spp.) may phytoremediate while providing revenue from fuelwood and other timber products. Effective phytoremediation of contaminated sites by SRWCs depends on tree-contaminant interactions and on tree growth as influenced by silvicultural, genetic, and environmental factors. Locally adapted trees are essential for phytoremediation success. Among the different agroforestry practices, riparian buffers have the greatest opportunity for realizing the SRWC and phytoremediation potentials of fast growing trees. Agroforestry that combines SRWC and phytoremediation could be an emerging holistic approach for sustainable energy, agricultural development, and environmental mitigation globally.

Restoration of the longleaf pine ecosystem on private lands in the US South: an ecological economic analysis

Abstract The longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most biologically diverse in North America, supporting hundreds of plant and animal species. Because of its timber and many non-timber benefits, there is strong interest among forestry professionals, conservation groups, and the public at large in restoring longleaf pine ecosystems. However, many landowners are reluctant to grow longleaf pine on their lands on a commercial basis because the economic returns from longleaf pine timber production are usually less than those of slash pine. In this study, we develop a model that determines the profitability of longleaf and slash pine timber production after consideration of carbon sequestration, habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, and other amenity benefits. Results suggest that internalizing carbon sequestration benefits and red-cockaded woodpecker habitat benefits alone is not enough for landowners to switch from slash pine to longleaf. Additional payments of

Economic and environmental impacts of conventional and reduced-impact logging in Tropical South America: a comparative review

16 to 33 per ha per year, reflecting extra amenity benefits associated with longleaf pine relative to slash pine, make longleaf production financially competitive. Incentives that reflect carbon, biodiversity, and amenity benefits associated with longleaf production may be the optimal way of restoring longleaf pine ecosystems on rural private lands in the US South.

Financial returns under uncertainty for conventional and reduced-impact logging in permanent production forests of the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract Indicators of environmental impact and financial performance are compared for case studies of tropical forest logging from the Brazilian Amazon, Guyana, and Ecuador. Each case study presents parameters obtained from monitoring initial harvest entries into primary forests for planned, reduced-impact logging (RIL) and unplanned, conventional logging (CL) operations. Differences in cost definitions and data collection protocols complicate the comparative analysis, and suggest that caution is necessary in interpreting results. Given this caveat, it appears that RIL can generate competitive or superior profits relative to CL if the financial costs of wood wasted in the harvesting operation are fully accounted for. Increased operational efficiency is an important benefit of RIL, one that largely determines its cost-effectiveness relative to conventional practices. Uncertainties concerning the marginal benefits of RIL relative to familiar, profitable conventional practices pose an obstacle to broader adoption. Moreover, CL firms face few incentives to alter their operations unless they face dramatic changes in market signals. Adoption of RIL techniques as part of a long-term forest management regime faces additional challenges related to the opportunity cost of silvicultural prescriptions and timber set-asides to maintain productivity and ecosystem integrity.

Regional Impacts of Environmental Regulations and Technical Change in the US Forestry Sector: A Multiregional CGE Analysis

Abstract Reduced-impact logging (RIL) techniques are designed to improve the efficiency of timber harvesting while mitigating its adverse effects on the forest ecosystem. Research on RIL in select tropical forest regions has demonstrated clear ecological benefits relative to conventional logging (CL) practices while the financial competitiveness of RIL is less conclusive. We conduct a comparative analysis of financial returns to one and two cutting-cycle logging entries for representative RIL and CL operations of the eastern Amazon. Observed variability in harvest efficiency and uncertainties of forest productivity are introduced in a stochastic simulation of future biological and financial returns to the alternative logging systems. Despite the perceived investment risks, RIL harvesting operations generate competitive or superior returns relative to CL for a wide range of discount rates due to gains in harvest efficiency and forest conservation.

An analysis of land conversion from sustainable forestry to pasture: a case study in the Bolivian Lowlands

In this paper, a multiregional computable general equilibrium model, which divides the United States (US) into four broad geographical regions and aggregates other nations into the rest of the world, is used to analyze the effects associated with environmental and technological policy shifts in the US forest sector. In particular, we analyze the impacts of: (i) a 20% reduction in the harvest of timber in the Pacific Northwest relative to other regions; (ii) a 5% increase in the cost of timber production in the US South relative to other regions due to environmental regulations; and (iii) a 2% Total Factor Productivity (TFP) improvement in the South and 1% TFP improvement in the other three US regions. The results show that a 20% reduction in timber harvest induces a shift in regional production and visible gains in welfare, especially in the US South. Furthermore, higher technical progress in the South as compared to the other three regions contributes to an overall increase in forest products’ output and welfare in the US and the rest of the world. On the contrary, an increase in the cost of production in the US South, in response to additional environmental regulations, is shown to reduce welfare for the US and globally. Results of this analysis help forest companies and landowners make production decisions and guide policy makers toward developing appropriate policies to further forest conservation and economic development in the US.

Certified wood markets in the US: implications for tropical deforestation

Abstract The objective of this paper is to examine the land-use dynamics between cattle production and forestry: when forest production takes place in a sustainable manner and cattle production is without the benefit of artificial production incentives. Data from the Lowlands of Bolivia are used in the empirical analysis and although the results directly reflect that situation, they are pertinent to much of Latin America and the continuing land-use conflict between forestry and cattle production. The results suggest that contrary to conventional wisdom, higher stumpage values do not always lead to a decrease in the land converted to pasture. In circumstances where per hectare stumpage values are very low, increases in stumpage values will provide the capital required to convert land to pasture and thus exacerbate land conversion. This will occur until a certain threshold value, after which further increases in stumpage values will decrease land conversion to pasture, as would be expected.

Visitor Preferences and Values for Water-Based Recreation: A Case Study of the Ocala National Forest

Abstract Ecological certification is touted as a market based incentive for improved tropical forest management and has generated considerable debate in development programs, academia, industry and environmental circles. The fundamental belief is that consumers will be willing to pay a premium for wood products produced in well managed or ‘sustainable’ forest operations. The true test of willingness to pay comes from the results of actual market transactions and the most accurate estimation will come from the people who, for the past few years, have been directly involved in the certified wood market. This paper focuses on merchants who have been actively involved in US markets for certified wood products. Survey results indicate an active and growing market. However, there is little evidence of a ‘green’ premium being applied to final products. Further, merchants who purchase from international sources face significantly more problems than do merchants who purchase from domestic sources. The result is that new entrants into the market are purchasing from domestic, not international sources. Thus, the potential of ecological certification as a market based incentive to reduce tropical deforestation from the US perspective is questionable.

Sustainability of forest management under changing climatic conditions in the southern United States: adaptation strategies, economic rents and carbon sequestration.

We used the open-ended contingent valuation method to elicit willingnes to pay (WTP) for day visitors and extended visitors on the Ocala National Forest (ONF), Florida. A Tobit model specification was applied to account for the issues involved with censored WTP bids. The results reveal that visitors would pay more for improved recreational facilities at the ONF. In particular, our estimates show that visitors would pay

Following the Rules: Brazilian Logging Concessions under Imperfect Enforcement and Royalties

1 million for basic facilities,