Interest in biomass energy resources from forests, farms and other sources has been rapidly increasing in recent years because of growing concern with reducing carbon dioxide emissions and developing alternatives to increasingly scarce, expensive and insecure oil supplies. The uniqueness of this book is its coverage of biomass energy markets in the US from an economic as well as technical perspective. Existing books typically focus on single markets or technical aspects at the exclusion of economics, and have given greater coverage to biomass energy outside the US. This edited collection has three main parts. Part One provides a historical overview of forest biomass energy use in the US; the major technologies, economics, market prospects, and policies. Part Two presents forest biomass energy assessments, including life cycle and sustainability perspectives, and Part Three includes five sets of regional case studies. After reviewing the history of wood energy use in the US and technology options, the book shows that forests could displace sixteen per cent of domestic transportation fuel use in 2030. Renewable Energy from Forest Resources in the United States includes a Foreword from Chris Flavin, President of the Worldwatch Institute.

For 75 years, few textbooks have served a topic as well as Introduction to Forests and Renewable Resources. Widely recognized for its comprehensive yet engaging coverage, this major revision provides an outstanding, up to date overview of management issues, conservation policies and practices related to forests and renewable resources, and an authoritative perspective on how these topics are evolving. New directions are covered, including: green certification of forest management and wood products; improved harvest practices in response to public concerns; carbon sequestration and ecological services as important forest yields; ecosystem restoration and resilience as management responds to concerns about global warming; and more. Well-illustrated with new examples, case studies and abundant photos, this eighth edition describes the importance and history of forests, evolution of policy, North American distribution of forests, and moves on to describe forest health strategies to combat insects, disease, damage from mammals, and fire. Ecological principles are explained as basis for forest management, with chapters on management of the associated resources of wildlife, watersheds and streams, range resources, outdoor recreation and wilderness. Market concerns and technology are embraced in chapters on economics, measurement and analysis, harvesting, and forest products. Concluding chapters describe management of forests and renewable resources by the federal government, by states, by private land owners, and in urban areas and communities. For forestry, natural resource, and environmental science students, involved citizens and resource users and professionals, this book is your reference and guide to forests and renewable resources.

The text provides literature surveys on relevant modeling issues and policy concerns. It demonstrates the application of a modeling system using a "base case" 50-year projection and a small set of scenarios. These illustrate, for example, the effects of changes in public harvest policies, variations in investments in silviculture, and globalization. It is aimed at policy makers, researchers and graduate students who are building or using forest sector models.

It is increasingly recognized that the economic value of forests is not merely the production of timber. Forests provide other key ecosystem services, such as being sinks for greenhouse gases, hotspots of biodiversity, tourism and recreation. They are also vitally important in preventing soil erosion and controlling water supplies, as well as providing non-timber forest products and supporting the livelihoods of many local people. This handbook provides a detailed, comprehensive and broad coverage of forest economics, including traditional forest economics of timber production, economics of environmental role of forests, and recent developments in forest economics. The chapters are grouped into six parts: fundamental topics in forest resource economics; economics of forest ecosystems; economics of forests, climate change, and bioenergy; economics of risk, uncertainty, and natural disturbances; economics of forest property rights and certification; and emerging issues and developments. Written by leading environmental, forest, and natural resource economists, the book represents a definitive reference volume for students of economics, environment, forestry and natural resource economics and management.

Strongly grounded in the scientific method and evidence, The Environment: Science, Issues, and Solutions presents an organized, accessible, building block approach that introduces the principles of ecology. This book examines the effects of technology use and the unprecedented economic growth and development that has tipped the natural balance of the environment, resulting in serious local, regional, and global environmental problems. This comprehensive text explores the need for interrelated long-term solutions for the prevention and mitigation of environmental problems.