Thomas J. Straka

The Cost of Slowing the Spread of the Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Beginning in 1992, the Slow The Spread (STS) pilot project was initiated to target gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) spread rate reduction by controlling populations in the transition zone. The project uses intensive monitoring techniques, with pheromone-baited sticky moth traps, to detect low-level populations and target them for eradication. The primary objective of the pilot project was to evaluate the feasibility of using integrated pest management techniques to slow the spread of gypsy moths over a large geographical area. In this study, the cost of STS pilot project activities in 1993-1995 was investigated. A cost accounting system was developed and used as a framework to collect the cost data and to investigate cost patterns and characteristics. Total expenditures of STS activities for 1993-1995 were 7,685.2 million dollars. Per unit cost was 49.67 dollars per trap with the direct cost component being 35.03 dollars per trap. Trapper labor and vehicle expense accounted for approximately 90% of this direct cost. Per unit cost for treatment activities was found to average 27.86 dollars per treated acre. In general, the STS pilot project is labor intensive, specifically the trapping component. From 1993-1995, 59% of total project expenditures were spent on trapping activities, 28% on pesticide treatments, and 13% on data management. A trapper productivity rate regression model is described.

Influence of financial incentive programs in sustaining wildlife values

Conservation incentive programs have substantial impacts on the nation’s forests and wildlife habitat. There are eight major conservation incentive programs. The Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) provides forest landowner assistance by focusing on resource management plans embodying multi-resource stewardship principles. The Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) is the primary vehicle for cost-sharing. The Crop Reserve Program (CRP) provides for conserving covers on eligible farmland. The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) protects environmentally important private forestlands via conservation easements. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. The Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) provides grants to protect and restore habitat on private lands to benefit federally listed, proposed, candidate, or other at-risk species. The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) provides for development and improvement of upland and wetland wildlife and fish habitat. Finally, the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) offers landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands.

Creating a Destination for Tourism, Recreation, and Education on an Active Solid Waste Landfill Site

Abstract A tract of land owned by the Horry County South Carolina Solid Waste Authority is being developed as a landfill and as an environmental education and recreation facility. Parts of the tract are used as sorting facilities for storm debris and cap dirt excavation areas. The remainder of the 480-ha tract is planned for the development of an environmental education, nature-based tourism, and outdoor recreation center. It possesses the diversity and size to support multiple research projects and provide a destination for school and community groups to learn about the environment and history of the area. A geographic information system (GIS) was produced for the tract and used to assist in making decisions on the placement of interpretive trails and in developing education resources.

McPhail Tree Farm, South Carolina, United States of America

Abstract Family forests (those owned by families, individuals, trusts, estates, family partnerships, and other non-incorporated groups of individuals) represent an important segment of private forest land ownership in the United States. There are about 11 million private forest owners and 92% of them are family forest owners that control 62% of private forest land, or 35% of all forest land in the nation ( Butler, 2008 ). Less than 1% of family forest owners (who control 4% of family forest land) are certified as practicing sustainable forest management ( Butler, 2008 ). The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) has encouraged sustainable forestry on family forests for more than 70 years and is a recognized forest certification system that caters to the family forest. ATFS forest certification standards are tailored to the small family ownership. Other forest certifiers tend to cater to forest owners with large timberland areas. The ATFS has developed a forest management plan template that incorporates the components normally included in a family forest management plan with sustainable forest management standards and requirements. This case study illustrates the use of that template on a family forest owned by a National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year (the highest honor for an ATFS certified family forest).

Economic Analysis of Conservation Forestry Practices: a South Carolina Lowcountry Example

Abstract The Lowcountry Forest Conservation Project was designed to encourage conservation forestry practices on South Carolinas lower coastal plain. The area has great ecological diversity and need for the type of protections afforded by conservation forestry. The project provided demonstrations of these practices and offered forest owners an estimate of the cost-effectiveness of the techniques. This article reports on a financial analysis of the three main practices: (1) the reintroduction of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris P. Miller) into areas that are now loblolly pine plantations (Pinus taeda L.), (2) more and better use of prescribed fire, and (3) bottomland hardwood management. Longleaf pine reintroduction was accomplished using partial clearcuts of existing pine plantations over several decades. Financial return was shown to be competitive with intensively-managed loblolly pine plantations. Pine straw production played a large role in increasing cash flows. Prescribed burning was shown to “pay for itself” in increased stumpage prices and reduced harvesting costs. A technique to better manage bottomland hardwoods for economic returns was discussed. Conservation forestry practices were shown to be economically-effective means to manage forests while benefiting wildlife, aesthetics, and other ecological values. These techniques can be used to analyze other practices and techniques that are used to protect natural areas. Often they can be shown to “pay their own way.”

Ecotourism as a revenue-generating activity in South Carolina Lowcountry plantations

The South Carolina lower coastal plain, locally called the Lowcountry, is an area of great ecological diversity with bottomland swamps and coastal marshes. The Lowcountry still contains many large tracts of land, privately owned as ‘plantations’. These plantations tend to be self-supporting and many are seeking additional revenue sources, and ecotourism is developing as one of these sources. Tourism is the backbone of the Lowcountry economy. This study identified the level of existing ecotourism activities supported by Lowcountry plantations and their expectations for the future levels of natural resource-based activities. Ecotourism is blossoming as an income source, but hunting leases and timber harvests are the primary natural resource-based income sources. Owners did express interest in ecotourism activities as a source of future income. A lack of the management and business ability was the main obstacle to expanding ecotourism enterprises.