Chemical Use and Forest Certification: Productivity and Economic Implications

Author(s): Mendell, B.C. Lang, A.H. Caldwell, W. Garrett, D.L.
Publication Year: 2015
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source: Journal of Forestry (113, 4, 367-371)
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Access to the Study:
Permanent Resource Identifier: Open link
FSC Resource Identifier: Open link
Collections: FSC Research Portal
Abstract

Forest certification programs provide standards for multiple aspects of forest management, including the use of chemicals for mitigating competition and forest pests. The three most common programs in the UnitedStates—the American Tree Farm System, the Forest Stewardship Council, and the Sustainable ForestryInitiative—all address chemical use. To evaluate relative impacts under different certification schemes, thisresearch estimates productivity and economic implications of a scenario resembling management on nonindustrialprivate forestland. The research compares estimates from a mechanical-only treatment and two levels of chemicaltreatments. Results indicate that strict chemical use restrictions lead to lower levels of forest productivity andreduce potential financial returns. The mechanical scenario generated 6% less volume than the baseline scenario,and the more chemically intensive scenario generated 12% more volume than the baseline. The estimated netpresent value of the mechanical scenario (no chemical use) was 12% less than the baseline.

Summary
Description
Citation
Mendell, B.C., Lang, A.H., Caldwell, W., and Garrett, D.L. (2015). Chemical use and forest certification: Productivity and economic implications. Journal of Forestry 113, 367–371.
Access Rights: Public, Open access
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Relevance for FSC Standard Developers:
Sustainability dimension(s): Economic Environmental
Topics: Compositional diversity Forest degradation
Subtopics: (not yet curated)
Subject Keywords: Forests Certification
Regions: North America
Countries: United States of America
Forest Zones: Temperate
Forest Type: Natural Forest, Plantation
Tenure Ownership: Private
Tenure Management: (not yet curated)
Evidence Category: FSC effect-related studies
Evidence Type: Modeling study
Evidence Subtype: Future scenario or potential effects
Data Type: (not yet curated)