Forestry Research A Mandate for Change (1990) / Chapter Skim
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3. Areas of Research
3. Areas of Research
Pages 27-49
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From page 27... ...
international trade, competition, and cooperation. These five areas represent the broad cross-section of forestry research seen by the committee as central to addressing present and future societal concerns pertaining to forests and many global environmental issues.
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From page 28... ...
Forest management activities affect the habitats of all these organisms. Our understanding of ecosystem function and our ability to improve forest productivity, to ameliorate the effects of environmental disturbances, and to restore ecosystems are hindered by our limited knowledge of the basic biology of forest organisms.
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From page 29... ...
These techniques provide new opportunities to study the molecular bases of a wide variety of genetically regulated processes in growth, metabolism, development, response to environmental stimuli, and evolution. These methods can contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms that underlie hostpathogen interactions, the responses of forest trees to pests and abiotic stress, and interactions with other forest organisms.
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From page 30... ...
Detailed genetic markers will also be of major value in the identification of relationships of diverse genetic material, whether in testing of seed sources or in establishing the interrelationships of organisms at the population level. Genetic markers and genetic maps will also be useful in studying population genetics and evolution of forest organisms.
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From page 31... ...
Limitations of the methodology of tissue culture constitute the major research barrier to the development of DNA transfer methods that are needed for genetic engineering. Greater effort is needed to overcome the problems of tissue-culturing many forest tree species.
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From page 32... ...
The development of integrated pest management methods for forest resources is a major scientific challenge. Biological Pest Control.
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From page 33... ...
ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION AND MANAGEMENT Many of the emerging issues in science have a great impact on societal problems, especially problems in the area of natural resources and environment. In effect, the old distinction between basic and applied sciences is being dissolved, and scientific agendas are evolving around critical environmental issues such as the effects of global warming and of loss of the ozone layer and biological diversity.
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From page 34... ...
Landscape Ecology Many current forest management problems involve concerns on large spatial scales and must be viewed, at least in part, at the level of a landscape. The preservation of habitat for wide-ranging species, such as large ungulates (for example, elk)
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From page 35... ...
Resolving or even understanding these issues in sufficient detail that appropriate forest policy can be implemented should be the central focus of much forestry research. Biological Diversity The basic concern about loss of biological diversity is the accelerating and irreplaceable depletion of genes, populations, species, and ecosystems.
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From page 36... ...
Issues of preservation of biological diversity include some old ones (such as how to maintain game and anadromous fish populations) , some new ones (such as what to do about threatened and endangered species)
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From page 37... ...
Another requirement for complex silvicultural systems is detailed sitespecific planning among silviculturists, forest engineers, fish and wildlife biologists, and other resource specialists. For example, the hazards of certain forest tree diseases, such as annosus root rot, little leaf disease, and Phytophthora root rot of Fraser fir, have been shown to be reduced by site selection studies involving analyses of soil characteristics as well as preplanting sampling of soil for presence of the pathogen.
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From page 38... ...
Community, however defined, provides forest scientists and forest managers an opportunity to understand the direct linkage between humans and various natural resource systems. Community, in contrast to other forms of sociological inquiry, focuses on social structure the network of institutions providing order to human affairs.
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From page 39... ...
Setter understanding of the human community associated with forests is required for guiding forest management and providing a perspective for sustainable resource development. Urbanization of the Forests and Urban Forests.
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From page 40... ...
Both education and research are needed specifically for urban forests. We need to gather information on individual tree species and other organisms as distinct from stands or forests.
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From page 41... ...
Contemporary issues and future problems will embrace resource-dependent communities, social conDict and conflict resolutions over multiple values of forests, urbanization of the forest and urban forests, and public involvement in planning for and making decisions about forests. Within this context, the issues associated with the clientele groups interested in forestry are becoming more diverse.
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From page 42... ...
Wood is far less demanding of energy than other industrial materials, such as steel, aluminum, plastics, brick, and concrete. Solar energy produces this industrial raw material, and a large fraction of the energy required to process it into useful products is provided by using the residues of its own manufacturing operations, thus minimizing requirements for fossil fuels.
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From page 43... ...
In addition, federal in-house research on wood science and technology is essentially concentrated in a single laboratory the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin. Federal monies have had little effect on the development of regionally based forestry research at universities.
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From page 44... ...
Timber Harvesting Research Timber harvesting is the economic mainstay of many rural communities in the United States and the lifeblood of forest operations in that it provides the funds necessary to build roads and carry out desirable multiple-use forestry practices. Harvesting is also an essential operation for industries using wood and fiber because it is the source of raw material.
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From page 45... ...
Research to Avoid or Minimize Negative Environmental Impacts Dur~ng Harvesi'ng Because harvesting damages the forest, it is essential to design harvesting practices and systems that do not reduce long-term productivity, add unwanted sediment and debris to streams, reduce desirable wildlife habitat, or destroy beautiful forest vistas. In fact, our challenge is to enhance outputs of all valuable forest resources and see that they are sustainable and complementary, not merely to keep the production of one output from destroying another.
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From page 46... ...
Forest resource inventory and commercial supply characteristics of participants in world markets must be made available if meaningful work on integrated worldwide supply and demand projections is to be initiated. Information, Supply, and Demand Changes in international trade policies, national marketing strategies, and world markets can have significant impacts on the natural resource base.
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From page 47... ...
More effective use of forest resources, especially hardwoods, would extend supplies, reduce waste, and slow deforestation. In a number of situations, technological processes in the temperate climates of the United States and other industrial nations may be adapted readily to local conditions and species in the tropics.
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From page 48... ...
Mopical deforestation and over-exploitation of natural forests, wasteful harvesting practices and inefficient utilization, and inadequate investment in forest management and reforestation call for both research and action to manage and reduce threats to the resource base. Increased imports impose a high cost on developing nations.
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From page 49... ...
Forestry research directed toward major societal issues can contribute significantly to progress in formulating policies that ensure sustainable development.
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