A system of equations was developed and incorporated into the PTAEDA2 loblolly pine stand simulator to provide growth projections from time of planting. Annual height growth is predicted using a two-parameter Weibull function, where distribution parameters are estimated from equations that utilize site index and age as predictor variables. Allometric equations are employed to estimate tree diameter and height-to-crown attributes. First year after planting mortality estimates are based on physiographic region and drainage class, with adjustments for bedding or discing site preparation treatments. Thereafter, a simple mortality function is used. The onset of competition is defined through a point density measure, which was conditioned to correspond with inflection points of basal area growth curves from observed data. Early silvicultural treatment response functions were also developed. These equations modify growth for shearing and piling, discing, and bedding site preparation methods, fertilization with phosphorous, nitrogen, and/or potassium, and 1-year or 2-year herbaceous weed control treatments. Differential responses due to drainage class and physiographic region are included in the response functions where necessary. Equations that account for interactions between certain treatments are used to adjust response levels where treatments have similar effects site conditions. Analyses of pre-competitive growth projections where no treatments are specified reveal that a small amount of over-prediction is present when compared with observed data. Predicted values in the post-competitive growth phase confirm that the addition of the pre-competitive growth system did not significantly affect the predictive behavior of the PTAEDA2 model. The simulated growth responses attributed to early silvicultural treatments are consistent with response levels reported in other studies. / Ph. D.

O meio ambiente e as interações humanas estão redesenhando a ética ambiental, a fim de torná-la mais clara e dotada de maior alcance. A ordem internacional ambiental vem merecendo espaços significativos dada a sua crescente importância na tutela dos ecossistemas do planeta. As políticas nacionais foram contempladas com novos elementos, como ocorreu com a Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente, que trouxe novas leis, instrumentos legais e diversas inovações para seu campo. Há alguns anos atrás, quando entrava no Estado uma nova atividade econômica, não havia arcabouço legal que desse guarida às questões ambientais e disponibilizasse instrumentos para a gestão do meio ambiente. Não existiam exigências legais, tampouco as preocupações globais que induzem os Estados e nações a assinar protocolos de intenção ou documentos de cooperação para satisfazer esses fins. Deste modo, esta pesquisa se propôs a estudar o instrumento do Zoneamento Ambiental da Atividade da Silvicultura elaborado para o Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, analisando esse instrumento sob uma ótica jurídico-institucional. Para isto, foi utilizada como metodologia a pesquisa qualitativa, dividindo-se esta em bibliográfica e documental e pesquisa de campo, através de entrevistas com representantes de alguns órgãos ambientais, órgão do Poder Público e algumas instituições privadas integrantes do setor florestal gaúcho. Os resultados encontrados demonstram que há dúvidas quanto à aplicação da legislação sobre o Zoneamento Ambiental e quanto à subordinação legal das instituições ambientais e sua atuação. Na percepção dos entrevistados há divergências técnicas quanto às diretrizes utilizadas para a implementação desse instrumento e ainda não há consenso, inclusive judicial, que atenda aos anseios das instituições do setor florestal gaúcho. No entanto, existe conciliação quanto a eventuais impactos gerados pela atividade e a necessidade de regrá-la, permitindo maior segurança para investimentos no setor. A ciência poderá trazer as respostas necessárias para esclarecer esse impasse ambiental. / The environment and the human interactions are redesigning the environmental ethics in order to make them clearer and gifted of a wider reach. The environmental international order has been getting significant spaces given its increasing importance under the custody of the planet ecosystem. The domestic politics were contemplated with new elements as took place with the Domestic Politics of Environment that has brought new laws, legal instruments and several innovations for its field. Some years ago when a new economic activity joined the Government there was no legal features that sheltered the environmental matters and made instruments available for the environment management. There were no legal demands, nor global concern that motivated Governments and nations to sign protocols of intentions or cooperation documents to attend this aims. Thus, this research suggested studying the instrument of Environmental Zoning of the Silviculture Activities elaborated for the State of Rio Grande do Sul, analyzing such instrument under the legal-institutional view. For such, a research qualitative methodology was adopted, one dividing it in bibliographical and documental and field survey, through interview with members of some environmental institutions, organ of Judicial Power and some private institutions members of the State of Rio Grande do Sul forestial sector. Results found demonstrate that there are doubts concerning application of legislation on Environmental Zoning and concerning its legal subordination of environmental institutions and its acting. Under the view of the interviewees there are technical divergences concerning policies taken for implementing this instrument and there is still no consensus, nor a legal one, that follows the needs of the State of Rio Grande do Sul forestial sector institutions. However, there is conciliation concerning eventual impacts caused by the activity and the need to rule it, allowing more safety for investing in the sector. Science will be able to bring the necessary answers to make this environmental dilemma clearer.

O meio ambiente e as interações humanas estão redesenhando a ética ambiental, a fim de torná-la mais clara e dotada de maior alcance. A ordem internacional ambiental vem merecendo espaços significativos dada a sua crescente importância na tutela dos ecossistemas do planeta. As políticas nacionais foram contempladas com novos elementos, como ocorreu com a Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente, que trouxe novas leis, instrumentos legais e diversas inovações para seu campo. Há alguns anos atrás, quando entrava no Estado uma nova atividade econômica, não havia arcabouço legal que desse guarida às questões ambientais e disponibilizasse instrumentos para a gestão do meio ambiente. Não existiam exigências legais, tampouco as preocupações globais que induzem os Estados e nações a assinar protocolos de intenção ou documentos de cooperação para satisfazer esses fins. Deste modo, esta pesquisa se propôs a estudar o instrumento do Zoneamento Ambiental da Atividade da Silvicultura elaborado para o Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, analisando esse instrumento sob uma ótica jurídico-institucional. Para isto, foi utilizada como metodologia a pesquisa qualitativa, dividindo-se esta em bibliográfica e documental e pesquisa de campo, através de entrevistas com representantes de alguns órgãos ambientais, órgão do Poder Público e algumas instituições privadas integrantes do setor florestal gaúcho. Os resultados encontrados demonstram que há dúvidas quanto à aplicação da legislação sobre o Zoneamento Ambiental e quanto à subordinação legal das instituições ambientais e sua atuação. Na percepção dos entrevistados há divergências técnicas quanto às diretrizes utilizadas para a implementação desse instrumento e ainda não há consenso, inclusive judicial, que atenda aos anseios das instituições do setor florestal gaúcho. No entanto, existe conciliação quanto a eventuais impactos gerados pela atividade e a necessidade de regrá-la, permitindo maior segurança para investimentos no setor. A ciência poderá trazer as respostas necessárias para esclarecer esse impasse ambiental. / The environment and the human interactions are redesigning the environmental ethics in order to make them clearer and gifted of a wider reach. The environmental international order has been getting significant spaces given its increasing importance under the custody of the planet ecosystem. The domestic politics were contemplated with new elements as took place with the Domestic Politics of Environment that has brought new laws, legal instruments and several innovations for its field. Some years ago when a new economic activity joined the Government there was no legal features that sheltered the environmental matters and made instruments available for the environment management. There were no legal demands, nor global concern that motivated Governments and nations to sign protocols of intentions or cooperation documents to attend this aims. Thus, this research suggested studying the instrument of Environmental Zoning of the Silviculture Activities elaborated for the State of Rio Grande do Sul, analyzing such instrument under the legal-institutional view. For such, a research qualitative methodology was adopted, one dividing it in bibliographical and documental and field survey, through interview with members of some environmental institutions, organ of Judicial Power and some private institutions members of the State of Rio Grande do Sul forestial sector. Results found demonstrate that there are doubts concerning application of legislation on Environmental Zoning and concerning its legal subordination of environmental institutions and its acting. Under the view of the interviewees there are technical divergences concerning policies taken for implementing this instrument and there is still no consensus, nor a legal one, that follows the needs of the State of Rio Grande do Sul forestial sector institutions. However, there is conciliation concerning eventual impacts caused by the activity and the need to rule it, allowing more safety for investing in the sector. Science will be able to bring the necessary answers to make this environmental dilemma clearer.

O meio ambiente e as interações humanas estão redesenhando a ética ambiental, a fim de torná-la mais clara e dotada de maior alcance. A ordem internacional ambiental vem merecendo espaços significativos dada a sua crescente importância na tutela dos ecossistemas do planeta. As políticas nacionais foram contempladas com novos elementos, como ocorreu com a Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente, que trouxe novas leis, instrumentos legais e diversas inovações para seu campo. Há alguns anos atrás, quando entrava no Estado uma nova atividade econômica, não havia arcabouço legal que desse guarida às questões ambientais e disponibilizasse instrumentos para a gestão do meio ambiente. Não existiam exigências legais, tampouco as preocupações globais que induzem os Estados e nações a assinar protocolos de intenção ou documentos de cooperação para satisfazer esses fins. Deste modo, esta pesquisa se propôs a estudar o instrumento do Zoneamento Ambiental da Atividade da Silvicultura elaborado para o Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, analisando esse instrumento sob uma ótica jurídico-institucional. Para isto, foi utilizada como metodologia a pesquisa qualitativa, dividindo-se esta em bibliográfica e documental e pesquisa de campo, através de entrevistas com representantes de alguns órgãos ambientais, órgão do Poder Público e algumas instituições privadas integrantes do setor florestal gaúcho. Os resultados encontrados demonstram que há dúvidas quanto à aplicação da legislação sobre o Zoneamento Ambiental e quanto à subordinação legal das instituições ambientais e sua atuação. Na percepção dos entrevistados há divergências técnicas quanto às diretrizes utilizadas para a implementação desse instrumento e ainda não há consenso, inclusive judicial, que atenda aos anseios das instituições do setor florestal gaúcho. No entanto, existe conciliação quanto a eventuais impactos gerados pela atividade e a necessidade de regrá-la, permitindo maior segurança para investimentos no setor. A ciência poderá trazer as respostas necessárias para esclarecer esse impasse ambiental. / The environment and the human interactions are redesigning the environmental ethics in order to make them clearer and gifted of a wider reach. The environmental international order has been getting significant spaces given its increasing importance under the custody of the planet ecosystem. The domestic politics were contemplated with new elements as took place with the Domestic Politics of Environment that has brought new laws, legal instruments and several innovations for its field. Some years ago when a new economic activity joined the Government there was no legal features that sheltered the environmental matters and made instruments available for the environment management. There were no legal demands, nor global concern that motivated Governments and nations to sign protocols of intentions or cooperation documents to attend this aims. Thus, this research suggested studying the instrument of Environmental Zoning of the Silviculture Activities elaborated for the State of Rio Grande do Sul, analyzing such instrument under the legal-institutional view. For such, a research qualitative methodology was adopted, one dividing it in bibliographical and documental and field survey, through interview with members of some environmental institutions, organ of Judicial Power and some private institutions members of the State of Rio Grande do Sul forestial sector. Results found demonstrate that there are doubts concerning application of legislation on Environmental Zoning and concerning its legal subordination of environmental institutions and its acting. Under the view of the interviewees there are technical divergences concerning policies taken for implementing this instrument and there is still no consensus, nor a legal one, that follows the needs of the State of Rio Grande do Sul forestial sector institutions. However, there is conciliation concerning eventual impacts caused by the activity and the need to rule it, allowing more safety for investing in the sector. Science will be able to bring the necessary answers to make this environmental dilemma clearer.

A rapid primary herbicide screening experiment was conducted to determine if synergism or antagonism occurs with imazapyr(Arsenal&#174;) plus triclopyr ester (Garlon 4®) and imazapyr plus glyphosate(Accord®) mixtures applied to woody weed seedlings. Using a booth sprayer, 66 herbicide treatments were applied to greenhouse grown black cherry (Prunus serotina), winged elm (Ulmus alata), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red maple (Acer rubrum), black locust (Robinia psuedoacacia), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), water oak (Quercus nigra) and cabbage palmetto (Sabel palmetto). The seedlings were rapidly screened and percent mortality, height and dry weight measurements were obtained five months after treatment. The sweetgum, red maple and black locust experienced unacceptable mortality in the control treatments, and were excluded from further analysis. A determination of synergistic or antagonistic interactions was made using response surface analysis, the nonlinear blending method, the isobologram method, and the Colby method. Imazapyr plus triclopyr ester mixtures were found to be synergistic on black cherry (p < 0.05), with antagonism occurring at high rates of both herbicides. Imazapyr plus triclopyr ester was additive on the remaining species. The imazapyr plus glyphosate mixtures were found to be additive for all tested species. / Master of Science

Precision forestry uses information collecting techniques to detect within stand variability and inform sub-stand management treatments, such as stand thinning guidelines. This study uses LiDAR to assess individual-tree stem volumes in Pinus taeda L. plantations in the southeast US. Currently, starting rows in commercial row thinning operations are arbitrarily selected, but the study used LiDAR collected stem volume data to inform starting row selection. Three study sites were measured to provide evidence of between-row volume variability. The primary study site was set up in an alternative treatment design. Two treatments were tested: a fourth row removal scenario which removed the most volume of the four possible scenarios versus a fourth row removal which targeted the least amount of volume removed. Between-row volume variability was shown in all study sites and LiDAR data accurately assessed volume in the primary study site. The primary site saw the two blocks homogenized by their thinning treatments, demonstrating the ability to increase or decrease residual volumes using targeted row selection . Targeted row removal retained more volume and larger trees and may lead to higher harvest yields and shorter rotations. Timber managers across the globe are increasingly using remote sensing to inventory stands, thus LiDAR-informed volume acquisition may be an additional application to increase the efficiency and productivity of forests. / Master of Science / Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is the most important commercial timber species in the southeastern US. Commonly grown in plantations and planted in rows, these forest tracts often receive at least one "commercial thinning" (i.e. profit yielding thinning) between planting and harvesting. This thinning typically removes every fourth row as well as undesirable individuals in residual rows, thus providing residual trees more space and resources to grow. Due to the high costs of manually inventorying these stands, row removal selection is arbitrary and may fail to fully address stem volume variability among rows. LiDAR (light detection and ranging) is a technology that creates 3D models from sent and returned light signals. This technology was aerially employed to inventory a P. taeda plantation in the Virginia Piedmont and models were developed to measure stem volumes from collected data. These stem volumes were consolidated into row volumes and were used to inform row selection during commercial row thinning operations. Targeted volume removal showed the ability of LiDAR application to alter residual stand volumes. Through low volume removal, residual volumes were increased. Additionally, more large trees were retained. Large trees are especially important as they have a competitive advantage in growth response post-thinning. These results have the potential to increase harvest yields and therefore pine plantation productivity and efficiency.

The ability to predict wood properties would aid in the growing of southern pine timber for specific end uses. Three wood properties, specific gravity, shrinkage, and knottiness, were chosen as the focus of this study. Silvicultural studies focusing on southern pine management were researched for any information on their impacts on wood properties. The information from silvicultural studies was then used to evaluate growth and yield models for ease of adaptation to predict wood properties. The information necessary to predict all wood properties is not currently available. Although, specific gravity has significantly more information available than the other properties and it is probably the most predictable.

A study was initiated to adapt the REGEN regeneration prediction model to the Appalachians of Virginia and West Virginia. REGEN generates predictions via expert created REGEN knowledge bases (RKBs) that contain competitive rankings and stochastic parameters for selected species and size classes of advance reproduction. We developed RKBs for four site productivity classes (xeric, subxeric, submesic, mesic), and tested two (subxeric and submesic) using field collected inventory data in this study. To test the model we collected data from 48 paired sites which contained a mature stand and an adjacent regenerating stand (clearcut) of similar site productivity harvested within the past 20 years. Across all 48 sites, model predictions were within 5% of measured values on average, and explained 32% (R2 = 0.32) of the variation in species composition in regenerating stands. The species compositions of 41 of the paired stands on the Appalachian Plateau in West Virginia were further analyzed to compare species composition. Species composition was compared between the mature and regenerating stands in the subxeric and submesic site classes. A comparison of the upper canopy (dominant and codominant) species composition in regenerating stands to that of all stems ≥ 1.5 in dbh in the mature stands was conducted as well. Our results suggest that the future species composition of stands regenerating following clearcut harvests will likely differ from previous rotations with mesophytic, shade intolerant species being more numerous. Oaks will likely assume a smaller role as the clearcuts mature, particularly on the submesic sites. / Master of Science

Klibbalen (Alnus Glutinosa) växer på frisk eller fuktig mark i södra och mellersta Sverige, mestadels i bestånd mindre än ett hektar. Klibbalen är med sina kvävefixerande noduler på rötterna ett näringsberikande träd, dess kvävetillförsel medför en naturlig gödsling. Den växer som bäst på djup näringsrik, mullrik mark med rörligt grundvatten. Produktionen kan  uppgå till drygt 10 m3sk/ha och år och kan föryngringsavverkas vid 35 års ålder. Virket är mjukt, har låg densitet och är lätt att bearbeta. Efter bearbetning fås en jämn fin yta som behålls även efter återfuktning. Värmeupptagningsförmågan är låg för klibbal. Däremot är virket inte intressant för tillverkning av papper då virket missfärgar pappersmassan. Undersökningen är tredelad, besök och intervjuer på lövsågverk, fältmätningar i bestånd samt analys av beståndsdata från skogsbruksplaner. Dessa tre delar ligger till grund för en syntes till en förbättrad skötselinstruktion för klibbal. Vid intervjuer med lövsågverk framkommer att de sågverk som idag sågar lövvirke upplever en brist på virke med rätt kvalitet. Med bättre skötsel och ett anpassat skötselprogram för klibbal bör det gå att få ut mer sågbart virke. God kvalitet på klibbalsvirke definieras som virke fritt från torr- och rötkvist samt brunkärna. Träden bör vid slutavverkning vara 30 till 40 cm i brösthöjd. De skogsbruksplaner som Södra Skogsägarna tillhandahöll har undersökts avseende de bestånd där klibbal är huvudträdslag. Som regel baseras skötselförslagen för dessa bestånd på andra trädslag än klibbal t.ex. gran eller björk och med ett skötselintervall på 5 år. Skötselintervallet blir ofta för långt i dessa förslag. Resultatet från såväl intervjuerna, fältmätningarna och skogsbruksplanerna har syntetiserats till ett förbättrat skötselprogram. Med en korrekt angivning av beståndsdata med anpassande skötselförslag för klibbal som har korta skötselperioder går det att skapa bättre framtida virkeskvalitet. Dagens skogsbruksplaner ger för långa tidsperioder för klibbalskötsel och bör förkortas till 2, 3 och 4-års långa perioder beroende på var i omloppstiden man befinner sig. / Common alder (Alnus Glutinosa) grows for the most part in the south and middle of Sweden, in clumps smaller than one hectare. The wood is soft, light and easy to work and maintains a smooth surface in humid environment and does not take on heath. The wood is not of interest in pulp as it discolors. The hard wood saw mills have at present a lack of good quality hardwood. With enhanced silviculture-program for common alder with shorter silviculture-interval, 2-, 3 and 4 years, and the use of a site index for common alder it should be possible to get a higher production of good quality hardwood. The current silviculture programs should be changed to shorter intervals to fit common alder silviculture. When common alder is identified for cutting, it should be taken to the hard wood industry for optimal refining.

This study compares financially optimal uneven-aged and even-aged silvicultural regimes of loblolly pine (Pinus Taeda). Uneven-aged regimes which maximize net present value (NPV) are found by quantifying the effects of diameter distribution (Q factor), maximum diameter, cutting cycle, and residual basal area on NPV. For the benchmark inputs, the regime yielding the highest NPV had a maximum diameter of 12 inches, residual basal area of 45 ft²/acre, and a cutting cycle of 11 years. Financially optimal even-aged regimes are taken from published literature of even-aged silviculture. Even-aged and uneven-aged silvicultural regimes are simulated starting from, 1) bare land, 2) a balanced uneven-aged loblolly pine stand, and 3) a mature even-aged loblolly pine stand. For the three starting conditions and selected benchmark variable values, simulation of even-aged silviculture yields NPVs of $877, $2,152 and $3,400 per acre and simulation of uneven-aged silviculture yields NPVs of $644, $2,084, and $2,569 per acre. Sensitivity analysis shows, for the levels of the variables tested, that even-aged silviculture yields higher NPVs than uneven-aged silviculture when starting from bare land or from a mature even-aged stand. When starting from an uneven-aged stand, for the variable values tested, uneven and even-aged silviculture are financially very competitive. Aside from the aesthetic benefits of avoiding clearcutting under uneven-aged silviculture, non-timber considerations between loblolly pine silvicultural systems are not well documented. Resource professionals hold opinions often in direct conflict with each other regarding the non-timber costs and benefits of even-aged and uneven-aged silviculture when considering wildlife, soil and water, and catastrophic damage events. / Master of Science