Planting density is the most important management decision made by a forester when establishing a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation. Traditionally, planting densities were often chosen with the assumption that at least one mid-rotation thinning operation would provide intermediate cash flow(s) while also accelerating the growth of residual trees to more quickly provide solid wood products at future thinnings and final harvest. Recently, closures of pulpwood processing facilities throughout the southeastern USA have led to growers considering low planting density, no-thin management regimes. Using a designed experiment in Virginia, USA, three lower planting densities (494, 741, and 988 trees per hectare) were evaluated at rotation age (30 years) for common characteristics of interest to growers. Results indicated that the highest planting density yielded significantly greater (p-value < 0.05) total green weight, pulpwood and chip-n-saw green weights, and basal area, whereas lower densities produce significantly more (p-value < 0.05) sawtimber green weight, the highest-value product. Effect sizes for these characteristics were all large (Partial— η^2 > 0.70) and meaningful from a management perspective. All planting densities produced viable stands showing little competition-induced mortality and should be evaluated alongside more traditional planting densities using expected local market conditions and landowner management objectives.
Municipal tree inventories support urban forest planning and management, while also providing data for research on urban forest structure and equity. We surveyed Canadian urban municipalities to assess the state, development, and use of municipal tree inventories and their associations with municipal, environmental, and institutional characteristics. Among 135 responding municipalities, 77
The Canadian Forest Sector faces critical workforce recruitment, retention, and diversity challenges amidst its sustainability transition. This study explores strategies to build a resilient, inclusive workforce, focusing on gender balance within the Canadian and, more specifically, the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) context. Semi-structured interviews (n = 31) with NL and broader North American stakeholders revealed that recruitment is hindered by negative public perceptions, rigid work-life structures, and homogeneous industry culture. While younger generations value sustainability, misconceptions about forestry careers persist, especially in urban areas. Key strategies identified include implementing flexible work policies, modernizing communication to highlight green careers, and fostering inclusive workplace cultures that challenge gender stereotypes. Stakeholders emphasized that partnerships between industry, education, and workforce organizations are essential for improving recruitment and aligning skills with market needs. Improving gender equity is strategic by bringing diverse perspectives required to shift the sector from volume-based production to a value-added bioeconomy.
The western portion of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) has some of the most productive and iconic forests of the United States. Management of these forests has changed dramatically over the past three decades, driven by the primary objectives and constraints associated with major forest landowner groups. Key changes include 1) increased focus on the establishment phase and a reduction in intermediate treatments for ownerships practicing intensive management (e.g., forest industry), 2) an increase in the use of variable retention harvesting on state, Bureau of Land Management, and tribal managed lands, and 3) and a shift to almost exclusive use of thinning on National Forest System lands. Most silvicultural activity is focused on Douglas-fir on privately owned timberlands despite federal ownerships comprising more than half of all timberland in the region. Regeneration is primarily accomplished via planting using both genetically improved and wild-collected seed depending on species and ownership. Increased fire occurrence and severity have given rise to a broad class of treatments related to fuels reduction and thinning to increase resiliency, which is likely to continue to expand. Future changes in practice will be driven by evolving objectives of major forest landowner groups, but we anticipate increased focus on the establishment phase across all groups. Reduced investment in silviculture research and a trend towards standardized silvicultural prescriptions are key challenges to future innovation in the region at a time when the need for innovation to maintain forests and the benefits they provide has never been greater.
In the United States, voluntary carbon markets have gained significant traction in recent years. However, many offset standards, protocols, and credit ratings have come under scrutiny from the public and investors for failing to produce real or sustainable carbon offsets. Additionally, communities often find themselves unprepared to advocate for forest-based carbon projects that align with their needs and interests, mainly due to a lack of information and a general distrust surrounding carbon projects. There is a pressing need to address the social, ecological, and technological barriers that hinder the development of higher-integrity carbon credits and limit crucial financing for climate change mitigation activities. This paper is the culmination of findings from a series of discussions held in 2025 by leading academics, non-profit organizations, and forestry professionals to identify key challenges, research priorities, and actionable steps to scaling voluntary forest carbon markets. The discussions focused on six priority areas including permanence; additionality; leakage; measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV); market investments; and the social and ecological implications of carbon markets. By reporting on these discussions, we aim to strengthen conversations across forest carbon topics to enhance market access while simultaneously identifying needs for developing high-integrity forest carbon projects for climate change mitigation and rural communities.
