Understanding Your Environment: Forests, Trees and Responsible Wood Products

Transcription

1 Understanding Your Environment: Forests, Trees and Responsible Wood Products Katie Fernholz Dovetail Partners, Inc. Wood Products Council is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates t of Completion for both AIA members and non-aia members are available upon request. This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation. Course Evaluations In order to maintain high quality learning experiences, please access the evaluation for this course by logging into CES Discovery and clicking on the Course Evaluation link on the left lfside of the page. Copyright Materials This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, ib ti display and use of the presentation ti without written permission of the speaker is prohibited. Dovetail Partners 2011

2 3/25/2011 Understanding Forests Learning Objectives At the end of this program, participants will be able to: Understand the impact of forestry in North America Identify the current forest management practices used in North America Identify national and regional laws and restrictions of the forest industry Understand the environmental impacts of managed forestry and their i impacts on global l b l climate li change h 3/25/2011 Understanding Forests What is a Forest? Social Considerations What is a Forest? Environmental Considerations 3/25/2011 Understanding Forests What is a Forest? Economic Considerations

3 Can we balance it all? Yes, and we are, with Responsible Forest Management. The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately % of the forested area that existed in a. 72 percent b. 50 percent c. 33 percent d. 17percent The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately % of the forested area that existed in a. 72 percent b. 50 percent c. 33 percent d. 17 percent True (T) or False (F). The geographic area that encompasses the United States today has about the same forest coverage as the same geographic area did in Canada has about 995 million acres of forest equal to 91% of its original forest cover, more than any other country.

4 Current Forest Cover North America True (T) or False (F). The geographic g area that encompasses the United States today has about the same forest coverage as the same geographic area did in Forest Area in the United States Causes of forest area change: Today res Million Acr Source: USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-78. (2009). In the 1990s, almost 70 per cent of deforested areas were changed to agricultural land. Source: FAO 2001b

5 Milaca, 1900s Rum River, ca s, Eroded lands which became part of the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois Sources: &navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003853&navid= &pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ttype=main&pname=S hawnee%20national%20forest-%20home Sources: sziFOqYSLw

6 Which of the following statements most accurately describes U.S. forests: a) Forest harvest exceeds growth by 20 percent. b) Forest harvest exceeds growth by 5 percent. c) Forest harvest roughly equals growth. d) Forest growth exceeds harvest by 20 percent. e) Forest growth exceeds harvest by 70 percent. Horse drawn sled, northern Minnesota, early 1900's. Source: Which of the following statements most accurately describes U.S. forests: Lake States Forests a) Forest harvest exceeds growth by 20 percent. b) Forest harvest exceeds growth by 5 percent. c) Forest harvest roughly equals growth. d) Forest growth exceeds harvest by 20 percent. e) Forest growth exceeds harvest by 70 percent. Source:

7 Net Growth/Removals Ratios U.S., Natural and Planted Forests Western U.S Eastern U.S. When net forest growth divided by removals = 1.0, timber inventories are neither expanding or declining. Source: Smith, et al., 2004; USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-78. (2009). Source: US Forest Facts and Historical Trends, USDA FS, Public/Private Ownership by Region Activity & Condition by Ownership Group 1. Arctic Tundra 2. Boreal Forest 3. Rocky Mtn Evergreen Forest 4. Pacific Coast Evergreen Forest 5. Northern Mixed Forest 6. Eastern Deciduous Forest 7. Coastal Plain Mixed Evergreen Forest 8. Mexican Montane Forest 9. Central American Rain Forest 10. Great Plains Grasslands 11.Tropical Savanna 12.Cool Desert 13.Hot Desert 14.Mediterranean Shrub Source: Smith, Brad, et al. Forest Resources of the United States, 2002 (2004)

8 Forest Cover Types West East What does responsible forest management look like? Source: US Forest Facts and Historical Trends, USDA FS, Thinning Treatment for Mixed Pine This forest has been logged twice, most recently a year before this picture was taken. What is responsible forestry? Thinning Treatment for Pine

9 Shelterwood 3/25/2011 Treatment for Oak and Hardwoods What is responsible forestry? Shelterwood 3/25/2011 Treatment for Pine Clearcutting 3/25/2011 for Aspen and Mixed Hardwoods What about clearcutting? Tools for Assuring Accountability -Best Management Practices (BMPs) -State, Federal and Provincial monitoring and forest inventory programs -Professional Logger Training and Certification -Forest Management and Chain-of-Custody Certification -Forestry Practices and Laws

10 Forestry Laws: Canada Federal and Provincial Examples: Canadian Environmental Protection Act Consolidated Statutes of Canada, Chapter C.15 Fisheries Act (Canada), Revised Statutes 1985, Chapter F.14 and Ontario Fisheries Regulations Forestry Act (Canada), Consolidated Statutes of Canada, Chapter F-30 Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994, S.O. 1994, c. 25 (CFSA) Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) defines forest sustainability and provides mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of Crown forests. Endangered Species Act, S.O. 2007, c. 6 Endangered Species Act provides for the conservation, protection, restoration and propagation of species of flora and fauna of the Province of Ontario that are threatened with extinction. Professional Foresters Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 18 Professional Foresters Act regulates the practice of professional forestry in Ontario. The practice of professional forestry is the provision of services in relation to the development, management, conservation and sustainability of forests and urban forests where those services require knowledge, training and experience equivalent to that required to become a member under this Act. Forestry Laws: US Federal Examples: Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA) The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act authorizes long range planning by the US Forest Service to ensure the future supply of forest resources while maintaining a quality environment. RPA requires that a renewable resource assessment and a Forest Service plan be prepared every ten and five years, respectively, to plan and prepare for the future of natural resources. Wilderness Act of 1964 The Wilderness Act created a system of wilderness reserves and specific management guidance for wilderness areas designated by Congress. Today there are million acres of designated wilderness on federal lands and more than 35 million acres of that wilderness is on the National Forests. US Forest Service Law Enforcement Law enforcement is an integral part of the overall management of the National Forest System. Law enforcement personnel, line officers, and appropriate p staff ensure that prevention, investigation, enforcement, and program management requirements are fully integrated into all National Forest System resource management programs. Law enforcement personnel operate as full partners within the Forest Service organization in carrying out the agency's mission, especially in upholding federal laws and regulations that protect natural resources, agency employees, and the public. Lacey Act Illegal Logging The Lacey Act is a piece of US legislation which was introduced in 1900 to prevent transportation of illegally captured wildlife across state lines. It has been amended several times, most recently in June 2008 when US Congress agreed to extend the Act to timber products. This made the US the first country to legislate against the handling of timber which is illegal according to the laws of the country the timber originated from. law.html Forestry Laws: US State Examples: MAINE : Forest Practices Act Forest harvest regulations 1. Standards for regeneration after harvests. 2. Performance standards for clear cuts. 3. Forest management plans for clear cuts over 20 acres. /d / / /ht /f OREGON FOREST PRACTICES ACT Harvest type 3 limitations; exceptions. (1) No harvest type 3 unit within a single ownership shall exceed 120 acres in size, except as provided in ORS (2) No harvest type 3 unit shall be allowed within 300 feet of the perimeter of a prior harvest type 3 unit within a single ownership if the combined acreage of the harvest type 3 areas subject to regulation under the Oregon Forest Practices Act would exceed 120 acres in size, unless the prior harvest type 3 unit has been reforested as required by all applicable regulations and: (a) At least the minimum tree stocking required by rule is established per acre; and either (b) The resultant stand of trees has attained an average height of at least four feet; or (c) At least 48 months have elapsed since the stand was created and it is free to grow as defined by the State Board of Forestry.. Forest Certification Source: Dovetail Partners (2010)

11 Forest Certification Source: find-sfi-forest-products/index.php p p

12 Wood Products and Carbon Protocols: Carbon Storage and Low Energy Intensity Should Be Considered (Available at: Wood Products and Carbon Protocols: Carbon Storage and Low Energy Intensity Should Be Considered (Available at: Wood Products and Carbon Protocols: Carbon Storage and Low Energy Intensity Should Be Considered (Available at:

13 org For more information: Dovetail Reports: Forest Tour (YouTube video): org/content/forest tour Dovetail Report: The Power of Silviculture: Employing Thinning, Partial Cutting Systems and Other Intermediate Treatments Dovetail Partners, , This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Course Dovetail Partners, Inc.