Events & Announcements

Assessing the Future of Wyoming's Water Resources

Spatial Interest — 2010-02-01T21:56:03-08:00

"The Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) produced the 28-page report, "Assessing the Future of Wyoming's Water Resources: Adding Climate Change to the Equation," as a basis for management strategies. Written for a broad audience, the brochure-type publication includes easy-to-read text, color graphics and sidebars. It is available on the Ruckelshaus Institute Web site at www.uwyo.edu/enr."

A New Climate for Conservation

Spatial Interest — 2010-01-29T10:01:35-08:00

A report funded by a coalition of conservation groups recommends a change in management direction for British Columbia's land base. The author identifies biodiversity and adapting to climate change as two priority management objectives for B.C.S forests. The present management status of the land base conserves 15% of the land base in parks and wilderness areas. The author recommends that 50% of the province's forests should be managed intact, with biodiversity and climate change as the management objective. Read more>>

Climate Change, Bioenergy, and Sustaining Forests of Idaho and Montana

Spatial Interest — 2010-01-21T21:16:04-08:00

Conference - March 3-4, 2010
Boise , Idaho

Purpose: This conference will help people connect global-scale issues regarding climate change, renewable energy, and carbon emissions to potential effects on forests in Idaho and Montana. Discussions will center on strategies for sustaining our forests and the services people expect from them.
Read more>>

The State of Ecosystem Services

Spatial Interest — 2010-01-14T16:16:37-08:00

With so many diverse efforts underway, it has been difficult, if not impossible, for many of those involved in the fie ld to get a sense of what the ecosystem services landscape looks like as a whole, much less learn from one another�s experiences. To help provide a map of the field, and to facilitate learning, researchers at Bridgespan, funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, undertook a project to provide a comprehensive overview
of the current state of ecosystem services and its potential for impact in environmental conservation.

This report synthesizes:

Thirty-six interviews with experts from academia, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, and corporations;
A literature review of over 60 white papers and reports (a list detailing these resources is included at theend of this document); and
Impact results from 194 case studies from the Nature Valuation and Financing Network (NV&F) CaseBase database and 46 from the WRI�s Corporate Ecosystem Services Review project database.

USFW Bull Trout Critical Habitat Announcement - 2010

Spatial Interest — 2010-01-14T11:25:24-08:00

"On January 13, 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to revise its 2005 designation of critical habitat for the bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), a threatened species protected under the Endangered Species Act."

Global Warming and Stress Complexes in Forests of Western North America

Spatial Interest — 2010-01-08T13:15:00-08:00

The interaction of stress complexes and natural disturbances will impact the ability of managers to sustain Western U.S. forests. Warming trends, including earlier spring snow melt, reduce soil moisture and the water deficit increases forest stress. These conditions can increase insect and fire disturbances. The authors conclude that forest composition will likely change over time, productivity will decrease, including a reduction in the capacity to absorb carbon dioxide. Read more (PDF)>>

Housing Growth in and Near United States Protected Areas Limits their Conservation Value

Spatial Interest — 2010-01-08T10:02:03-08:00

Housing growth on the edge of protected areas compromise biodiversity objectives, concludes authors in a PNAS publication. The researchers analyzed housing growth from 1940 to present, and projected growth patterns to 2030. R ead more (abstract)>>

Effects of Wildland Fire on Regional and Global Carbon Stocks in a Changing Environment

Spatial Interest — 2009-12-29T12:08:40-08:00

"Every year tens of millions of hectares of forests, woodlands, and grasslands burn globally. Some are burned intentionally for land conversion, pasture renewal or hazard reduction, or wildlife habitat improvement, but most are burned by uncontrolled wildfire. Estimates of burned area available in the literature vary widely, but satellite-based remote sensing data are increasing the accuracy of monitoring active fire and estimating burned areas. Recent data suggest that global wildfire emissions vary substantially from year to year. Nonetheless, average annual carbon emissions from wildfire are 20�40% of those from fossil fuel combustion and cement production. Results of field studies and modelling efforts indicate that changing climate is likely to increase the extent and frequency of wildfires, highlighting the importance of accurately quantifying the regional and global effects of wildfire on carbon stocks and on atmospheric carbon compounds. The nature and strength of feedbacks between fire and climate will depend not only on changes in the area that is burned annually, but perhaps more importantly, on how those fires burn and how ecosystems respond and recover." Read more>>

A Guide to Carbon-Oriented Forest and Range Management and Carbon Market Opportunities

Spatial Interest — 2009-12-23T15:50:40-08:00

"There are opportunities for forest owners and ranchers to participate in emerging carbon markets and contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon oriented forest and range management activities. These activities often promote sutainable forestry and ranching and broader conservation goals while having the potential to provide a new income stream for landowners. We describe current carbon market opportunities for landowners, discuss common steps they must typically undergo to take advantage of these opportunities, and address related questions. We also provide a synthesis of the existing scientific literature on how different forest and range management practices are thought to contribute to carbon sequestration, including current debates on this topic. The science regarding forestry and carbon seuestration is more advanced and less controversial than that for range management, and more opportunities exist for forest owners to participate in carbon markets than for ranchers. We describe some of the challenges of including landowners in carbon markets, and issues that will likely need to be addressed to develop relevant policy. "

Read more (PDF)>>

Economic Contribution of Private Working Forests

Spatial Interest — 2009-12-09T09:09:12-08:00

A new study, commissioned by the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) and conducted by Forest2Market, quantifies the economic impact of private, working forests on the U.S. economy. The study found a significant gap between the contributions made by privately-owned forests over other ownership types. On average, they generate $277,000 in state GDP per 1,000 acres, while public forests generate just $41,000 per acre. Read more>>