Source: SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE submitted to
AN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE TO DEVELOP IMPROVED FOREST CARBON AND BIOMASS MODELS FOR THE SALISH-KOOTENAI & NEZ PERCE INVENTORY PROGRAMS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1010163
Grant No.
2016-38424-25556
Project No.
MONW-2016-03927
Proposal No.
2016-03927
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
ZY
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2016
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2021
Grant Year
2016
Project Director
Kenning, R.
Recipient Organization
SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE
P.O. BOX 117
PABLO,MT 59855
Performing Department
Forestry
Non Technical Summary
Summary:In the face of a changing global environment--think habitat loss, climate change, resource depletion--and ever-growing human demands on Earth's natural provisions, society's ability to thrive yet sustainably coexist with the natural world requires smart, informed natural resource management.In particular, we expect forests to meet many human needs--clean air, water, recreation, raw materials, and a carbon-storing buffer against global warming. Tribal communities of North America--which are often remote, economically disadvantaged, and highly dependent on natural resources--are especially interested in smart, sustainable forestry.We aim to investigate how forest management can influence the removal of greenhouse gas from the atmosphere and reduce trends toward global warming. Specifically, we will estimate the amount of carbon stored in Nez Perce and Flathead Reservation trees, and how the rate of carbon storage is influenced when forests are grown at different tree spacings. Additionally, the tree volume & biomass data we collect will be shared with regional collection efforts--with the Inland Northwest Growth & Yield Cooperative--allowing us to develop and validate biomass equations for the major tree species on Nez Perce and Flathead Reservation forests.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
30%
Developmental
70%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
12306121060100%
Goals / Objectives
Goals:The overarching goal of this proposal is to provide quality educational opportunities to Native communities, and enhanced research capacity at the Salish Kootenai College, through creating research partnerships that address locally-relevant research questions.Objective 1) Capitalize on existing density control experiments on tribal lands to study differences in per tree and per unit area carbon stocks across different tree spacings.Numerous density-control plots and designed experiments have been established on Nez Perce and CSKT lands. These studies were initially designed to focus on spacing or thinning effects on tree diameter growth and mortality; none have been used to investigate the effects of stand density manipulations on biomass or carbon allometries. We will review and rank these field studies in order to select a geographically distributed set of plots with common species and stand density levels. A subset of the trees in each plot will then be selected for destructive sampling. At the tree-level, crown biomass and carbon levels will be estimated using randomized branch sampling. This technique allows for unbiased estimation of the target parameters following the selection, oven-drying, and chemical analysis of individual branches (or components/segments thereof). Stem (wood and bark) biomass and carbon will be estimated by extracting discs at specified height intervals along the stem. Stem segments and discs will be measured green in the field, then discs will be oven-dried and processed for biomass and carbon measurements in the laboratory. The numbers of trees per plot, as well as the intensities of randomized branch sampling (Valentine 2006) and disc sampling at the tree-level, will be determined from pilot sampling.Subsequent to field sampling and laboratory processing, the effects of tree spacing levels on tree and stand biomass and carbon will be estimated using regression models. Objective 2) Collect local tree biomass data and synthesize these data with regional collection efforts to develop and validate baseline whole-tree biomass and carbon equations for the major species on the CSKT and Nez Perce tribal forests.The data obtained from past density control experiments (described above) will be supplemented with a distributed plot network. This network will be established across Nez Perce and CSKT tribal forestry lands to obtain tree biomass and carbon data from a wider range of species, site types, and growing conditions. On selected trees within these plots, standing tree measurements that correspond to those taken on tribal continuous forest inventory (CFI) plots will be obtained; the trees will then be destructively sampled using the same procedures summarized above. The numbers of plots and identities (species, size classes) of sample trees within the plots will be selected based on gaps in past data collection efforts and importance/representation in tribal CFIs.The data collected will be combined with other tree biomass and carbon measurements drawn from the region to evaluate existing biomass and carbon prediction equations, and develop new equations as needed using regression methods.
Project Methods
ApproachThe Salish Kootenai College, CSKT, and Nez Perce Tribe would partner with Inland Northwest Growth & Yield (INGY) Cooperative and the College of Forestry & Conservation at the University of Montana to collect data on aboveground tree biomass and carbon, and to develop compatible volume-biomass-carbon models for the primary species on the Nez Perce and Confederate Salish and Kootenai Reservations. Tree biomass data would be collected on tribal forest and combined with other data being collected within the region by the INGY Cooperative. Subsequent model development would be informed by the tribe's existing inventory protocols and by observed regional variations in tree allometry.Study Objectives and DesignObjective 1) Capitalize on existing density control experiments on tribal lands to study differences in per tree and per unit area carbon stocks across different tree spacings.Numerous density-control plots and designed experiments have been established on Nez Perce and CSKT lands. These studies were initially designed to focus on spacing or thinning effects on tree diameter growth and mortality; none have been used to investigate the effects of stand density manipulations on biomass or carbon allometries. We will review and rank these field studies in order to select a geographically distributed set of plots with common species and stand density levels. A subset of the trees in each plot will then be selected for destructive sampling. At the tree-level, crown biomass and carbon levels will be estimated using randomized branch sampling. This technique allows for unbiased estimation of the target parameters following the selection, oven-drying, and chemical analysis of individual branches (or components/segments thereof). Stem (wood and bark) biomass and carbon will be estimated by extracting discs at specified height intervals along the stem. Stem segments and discs will be measured green in the field, then discs will be oven-dried and processed for biomass and carbon measurements in the laboratory. The numbers of trees per plot, as well as the intensities of randomized branch sampling (Valentine 2006) and disc sampling at the tree-level, will be determined from pilot sampling.Subsequent to field sampling and laboratory processing, the effects of tree spacing levels on tree and stand biomass and carbon will be estimated using regression models. Objective 2) Collect local tree biomass data and synthesize these data with regional collection efforts to develop and validate baseline whole-tree biomass and carbon equations for the major species on the CSKT and Nez Perce tribal forests.The data obtained from past density control experiments (described above) will be supplemented with a distributed plot network. This network will be established across Nez Perce and CSKT tribal forestry lands to obtain tree biomass and carbon data from a wider range of species, site types, and growing conditions. On selected trees within these plots, standing tree measurements that correspond to those taken on tribal continuous forest inventory (CFI) plots will be obtained; the trees will then be destructively sampled using the same procedures summarized above. The numbers of plots and identities (species, size classes) of sample trees within the plots will be selected based on gaps in past data collection efforts and importance/representation in tribal CFIs.The data collected will be combined with other tree biomass and carbon measurements drawn from the region to evaluate existing biomass and carbon prediction equations, and develop new equations as needed using regression methods.?

Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience:Students represent the most important group of stakeholders at the Salish Kootenai College. This proposal will enhance theireducational experience by creating opportunities in undergraduate research experience, employment, and professionalnetworking. Importantly, the research experience will include development of technical skills for manipulating data andstatistical analysis.In addition, students and the community will benefit from the enhanced research capacity this proposal will bring to SKC. Theopportunity to work with Dr. David Affleck and UM will enhance Robert Kenning's and other SKC instructors' to carry outcurrent and future research ventures. Dr. Affleck collaborated with Kenning in developing the experimental design; Kenningwill continue to gain experience with Dr. Affleck when analyzing data for this study. Much of the tools purchased through thisproposal will outlast this project and expand SKC's capacity for future work. For example, the drying oven, relascop,incrementcorers, and sonic distance measurer / hypsometer will represent important, heavily used items in SKC's Forest Inventory labinto the future.Tribal communities who send and receive students from SKC, especially in the northwest region, are another importantstakeholder. Tribal Forestry departments identified the need for research on this topic; SKC then saw the opportunity tocreate student experiential learning in addressing the research question. Changes/Problems:Past records of a study site were retieived in project year 2 -- this had delayed data analysis previously, however theproblem was addressed and a timeline was developed to complete the project with a 1-year no cost extension. Work wasdelayed during the first year of COVID; the no-cost extension enabled us to complete the students' data analysis andpresentation to public. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Undergraduate students participated in research experience activitites. A faculty member and three senior students took theUSFS "FVS" forest modeling training. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Senior Thesis capstone projects were presented to a public audience. Classroom activities and curricula were developed and delivered to the ~100 students in the SKC Natural Resources degrees. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the final project period.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Six students have participated in undergraduate research experiential learning activities. The forest research was analyzed,summarized, and presented by a senior student's capstone thesis project last year. Lessons and curricula we havedeveloped will continue to be used beyond the project period. Also, three additional students will create Senior Thesiscapstone projects from this project's data in Spring 2022.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Students represent the most important group of stakeholders at the Salish Kootenai College. This proposal will enhance their educational experience by creating opportunities in undergraduate research experience, employment, and professional networking. Importantly, the research experience will include development of technical skills for manipulating data and statistical analysis. In addition, students and the community will benefit from the enhanced research capacity this proposal will bring to SKC. The opportunity to work with Dr. David Affleck and UM will enhance Robert Kenning's and other SKC instructors' to carry out current and future research ventures. Dr. Affleck collaborated with Kenning in developing the experimental design; Kenning will continue to gain experience with Dr. Affleck when analyzing data for this study. Much of the tools purchased through this proposal will outlast this project and expand SKC's capacity for future work. For example, the drying oven, relascop, increment corers, and sonic distance measurer / hypsometer will represent important, heavily used items in SKC's Forest Inventory lab into the future. Tribal communities who send and receive students from SKC, especially in the northwest region, are another important stakeholder. Tribal Forestry departments identified the need for research on this topic; SKC then saw the opportunity to create student experiential learning in addressing the research question. Changes/Problems:Past records of a study site were retieived in project year 2 -- this had delayed data analysis previously, however the problem was addressed and a timeline was developed to complete the project with a 1-year no cost extension. Work was delayed during the first year of COVID; the no-cost extension enabled us to complete the students' data analysis and presentation to public. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Undergraduate students participated in research experience activitites. A faculty member and three senior students took the USFS "FVS" forest modeling training. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Senior Thesis capstone presentation to a public audience. Classroom activities and curricula. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the last reporting period.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Six students have participated in undergraduate research experiential learning activities. The forest research was analyzed, summarized, and presented by a senior student's capstone thesis project last year. Lessons and curricula we have developed will continue to be used beyond the project period. Also, three additional students will create Senior Thesis capstone projects from this project's data in Spring 2022.

    Publications


      Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

      Outputs
      Target Audience:Students represent the most important group of stakeholders at the Salish Kootenai College. This proposal will enhance their educational experience by creating opportunities in undergraduate research experience, employment, and professional networking. Importantly, the research experience will include development of technical skills for manipulating data and statistical analysis. In addition, students and the community will benefit from the enhanced research capacity this proposal will bring to SKC. The opportunity to work with Dr. David Affleck and UM will enhance Robert Kenning's and other SKC instructors' to carry out current and future research ventures. Dr. Affleck collaborated with Kenning in developing the experimental design; Kenning will continue to gain experience with Dr. Affleck when analyzing data for this study. Much of the tools purchased through this proposal will outlast this project and expand SKC's capacity for future work. For example, the drying oven, relascop, increment corers, and sonic distance measurer / hypsometer will represent important, heavily used items in SKC's Forest Inventory lab into the future. Tribal communities who send and receive students from SKC, especially in the northwest region, are another important stakeholder. Tribal Forestry departments identified the need for research on this topic; SKC then saw the opportunity to create student experiential learning in addressing the research question. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Undergraduate students participated in research experience activitites and a senior student took the USFS "FVS" forest modeling training. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Senior thesis presentation. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Three additional students will participate in undergraduate research experiential learning activities. The forest research will be analyzed, summarized, and presented by another senior student's capstone thesis project this spring.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? Four students have participated in undergraduate research experiential learning activities. The forest research was analyzed, summarized, and presented by a senior student's capstone thesis project last year, and the same is in progress for a senior student this coming spring.

      Publications


        Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19

        Outputs
        Target Audience:Tribal College stdents will gain experiential learning. The Tribes' will gain knowledge of carbon stocks on Reservation lands. Changes/Problems:Past records of the study site were located this year. This had delayed data analysis previously, however the problem has been addressed and a timeline has been developed to complete the project with a 1-year no cost extension. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Attendance at national Intertribal Timber Council Symposium. 1 faculty and 2 students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project materials have been incorporated into course lessons. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we will complete stocking trial plot measurements by measuring "ingrowth" -- new tree regeneration. Also in the following year, data will be analyzed by senior thesis students, under mentorship of forestry faculty.

        Impacts
        What was accomplished under these goals? Major work was accomplished toward Objective 1. Student interns completed remeasuring existing trees in the stocking trial plots.

        Publications


          Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18

          Outputs
          Target Audience:Tribal College stdents will gain experiential learning. The Tribes' will gain knowledge of carbon stocks on Reservation lands. Changes/Problems:Locating prior plot measurements records at Tribal Forestry has prooven difficult. We may need to use an alternate stockingtrial, depending on the time required to locate records. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One student and one faculty attendance at the national FALCON conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?No study results published yet. However the project has developed learning material that has begun to be disseminated to students. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1) The next reporting period will involve remeasurement work in the forest stocking trial.

          Impacts
          What was accomplished under these goals? Study plot restablishment. Student interns located and marked the forest stocking trial plots, in preparation for remeasurement.

          Publications


            Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

            Outputs
            Target Audience:Tribal College stdents will gain experiential learning. The Tribes' will gain knowledge of carbon stocks on Reservation lands. Changes/Problems:Locating prior plot measurements records at Tribal Forestry has prooven difficult. We may need to use an alternate stocking trial, depending on the time required to locate records. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Fieldwork and initial data analysis will commence the next reporting period. Remeasurement of long-term forest stocking plots will begin to accomplish goals in Objective 1 above.

            Impacts
            What was accomplished under these goals? Fieldwork has yet to commence and will be initiated during the coming year. However, course content was developed this year from materials gathered in the proposal writing process.

            Publications