Foresters use natural disturbances and stand development processes as models for silvicultural practices in broad conceptual ways. Incorporating an understanding of natural disturbance and stand development processes more fully into silvicultural practice is the basis for an ecological forestry approach. Such an approach must include 1) understanding the importance of biological legacies created by a tree regenerating disturbance and incorporating...

The gypsy moth Slow the Spread Program is a joint U.S. Forest Service and state effort aimed at reducing the rate of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), spread into new areas in the United States. Between 2000 and 2007, federal funding for this program has ranged from $8 million to $10 million, with an additional 25 percent of funds contributed by participating states. Changes in funding levels can have important ramifications...

Development of a natural gas well and pipeline on the Fernow Experimental Forest, WV, was begun in 2007. Concerns were raised about the effects on the natural and scientifi c resources of the Fernow, set aside in 1934 for long-term research. A case study approach was used to evaluate effects of the development. This report includes results of monitoring projects as well as observations related to unexpected impacts on the resources of the Fernow....

FORCARB2, an updated version of the U.S. FORest CARBon Budget Model (FORCARB), produces estimates of carbon stocks and stock changes for forest ecosystems and forest products at 5-year intervals. FORCARB2 includes a new methodology for carbon in harvested wood products, updated initial inventory data, a revised algorithm for dead wood, and now includes public forest land, reserved forest land, and forest land of low productivity. The model has been...