Browsing by Author "Bennett, Drew E."

Now showing 1 - 13 of 13
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Application of the forest restoration and utilization calculator : economic effects from potential forest management in Jackson County, OR
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2015) White, Eric M.; Bennett, Drew E.
    Forest management to achieve ecological objectives can also create desirable social and economic outcomes in local communities. We developed the Forest Restoration and Utilization Calculator to estimate the economic effects of forest management in Oregon. We used the calculator to explore potential economic effects from a federal forest management project in Jackson County, Oregon. Forest management projects often include a mix of commercial timber harvest and non-commercial forest and watershed treatments, such as thinning and piling of fuels. We tested a hypothetical forest project in Jackson County that included a mix of commercial timber harvest and non-commercial fuels reduction activities using local information on typical forest treatments, stand characteristics, and implementation costs.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    An assessment of federal restoration contracting and contractor capacity in northeastern Oregon
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2015) Ellison, Autumn; Bennett, Drew E.; Knapp, Melanie; White, Eric M.; Davis, Emily Jane; Moseley, Cassandra
    An accelerated pace and scale of forest restoration on Oregon’s eastside national forests will rely heavily on the ability of contractors to both implement forest treatments and contribute to environmental planning activities. Private businesses commonly are contracted to implement already-planned restoration work on Forest Service land. . . . Recently, within Oregon, private businesses, state agencies, and non-governmental partners have also begun playing a role in pre-implementation restoration activities. . . . For this report, we used past Forest Service restoration contracting data, records of grants and agreements to Forest Service partners for activities related to restoration, and contractor interviews to better understand how the Forest Service works with local businesses and partners in all aspects of forest restoration efforts. We also used these data to understand the capacity of the local restoration contractor workforce to carryout accelerated restoration work.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Barriers and opportunities for increasing landowner participation in conservation programs in the interior Northwest
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2014) Bennett, Drew E.; Nielsen-Pincus, Max; Ellison, Autumn; Pomeroy, Alaina; Burright, Harmony S. J.; Gosnell, Hannah; Moseley, Cassandra; Gwin, Lauren
    Working forest and range lands are rapidly changing as exurban growth, economic trends, and environmental impacts associated with climate change challenge traditional livelihoods derived from the production of farm, ranch, and forest products. Sustaining viable small and medium-sized forest and ranch operations while also supporting conservation-oriented management practices is essential to ensure that these properties continue to contribute to the working landscape and maintain ecological values in the American West.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Collaboration and the Malheur ten-year stewardship contract
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2015) Davis, Emily Jane; White, Eric M.; Bennett, Drew E.
    Forest collaborative groups in Oregon integrate ecological, economic, and social objectives in their missions. However, those groups often focus, in practice, on biophysical natural resource issues and have less direct experience with dialogue and data about social and economic issues. This fact sheet illustrates how collaboratives and stakeholders have engaged in innovative contracting to increase social and economic outcomes such as local jobs, business health, and community wildfire risk reduction.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Eastern Oregon restoration benefits businesses statewide : distribution of timber buyers & service contractors
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2015) White, Eric M.; Bennett, Drew E.; Ellison, Autumn
    Restoration projects on national forests often have far-reaching economic effects that extend beyond local areas around the national forests. To better understand the distribution of economic effects from restoration projects on eastern Oregon national forests, we examined timber sales and service contract records for timber harvesting and forest and watershed restoration treatments on the national forests between 2009 and 2014. We found that service contractors and timber buyers across the state benefit from restoration on eastern Oregon’s forests with a large number of contractors and buyers located in the Willamette Valley and southern Oregon.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Economic impacts from Blue Mountains national forests restoration : tracking investments in eastern Oregon
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2015) White, Eric M.; Bennett, Drew E.; Ellison, Autumn
    Restoration projects on national forests can have significant economic impacts in addition to the ecological benefits they provide. To better understand the economic impact of increased restoration in Blue Mountains national forests, we examined timber sales and service contract records for timber harvesting and forest and watershed restoration activities on the forests. We compared economic outcomes from years 2013 and 2014 to baseline years of 2009 through 2012. We found that service contract values and timber sale volumes from the Blue Mountains national forests have increased relative to the baseline, resulting in greater economic activity in eastern Oregon in recent years. In 2014, Blue Mountains restoration projects awarded to eastern Oregon businesses supported more than 1,000 jobs and created more than $195 million in business sales in eastern Oregon.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Economic impacts from the Malheur 10-year stewardship contract : evaluating year one
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2015) Bennett, Drew E.; Davis, Emily Jane; White, Eric M.; Ellison, Autumn
    In September of 2013, the US Forest Service awarded a 10-year stewardship contract intended to promote ecological restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and economic vitality in Grant and Harney counties. This contract has received significant attention because of its duration and the local benefits it is expected to provide. It is also one of the first projects implemented as part of the Forest Service’s Eastside Restoration Strategy. We found that the first year of the contract resulted in $2.16 million in economic activity, supported 101 private sector jobs, and provided new optimism for local businesses in Grant County.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Economic outcomes from the U.S. Forest Service Eastside Strategy
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2016) White, Eric M.; Bennett, Drew E.; Davis, Emily Jane; Moseley, Cassandra
    The USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) has implemented several initiatives to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration on national forests east of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon and Washington. Collectively, these initiatives fall under the Eastside Restoration Strategy of the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service. The early initiatives of the Eastside Strategy, beginning in late 2012/early 2013, focused primarily on eastern Oregon, with specific emphasis on the Blue Mountains region of northeastern Oregon through the creation of the Blue Mountains planning team and implementation of the Malheur 10-year stewardship contract. The Blue Mountains planning team is focused on developing new ways of doing business to complete National Environmental Policy Act planning over larger areas and with shorter timeframes. The 10-year stewardship contract is aimed at increasing restoration treatment on the Malheur National Forest and supporting improved economic conditions in Grant and Harney counties.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Engaging businesses in local efforts to protect ecosystem services : barriers and opportunities
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2014) Bennett, Drew E.; San Filippo, Angela; Parker, Robert, 1960-; Nielsen-Pincus, Max; Moseley, Cassandra; Gosnell, Hannah; Lurie, Susan D.; Duncan, Sally L.
    Payments for ecosystem services (PES) is an emerging conservation strategy that provides economic incentives for the protection of ecosystem services that benefit society, such as the provision of clean air, clean water, and wildlife habitat. PES initiatives to date have largely been driven by the public and non-profit sectors, but there is increasing interest in the role that the private sector can play. One proposed approach is the development of local water quality focused PES initiatives, but questions remain over how best to engage businesses in these efforts. To address these questions, we examined the barriers and opportunities for engaging businesses in local PES initiatives.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Monitoring of outcomes from Oregon’s Federal Forest Health Program
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2015) White, Eric M.; Davis, Emily Jane; Bennett, Drew E.; Moseley, Cassandra
    There has been focused investment from the USDA Forest Service (USFS), the State of Oregon, local governments, and others to increase the quality and pace and scale of forest restoration on national forests in eastern Oregon. The USFS expanded planning capacity, especially in the Blue Mountains. The Oregon legislature, through the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), devoted $2.88 million in the 2013–2015 biennial budget. This funding became the “Federal Forest Health Program” (FFH) within ODF and was organized into three focal areas for targeted investment: a) State/Federal Implementation Partnership, b) Collaborative Capacity Grants, and c) Technical Assistance and Science Support for collaborative efforts. To gauge effectiveness of these increased investments, the Federal Forest Working Group (FFWG; formerly the Federal Forest Advisory Committee) facilitated the development of a list of performance measures to gauge the success of the State’s investment.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Social and economic monitoring for the Southern Blues Restoration Coalition Project, fiscal years 2012 and 2013
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2015) White, Eric M.; Bennett, Drew E.; Moseley, Cassandra
    Collaboration on Forest Restoration and the Southern Blues Project: In the wake of changing ecological and social conditions, a diverse group of community leaders, loggers, ranchers, conservationists, and USFS representatives began to come together to explore options to address many of the challenges facing the MNF and adjacent communities.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Surveys find support for EWEB’s Voluntary Incentives Program
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2014) Bennett, Drew E.; Moseley, Cassandra; Nielsen-Pincus, Max; Parker, Robert, 1960-; Ellison, Autumn; Gosnell, Hannah; Lurie, Susan D.; Morzillo, Anita T.; White, Eric M.; Duncan, Sally L.
    The McKenzie River Watershed provides the sole source of drinking water to residents of Eugene, but increasing residential development could impact water quality. To protect drinking water quality, the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) is developing the Voluntary Incentives Program (VIP) to pay landowners to maintain healthy riparian forests that provide high quality water and other environmental benefits. Although the development of this initiative is ongoing, two crucial concerns remain regarding its feasibility: 1) Are EWEB customers willing to support such a program and 2) are landowners in the watershed willing to participate?
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Understanding the barriers and opportunities for water utility investments in ecosystem services
    (Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2014) Bennett, Drew E.; Duncan, Sally L.; Lurie, Susan D.; Gosnell, Hannah; Ellison, Autumn
    Water utilities benefit from ecosystem services that improve water quality and moderate stream temperatures, such as the natural filtration and shading services provided by riparian forests. Such benefits have brought increased attention to the role of water utilities in protecting ecosystem services through what are known as payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs. PES programs typically offer incentives to landowners for management practices that provide ecosystem services and may help utilities avoid significant treatment costs or meet regulatory requirements. However, these initiatives have not been widely adopted. To better understand the potential for PES to meet water utility objectives, we examined the barriers and opportunities water utilities face in engaging with existing PES initiatives.