Genetics of Shortleaf and Longleaf Pine in Seed Orchards
Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystems have been dwindling for decades. Restoration is a huge priority… More
Workshop on Shortleaf Pine in the Southern Appalachians
On March 3 and 4, 2020, about 25 silviculturists, foresters, fire management officers, timber specialists, and other USDA Forest Service experts gathered for a two-day workshop on shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata). In the southern Appalachians, shortleaf pine restoration is a major priority for national forests and others. The species has an extensive range but its… More
Silviculture to Restore Southern Fire-Adapted Pines
Native, mature southern pine ecosystems are dwindling on the landscape, and the plants and animals that depend upon them are in trouble as well. “Living and working in Arkansas, I sometimes forget that shortleaf pine as far as the eye can see is uncommon outside of this area,” says USDA Forest Service scientist Jim Guldin.… More
New Seed Orchards Installed with Camcore
Andy Whittier has collected hundreds of thousands of seeds during his 17 years with Camcore and the USDA Forest Service. Whittier regularly tests seed germination rates in order to evaluate their quality. That’s how he ended up with 1,200 Eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) in a greenhouse in Waynesville, North Carolina. The hemlocks were healthy three-year-old… More
Women in Science: Karen Abt
The Women in Science series features women scientists from across the Southern Research Station – their education, career paths, challenges, achievements, and inspirations. Meet SRS scientist Karen Abt, a research economist with the Forest Economics and Policy unit in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Her team studies the economics of forest disturbances, forest polices and… More
Fourth Inventory of U.S. Virgin Islands’ Forests
The forest and urban inventory in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is expanding. Through its Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA), the USDA Forest Service has collected data in the USVI since the mid-1990s. FIA data on trees, soils, and other forest characteristics have been critical in establishing a baseline and understanding trends of forest… More
Wetland Silviculture & Water Tables
Water tables are everywhere, but their levels fluctuate – especially in the poorly drained clay soils of coastal South Carolina. Topography also affects water tables, and forested wetlands in the Coastal Plain tend to be flat. “They respond rapidly to rainfall and evapotranspiration,” says Devendra Amatya, a USDA Forest Service research hydrologist. Amatya is on… More
Experimental Forest Network is Expanding
USDA Forest Service scientists, technicians, and professional support will soon be devoting more time, energy, and expertise to the Southern Experimental Forest Network. Beginning in 2015, Stephanie Laseter was tasked with initiating and developing the network, along with Jim Vose and Jim Guldin. “When we put out the call for detailers, we got an awesome… More
FIA Stakeholders Meeting
Across the nation, USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis collects data on forest ecosystems, including soils, microbes, land ownership, carbon, invasive plants, and of course, trees. Every two years, experts from the U.S. and beyond gather to share their knowledge. The 2019 FIA Stakeholders Science Meeting was held in Knoxville, Tennessee from November 19-21. The National… More
FIA Data Inform Studies on Land Use Conversions, Markets, and More
Strong forest markets protect forests by reducing conversion of forests to other land uses, according to a recent study. The study uses data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis program. “Across the Southeast and the rest of the U.S., FIA provides detailed observations of every aspect of the forest resource,” says John Coulston, a USDA… More
Managing Drought in Forest Ecosystems
More wildfire. More insects and diseases. Less predictable timber supply. Less predictable water supply. Changing wildlife habitat. Severe drought can cause all of these impacts, and more. USDA Forest Service scientists and partners have created a new resource to help land managers anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from drought. “Maintaining healthy and diverse… More