Research Awards and Grants (November 2021-March 2022)

April 11, 2022 CNR Web

Each month College of Natural Resources faculty receive awards and grants from various federal, state, and nongovernmental agencies in support of their research. This report recognizes the faculty who received funding between November 2021 and March 2022.

Capacity Building, Phase XI: Increasing the Pool for the Development of a Multicultural Workforce and Connection to Underserved Communities Across the US

PI: Nelson, Stacy A.
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service
Amount Awarded: 50000

Abstract: This project builds upon and expands the Forest Service’s Partnership Outreach and Capacity Building, and the Multicultural Workforce Strategic Initiative Programs, and is an initiative that represents an opportunity for substantial collaboration between Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), the 1862 land grant institutions, the Puerto Rico Commonwealth environmental and educational agencies, and the public served by the consortium/partnership.

DSFAS: Leveraging Multi-scale, Multi-purpose Open Big Data and Machine Learning to Improve Forecasts of and Decision Support for Emerging Pest Threats

PI: Meentemeyer, Ross Kendall
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
Amount Awarded: 649977

Abstract: Rapid responses and data-driven decision support tools are essential for understanding and mitigating threats posed by yield-damaging agricultural pests and pathogens. However, sparse data are well-known challenges limiting the accuracy and iterative improvement of pest spread models. This research will couple advances in image classification with vetted crowdsourced and satellite imagery to build an automated, repeatable pipeline for scaling host mapping efforts essential to forecasting pest spread. The resulting spatially-explicit maps of host species at scale will improve pest risk forecasting by addressing sparse data concerns and reducing data latency, thereby enabling iterative updating of the model parameters as new data become available and shortening time to decision making. We will specifically focus on fruit and tree nuts that represent an economically and culturally significant crop in the United States threatened by emerging pests and climate change. Throughout all aspects of the project, we will collaborate and build on our partnerships with USDA APHIS and ARS, state departments of agriculture, and growers associations to identify key threats to fruit and tree nut crops, iteratively validate host species maps and model forecasts, and co-develop a user-friendly decision support tool and alert system that translates forecasts and simulations into actionable insights. Our iterative near-term forecasting system coupled with data inputs created using machine learning will reduce costs for pest surveys and help growers identify when and where to intervene to protect their crops, thus reducing production losses and chemical inputs.

Environmental Outcomes by AmeriCorps Members: PLSC Evaluation Plan 2021-2024

PI: Walden-Schreiner, Chelsey Alyssa
Direct Sponsor Name: Western Kentucky University
Amount Awarded: 64447

Abstract: Public lands are imperiled by hazards including wildfires and invasive species, which reduce ecosystem health, decrease the productivity of public lands for wildlife and agriculture, impact access to public lands for recreation, and threaten safety for communities. There is a need to manage public lands to sustain ecosystem services and enhance human safety. To meet these objectives, agencies responsible for managing these lands, including the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, State Parks and others, often rely on the intervention of AmeriCorps members serving with Conservation Corps. While the impact of these programs on participants is well documented, the evaluation of environmental outcomes associated with such work is growing. A previous assessment completed between 2014-2017 in collaboration with the Public Lands Service Coalition (PLSC) and researchers from the North Carolina State University (NCSU) found statistically significant evidence demonstrating the efficacy of members to improve trail and habitat conditions on public lands, including enhanced recreational access and experiences, reduced fire risk, and decreased invasive plant cover. This evaluation builds on the previous assessment by incorporating a quasi-experimental design (QED), before-after control-impact (BACI) evaluation approach comparing treated plots (managed by AmeriCorps members in partnership with a public land management agency) to control plots. Results will contribute to the evaluation of Conservation Corps efficacy in enhancing the capacity of public land management entities to complete mission-critical work through invasive species reduction and wildfire risk mitigation.

Location Aware Approach to Creating Effective Public Outreach

PI: Pala, Okan
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Transportation
Amount Awarded: 229360

Abstract: NCDOT enhances its ability to establish relationships, credibility and consensus throughout the course of the transportation decision-making process by using a variety of methods to engage the public. Organizing and implementing public hearings, while effective, falls short on involving all stakeholder groups who would be affected by the implemented project. The way that the public is engaged, informs and invites the section of public that lives nearby and would have the most perceived short and medium term adverse effects from the project implementation. Whereas the section of public using the project corridor to transit and would have the most perceived medium and long term benefit, is not effectively engaged. We propose to value-add existing public outreach strategies by augmenting them with spatial analysis tools, state of the art targeted information dissemination techniques, and a user friendly spatial public engagement portal. Innovative approaches need to be developed and implemented to engage all affected and benefiting sections of public during all phases of project development and delivery. Initiating this process before the early project planning stage would allow appropriate project alterations without adding extraneous financial burdens and project delays. The first aim of this project is to create task specific spatial analysis tools that will allow NCDOT staff identify adversely affected, as well as benefiting, stakeholders. Using this information, this project also aims to create effective public outreach campaigns using a Spatial Public Engagement Portal (SPEP), and social media pipelines while putting our best effort forward to respect stakeholders’ privacy. We will then collaborate with NCDOT staff to transfer our knowledge, findings, and spatial analysis tools as well as the SPEP platform.

Mt. Adams Institute – VetWorks Evaluation Plan

PI: Edwards, Michael B.
Direct Sponsor Name: Mt. Adams Institute
Amount Awarded: 46691

Abstract: ‘The overall aim of the proposed evaluation is to examine the outcomes of MAI’s veteran’s program on developing civilian job readiness for participants. The primary outcome-related goals will be examined through multiple methods including a quasi-experimental design (with follow up) and qualitative interviews. The primary research questions and outcomes are: 1. Do veterans from the US Armed Forces who participate in VetsWork increase their job seeking self-efficacy and civilian job confidence compared to veterans who do not participate in VetsWork? 2. Do veterans from the US Armed Forces who participate in VetsWork increase their career success as indicated by employment status, employment satisfaction, and salary compared to veterans who do not participate in VetsWork? 3. Do veterans from the US Armed Forces who participate in VetsWork increase their sense of purpose, initiative, critical thinking, and communication skills in comparison to veterans who do not participate in VetsWork? 4. What is the relationship between relevant program characteristics and processes with outcomes associated with civilian job readiness and career success for VetsWork participants? Data will be collected from one cohort of VetsWork participants in Year 3 of the program. Data will be collected from participants in participating veterans corps programs who choose to take part in the evaluation (Estimated N = 75). Participants will complete self-administered online surveys as part of their exit procedures. Surveys will be administered through web-based follow up from MAI and the evaluation team. Data will be collected from a comparison group of non-participants recruited through Qualtrics Research Services (QRC). QRC maintains a nationally representative online research panel. Panel members are incentivized to participate in online surveys based on quota sampling methods. QRC will distribute the survey link to qualified panel members based on pre-determined demographics acquired from previous evaluations with MAI (e.g., status as a US Armed Forces Veteran, age, educational attainment, race/ethnicity, gender) to ensure representativeness with the sample of VetsWork participants. Online panels have been tested in numerous studies and have been statistically equivalent to randomly selected population samples, typically demonstrate higher response rates, and have characteristics of validity and reliability similar to other methods of sampling and surveying. In order to ensure an adequate sample to match with the 75 veteran corps participants, a total of 300 completed surveys will be obtained from the QRC panel. A power analysis using G-Power for the suggested Repeated Measure ANOVA and Linear Mixed Models was run and the required sample size would be 56 in each group (or 112 total). The matching process between participants and comparison groups will occur following baseline data collection through survey responses. Propensity scoring will be employed using SPSS PMS extension with propensity matching by logistic regression to ensure appropriate matched pairs at baseline. Variables used to identify similar comparison individuals will include: demographic variables (age, gender, race/ethnicity, rank, marital status) and baseline measures (job seeking self-efficacy and civilian job confidence).’

Promoting Sustainable State Park Management in North Carolina through the Identification of Equitable Pricing Strategies

PI: Savage, Ann Elizabeth
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Amount Awarded: 285388

Abstract: In 2020, the NC State Park system received a record 19.8 million visitors. This increased visitation rate meant the system supported 1.2 million more visitors than in 2019 and 400,000 more than 2017, the previous record year. Although the record-high visitation in 2020 is largely attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, which made outdoor recreation a safer and more appealing alternative compared to indoor activities, historic long-term trends show an increase in visitation to parks and outdoor areas in the state of North Carolina as well as around the country. Therefore, the NC State Parks system can likely expect a continued rise in visitation, which will require additional resources to support such visitation. Identifying and understanding potential funding options that can help support growing demands and prepare the NC State Park system for this eventuality are needed. Equity is another pressing issue for the system. Although there is increasing demand, it is necessary to acknowledge some communities in North Carolina have been historically underserved by the NC State Parks. Identifying barriers and opportunities related to park visitation can help state park managers develop strategies for more equitable park access. To continue to be relevant to future generations, it is essential that the NC State Park system foster inclusion and provide recreation opportunities for all residents of North Carolina. In sum, due to the increase in demand on the NC State Parks system resources as well as the need for more inclusive and equitable park usage for all North Carolina residents, the goal of this study is to identify pricing strategies that will support demand, promote more equitable use of NC State Parks, and contribute to more sustainable park management. This goal will be achieved through the following objectives set forth by the NC State Parks: 1. Review existing funding mechanisms and pricing strategies for other state and national recreational areas to identify a variety of options for valuing services (e.g., amenities, facilities, campground reservations, permitting fees); 2. Discern barriers to communities that have historically been underserved by the NC State Parks system, the role pricing strategies can play in limiting future use of NC State Parks by these communities, and opportunities for the parks system to be more inclusive and equitable to all North Carolina residents; 3. Identify locations and dates of high/low visitation activity to inform dynamic pricing strategies, to help reduce crowding, and to identify less visited parks that may benefit from promotion; and, 4. Establish stakeholder perceptions of pricing strategies and feasibility of application for the NC State Park system.

Title: Leveraging Tourism-Dependent Coastal Community Insights to Develop a Virtual Disaster Preparedness Hub

PI: Savage, Ann Elizabeth
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Sea Grant Program
Amount Awarded: 9973

Abstract: On September 6th, 2019 Hurricane Dorian made landfall on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, causing historic flooding and widespread damage across tourism-dependent barrier island communities. Two communities, Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, were among the hardest hit. As Hurricane Dorian recovery efforts began, the COVID-19 pandemic substantially altered recovery within the tourism sector. Fragile, outdated infrastructure and limited access policies disrupted supply chains and workforce availability, significantly lengthening recovery efforts well into the 2020 hurricane season. Once access was restored, the tourism industry in Hatteras and Ocracoke boomed with visitors seeking a safe escape from the pandemic, even while business owners were struggling to rebuild and housing shortages continued. The compounding crises of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the decisions within the tourism industry in Hatteras and Ocracoke. Through an NSF-funded project “RAPID: Disaster recovery decision making in remote tourism dependent communities the research team uncovered pathways of near-term decision making and integrating these decisions within a broader network of actors establishing a baseline for understanding disaster recovery in remote tourism-dependent communities. Through this research the need for a centralized location to integrate information sources and recovery resources, facilitate sharing of capacity strengths and weaknesses, and foster learning and partnerships among tourism-dependent coastal communities. This proposed project seeks to define inter-community, region-specific components (e.g., resources, information pathways, community interactions, and knowledge brokers) needed to create a virtual community-based disaster preparedness hub. The objectives of this project are designed to build upon the data from the NSF-funded project, by identifying existing community-based planning resources, hosting community focus groups to prioritize resources and actions the community members are willing to take, analyze the feedback from the focus groups, and develop a blueprint for a virtual community-based disaster preparedness hub. This process will identify the infrastructure and management foundations needed to establish and sustain the hub as well as how tourism-dependent community stakeholders would contribute to and utilize a virtual community-based disaster preparedness hub could advance knowledge and practice of resilience strategy development and planning efforts in coastal community contexts.

Title: Developing a Model for Supporting Coastal Resilience through Youth-Led Coproduction

PI: Stevenson, Kathryn
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Sea Grant Program
Amount Awarded: 25270

Abstract: In this two year grant, we propose to synthesize a decade of Sea Grant funded environmental literacy research into a scalable curricular framework that fosters coastal resiliency through youth-led conversations. In year one, we will form a curriculum advisory board (CAB) of teachers, students, and community partners. The CAB will work to construct a curricular framework that draws on best practices for youth-led environmental learning and builds community-level environmental literacy around coastal resiliency. The CAB will then recruit a cadre of classroom teachers to help pilot the framework, allowing for both formative and summative evaluation of the framework. We will then hold a culminating workshop to synthesize lessons learned and prepare the framework to export to other communities through larger regional and/or national grant efforts.

Title: Justwater: Policy Leadership And Environmental Justice During Disaster Recovery

PI: Cutts, Bethany Brooke
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Sea Grant Program
Amount Awarded: 25852

Abstract: ‘Real world issue: Post-disaster, rural areas face a predictable pattern of resource flush, drawdown, and abandonment. In small towns and diverse communities, positive social, economic, and environmental impacts from these investments are often short-lived. A consequence is that scientifically-informed strategies designed to defend and harden economically valued coastal areas may have the unintended consequences of coercing buyouts, forcing relocation, and limiting environmental protections for vulnerable upstream communities, potentially to the detriment of the coastal fisheries and tourism opportunities being defended in the first place. In contrast to emergency-focused disaster work, watershed-based environmental planning is intended to be slower, strategic, and more adept at identifying and addressing chronic threats to and opportunities for environmental improvement and protection. Therefore, it stands to reason that integration between watershed governance and disaster recovery might provide a unique opportunity to create a network able to identify and focus energy on advocacy for change that connects people and sustains attention on the harms of maladaptive policies. Plan for proposed work: This study aims to identify opportunities to transform watershed governance to overcome chronic environmental justice challenges and their capacity to erode resilience following disasters. In addition to providing needed theoretical and methodological advances in social network analytics, this study could lead to better understanding of the links policy and advocacy link between just watershed governance and disaster resilience. The central research question is: Which properties of watershed governance enable (or constrain) environmental justice in disaster-prone coastal communities and to what extent do they resist predatory influences as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds? If, as we hypothesize, the three objectives are interrelated, then a JustWater framework will reveal connections between disaster and watershed governance policy arenas. To establish that coastal water injustice is, in fact, a problem of governance, we will investigate the well-documented watershed governance initiatives and environmental justice struggles in the Lumbee River Basin. We will pursue the following objectives: (1) Quantify impacts of disaster on formal and informal watershed governance systems using social network analytics. (2) Integrate analysis of political power and inequality with perceptions of governance outcomes by combining network analytics with interviews. (3) Analyze factors that change the values and beliefs embedded in policy proposals and governance procedures. Rationale for public support: This work will produce policy-relevant knowledge that will benefit the disaster and environmental management in the Lumbee River basin and create a transferrable protocol for evaluating potential synergies between disaster and watershed management coalitions. Results and protocols from data scraping initiatives, questionnaires, focus groups, and workshops will evaluate the process and outcomes of collaboration through a justice-centered lens. Outcomes and realistic impacts: The research results will be the just water governance aims of the Carolina coastlines. Secondary beneficiaries include the NC Disaster Management team, NC Inclusive Disaster Network, and Robeson County Cooperative for Sustainable Development and local municipalities participating in a community-university research/action partnership established in 2016. The partnership has a robust record of training students (UNC-Pembroke, NCSU) and community members in data collection, analysis, and dissemination. ‘

Title: Investigating the Impact of Environmental Greenspace Exposure on Telomere Length

PI: Hipp, James A.
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Center for Human Health and the Environment
Amount Awarded: 36546

Abstract: Our proposed project will seek to explore the relationship between greenspace exposure and telomere length in a large sample from the United States. This result can provide evidence for a biological pathway that greenspace exposure influences human health. The project will also examine the spatial scale of the exposure relationship to determine the feasibility of Zip codes as an analysis unit versus census geographies and residential location. If Zip codes provide sufficient results, this spatial information would provide a means of data collection in future studies that protects participant privacy. The proposed project will expand CHHE collaborations with new connections between Drs. Hipp and Reif. Importantly, pilot funding will also provide Dr. Ogletree, postdoctoral scholar in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management and the Center for Geospatial Analytics, with valuable experience to establish himself in the field of environmental health research and with NHANES data, expanding the potential for a K award.

Title: Planning Nature-Based Flood Mitigation Strategies Through Participatory Videos

PI: Cutts, Bethany Brooke
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Sea Grant Program
Amount Awarded: 10000

Abstract: The rising cost of floods, in both property damage and human lives, combined with the limitations of traditional flood control infrastructure (e.g., levees, berms, and dams) has led to increased calls for nature-based flood mitigation strategies (Liao 2012, 2014; Opperman et al. 2009, 2017). While flood nature-based solutions (NBS), such as wetland conservation and restoration, offer strong social and ecological benefits, many communities continue to rely on traditional flood control infrastructure that disrupt the hydro-ecology of riverine ecosystems (Montz and Tobin 2008; Opperman et al. 2009). This gap between NBS knowledge and practice stems in part from a failure to adequately embed scientific knowledge within the cultural lifeways of impacted communities (see Gaillard and Mercer 2013). We propose a participatory framework to enhance public involvement in designing nature-based flood mitigation strategies in Robeson County, North Carolina. The coastal plains of North Carolina contain a diverse array of wetland ecosystems, including pocosins (from Algonquian meaning swamp-on-a-hill) and Carolina bays (Richardson and Gibbons 1993; Sharitz and Gibbons 1982). Between 1780 and 1992, North Carolina lost 53 percent of its wetlands, first primarily to agricultural drainage and more recently to urbanization (O’Driscoll 2012). In the Lumber River basin, the watershed that encompasses most of Robeson County, wetlands make up nearly 25 percent of land use, but development and agricultural ditching has degraded water quality and wildlife habitat (NCDENR 2004). Changes in state and federal policy also threaten remaining wetlands (Richardson et al. 2011; Wittenberg 2017). We hypothesize that greater public participation within NBS planning can better integrate wetland restoration and conservation within disaster recovery and mitigation processes. Our prior research in Robeson County, including 76 interviews with survivors, community leaders, and officials, reveals that residents relate to and value the local environment, particularly the Lumbee river and swamps, in diverse and complex ways. Although it was not the motivation for the initial research, these findings suggested a critical need to understand how diverse cultural identities and ways of knowing shape perceptions of NBS. Many study participants recognized the socioecological benefits that derive from the ecosystem, yet focused primarily on maintaining and improving existing flood infrastructure when discussing mitigation strategies. Local officials that we interviewed likewise made relatively few mentions of NBS projects for flood mitigation. On the contrary, some leaders have publicly expressed skepticism that large-scale wetland restoration offers a realistic long-term flooding solution (Kaplan 2018). Although most resiliency plans for the county include nature-based options (Coastal Resilience Center 2018; NC Emergency Management and NC Department of Transportation 2018; ReBuild NC 2017), overall these strategies have not been prioritized within recovery and mitigation efforts. By bringing together diverse community voices, this research will identify place-specific barriers to NBS design and implementation and facilitate conversations about how to better integrate NBS into resiliency planning.

Title: Forecasting Fire Risk through Analysis of Past and Future Variability in Hydrologic Regimes & Integrate into South Florida Fire Danger Index

PI: Vukomanovic, Jelena
Direct Sponsor Name: US National Park Service
Amount Awarded: 110800

Abstract: Longer-term projections coupled with shorter-term regional forecasting of water level depths influence fire management actions taken by Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY) and Everglades National Park (EVER) fire management programs. Analyzing the relationship of known historical fire occurrence, fuel loading and water depth fluctuation models, we will expand on previous analyses supporting the current condition fire risk modeling. These new analyses will incorporate human causes such as road construction and dike removal projects into water level forecast models and provide fire managers with decision support tools in the form of maps, charts and online resources. These tools will contribute to the safety of public and private property and the resources (natural and cultural) that both BICY and EVER customarily protect. Fire program managers at BICY and EVER desire geospatial inputs of fire potential factors (fuels, weather, topography and risk) to fire behavior models that reflect local fire danger. A synthesis of existing geospatial data and fire danger models will guide efforts when creating new geospatial and tabular datasets whose modeled indices integrate with a Florida Statewide Fire Danger Rating System and associated maps.

Title: Workshop to Develop a Collaborative Research Network and Agenda for Antarctic Tourism

PI: Leung, Yu-Fai
Direct Sponsor Name: Academic Consortium 21
Amount Awarded: 9824

Abstract: A workshop will be convened to establish a collaborative research network led by three AC21 member institutions, and to develop a research agenda that will engage other researchers, forming a research community for addressing high-priority knowledge gaps in the sustainable management of Antarctic tourism.

Title: Building a Culture of and Capacity for EE Evaluation: 2.0 Addendum

PI: Stevenson, Kathryn
Direct Sponsor Name: Duke University
Amount Awarded: 29626

Abstract: Pisces Foundation has invited Charlotte Clark from Duke University and colleagues to submit an addendum to an ongoing effort to study collective evaluation efforts across the field of environmental education. The NC State team has been asked to characterizing the landscape of collective evaluation in EE beyond our case studies. This will include sleuthing out candidate networks, developing a relationship with a leader in that network, and documenting their work using an interview guide collaboratively developed with the Duke team. Work may also include creating a social network analysis of collaboratives engaging in collective evaluation, led by KC Busch. In addition, Kathryn Stevenson will co-chair the Promising Practices Working Group, which will include preparation time and calls/virtual meetings, as well as other tasks as needed.

Title: Strengthening Community Networks for Environmental Learning and Resilience Through Children

PI: Stevenson, Kathryn
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Sea Grant Program
Amount Awarded: 119998

Abstract: Developing solutions to large-scale, collective coastal challenges requires environmentally literate communities. In order to achieve this, we need to further conceptualize and design associated measurements of environmental literacy (EL) that focus on communities rather than individuals. The questions become not how individuals understand and interact with the world around them, but how communities share information, understandings, and associated action plans. To date, few, if any, have developed definitions or associated metrics to assess or benchmark progress toward community-level EL. Further, child-based environmental education (EE) is a promising, but understudied, strategy to build community-level EL. Children have been shown to foster EL among adults, particularly among those who may be most resistant to engaging with environmental topics. Given that school-based EE can reach a large proportion of adults in communities through their children and that children can effectively engage adults in environmental issues, school-based EE may be an effective strategy to build shared understandings, motivations and action strategies (i.e., community-level EL). Accordingly, this project will work toward two objectives. We will first conduct an online DELPHI study, a structured communication technique, to develop definitions and measurements of community-level EL. Next, we will train 30 middle and high school teachers in a citizen-science and school-based EE program around water quality that is specifically designed to build community-level EL through intergenerational learning. We will test how this curriculum boosts both individual and community-level EL among students, teachers, parents, and community members across the state of North Carolina.

Title: Ensuring Agricultural Sustainability And Climate Resiliency Through Intergenerational Transfer Of K-12 Voices (Fellowship, Danielle Lawson)

PI: Stevenson, Kathryn
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
Amount Awarded: 165000

Abstract: Although research has noted the widespread impacts of climate change on agro-ecological systems, unfortunately, farmers represent some of the most climate skeptical groups of individuals, with upwards of 88% denying the contributions of humans of modern day climate change. Fortunately however, research has found that children, including agricultural high school students appear to be better at coming to a point of concensus on climate change, unlike their adult counterparts. As such, this NIFA postdoctoral fellowship application proposes an integrated project that aligns with the AFRI Farm Bill Priority Area of bioenergy, natural resources, and environmenta with the overall goal of leveraging the unique climate change views of agriculture high school students to increase the climate concern and willingess to implement climate resilient agriculture behaviors of their parents, through intergenerational transfer. To do this, 36 North Carolina high school agriculture teachers will be trained in the Project Learning Tree module, Southeastern Forests and Climate Change, and experimentally test the curriculum’s effects on a minimum of 1800 students and 540 parents. To accomplish this, preservice agricultural teachers and environmental educators at North Carolina State University will be engaged through a robust service learning project giving them hands-on experience with teaching in agricultural classrooms and social science research methods. This project contributes to the post-doctoral program area of producing new scientists, and the overall AFRI goal of promoting the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems.

Title: CESU GIS Database Development for the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVNHT)

PI: Smith, Charlynne T.
Direct Sponsor Name: US National Park Service
Amount Awarded: 68492

Abstract: Phase 8: CESU GIS Database Development for the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVNHT) involves expanding geospatial data relative to the OVNHT Trail and Corridor through collaboration with trail partners and resource conservation agencies. This phase will review the entire OVNHT corridor for accuracy of protected trail segments and identify managing entities. The resulting inventory will inform trail managers of level of protection and provide a more accurate number of protected miles in an updated spatial database.

Title: Geospatial Analytics for the Fire Management Offices of the National Capital, Northeast, and Southeast Regions of the National Park Service

PI: Vukomanovic, Jelena
Direct Sponsor Name: US National Park Service
Amount Awarded: 131875

Abstract: The objective of this agreement is to contribute to present and future National Fire Program decision-support systems requirements of the Southeast, National Capital and Northeast Regions (collectively Eastern Regions) of the National Park Service (NPS) through the following four tasks: Task 1: Sifting through the Noise: Making Sense of the NPS’s Wildfire and Treatment Geospatial Data. This task focuses on using wildfire data to create performance metrics, by investigating the utility of fire data to address management needs. Outputs from these analyses will lead to the development of products specifically addressing Fire Management’s need to better articulate the implications for decreased fuels funding. Focusing on Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park, this task will examine recent treatment and wildfire data and compare the cost of wildfires with the cost of prescribed fires. Considerations of cost will include location/access, water, associated costs, and impacts to the public, e.g. closures, smoke. Task 2: What Do We Protect? Supporting Fire Management by Protecting Natural, Cultural and Infrastructural Resources through Geodatabase Development and Visualization. Fire Program managers have expressed a need for a spatial database consisting of locations where the effects of wildfire on the landscape would result in either habitat improvement (positive response) or habitat loss (negative response). Coincident to this are locations where sensitive cultural resources and critical infrastructure exist. Working with NPS fire ecologists and planners, this task will examine local parks’ vegetation data and assign fire response classes to vegetation types. Additionally, NCSU will examine the NPS Inventory and Monitoring, Southeastern Archeological Center (SEAC), NPS Archeological Sites Management Information System (ASMIS) and NPS Facilities Management Software System (FMSS) for existing sensitive-resource and critical-infrastructure datasets. Task 3: Understanding the Wildland-Urban Interface and Risk to Property from Wildfire through Geospatial Data and Web-based Applications. To reduce risk of life and property along and beyond their boundaries, NPS Park Units have historically suppressed wildfires inside their boundaries. For many years, the act of fire suppression has resulted in undesired consequences such as increases in fuel loading, changes to ecosystem structure and function, ecosystem and changes to landscape character. In addition, growing populations and increased development have limited the NPS Fire managers’ abilities to allow wildfire to play its natural role in these areas. This task will examine population growth and development in the wildland-urban interface. Focusing on high-population growth centers, it will evaluate the relationship that historical wildfire events and recent fuels treatments have had in shaping the natural qualities of the landscape. Task 4: Develop Curricula and Provide Web-map Training for NPS Fire Management Personnel The NPS has access to a powerful technological suite of tools, applications, and data through ESRI’s ArcGIS products. However, as with any new technology, training can improve the chances of adoption of new technologies and can ensure that it is implemented successfully and efficiently. This task will provide training to the NPS Fire Management Personnel specifically focused on the use of ArcGIS Online (AGOL).

Title: Membership in Consortium on Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI), Full Member

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: Cascades Inc.
Amount Awarded: 60000

Abstract: The purpose of the Consortium on Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI) is to develop fundamental and applied research on the use of alternative and sustainable fibers for the manufacturing of market pulp, hygiene products and nonwovens. The idea for SAFI has grown out of societal needs for alternative yet sustainable materials. SAFI will study the potential of alternative fibers based on technical (performance), sustainable and economic principles.

Title: Developing a Chemical Platform Based on Cottonseed Oil to Develop Functional Finishes for Cotton Apparel

PI: Venditti, Richard A.
Direct Sponsor Name: Cotton, Inc.
Amount Awarded: 87202

Abstract: The overarching goal of this project is to develop a chemical platform based on cottonseed oil to produce functional finishes for cotton apparel. We will evaluate cottonseed oil as the basis for the development of bio-based finishes as an alternative to petroleum-derived fabric finishes such as softeners, cross-linkers, and water repellents. The developed chemistry will be designed to maximize a strong affinity to a cotton substrate and not to hinder the fabric properties such as colorfastness, softness, or strength. This will provide a novel use for cottonseed oil and thus increase its value to the cotton producer and the cotton industry. Cottonseed oil (CSO) is projected to be an excellent starting material to produce softening and durable press (wrinkle resistance) finishes for cotton fibers. This is because refined cotton oil is almost completely composed of triglycerides of polyunsaturated fats (e.g., linoleic acid), which are an ideal platform for derivatization. This proposal proposes routes for converting CSO to reactive species that can be used in functional finishes along with an analytical platform to evaluate the performance of the finishes.

Title: Plate Rigidity Improvement via Materials Engineering and Simulation

PI: Pal, Lokendra
Direct Sponsor Name: Hoffmaster Group, Inc.
Amount Awarded: 260000

Abstract: There is a pressing need for biodegradable disposable food service items due to bans on single-use plastic items and environmental concerns. We will develop biobased engineered materials and designs solutions utilizing biopolymers, finite element analysis, and laminate structures. Biopolymers such as starch with functional additives will be evaluated to enhance physical and mechanical characteristics such as density, rigidity, tensile to weight ratio. Further, laminated structures will be developed utilizing biobased adhesives and a spray coating system to enhance paperboard structural integrity while creating an assortment of low-cost variable caliper substrates. Furthermore, FEA will be conducted to understand how the plate structure reacts to specific loading and thermal stresses. Finally, the combination of board types, additives, and processing parameters such as forming temperature will be evaluated to provide a critical understanding of the runnability during the converting operation and functionality of the final products.

Title: EMN-22-S-E-XX: Molecular Parameters of Biodegradation

PI: Venditti, Richard A.
Direct Sponsor Name: Eastman Chemical Company
Amount Awarded: 107709

Abstract: The objective of this proposed research is to appreciate the biodegradation process in nature with regards to natural materials (chemically unprocessed by man), bio-based man-made industrial materials, and synthetic materials by understanding the role of molecular composition and molecular structure and their interactions with naturally available microorganisms. The project will initiate with a literature review and based on the results will progress into a designed laboratory scale biodegradation experiment on a wide variety of natural, biobased man-made, and synthetic materials.

Title: Membership in Consortium on Sustainable Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI), Full Member

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc.
Amount Awarded: 60000

Title: SAFI Consortium Administrative Account

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Consortiumon Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI)
Amount Awarded: 5000

Title: Advancing the National Bioeconomy through Regional Sun Grant Centers- Year 1

PI: Jameel, Hasan
Direct Sponsor Name: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Amount Awarded: 26262

Abstract: Work completed at NCSU will focus on establishing parameters important to conversion of saw dust feedstocks to fermentable sugars and improved differences treated (e.g. lignin phenolics extracted) saw dust has on transformation practices. This research will support the overall project goals of establishing value added products from white saw dust and generating multiple useful product streams.

Title: Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI) CORE Research Project

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Consortiumon Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI)
Amount Awarded: 251918

Title: Membership in Consortium on Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI), Full Member

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: CMPC
Amount Awarded: 60000

Title: Membership in Consortium on Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI), Full Member

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: TreeCo
Amount Awarded: 60000

Title: Enhanced Moldable Cotton Composites

PI: Pawlak, Joel J.
Direct Sponsor Name: Cotton, Inc.
Amount Awarded: 75355

Abstract: This project creates a novel material for the production of molded plastic cotton composite materials to replace Single-Use Plastics (SUP). SUPs are an environmental concern due to the fact that they are typically based on a non-renewable raw material (petro-chemicals), short useful life, and non-biodegradability. Efforts have been made to replace many single-use plastics with molded pulp products. These products suffer from the problem of high production costs, requirements for highly specific manufacturing technologies, and limited form factors that can be produced. In this project, we propose using recycled cotton textiles in cotton/plastic composites that overcome many of the issues associated with molded pulp products. With this new technology, we expect to be able to produce prototypes of several products, including plates, bowls, and tableware.

Title: Membership in Consortium on Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI), Full Member

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: Adidas AG
Amount Awarded: 60000

Title: Railroad Tie Composting with 50 Degrees, LLC

PI: Hopkins, Christopher B
Direct Sponsor Name: 50 Degrees, LLC
Amount Awarded: 50000

Abstract: NCSU and Blackwood Solutions believe that it may be possible to compost creosote treated wood (railroad ties) to reduce the content of the phenols and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and produce land applicable compost. We intend to cooperate on the analysis and application of NCSU designed studies of forced air composting of shredded railroad ties with animal waste. We believe that the higher temperatures afforded by supplemental air will improve creosote reduction. These studies will include several recipes of ties and animal waste with varying air supplementation. NCSU will also seek to understand the North Carolina regulatory parameters for composting and using creosote railroad ties. We anticipate 2 small scale iterations of recipes to optimize creosote reduction. We anticipate regular communication among all cooperators to help guide study design and implementation. NCSU seeks $50,000 in funding from Blackwood Solutions for this collaborative work. The team will include Site Manager Joseph Stuckey and Professor Mahmoud Sharara, and will be led by Chris Hopkins at Blackwood’s request. We are anticipating a schedule of implementation covering approximately 8 months. Much of this work will be at the Animal and Poultry Waste Processing Center. See attached Gantt chart for project schedule.

Title: Advancing the National Bioeconomy through Regional Sun Grant Centers

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: University of Tennessee
Amount Awarded: 68446

Abstract: The hygiene tissue industry (bath tissue and kitchen towel) is an annual 39 million tons – USD 100 billion – global market with a forecast to grow ~ 3% per year for the next decade [38], [39]. Most hygiene tissue paper grades require the use of both long and short virgin fibers, which provide strength and softness respectively [8]. As an effect of global megatrends, the demand for non-woody biomass for tissue manufacturing will continue to increase [40], and agricultural biomass, which is perceived to be a sustainable option, can be an important source of short fibers for the tissue industry [41]. Therefore, the need to research and create knowledge on the handling and conversion of biomass sorghum and switchgrass to produce sustainable and high-end fiber furnish for the hygiene tissue industry. The proposed feedstock can be established to supply fiber at industrial scale.

Title: EMN-21-S-S-03 Discovery of New Plasticizers

PI: Kelley, Stephen S
Direct Sponsor Name: Eastman Chemical Company
Amount Awarded: 355437

Abstract: Eastman seeks to develop an understanding of the relationship between the structure of phthalate-free plasticizers and the processing and end-use performance properties of plasticized cellulose acetate (CA). This work will use molecular modeling tools to develop structure-property relationship for candidate plasticizers, with particular attention paid to hydrogen bonding and dipolar interactions between CA and the plasticizer, and the molecular weight of the plasticizer. Candidates will be tested in molded parts and films.

Title: Bio-based Barrier Layer for Multilayer Packaging

PI: Lavoine, Nathalie Marie
Direct Sponsor Name: Pepsico, Inc.
Amount Awarded: 28778

Abstract: This research collaboration aims to develop a bio-based moisture barrier layer for multilayer packaging. More especially, two bio-sourced components of hydrophobic characteristic and chemical compatibility will be combined as a coating formulation for metal-based and polyester-based substrates. The barrier properties of this layer will be fully characterized. The NCSU team will elaborate the formulation and test it on model substrates; some provided by the sensor Pepsico. Pepsico will test the formulation in their facility and schedule pilot-scale trials to test the lab-made formulation under required conditions.

Title: Advancing the National Bioeconomy through Regional Sun Grant Centers

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: University of Tennessee
Amount Awarded: 14142

Title: Recycled Textiles to Bio-based Building Blocks: Technology and Business Development toward Pilot Demonstration in Year 2021.

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: Cotton, Inc.
Amount Awarded: 200388

Abstract: We are continuing our efforts to develop both fundamental and applied research to understand the effect of physico-chemical deconstruction treatments on recycled textiles to facilitate enzymatic digestibility and optimize the production of bio-based building blocks to manufacture value-added chemicals. In the second phase of this project, our goal is to perform a pilot trial demonstration in addition to study the issues of using more complex textiles (e.g., polyester-cotton blends). Furthermore, we will execute a thorough review on glucose-derived chemicals to identify one or two high-value/low-volume bio-chemicals and produce those from cotton-based sugars.

Title: Biodegradable Microencapsulation Project

PI: Lavoine, Nathalie Marie
Direct Sponsor Name: Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC
Amount Awarded: 264753

Abstract: The objective of the project is to design a sufficiently stable microcapsule system with encapsulated agrochemical active ingredient, using cellulose-based chemistries as the principal barrier materials, with a biodegradation profile that satisfies the criteria in the ECHA ANNEX XV Proposal for a Restriction on Microplastics.

Title: Scaling Up Biocrude Derived Anode Material (BDAM)

PI: Park, Sunkyu
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Energy (DOE) – Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)
Amount Awarded: 2649938

Abstract: We will improve and validate the critical unit operations needed for producing high-value carbon materials (graphite and hard carbon) used for lithium ion and sodium ion batteries from a faction of the biocrude produced by biomass fast pyrolysis. This work will bring together two innovations, 1) production of high-value carbon materials from the biocrude heavy residues fraction, which are often difficult to convert into biofuels, and 2) process innovations that should lower the costs for producing these high-value carbons. In order to produce high-value carbons, the biocrude residues are sequentially heated to remove volatiles and oxygen, polymerize the biomass carbons into graphene sheets, and in a second step form either highly crystalline graphite or disordered hard carbon. The graphite can be used in as drop-in anode material in existing commercial lithium ion battery (LIB) applications such as portable electronics and electric vehicles (EVs), while the hard carbon can be used in emerging and advancing battery applications, such as sodium ion battery (SIB) for grid electrochemical energy storage and LIB for hybrid batteries in EV with high capacity and good rate capability. The team has demonstrated that both graphite and hard carbon can be produced from pyrolysis biocrudes at laboratory scale and has measured their electrochemical performance in batteries. This work will optimize the range of operating parameters, with a focus on the complex interactions between the chemical changes and the heat and mass transfer characteristics of the reactor and increase the production scale to obtain mass and energy balances that are relevant for modeling commercial potential. The performance of the carbon materials will be evaluated to define their values in commercial systems. Both techno-economics (TEA) and life cycle analysis (LCA) will be performed to understand the economic and environmental impact of the proposed technology. Preliminary revenue analysis suggests diverting 15-25% of the biocrude, essentially all of the heavy and less valuable fraction, into high-value carbons like graphite or hard carbon can significantly improve the profits of a biorefinery and lower the cost of making biofuels. The goal of this project is to optimize and scale-up the process for producing graphite and hard carbon that meet the requirement for LIB and SIB, respectively. Performance specification will be measured, including electrochemical performance under varying conditions (e.g., operating voltage range, current density, and c-rate) using coin-type and pouch cells. We will use a suite of advanced analytical tools to develop a more detailed understanding of 1) how the chemical composition of biocrude and the carbonization process impact the macromolecular ordering of the final products and 2) how the changes in carbon structure influence on the ion storage behavior (e.g., (de)insertion and adsorption/desorption) and subsequent electrochemical performance. In addition to the performance of the carbon materials, we will determine yields in order to close the mass and energy balances of the process. This data will be used to conduct rigorous TEA and LCA models to demonstrate the target FOA metrics such as $3.00/GGE fuel selling price and 60% reduction in emission. Successful completion of the scale up of bio-based graphite and hard carbon production will enable commercialization of these processes and will have an important impact on several sustainable technologies, 1) the low cost biocrude, the bio-based graphite will reduce the cost for LIB that can be used in EVs, 2) the low cost of hard carbon production will enable SIB for energy grid storage and LIB for advanced batteries for EVs, supporting continued growth of PV and wind electricity generation, and 3) commercial production of graphite and hard carbon as biorefinery co-products will improve the overall economics of producing biofuels.

Title: High-performance Biodegradable Transparent Films: The First Step towards Green Aseptic Food Packaging, CAPPS Core project

PI: Lavoine, Nathalie Marie
Direct Sponsor Name: Ohio State University
Amount Awarded: 59970

Abstract: Here, we propose a new sustainable packaging solution as a recyclable alternative to plastic substrates that exploits and combines the intrinsic properties of renewable materials for the development of barrier and transparent plastic-like films. We will focus in particular on two types of cheap, abundant, and renewable materials: (i) bacterial cellulose, synthesized by bacteria or algae, which can be easily grown and bioengineered, and (ii) alginate, a polymer extracted from brown algae; both of which are GRAS approved substances. This project will study the effect of weight ratios, salt addition, pH, and possible need of green plasticizers (e.g., glycerol) on the properties of the composite films under varying conditions by mimicking refrigerator, ambient, and microwave conditions, with a direct comparison to commercial plastic food films. The potential release of any of the used polymeric materials and plasticizers to solid and liquid food will be investigated. As a first step towards the design of green aseptic packaging substrates, the film stability against different aseptic technologies (e.g., U.V. radiation, hydrogen peroxide and hot air) will be studied. To this end, a third low-cost, renewable GRAS protein, namely (iii) zein, will also be considered in the last part of this project as a possible way to make up for any lack in the performance of the bacterial cellulose/alginate films with respect to water resistance, thermal stability, and heat-sealing properties

Title: Lignocellulosics Engineering to Advance Dewatering (LEAD)

PI: Venditti, Richard A.
Direct Sponsor Name: Alliance for Pulp & Paper Technology Innovation (formerly Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance)
Amount Awarded: 300000

Abstract: The most salient cost factors for paper manufacture are fibers and drying energy. There are continued efforts in the paper industry to move towards lower grammage sheets (especially in the packaging arena) and higher machine speeds to increase productivity while conserving resources and energy. The proposed project will address the critical need for innovation in the dewatering of the paper web to maximize its solids after wet pressing through changes that result from a better understanding of equilibrium moisture and bound water, thus reducing energy consumption in the drying section while maintaining desired paper attributes.

Title: Development of Recognizable Recycled Paper Based Containerboard Products and Their Ability to Promote Positive Brand Recognition

PI: Venditti, Richard A.
Direct Sponsor Name: Environmental Research & Education Foundation
Amount Awarded: 165000

Abstract: Abstract: The overall goal of the project is to develop systems to effectively utilize low-grade paper wastes in innovative, recognizable containerboard and pulp molded products in order to increase and stabilize the demand for low-grade paper waste products. This project will also evaluate the marketing potential of these new products. We will first evaluate the product performance of using low-grade paper wastes in containerboard and pulp molded product applications. A series of recycled products with varying concentrations of visible contaminants will be evaluated. We will then perform a sustainability evaluation on the new products. This would include environmental and economic evaluations. This will be followed by the evaluation of the desirability of having such products from the perspective of companies that utilize these containers to ship their products. This will be done through interviews/surveys of retail companies. We then will define the marketing advantages of these container products with respect to the general public, understanding the public’s level of preference for such containers and the ability of the container to develop strong positive brand identity with the public. This will be done through panel evaluations. We will then disseminate the results through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Title: Prepare and Characterize Wood Treated with Silicates

PI: Kelley, Stephen S
Direct Sponsor Name: T2Earth Holdings, LLC
Amount Awarded: 180000

Abstract: This work covers the preparation and characterization of silicate treated wood samples. The goal of the work is to create wood products that are decay, insect and fire resistant but do not require the use of toxic chemicals. The overall process can be divided into two steps, 1) Silicate Impregnation and 2) Silicate Curing. The impregnation step will focus on the time, pressure and temperature profile used to impregnate silicate solutions into woody of varying species and dimensions. The initial impregnation conditions will be based on information supplied by T2Earth through their background knowledge and their work with partners. The curing step involves the use either dry or wet curing of the silicate treated wood. Different pressures and gases may also be used in this step. The dry curing will emulate curing in an oven or traditional dry kiln, where there is no barrier to the rapid removal of moisture from the wood. The wet curing will investigate higher heat transfer to the silicate treated wood samples, or steps designed to initially retain moisture in the wood. The curing step is designed to enhance polymerization of the silicate with the goal of improving silica retention, and result in improved decay and fire resistance of the treated wood. These samples will be characterized to determine the silicate concentration profile, retention of the silicate, and for a selected subset of the samples the chemical structure of the wood and silicate. These physical properties will be related to the process conditions.

Title: Developing Cross Laminated Timber Panels for Residential and Smaller Commercial Construction Markets

PI: Mitchell, Philip H.
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service
Amount Awarded: 249758

Abstract: Proposed development of CLT panel systems in the US has focused on large lumber gluing and layup systems, presses and CNC machining centers that require high equipment and facility costs approaching $30 million. The result of such high investment requirements is that few US CLT operations exist and none are currently in operation in the US South. This project will develop an alternative strategy able to produce 80% of the output of a large size CLT panel plant at 2% of the investment cost. It is possible to quickly develop a forest products industry niche for CLT panels using existing equipment resources once used by the casegoods furniture industry by using a small size batch process format. These presses are capable of manufacturing 4 panels for residental homes, pressing multiple CLT panels per batch press cycle. These Residential CLT panels (RCLT) can be used for walls, floors, and roof decking for use by general contractors with the support of knowledgeable architects and organizations like the APA. The National Forest System has excess low quality materials that need to be removed to improve forest health, reduce fire danger and assist the local economy. These lower grade materials are plentiful and are suitable for residential CLTs. Material for RCLTs could include Southern yellow pine and the mixed hardwood species that can also be processed into veneers for hardwood plywood. An objective of this project is to evaluate suitable species for lumber and plywood RCLT for use in building residential homes. This project will demonstrate a manufacturing system by making samples of RCLTs in several existing furniture cold presses, pressing a stack of several RCLTs in batches. The project includes the development of joinery types to connect the panels for assembly. The goal is to successfully manufacture RCLT panels that pass the APA PRG 320 Standard using the two lumber grades approved by the APA (#2 yellow pine for faces and #3 for the core and cross bands) and hardwood veneers using this low capital approach.

Title: Developing Expertise in Risk Analysis and Risk Management for the Bioeconomy

PI: Gonzalez, Ronalds Wilfredo
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
Amount Awarded: 238500

Abstract: Led by the Department of Forest Biomaterials in collaboration with the Departments of Forestry, Business Management and Science Education at NC State University; this proposal will develop an educational program for a new generation of technology-to-commercialization researchers who will graduate with the expertise to perform risk analysis and develop risk management strategies across the value chain of biomass supply, biobased materials, and biofuels manufacturing to meet current and future national needs that will ultimately advance the nascent bioeconomy of the United States. Previous studies indicate that a limited number of companies in the forest product industry perform risk analysis for their decision-making process. We do believe that this small adoption rate is due to lack of awareness of the importance of risk analysis and risk management for effective/efficient R&D planning and investment and lack of expertise (people trained) to perform risk analysis across the whole supply chain. This proposal supports TESA in “Agricultural Management and Economics,” in the discipline of Environmental Sciences/Management. Three Ph.D. students will be trained to analyze and propose mitigation strategies for current and future risks inherent to the bioeconomy. To considerably amplify the effect of this proposal, prospective fellows and project directors will deliver educational workshops in risk analysis and management targeting the biobased community across the U.S., while the proposal is expected to be completed in three years, project director expects to keep the program as a permanent teaching/research program. This proposed program supports USDA-NIFA Goal “Catalyze exemplary and relevant research, education and extension programs”.

Title: Characterization of Residual Xylan in Dissolving Pulps

PI: Park, Sunkyu
Direct Sponsor Name: Eastman Chemical Company
Amount Awarded: 580869

Abstract: The differences in compositional and molecular weight of insoluble gel particles during the acetylation of cellulose have a negative impact on the downstream manufacturing process and final product quality. It is generally agreed that the residual hemicelluloses present in dissolving pulp play a role in the formation of these insoluble gel particles. However, a detailed understanding of the effects of hemicellulose composition, branching, and molecular weight on the presence of insoluble gel particles has not been clearly elucidated. To address this issue, it is important to understand the relationship between the composition of insoluble gel particles and their solubility in a common solvent such as acetone.

Title: Quantifying Intra-Regional Leakage from Rotation Extensions in the U.S. South, SOFAC Enhancement Project

PI: Baker, Justin Scott
Direct Sponsor Name: National Council for Air & Stream Improvement, Inc.
Amount Awarded: 59914

Abstract: We will use the SubRegional Timber Supply model to quantify emissions leakage associated with deferred harvests for forest carbon offset supply within the Southeastern U.S. This work has relevance to U.S. climate policy and the growing forest carbon offset market.

Title: Estimating the Social Benefits of Satellite Imagery used to enforce the Brazilian Forest Code and Reduce Deforestation

PI: Sills, Erin O.
Direct Sponsor Name: Salisbury University (member of the University System of Maryland)
Amount Awarded: 5369

Abstract: Report on legislation, laws, regulations, and government programs related to links in a causal model tracing the impact of satellite data on deforestation control, based on previous interactions with key informants, familiarity with press and social media coverage, and review of documents from Brazil.

Title: A Citizen Science Internship Program to Quantify Racial and Economic Disparities in Lead Levels in Drinking Water Across North Carolina

PI: Cooper, Caren Beth
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Water Resources Research Institute
Amount Awarded: 42999

Abstract: Ninety-seven of the one hundred counties in North Carolina have at least one community water system with leaded infrastructure. Collectively, these systems serve 10 million people. In 20 counties, 80% or more of the water systems reported leaded infrastructure, serving a total of over one million North Carolinians. Unfortunately, water systems do not have records with sufficient detail to identify highest risk areas at finer spatial scales. Furthermore, there is virtually no data, at any scale, about the privately owned portions of the water transportation systems, namely the privately owned portion of the service line and the household premise plumbing. This proposal addresses the problem that leaded drinking water infrastructure poses a significant health risk across NC. Water utilities cannot properly manage water lead levels without sufficient data about leaded premise plumbing and lead in tap water at households. The EPA funded a project to create Crowd the Tap, a citizen science project in which households share information about their drinking water infrastructure. We propose a Citizen Science Internship program at Shaw University in which student interns function as ambassadors for Crowd the Tap, carrying out direct outreach (in accordance with COVID safety protocols) to priority communities in order to fill data gaps particularly for the DEQs Needs Assessment, NGO/CBO lead mitigation programs, and a statistical model to reliably predict household risk of lead.

Title: Value of Flow Forecasts to Power System Analytics

PI: Kern, Jordan
Direct Sponsor Name: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Amount Awarded: 35000

Abstract: Most hydropower utilities rely on external forecast products provided by NOAA River Forecast Centers and/or an additional source from private industry to support the scheduling of hydropower operations. The producers of these forecasts‚ NOAA, industry, and even in-house forecasters, do not have access to the dynamic energy prices (production cost models) or the electricity traders’ strategies to maximize revenue from utilization of the hydropower assets. Therefore, the group operating the reservoir is unable to assess the market value of their inflow forecasts, eliminating any ability to target forecast improvements to increase contributions of hydropower to electrical system needs. Both NOAA and industry have reached out to DOE WPTO to understand which inflow forecast products and accuracy levels would be needed to enhance the value of forecasts, from water management and marketed hydropower and grid resilience perspectives. We propose to use inflow forecast, reservoir and power system model simulations, and case studies to practically demonstrate where forecast improvements would create the most value for hydropower services. This research will benefit utilities and other hydropower operators who utilize flow forecasting to support water management and electricity production; it will also support DOE in targeting future investments related to forecasting that will benefit these groups.

Title: Efficacy of Bluefume (HCN) Fumigation in Eradicating Elongate Hemlock Scale on Christmas Trees

PI: Jetton, Robert M
Direct Sponsor Name: Christmas Tree Promotion Board
Amount Awarded: 2587

Abstract: In collaboration with scientists at North Carolina State University and USDA ARS, scientists at Washington State University will utilize detached branches to determine the potential effectiveness of postharvest fumigation treatments with Bluefume (HCN) in killing elongated hemlock scale (EHS) life stages on infested Fraser fir and determine the effects of HCN fumigation on the postharvest quality of non-infested commonly-grown Christmas tree species,such as balsam fir, Canaan fir, Fraser fir, grand fir, noble fir, Nordmann fir, Turkish fir, Trojan fir, and Douglas-fir). Branches will be fumigated at the USDA ARS Postharvest facility in CA. Treatments will consist of 5 rates of HCN plus a non-fumigated control. Each treatment will be replicated 3 times with 3 branches per replication. Following fumigation, the viability of EHS life stages on infested branches will be assessed. Uninfested branches from the commonly grown species will be transported and displayed in a temperature-controlled room to determine if the fumigation treatments have any adverse effects on postharvest quality and needle retention.

Title: CAREER: CAS- Climate: Navigating a Two-Front Challenge for the Power Grid: Extreme Weather and the Race to Decarbonization

PI: Kern, Jordan
Direct Sponsor Name: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Amount Awarded: 413671

Abstract: This proposed work will weave together new and existing knowledge about natural hazards, power systems, and financial/economic markets in order to explore interdependencies and feedbacks between the U.S. power sector’s efforts to manage extreme weather and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Research efforts will focus on developing a deep understanding of system dynamics in different testbeds distributed across the U.S. These testbeds will facilitate investigation of how regional differences in natural resources, climate, infrastructure, and human institutions shape interactions between extreme weather and decarbonization efforts. The unifying thread throughout, and the major research objective of this proposal, is the development and application of a systems analysis framework for resilient and robust management of weather risk in grids transitioning to renewable energy.

Title: Evaluation of CoreTect (Imidacloprid) as a Planting Time Treatment for Multi-Year Control of Piercing-Sucking Insect Pests in Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

PI: Jetton, Robert M
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Christmas Tree Association
Amount Awarded: 3000

Abstract: The research proposed will test Coretect, and imidacloprid-based insecticide, as a planting time treatment for multi-year control of piercing-sucking insect pests of Fraser fir Christmas trees. Pests such as the balsam woolly adelgid, balsam twig aphid, and elongate hemlock scale are important pests that routinely require regular application of foliar applied insecticides multiple times throughout a rotation for effective control. In pest management systems for other conifer species, a single CoreTect tablet placed in the planting hole provides four to five years of protection against most piercing-sucking insects. This project will test for similar effectiveness in Fraser fir. Reduced usage of foliar applied insecticides during the first four to five years of a rotation could yield significant financial savings for growers and reduce human and environmental pesticide exposure.

Title: Forecasting Forest Vegetation in Isle Royale National Park – CESU

PI: Scheller, Robert
Direct Sponsor Name: US Geological Survey (USGS)
Amount Awarded: 50674

Abstract: Isle Royale is internationally recognized for its populations of wolves and moose. Despite wolf predation on the moose population, both the short and longer-term impacts of moose browsing can be seen across the island. In response to a decade-long decline in the wolf population of Isle Royale National Park, ultimately resulting in just two wolves remaining, the National Park Service (NPS) began reintroducing wolves to the island over the past winter. It is not, however, possible to disentangle all of the factors that might influence patterns of vegetation change over large landscapes with traditional experimental approaches or by conducting observational studies on their own. We will combine landscape-scale simulation models and data from experiments and observational studies to foster a more integrated understanding of vegetation, herbivore, carnivore dynamics. By using a simulation model to evaluate hypothetical scenarios, we will isolate the possible effects of one or more factors while holding others constant. Climate change will also interact with wolf predation and moose browsing to alter the future forests of Isle Royale and will be considered in our forecasting.

Title: Quantifying On-Farm Reservoirs Impacts on Surface Hydrology Using a Multi-Sensor Approach (Student: Vinicius Perin)

PI: Tulbure, Mirela Gabriela
Direct Sponsor Name: National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
Amount Awarded: 45000

Abstract: Fresh water stored by on-farm reservoirs (OFRs) is a fundamental component of surface hydrology and is critical for meeting global irrigation needs. Farmers use OFRs to store water during the wet season for crop irrigation during the dry season. There are more than 2.6 million OFRs in the US alone, and many of these OFRs were constructed during the last 40 years. Despite their importance for irrigating crops, OFRs can contribute to downstream water stress by decreasing stream discharge and peak flow in the watersheds where they are built, thereby exacerbating water stress intensified by climate change and population growth. However, modeling the impact of OFRs on surface hydrology remains a challenge because they are so abundant and have frequent fluctuations in surface area and water volume. Prior to the recent availability of satellite data, widespread monitoring of OFRs surface area and water volume across space and time was impossible due to temporal latency of satellite observations. The goal of this project, therefore, is to harness a multi-sensor satellite imagery approach to reduce observation latency and improve surface hydrology modeling, with the aim of supporting more efficient management of OFRs and mitigation of their downstream impacts. Our objectives are: 1) Develop a multi-sensor imagery approach to reduce latency and obtain sub-weekly OFRs surface area and volume change; and 2) Input sub-weekly OFRs volume change into the Soil Water and Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to estimate OFRs impact on surface hydrology. Specifically for Objective 1, a novel method based on the Kalman filter will be used to harmonize data from multiple optical sensors and to provide sub-weekly OFRs surface area change, which will be converted to volume change using area-elevation equations. Then for Objective 2, we will carry out hydrological simulations in SWAT to quantify OFRs impact on simulated daily and monthly stream discharge, simulating stream discharge with and without the OFRs. We will perform yearly simulations, based on satellite imagery availability, to measure OFRs impact during low and peak flows in each watershed of our study region, which will account for both intra- as well as inter-annual variability in flows. This project will monitor OFRs surface area and volume change to enable better assessment and management of water quantity, and further the use of Earth system science to inform decisions and provide benefits to society regarding preservation of surface water resources, both of which are overarching science goals that guide NASA’s Earth Science Division program.

Title: Improved Christmas Tree Health Through Genomics

PI: Whitehill, Justin
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Amount Awarded: 150000

Abstract: This project will be a collaboration between the Christmas Tree Genetics Program, the Forest Health and Conservation Program, and the Molecular Tree Breeding Lab in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University. Our goal is to accelerate the genetic improvement of Fraser fir against the tree-killing pathogen Phytophthora root rot and insect pest balsam woolly adelgid. Fraser fir is one of North Carolina’s most important specialty crops generating annual revenues exceeding $100 million. The development of novel genomic tools and technologies will have a positive, transformative impact on the North Carolina Christmas tree industry. Our project builds on resources developed by the NCSU Christmas Tree Genetics Program in collaboration with the NCDA and NC Christmas tree growers over the past 4+ decades. We propose five major objectives in this proposal: (1) genomic resource development of Fraser fir responses to Phytophthora and BWA; (2) identification of Phytophthora and BWA elicitors; (3) evaluation of Fraser fir responses to isolated elicitors; (4) population level analysis of key pest responsive genes in existing NCSU Fraser fir breeding program resources; and (5) synthesis and dissemination of results to NC Christmas tree stakeholders. Subsequent to the funding period, these efforts will benefit the North Carolina Christmas tree community and contribute to the genetic conservation of native Fraser fir populations in the Appalachian Mountains. We expect project deliverables will help address key knowledge gaps of pest resilience in Fraser fir and push conventional conifer breeding strategies and integration with genomic information into a new era.

Title: Long-Term Changes and Variability in Global Ecosystem Phenology From MODIS

PI: Gray, Joshua Michael
Direct Sponsor Name: Boston University
Amount Awarded: 42385

Abstract: We will be using the long-term land surface phenology products we’ve generated to explore the climatological drivers of phenological change, trends in land surface phenology, and carbon/water consequences of these changes

Title: AmeriFlux Management Project Core Site – North Carolina Loblolly/Alligator

PI: King, John S
Direct Sponsor Name: Texas A&M University
Amount Awarded: 234550

Abstract: A cluster of research sites will be maintained according to the Ameriflux Management Program’s Statement of Work. The sites include a mid-rotation loblolly pine plantation (site code US-NC2 in the Ameriflux and FLUXNET databases, operational since November 2004), and companion sites in young, recently disturbed loblolly pine plantations (US-NC3 starting 2013) and a natural bottomland forested wetland (US-AR/NC4 starting 2009). All sites are located on the lower coastal plain in North Carolina, and represent a historically established land use gradient. With current common management practices and areal coverage of commercial plantations in different edaphic and climatic regions in the SE-US, the two loblolly plantations are representative of a broader area. The core research at the individual sites and across the cluster focuses on the following topic areas: (1) the magnitude, regulation and variability of carbon and water cycles, (2) the tradeoffs of different management objectives, including productivity, carbon sequestration, water yield, biodiversity, and environmental services to surrounding communities, (3) responses to environmental pressures, like drought, pest outbreaks, and air pollution episodes, (4) validation, testing and development of plant gas exchange and ecosystem models of gas exchange and resource use, (5) projecting changes in flux partitioning under changing climate and environmental conditions, and (6) facilitating the development and validation of new measurement and modeling technologies.

Title: BCS-DISES: Influence of Community Forestry on the Dynamics of Integrated Socio-Environmental Systems

PI: Sills, Erin O.
Direct Sponsor Name: UNC – UNC Chapel Hill
Amount Awarded: 104263

Abstract: The overarching goal of the project is to understand how Community Forestry (CF) influenced the dynamics of the integrated Socio-Environmental System (iSES) in which CF is a vital part. To achieve this goal, the following major research questions will be addressed: (1) How does community forest governance influence the community social capital and livelihoods of participating households? (2) How does CF interact with rural out-migration? (3) How does CF feedback to land use decision? (4) How COVID-19 influenced the rural people’s livelihoods and CF? (5) How has CF influenced on the goods and services the environmental systems provide? The research will be carried out in the Middle Mountains of Nepal, where CF originated. With help from local collaborators and assistants, we will conduct comprehensive community and household surveys in the study area and use remote sensing and ecological models to address these questions. In the final stage of the project, an Integrated Modeling System (IMS) will be developed and used to examine the dynamics of the iSES.

Title: Ecological Forecasting Tools for Movement Track Management at the Yukon-to-Yellowstone Migration Corridor

PI: Kays, Roland W.
Direct Sponsor Name: Ohio State University
Amount Awarded: 53790

Abstract: The Yellowstone to Yukon Corridor (Y2Y) is North America’s largest nature corridor and connectivity project for wildlife. The 2,000-mile swath of land between Yellowstone National Park and the Yukon of Canada is one of the last remaining intact mountain ecosystems on Earth, and home to many endangered and at-risk species. The Y2Y is a mosaic of protected and unprotected land including Canadian and US national parks, federally managed wildland and national forests, state/province/territory parks, Indigenous territories, and privately managed conservation easements. Our project will focus on developing a common animal movement archive for the Y2Y, and research tools to study the effectiveness of protected areas, and migration and movement connectivity that will be applied by our end users throughout the Y2Y. Animal tracking data in the Arctic Animal Movement Archive, compiled during a NASA-funded ABoVE project, will provide the starting core of the Y2Y archive. Additional tracking data will be provided by our end users, their collaborators, and other researchers that study movement ecology throughout the Y2Y. This dynamic ensemble of studies will collectively contain millions of occurrences in the region, allowing our end users to document baseline movements and behavior of many individuals and species over past decades and up to the present. Our Movebank-based archive will provide a uniform platform and QA protocol for conducting large-scale, long-term, and multi-species analyses addressing critical research questions in support of wildlife management efforts in the region, contribute to biodiversity assessments related to climate and other regional and global changes, and provide early signals of local or large-scale ecosystem changes. Furthermore, we will develop a set of data access, preparation, and analysis tools within the MoveStore platform, a GUI-based environment for data flow and analysis tools. The data access and preparation tools will allow users to compile movement data meeting specific criteria from the Y2Y archive and link these data with contextual environmental data from remote sensing and weather resources, including NASA’s LANDSAT NDVI, GPM precipitation, human population density, the MERRA and NARR weather reanalyses, and local environmental data layers. We will provide tools to downscale data, resample, model null presence, and prepare movement tracks and corresponding environmental data for statistical analyses in R. Finally, we will provide tools to quantify utilization distributions and connectivity surfaces by fitting spatial and spatial-temporal point-process models. The animal movement data archive will provide a resource for the Y2Y region, and it will be expanded over time. The preparation and analysis tools will be applicable worldwide, using movement data stored on Movebank. We will develop and test tools on a set of applications catered to the needs of our end users, addressing questions such as: How are protected lands utilized by mammals throughout the Y2Y? How is connectivity between conservation areas influenced by current and predicted future environmental and anthropogenic characteristics? What characteristics are most critical for stopover locations for migrating raptors? The archive and the tools we will develop will be hosted on Movebank.org, an international database and movement analysis portal. Movebank is supported and run by the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. The German government and the Max Planck Institute have committed to guaranteeing the long-term operability and accessibility of the archive and tools we will develop. Our end users are a coalition of state/province/territory wildlife management agencies, and US and Canadian NGOs. Each will commit weeks of in-kind labor to contribute movement data to the archive and to help us design, test, and implement the tools we develop.

Title: High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) as a Diagnostic Tool to Assist Groundwater Monitoring Recommendations from Local Health Departments to Private Well Users

PI: Nichols, Elizabeth Guthrie
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Water Resources Research Institute
Amount Awarded: 10000

Abstract: The Association of Public Health Laboratories and the NC Department of Health and Human Services recommend that private well users test their groundwater every five years for 53 possible organic chemicals. The selection of which chemicals to measure is often confusing and frustrating to private well users and to local health departments (LHD) who make recommendations for testing. One cannot test for all 53 analytes with just one analytical method, and this list excludes many organic chemicals pending Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulation and literally thousands of other chemicals and degradation products that could be present in the water. Hence, there is a gap in water quality information for private well users and LHD across urban and rural settings. My project is a collaborative effort with the Wake County Groundwater and Well Program, or WCGWP, (see Letter of Support) to assess the presence of thousands of organic chemicals and assist with county recommendations for groundwater quality analyses to private well users. I will use gas chromatography (GC) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) as a diagnostic tool to screen private wells for thousands of regulated and non-regulated volatile and semi-volatile chemicals including solvents, pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons, pharmaceutical and consumer product chemicals, endocrine disruptors, PCBs, and many other synthetic chemicals and their degradation products. The HRMS results will be compared to recent analyses of the same wells by WCGWP to evaluate HRMS efficacy for early detection of SDWA organic chemicals. The primary outcome of my effort is to assist WCGWP with their organic analyte selection recommendations to private well users.

Title: Analysis and Economic Modeling and Clean Air Act Issues, Forestry, Agriculture and Landscape Change Modeling and Analysis Support

PI: Baker, Justin Scott
Direct Sponsor Name: RTI International (aka Research Triangle Institute)
Amount Awarded: 76558

Abstract: This proposal, in response to the RTI International RFP titled Analysis and Economic Modeling and Clean Air Act Issues, is supported by RTI International and a mission support contract from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Change Division. Under this contract, Dr. Justin Baker (NCSU-CNR-FER) will collaborate with researchers at RTI and other institutions on the development and application of several land use sector modeling frameworks to develop projections of land use, markets, resource management, and greenhouse gas emissions under socioeconomic, environmental, and policy change. Dr. Baker will provide analytical and modeling support for research and development efforts, quick turnaround research for policy analysis, and technical writing and synthesis to disseminate new research. Dr. Baker’s modeling contributions will focus on projecting terrestrial carbon stocks over different spatial and temporal scales and under a wide range of alternative future conditions using multi-model assessment techniques. Further, Dr. Baker will focus on policy design issues related to bioenergy expansion, international trade, and climate mitigation programs.

Title: A Citizen Science Internship Program to Quantify Racial and Economic Disparities in Lead Levels in Drinking Water Across North Carolina

PI: Cooper, Caren Beth
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Water Resources Research Institute
Amount Awarded: 17000

Title: Repellent Compounds for Deer Browse Control in Fraser Fir

PI: Whitehill, Justin
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Christmas Tree Association
Amount Awarded: 6000

Abstract: Christmas tree farms suffer extensive deer browse injury no matter tree size. Deer browse can lead to significant losses and increased costs of production. Existing strategies to deter deer browse on valuable Fraser fir production include hunting, temporary fencing, and chemical repellents. However, these methods provide only partial protection and eventually fail. Christmas tree growers need alternative strategies to overcome this persistent pest. A new product called Trico has been tested on Canadian Christmas tree farms and shown promise as a volatile deterrent to deer entering plantations. Another alternative control strategy is presented by the presence of volatile deer deterrents naturally occurring within the trees themselves. Observations of experimental trials suggest natural genetic variation among Abies species for deer browse preference. These differences appear to be driven by variation in the volatile profiles of terpenes emitted by the trees. To assist growers, we plan to evaluate the role that volatile chemicals play in deer browse preference and deterrence. To accomplish these goals we plan to: (1) test the efficacy of the newly identified product Trico compared to currently used products; and (2) characterize the natural genetic variation among of the volatile terpene profiles of eight different species including Fraser, Nordmann, Noble, Balsam, Concolor, Grand, Korean, and Turkish fir. Tests of Trico will be performed at 3 Christmas Fraser fir tree farms. Samples for terpene chemistry will be collected from a single timepoint in mid-October to establish a baseline of fir terpene chemistry. Terpene compounds will be evaluated at NC State University’s METRIC core analytical facility. Results of these experiments will provide new information that will help in the development of effective deer browse management strategies.

Title: Development of Near Real-Time Land Surface Phenology Product by Fusing Geostationary Satellite and VIIRS Observations in Support of Agriculture and Land Management

PI: Gray, Joshua Michael
Direct Sponsor Name: South Dakota State University
Amount Awarded: 20735

Abstract: This proposal responds to ROSES2019 A.33 (Earth Science Research from Operational Geostationary Satellite Systems), focusing on the development of high-spatial-and-temporal environmental data products from geostationary satellite observations. Specifically, we propose to develop and implement an operational near real-time land surface phenology (NRT-LSP) product in support of agriculture and forest management. The NRT-LSP product has the capability of providing near real-time monitoring and short-term prediction of vegetation phenology development. In this proposal, “near real-time monitoring” is referred to as the detection of phenological events occurring before the date of latest available satellite observation, and “short-term prediction” as the estimation of phenological events within next 10 days (10 days ahead) during a vegetation growing season. This product will be implemented at 500 m pixels, biweekly, and with a latency less than one week. LSP reflects an interaction between plant’s life-cycle events and environmental variables and is one of the simplest and most effective indicators of environmental change. Documenting LSP change supports efforts to reconstruct the historical environmental data record and to make predictions about biological responses to future environmental scenarios. To date, various LSP products have been produced annually and with latency greater than a year using polar-orbiting satellite datasets including AVHRR, MODIS, and VIIRS during the past several decades. Because of frequent cloud contaminations, it is infeasible to utilize these same techniques to detect LPS in near real time, or to forecast near-term phenological development at regional or global scales. Existing LSP data have been invaluable for retrospective analyses, but there would be great social, cultural, and economic value in a reduced latency LSP product. Such an NRT-LSP product would be particularly important in assisting farmers and agricultural agencies for predicting the optimum timing of cultivation practices, monitoring crop growth, and estimating crop yield; foresters for detecting disturbances related to forest pests, disease outbreaks, and species invasion; weather modelers for estimating surface energy balance in the numerical weather prediction models; and tourists for seeing spring wildflowers and fall foliage colors. Indeed, there is an urgent and substantial need to produce a near real-time LSP product. The high frequency of diurnal observations from geostationary satellites (GOES-16/17, Himawari-8/9, GEO-KOMPSAT-2A, and the upcoming EUMETSAT Meteosat Third Generation) maximizes the number of cloud-free views for creating a daily cloud-free trajectory of vegetation greenness. This offers a unique opportunity to generate an NRT-LSP product for quantifying the timing of key phenological transitions and vegetation growth conditions. This proposal describes a project that will operationally produce an NRT-LSP product at 500 m spatial resolution, with a biweekly update over the ABI full disk (North American and South America).

Title: Integrated Multisector, Multiscale Modeling (IM3) Science Focus Area, Phase 2

PI: Kern, Jordan
Direct Sponsor Name: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Amount Awarded: 127500

Abstract: The overarching goal of the proposed research tasks for the NCSU team in Phase 2 of IM3 is to help develop new, open source operational models of the U.S. bulk electric power system, one for each of the three regional interconnections: the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC); the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT); and the Eastern Interconnection (EIC). These models will then be used by NCSU and other members of the IM3 team to address the impacts of weather and water dynamics in the simulation of grid operations in Experiment Groups B and D as described in the IM3 Phase 2 proposal

Title: Southern Fire Exchange Refunding Proposal: Putting Fire Science on the Ground

PI: Roise, Joseph P.
Direct Sponsor Name: US Forest Service
Amount Awarded: 157310

Abstract: Throughout the last two years, the Southern Fire Exchange (SFE) has continued to build on the strong foundation of activities that we began implementing in 2010 to unite fire science and natural resource management in the Southeastern US. By focusing on interactive learning opportunities, such as field tours and workshops, we also made strides toward helping fire managers incorporate science into their decision making and management activities. SFE activities have been evaluated using several tools, including participant questionnaires after SFE events; discussion and feedback with Advisory Board (AB) members, the Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF) Fire Chiefs, and other key leaders; the national online survey; and webmetric data from the SFE website. The following summary brings together evaluation results from FY2013 to January 2020 to provide an overview of our activities, progress toward meeting outcomes, and challenges and lessons learned along the wa

Title: CNH2-l: The Coupled, Co-Evolving Roles of Drought and Electricity Systems in Humans’ Exposure to Air Pollution

PI: Kern, Jordan
Direct Sponsor Name: UNC – UNC Chapel Hill
Amount Awarded: 229814

Abstract: This project will develop an improved understanding of the coupled dynamics among the natural processes that underpin drought and poor air quality, the human systems that manage water resources and electricity supply, and localized human exposure to fine particulate matter and ozone pollution, all under the influence of two anthropogenic drivers: technology adoption and climate change.

Title: Informing a Risk Assessment Research Strategy for Gene Drive Agricultural Applications through Interdisciplinary Dialogue and Exchange

PI: Barnhill, Sarah Kathleen
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
Amount Awarded: 25000

Abstract: Technological advancements involving gene drive applications in agriculture are proceeding rapidly (e.g., use of Drosophila suzukii or Diaphorina citri that feed on soft-skinned and citrus fruits). At the same time, there are gaps in governance systems and challenges to acquiring underlying data for risk assessments. It is also important to couple risk assessments with studies on public perceptions and acceptance, heeding past lessons learned from ag-biotechnology (1), and enhance risk assessments through informed interdisciplinary engagement (2)(3)(4)(5). Interdisciplinary exchanges may also help ensure that responsible research and innovation is realized in the case of gene drive applications in agriculture. In essence, diverse and multi-stakeholder conversations should be conducted alongside research endeavors aimed to conduct risk assessments for gene drives. This conference proposal aims to inform risk assessment research strategies for gene drive agricultural applications through interdisciplinary dialogue and exchange with diverse experts.

Title: A Multi-Scale Decision Support Tool to Quantify Forest Benefits on Water Quantity and Quality in the Southern United States

PI: Martin, Katherine Lee
Direct Sponsor Name: US Forest Service
Amount Awarded: 331510

Abstract: Forests and water are inextricably linked, and people are dependent on forested lands to provide clean, reliable water supplies for drinking and to support local economies. As more than 90% of the forested land in the South is privately owned, water supplies in the region are at risk of degradation from continued fragmentation and conversion of forests to other land uses to support a growing population. Given the variety of threats to surface water, it will be increasingly important for forest managers to highlight the value of forests for maintaining clean and abundant supplies of drinking water in the region. A key component of maintaining this “green forest infrastructure” is ensuring that healthy forests are maintained on the landscape and managed using science-based sustainable forest management practices. Our objectives are to: 1) Develop a multi-scale modeling approach that is capable of quantifying forest water quantity and quality indicators, 2) Develop and provide and economic valuation of forest water related ecosystem services, and 3) Develop a public-facing web application that links water resource values to forests and forest management options.

Title: Mutated-Modeling and Understanding Using Temporal Analysis of Transient Earth Data

PI: Gray, Joshua Michael
Direct Sponsor Name: Accenture
Amount Awarded: 249516

Abstract: We propose to build a system producing near-realtime SMART datacubes for broad area search to identify candidate areas of change. The system can, then, isolate these areas of interest and create an enhanced SMART datacube around them – maximizing spatial resolution and temporal completeness – as needed. This architecture can be used for forensic analysis and change monitoring of current events with the possibility to tip-and-cue complementary future imagery products (e.g. through new tasking) to build such enhanced SMART datacube in operational settings. From this proposed research we envision an outcome that shall consist of a product that analyzes and screens over a broad area and is used to task and/or collect as much high resolution commercial imagery available or complementary imagery to do change detection, attribution and characterization (DAC) that can generate alerts for current events, as well as produce comprehensive forensic reports from completed activities or events. The broad area search will identify hotspots and will provide context on what data sources should be used to build the enhanced SMART datacube. We will conduct research to determine the optimal configuration of both near-realtime and enhanced SMART datacubes (e.g. optimal GSD for near-realtime and enhanced cubes, data sources to satisfy temporal requirements, number of spectral bands needed to detect change in large areas, etc.). Our data fusion framework shall support fusion of very diverse data sources (e.g. WorldView-1,2,3, Sentinel-2, Landsat, and other commercial providers) to conduct these experiments, as well as supporting consumption of new tasking.

Title: Environmental Justice for Future Leaders in Forestry and Environmental Resources

PI: Bryant, Jennifer Richmond
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
Amount Awarded: 262500

Abstract: Environmental justice (EJ) is an academic and a policy framework intended to help count the full societal costs of decisions about environmental management, food production, and other activities, including many within the purview of the US Department of Agriculture. However, scientists and other professionals in agriculture and natural resources rarely encounter EJ in their academic training. Fewer still have research experiences or hands-on training that centers on EJ. This project will recruit and mentor doctoral students who will gain a strong working knowledge EJ policy and its intersections with other areas of expertise within Forestry and Environmental Resources. Students will acquire research skills and leadership experiences related to implementation of EJ policies and analytical frameworks within their knowledge domains. The project will recruit students from diverse backgrounds, and especially those with demonstrable commitments to marginalized communities on whom EJ policies often center. To accomplish this, the project will take advantage of North Carolina State University’s critical mass of EJ scholars and existing partnerships with Tribes and community-based groups. Careful recruiting and mentoring will ensure that students are successful. Deep integration of EJ and related topics into curricula will ensure that students have a firm grasp of EJ that complements other academic work. Internships and specialized training will help students be prepared for future leadership. Benchmarks will assess success of the project, including the extent to which it advances the USDA goal of “increas(ing) the number, quality and diversity of students in the food, agricultural and related sciences.”

Title: Towards Global Flooding Dynamics in Near Real-time: A Multi-sensor Fusion Approach Based on Public Domain Time-series of Optical and Radar Data

PI: Tulbure, Mirela Gabriela
Direct Sponsor Name: National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
Amount Awarded: 230180

Abstract: Spatiotemporal quantification of surface water and flooding is essential for research on hydrological cycles. Satellite remote sensing is the only means of monitoring these dynamics across vast areas and over time. Several regional to global surface water data sets have been developed using optical time-series, either from MODIS-type sensors with coarse spatial resolution but daily frequency, or based on the entire Landsat archive. Despite its high spatial resolution, the 16-day repeat frequency of Landsat means that short-lived hazardous flooding and the maximum extent of large floods are likely missed. Meanwhile, spatially coarser MODIS-type sensors may miss small water bodies and floods entirely. In addition, two limitations when mapping inundation with optical data have been detecting water under vegetation and cloud obscuration, which often coincides with floods. Both issues can be overcome by fusing multiple optical with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, taking advantage of complementary observation properties including SAR’s ability to penetrate through clouds. Thus, combining observations and spectral properties of the newly available Sentinel 1 SAR (S1) and Sentinel 2 (S2) series of satellites with Landsat 8 (L8) holds promise for global surface water and flood mapping with improved spatial and temporal resolution and accuracy. To accurately capture maximum extent of all floods in near real time, our key objectives are to (1) map flooding dynamics globally, using machine learning applied to time-series of multi-sensor optical (L8, S2) and radar (S1) time series data, (2) assess the accuracy of the mapped flood extent, and (3) test the ability of our algorithms to map (a) ephemeral floods in a dynamic dryland river system (b) a complex delta including inundated vegetation in Western Canada (leveraging field validation data on extent of inundated vegetation collected during NASA’s Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment), (c) extreme flooding in North Carolina (during hurricanes in 2016, 2018 and 2019), and (d) small water bodies (< 5ha) in irrigated areas (i.e. Arkansas, the U.S. state with the 3rd largest irrigated area, where hundreds of small reservoirs have been constructed since 2015). We will use NASA’s 30m Harmonized L8/S2 (HLS) Products that seamlessly combine L8 and S2 observations, and S1 as input to machine learning-based mapping of surface water and flooding. As training data, we will use the freely available USGS Spatial Procedures for Automated Removal of Cloud and Shadow dataset, which contains “water” and “flooded” masks. We will further augment flood labels via active learning, by evaluating initial model results and adding labels on misclassified areas. To assess the accuracy of our flood maps we will use a stratified sampling design, with flooding and water as the rare classes used as strata to improve precision of the accuracy estimates. We will assess whether the increased temporal frequency resulting from multiple/fused data streams will result in improved detections of small and short-lived flooding events, and maximum extent of large floods compared to the use of L8, S2 or S1 alone over a dynamic dryland basin (i.e., Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin), and over small farm dams of Arkansas. To test the improved capacity of flood mapping when adding SAR to HLS during cloudy conditions we will focus on 3 hazardous floods in North Carolina. We will assess the ability of C-band S1 combined with optical image time series to detect water under vegetation in Canada’s Peace-Athabasca Delta, where detailed validation data will be available. This proposal is significant to this NASA solicitation as it will enable improved quantification of flood extent dynamics and water quantity. The algorithms and maps produced can be used for better mapping of floods during hazardous conditions and assessment of how changes in land cover and land use and climate impact surface water and flood dynamics.

Title: A Grid that’s Risk-Aware for Clean Electricity – GRACE

PI: Kern, Jordan
Direct Sponsor Name: Duke University
Amount Awarded: 228033

Abstract: We will develop a framework for characterizing the uncertainty on the performance of electric power system’s assets and for using that uncertainty characterization in the operations of electricity markets (including scheduling, dispatch, pricing,and settlement). We will focus on the uncertainty of bulk renewables (wind farms, solar PV farms, and hydropower) w/o energy storage systems, but will also consider smaller scale renewables in the system that are either directly participating in wholesale markets, or behind-the meter, impacting load.

Title: NC Sustainable Pellet Production for Poultry

PI: Ghezehei, Solomon Beyene
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Amount Awarded: 96459

Abstract: In North Carolina, poultry is the top agricultural industry with an economic impact of more than $37 billion, employing over 146,000 people. Although, the main heating fuel for poultry houses is propane, recent pilot studies in the state have shown that wood pellets may be a cheaper heating fuel. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that wood pellet-heated poultry houses also produce better chicken survival, health, and growth. Our goal is to comprehensively assess the technical and economic feasibility of producing pellets specifically for the poultry industry in the Western NC, where a great proportion of broiler and backyard poultry farms are located. As the economics of poultry farming is heavily dependent on mortality and overall growth/productivity of chicken, we will examine how wood pellet-based heating affects indoor air quality and health of the broiler chickens in the poultry houses. Our project results will demonstrate if this fuel is cost-effective and sustainable for poultry production to facilitate decision-making about poultry house fuel selection. Additionally, our project will generate information about potential income enhancements associated with pellet-based poultry heating.

Title: Southeast Center for Agriculture Health and Injury Prevention – PILOTS (formerly: Does Wood Pellet Heat Reduce Ammonia Exposures to Farmworkers in Poultry Houses?)

PI: Bryant, Jennifer Richmond
Direct Sponsor Name: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Amount Awarded: 12000

Abstract: The poultry industry has an economic impact of over $37 billion for the state of North Carolina, creating 146,125 jobs in the state as of 2017. However, ammonia exposure from chicken waste creates a respiratory hazard to those poultry farm workers. Recent efforts by NC State Extension and farm operations partners for sustainable improvements to poultry production have involved adoption of wood pellets to fuel furnaces in hen houses. This dry heat has been shown to improve broiler chicken survival, growth, and quality. Contemporaneously, farm operators and workers have shared anecdotes of reduced odors in hen houses using dry wood pellet heat. We hypothesize that lower humidity in wood pellet-heated hen houses results in less production of ammonium aerosols and hence in lower exposures for poultry farm workers. Initial screening by Carolina Land & Lakes Resource Conservation and Development supports this hypothesis, but more work is needed to demonstrate that the dry heat produced by wood pellet combustion, compared with more humid air found during propane combustion, leads to lower ammonium exposures. We propose to compare ammonia concentrations in sets of hen houses from different poultry farms in Western North Carolina that use wood pellet or propane heat but are otherwise identical. A combination of continuous and integrated ammonia detectors will be used for this pilot study. Anticipated follow-up work includes sampling a greater suite of air pollutants, capturing greater spatial and temporal resolution within the hen houses, and including both personal and area samplers of particulate matter, ammonia, and carbon dioxide in the hen houses.

Title: Talking About Gene Drive: An Exploration of Language to Enable Understanding and Deliberation of Africa, Europe, North America and Australasia

PI: Delborne, Jason Aaron
Direct Sponsor Name: University of Exeter
Amount Awarded: 16892

Abstract: Decisions involving the potential future use and governance of gene drive technology will require meaningful, empowered and culturally relevant dialogue among and between stakeholders and communities. However, gene drive is a complex science and stakeholders are already using language to advance their respective interests. Emerging empirical work suggests that the narratives, stories, metaphors and analogies used to talk about gene drive may be more important than technical vocabulary. We employ social representations theory to understand how people make sense of and communicate about gene drive through narratives, stories, metaphors and analogies.Through a comparative case study research design we map and understand the language and terminology used to explain gene drive across four case studies: Uganda, Australia, USA and UK. We use media analysis, interviews and focus groups to evaluate the utility of the different narratives, stories, metaphors and analogies and explore cultural differences in order to develop an independent and shared understanding of how to talk about gene drive.

Title: Can Strategic Riparian Buffers Improve Coastal Resilience to Changing Conditions in the Cape Fear River Watershed?

PI: Martin, Katherine Lee
Direct Sponsor Name: NCSU Sea Grant Program
Amount Awarded: 92784

Abstract: Riparian buffers have been used to protect water quality from human land uses for decades, and their impacts at local and stream reach segments are well established. What is not well understood is the scale and placement of riparian buffers required to improve water quality across regional scale watersheds, thus protecting coastal ecosystem health from upstream development and agricultural land uses, particularly in the context of changing land use and climate. The outcome goals of the Healthy Coastal Ecosystems focal area of North Carolina Sea Grant Strategic Plan emphasize the critical need for wholistic, watershed approaches that include upstream-downstream connectivity and the impacts of changing climate and land use on watershed health. Our project goal is to apply a human-natural systems watershed approach address critical gaps in scientific understanding that forward the outcomes of the Healthy Coastal Ecosystems Focal area 1. Identify the role that upstream land use change plays on downstream (coastal) water quality in the context of changing climate 2. Examine the role that riparian buffer protection policy might play in mitigating the impacts of climate and land use change on downstream, coastal water quality. We will test a central hypothesis that strategic buffers, those placed on local watersheds with the greatest extents of either developed or row crop agriculture with provide significant improvements to whole watershed health (stream flow flashiness, sediment and nutrients) as measured across sub-watersheds and at the coastal watershed outlet. We will compare the watershed health benefits of strategic buffers only in the Piedmont, urbanizing region of the Cape Fear River basin to the placement of buffers throughout the entire basin. We will analyze the effectiveness of strategic buffers to business as usual (no mandated buffers) as well as complete buffers (all streams). To ensure results of our project reach stakeholders, we will form a Stakeholder Advisory Board that will provide regular assessments of project success.

Title: Innovations in the Theory and Application of Models for Human and Natural Caused Disturbances in Forests

PI: Sills, Erin O.
Direct Sponsor Name: US Forest Service
Amount Awarded: 257711

Abstract: Existing expertise in disturbances in forests has improved our understanding, modeling, and forecasting of the future conditions and use of both US and global forests. These disturbances vary by region across the US, and by ecoregion globally, and include wildfire, harvesting, land use change, insect and disease outbreaks, and others. We focus on the first two of these disturbances because of the synergies known to exist between harvesting and wildfire in both the U.S. and Brazil. This will require cooperation of investigators from NCSU (Dr. Erin Sills and a postdoctoral scholar) and USFS Research and Development (Jeffrey Prestemon). This research will focus on (1) the impact of harvesting and wildfires on forest conditions, and the relationships between markets for timber and responses to forest disturbances, and (2) how climate and policy influence the expenditures made to prepare for and respond to forest disturbances, focusing on wildfire.

Title: LSU Superfund Research Center – Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals

PI: Bryant, Jennifer Richmond
Direct Sponsor Name: Louisiana State University
Amount Awarded: 357745

Abstract: This study addresses questions related to human exposure to environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs), a recently discovered class of pollutant species found at Superfund sites and formed during certain thermal treatment processes. It is unclear how long EPFRs persist when compared with other components of particulate matter (PM), and this research will provide information about the extent and duration of exposures nearby thermal treatment processes. This research will also provide information about exposure to EPFRs in homes and how concentrations of EPFRs correlate with noise and other co-stressors.

Title: A Comprehensive Strategy for Stable, High Productivity Cultivation of Microalgae with Controllable Biomass Composition

PI: Kern, Jordan
Direct Sponsor Name: UNC – UNC Chapel Hill
Amount Awarded: 33197

Abstract: Primary objective is to co-advise a graduate student at UNC Chapel Hill in the development of Life Cycle Analysis and Techno-economic Analysis models of algal biofuel facilities, particularly considering uncertainty in environmental and market-based processes. The system design and plant operations of modeled facilities will be simulated using an existing Matlab model that represents alternative system configurations, project finance, plant operations (cultivation, harvesting and downstream conversion), discounted cashflow analysis and life cycle measures of environmental and financial sustainability. Key project goals include investigation of the impacts of high pH and high alkalinity growth on system energy requirements, culture stability, and overall economic competitiveness

Title: Collaborative Proposal: Combining NEON and Remotely Sensed Habitats to Determine Climate Impacts on Community Dynamics.

PI: Kays, Roland W.
Direct Sponsor Name: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Amount Awarded: 240000

Abstract: This project will create biodiversity models for the abundance of organisms using data from the NEON system and the GJAM statistical models developed by colleagues at Duke University. We will focus on mammal and insect systems expected to be driven by variation in seed mast by trees. We will combine existing NEON data on plants, insects, and small mammals with new data on seed production and medium-large mammals.

Title: Embedded Assessment and Innovation Adoption for SciStarter 2.0: Understanding Participant Dynamics and Outcomes in a Landscape of Citizen Science Projects

PI: Cooper, Caren Beth
Direct Sponsor Name: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Amount Awarded: 868885

Abstract: The goal of this proposed Research in Service to Practice proposal is to develop evidence-based principles to guide citizen science project owners in the coordinated management of project participants within the SciStarter landscape. SciStarter is a repository of over 1,500 citizen science projects. Through an AISL-Pathways award, the researchers developed SciStarter 2.0 tools which can be used to study and coordinate recruitment and retention strategies across projects. Coordinated management has the potential to deepen volunteer learning and growth and benefit project goals because it can address across-project skew, evolving motivations, seasonal gaps, untapped synergies across projects, and other unanticipated factors that cannot be addressed via management within project silos. The researchers designed SciStarter for embedded tracking of participation dynamics in a landscape of projects. They propose to expand embedded assessment to measure scientific, learning, and conservation outcomes and their links to participation dynamics within and across projects. Through social network analysis, they will describe patterns of bridges, ties, and distances among projects based on the cross-over of participants. They also propose qualitative research to understand project managers? perceptions of SciStarter and the costs and benefits of coordinated management of citizen scientists. Ultimately, the proposed study will lead to guidance to create synergies and mutually beneficial outcomes among projects by broader adoption of the newly developed SciStarter 2.0 tools.

Title: CAREER: Trajectories of Ecosystem Recovery in Coastal Wetlands under a Changing Climate: Connecting the Dots with Student Research, Citizen Science and Classroom Data

PI: Ardon Sayao, Marcelo
Direct Sponsor Name: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Amount Awarded: 595591

Abstract: Altered hydrologic regimes in the lower Roanoke River (RR) on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina have caused artificially extended seasonal floods in riparian bottomland hardwood (BLH) forested wetlands over the last 70 years. These altered flows are largely due to dam construction and management, and have replaced previously flashy hydrology. It is expected that extended flooding duration has caused shifts in BLH forest composition and loss of biodiversity in the RR basin, including widespread mortality, and transitions from mature forests to an alternative shrub-dominated state. Our primary goal for the proposed research is to assess the long-term compositional changes in bottomland forest ecosystems in the Roanoke River floodplains caused by increasingly persistent and frequent flooding events prior to 2016.

Title: SOFAC Administrative Account

PI: Baker, Justin Scott
Direct Sponsor Name: Southern Forest Resource Assessment Consortium (SOFAC)
Amount Awarded: 170512

Abstract: The Southern Forest Resource Assessment Consortium (SOFAC) will develop forest sector market models for application to forest resource assessments in the South, U.S., and the World. SOFAC will integrate currently available forest resource data from the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program and economic theory to model timber supply and demand in the South by local area. SOFAC economic models will allow use of exogenous or endogenous inputs about supply, demand, land use change, and landowner behavior in the analysis of timber and forest land markets and management. SOFAC modelers and members will be able to use the SOFAC suite of models and research to simultaneously project timber inventory, supply, and prices for a variety of regions and a variety of timber products across the South, the U.S., and the World. SOFAC will foster discussion among modelers and members about the appropriate inputs and assumptions in forest projection models and employ these in building timber supply models and timber supply scenarios that represent likely conditions. SOFAC will continue cooperative university-industry-public agency cooperation in southern and national forest sector economic modeling. SOFAC will enhance graduate instruction in forest economics and modeling in the South.

Title: Energy, Biomass and Carbon Project, SOFAC Core research project

PI: Baker, Justin Scott
Direct Sponsor Name: Southern Forest Resource Assessment Consortium (SOFAC)
Amount Awarded: 1352686

Title: Alternative Management Options for Destruction of ALB Infested Trees

PI: Oten, Kelly Lynn Felderhoff
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS)
Amount Awarded: 70480

Abstract: This is for a second year of funding on a current project. The overall goal of this project is to provide the USDA-APHIS ALB program with alternative management options when cut, remove, and chip is not logistically feasible or environmentally responsible.

Title: Southern Blue Ridge Prescribed Burn Association

PI: Fawcett, Jennifer L
Direct Sponsor Name: Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society
Amount Awarded: 10000

Abstract: This project will increase capacity for prescribed fire and wildfire risk reduction on private forests and rural communities in the Southern Blue Ridge (SBR) region of western North Carolina (NC) by engaging private landowners and coordinating a prescribed burn association (PBA). The SBR-PBA will decrease barriers to private lands burning to restore fire-adapted ecosystems and improve community resilience.

Title: Economic Contribution of Urban Forestry in California in 2019

PI: Parajuli, Rajan
Direct Sponsor Name: California ReLeaf
Amount Awarded: 150000

Abstract: This project will involve conducting an economic contribution analysis of the urban and community forest industries in CA and selected regions in CA.

Title: Lessons for the Recovery: Evaluating the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Forest-based Rural Economy in the Southern United States

PI: Parajuli, Rajan
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
Amount Awarded: 648004

Abstract: The United States (U.S.) South, 13 southeastern states from Virginia to Texas, has approximately 245 million acres of forestland, covering about 46% of the total land use. Forestry operations, logging, and wood-based manufacturing industries are vital to the rural economy, as the forest product industry is one of the top employers among all manufacturing industries in rural counties. Since early 2020, every sector of the economy throughout the world has grappled with the global COVID-19 Pandemic, and forestry and forest product industry are no exception. The overall goal of this project is to evaluate the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on forestry and forest product industry in the U.S. South, and identify, develop, and disseminate the strategies to revitalize the southern forest-based rural economy in the post-pandemic era. The specific objectives are to: 1) evaluate the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on roundwood markets, forest landowners, and forest management in the U.S. South; 2) examine the impacts of the pandemic on forest-based employment and workforce involved in the forestry supply chain in rural southern states; 3) investigate the pandemic impacts on the forest product industry including their corporate social responsibility contribution during the pandemic; and 4) develop and deliver an Extension program in the post-pandemic forest management strategies and rural economic development to promote rural prosperity in forested counties in the U.S. South. Understanding the Pandemic impacts on the forest sector and exploring the possible forest management strategies in the post-pandemic era could help develop public policies and revitalize the forest-based rural county economies in the southern states.

Title: Expanding Prescribed Fire Delivery to Restore Southeast Forests (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA)

PI: Bardon, Robert E.
Direct Sponsor Name: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
Amount Awarded: 180000

Abstract: The Southeast Prescribed Fire Initiative will occur in priority areas across all 13 Southern states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Priority habitats will include longleaf pine, shortleaf pine and other fire adapted ecosystems in the Southern region, and priority locations include, but are not limited to, Longleaf Implementation Team (LIT) priority areas and Sentinel Landscapes. The project purpose is to implement the Comprehensive Strategy for Prescribed Fire (which is a comprehensive, regional strategy for increasing prescribed burning in the Southeast), thus ultimately helping to increase the use of prescribed fire across the Southeast. The Strategy represents a consensus among representatives of federal and state agencies (including the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Defense, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and state forestry and wildlife agencies), non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector; therefore, these groups will be the primary partners for this project. Major activities will include continued coordination of the SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Working Group, and implementation of several action items within the Prescribed Fire Strategy such as “Learn & Burn” field days for private landowners, and support and promotion of Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) and “Fire Festivals.” Outcomes include increased use of and support for prescribed fire.

Title: Equipping Cooperative Extension Professionals to Better Meet Community Wildland Fire Needs

PI: Fawcett, Jennifer L
Direct Sponsor Name: University of Florida
Amount Awarded: 24436

Abstract: The Southeast leads the nation in applying prescribed fire to millions of acres each year, much of which is on private lands. The Southeast also has the most land area in the Wildland Urban Interface, putting numerous communities at risk from wildfire. Prescribed fire helps lower the risk of catastrophic wildfires and promotes ecosystem services in fire-dependent landscapes. However, climate change, growing populations, and development are increasingly complicating the use of prescribed fire to accomplish these objectives. Surveys of Extension professionals indicate wildland fire information is a pressing need. Given these circumstances, Extension professionals must be prepared to serve constituents’ needs related to wildland fire. This can be challenging, particularly when Extension professionals’ primary responsibilities and expertise lie elsewhere. Moreover, Extension professionals’ needs relative to wildland fire can vary greatly according to the objectives and needs of constituents. This project will equip Southern Extension professionals to understand and serve constituents’ needs related to wildland fire and connect them to local professionals that can offer more expertise. An online course will be developed, that will address needs identified in a previously conducted needs assessment and based on the expertise of the authors. In addition, training programs will be held in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, at a minimum, to facilitate networking between Extension professionals and local wildland fire experts and reinforce concepts related to wildland fire, and Extension professionals will be enabled to assist with the creation of community-based Prescribed Burn Associations. Since the need for Extension to address wildland fire issues spans the nation, this project will be replicable in other states and regions.

Title: Comprehensive Christmas Tree Management Using Drones

PI: Owen, Jeffrey H.
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Amount Awarded: 122800

Abstract: Christmas tree growers are keenly interested in the potential of new technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, also known as drones) with the potential to complete tasks more efficiently and with less cost. This project will establish methods to remotely measure and inventory trees with the use of drones; will test the sensitivity of specific spectral indices to provide an indication of plant stress, pest infestation, or disease; will develop algorithms which can distinguish trees influenced by pests and pathogens from their healthy neighbors; and will assess pest presence using multispectral imagery obtained by drones. Experimental tests of an agricultural spray drone will be conducted in Christmas trees in comparison to conventional sprayers. Educational materials will be developed and used to transfer technology to Christmas tree growers. This project will rely on UAV equipment acquired through a Christmas Tree Promotion Board research grant. This project brings together foundational knowledge of Christmas tree production and unmanned aerial systems expertise from the Center for Geospatial Analytics at NC State University.

Title: Coordination of the SENTINEL Partnership (North Carolina Military Affairs Commission 2018-19 NCSU Project)

PI: Bardon, Robert E.
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Amount Awarded: 160000

Abstract: The U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense, and the Interior formalized the NC Sentinel Landscape Partnership (here-after Partnership) to better serve where working and natural lands converge with national defense facilities. Decidedly, the Partnership can leverage collective resources and expertise to accomplish shared on-the-ground goals where priorities overlap. To accelerate progress meeting technical and process goals, and increase the capacity and legacy of the NC Sentinel Landscape Partnership (NC SLP), NC State University is requesting $40,000 to assist in continued coordination of major Partnership goals that will link military readiness, conservation, and working lands. The Partnership is expanding outreach, opportunities, and recognition to landowners in 33 counties, including the addition of a landowner advisory committee; is working to reduce land-use conflicts and natural resource issues around military installations through its High Priority Program; and accelerating the conservation and protection of natural resources and restoration of important habitat for wildlife.

Title: Advancing the Capacity of the North Carolina Sentinel Landscape Partnership

PI: Bardon, Robert E.
Direct Sponsor Name: US Endowment for Forestry & Communities, Inc.
Amount Awarded: 150000

Abstract: The NCSLP is in its 13th year of operation, formally since 2016 and prior to 2016 as core group of the Partnership that began to amplify its vision, mission, and implement signature projects that the NCSLP has uniquely done. This proposal is requesting financial support to bolster the NCSLP’s continued efforts that are focused on the ENCSL. The NCSLP is working to protect the military mission in North Carolina, its forested and agriculture working lands, and its natural and water resources by minimizing the impact of encroachment and incompatible land uses that effect both the military and surrounding communities. By fully implementing the Sentinel Landscape program in North Carolina the NCSLP will achieve multiple benefits that allow North Carolina to be more effective.

Title: Intercropping POPULUS for Bioenergy and Veneer

PI: Hazel, Dennis W.
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Amount Awarded: 132512

Abstract: Producing feedstocks for bioenergy remains a national long-term priority. The congressionally-mandated Renewable Fuel Standard remains in effect and targets will increase with time. Many states have Renewable Portfolio Standards while the European Union increasingly is relying on the U.S. for feedstocks to support their energy and carbon policies. With low feedstock prices and high costs of establishment and production for purpose-grown energy crops, few landowners will engage in production until the enterprise is more profitable. We believe that using a modified short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) system, a high-value Populus veneer can be co-produced with energy feedstocks in North Carolina with little yield loss for feedstocks by growing high biomass-yield clones selected for the specific site based on our research with clones selected for veneer. Columbia Forest Products Inc. has expressed great interest in using Populus logs for veneer production following the outcome of processing Populus logs for veneer at their Old Fort facility in North Carolina. We propose to evaluate the efficacy of the hybrid feedstock/veneer SRWC system and evaluate the potential landowner incomes and investment quality using our established plantations, the enterprise budget and decision tool already developed, and the Populus productivity model (3PG) under development for North Carolina. We will screen and evaluate available clones for biomass yield and potential for veneer, determine optimum spacing and rotation regimes for the modified SRWC system to maximized economic returns and conduct investment quality analyses of such projects for North Carolina.

Title: NCSentinel Landscape Resource Programming

PI: Bardon, Robert E.
Direct Sponsor Name: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit – Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast
Amount Awarded: 352307

Abstract: This proposal allows for the North Carolina Sentinel Landscape Program Partnership (SLPP) to continue its effort to ensure that readiness, training viability, cost-effective policies, and the US Marine Corps mission are facilitated through sustained use of working lands and natural resources. The SLPP have been working for more than six years, providing for the programmatic institutionalization and enhancement of compatible natural resource use in support of military readiness and at the same time enhancing the maintenance and improvement of natural resources, including agriculture and forestry lands (i.e., working lands). The SLPP continues to collaborate on a forward-looking, proactive program to sustain the landscape needed for a healthy economy, a healthy environment, a healthy military, and healthy communities in eastern North Carolina and beyond. The SLPP works in the public interest to advance national defense, conservation and working lands in North Carolina simultaneously to ensure that development or use of land, water, and/or air resources remains compatible with military missions. With around 90% of the land in North Carolina privately owned, the SLPP realizes that they cannot succeed unless it offers options and incentives that link the interests of the rural, private landowner with the national defense mission and conservation goals. The Partnership understands that landowners need and deserve to have additional economic opportunities for the good they do to advance society’s long-term well-being by supporting national defense and conservation.

Title: Improving Support for Regional Conservation Efforts in the SEAFWA Region

PI: Peterson, Nils
Direct Sponsor Name: US Geological Survey (USGS)
Amount Awarded: 56046

Abstract: Achieving the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS) goal of a 10% improvement in health, function, and connectivity in southeastern ecosystems by 2060 requires regional conservation efforts. Regional science based conservation partnerships are critical for AFWA goals (e.g., President’s task force report), national responses to SWAP revisions (Mawdsley et al., 2020), tackling the 30×30 initiative (Stein et al., 2021), and responding to climate change (Lackstrom et al., 2018). We propose addressing the primary gap in knowledge around viability of regional responses to wildlife conservation initiatives by surveying state agency leadership (at the division chief level) and field biologists from across the SEAFWA states. We will address several questions. First, we will measure which elements of wildlife conservation respondents are willing to engage in at a regional level and how much they are willing to push for a regional response to each element (Objective 1). The ten elements to be assessed include the eight required elements of the 2025 SWAPs as well as the 30×30 initiative and climate change adaptation. The SWAP elements, however, may be collapsed into a smaller set based on feedback from the project advisory board (e.g., planning for adaptive management and coordinating among stakeholders could be merged). Second, we will ask respondents what assistance is most valuable for developing regional responses (Objective 2). Third, we will ask participants to list perceived costs (e.g., interfering with long term data collection for indices) and benefits (e.g., leveraging resources across state borders) associated with regional planning for each element (Objective 3).

Title: Unearthing interacting nontuberculous mycobacterial, environmental, and host determinants of lung Disease in the Hawaiian Islands

PI: Pacifici, Jamian
Direct Sponsor Name: National Jewish Health
Amount Awarded: 156570

Abstract: The main objectives of this proposal are to fill current gaps in knowledge of nontuberculous mycobacteria ecology and disease transmission using the Hawaiian Islands as a model to understand the critical factors that influence how NTM inhabiting water and soil environments become infectious agents responsible for a recalcitrant lung disease. The specific aims of this proposal are to 1) conduct island-wide environmental sampling and use genomic profiling, soil and water analyses, and climate data to survey the environmental and epidemiological factors associated with the frequency and diversity of NTM in Hawaii) conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis of matched Hawaiian environmental and clinical NTM isolates to identify species of NTM and to link environmental influences and patient behavior with prevalence of NTM infection; and 3) build a predictive model of NTM transmission to understand disease dynamics in the Hawaiian Islands. This model may then be used to study these bacteria and associated lung disease with results that are likely generalizable to other areas of the world.

Title: Investigating Northern Bobwhite Population Demographics and Habitat Selection in the Longleaf-Wiregrass Ecosystem

PI: Moorman, Christopher E.
Direct Sponsor Name: US Geological Survey (USGS)
Amount Awarded: 277510

Abstract: Since the 1960s, northern bobwhite have declined range wide, but most dramatically in the southeastern United States. Declines occurred in large part because of fire suppression, so application of prescribed fire has been used as a restoration too. Historically, prescribed fire primarily was conducted during the winter; however, natural fires occurred most often during late spring and summer, coinciding with the season of lightning storms. Frequent, growing-season fires reduce woody cover and increase dense herbaceous ground cover, which provides nesting and brooding cover for bobwhite. Nevertheless, recent shifts to burning during the growing season to restore historical conditions maintained by frequent fires have raised concerns that ground-nesting birds, such as northern bobwhite, may be threatened by nest destruction during prescribed fires. Additionally, burning large blocks of habitat during the spring and early summer (i.e., growing-season burn) could temporarily reduce bobwhite nest cover, destroy active bobwhite nests, or kill young chicks. We propose a study of northern bobwhite ecology in a longleaf pine ecosystem managed with frequent growing-season prescribed fire. We will capture and attach radio-transmitters to individuals during the late winter months and track birds to quantify habitat use and to locate nests. Our specific objectives are to: 1) determine home range size and movement ecology during late winter and during the breeding season; 2) describe habitat selection as it is related to prescribed fire history and identify environmental predictors (e.g., basal area, ground cover conditions, proximity to drainage) of habitat selection; and 3) describe nest-site selection, overall nest success, and sources of individual nest mortality, including prescribed fire.

Title: Conservation Adaption Planning for Landscape and Climate Changes in the Southeast

PI: Peterson, Nils
Direct Sponsor Name: US Geological Survey (USGS)
Amount Awarded: 978783

Abstract: Broadly stated, our team proposes to engage regularly with these conservation decision makers in the region around four main activity areas. First, we will develop a report which reviews and summarizes objectives, goals, and management actions in relevant federal, state, and local plans as well as other key strategy documents guiding decisions on SE species, priority ecosystems, and landscape scale systems. Second, this report will provide background for analysis of expected climate and land change impacts on objectives and goals, recognizing that biogeophysical changes will present different types of challenges. This broad analysis will be complemented by more focused analyses of impacts on a limited number of key species and priority ecosystems. While our final selection of specific species will be based on interviews with regional conservation managers and scientists and analyses of existing management plans, we have tentatively identified long leaf pine forests, freshwater wetlands and rivers, and coastal wetlands as important ecosystems that are both sensitive to climate change and landscape transformation while also being of broad interest to states in the study region. Third, the development and review of the report and impact analyses will also provide a basis for multiple forms of engagement with regional decision makers in a dialogue to reexamine and reformulate conservation principles and propositions actionable in their decision processes. Fourth, the report and all documents reviewed together with visualizations of anticipated change will be placed in a section of the SE CSC Global Forum Website for open, one-stop access.

Title: Sycamore: Sustainable Bioenergy-Improved Soil Health 2021-2022

PI: King, John S
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Amount Awarded: 99423

Abstract: Research supported by NCBRI has shown American sycamore to be especially well-suited to short-rotation woody coppice culture (SRWC) for bioenergy; it is productive with low inputs, resilient to biotic and abiotic stress, establishes well, and can be coppiced indefinitely. The goals of this new phase are to integrate knowledge of sycamore ecophysiology into conventional agricultural systems with the help of local farmers, forge relationships between major bioenergy constituencies in eastern NC, and create extension platforms that reach across the state. To do this, we will: 1) establish new sycamore bioenergy field trials on operational farms in proximity to existing Enviva wood pellet mills; 2) conduct mail surveys of constituencies across the state to gather data on perceived barriers and incentives to adoption of bioenergy cropping; 3) conduct outreach activities, including small group meetings, field tours, mill tours and annual field days to forge relationships and transfer technology, based on field trials and survey results; 4) perform an economic analysis comparing integrated agriculture-sycamore bioenergy SRWC to conventional agriculture (corn/soybeans) to assess market competitiveness; and 5) work with NCDA&CS/Commissioner Troxler/NCBRI to see if the legislature can be persuaded to consider support for (sycamore) bioenergy SRWC in the next NC Farm Bill.

Title: Rapid Resistance Phenotyping and Landscape Risk Prediction Modeling of Fusiform Rust Disease Incidence of Loblolly Pine

PI: Isik, Fikret
Direct Sponsor Name: University of Georgia
Amount Awarded: 4000

Abstract: We will develop two tools for the selection and deployment of loblolly pine genotypes resistant to fusiform rust: 1) a tree level portable spectral sensing device for rapid resistance selection, and 2) a landscape level risk prediction model using machine learning to forecast susceptible areas to the disease in the Southeast in response to soil, climatic conditions, management regime and genetics

Title: Loblolly Pine Biomass Genetics/Cropping Study (2019-2020)

PI: McKeand, Steven E.
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Amount Awarded: 127993

Abstract: Loblolly pine is the most abundant commercially grown tree species in North Carolina with over 100,000 acres of pine plantations established each year in the state. In addition to the conventional forest products industry, loblolly pine serves as a promising source for renewable energy in the form of woody biomass. Large genetic differences exist for growth, disease resistance, and stem form. By planting genetically superior trees with desirable traits, it may be possible to substantially increase the amount and quality of biomass produced at a given site. The goal of this project is to evaluate different planting stock (families) in combination with different thinning regimes in order to inform forest landowners how best to maximize their returns when supplying both the bioenergy and sawtimber markets. This project was initiated in 2012, with the planting of a high spacing density (1037 trees/acre) long-term field trial in the NC Piedmont. The trial includes 10 of the best Coastal and 10 of the best Piedmont families with varying degrees of adaptation, growth, and wood characteristics. Different thinning regimes will be explored using eight year measurements, and the predicted financial returns from the thinnings as well as projected sawtimber production will be evaluated.

Title: Identifying Functional Variation In Complex Plant Genomes

PI: Whetten, Ross W.
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
Amount Awarded: 490000

Abstract: Plant breeding is beginning to incorporate new tools based on genomic resources and methods, although the rate of availability and adoption of new tools and resources varies from species to species. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), the most-planted timber crop species in the United States, now has a draft sequence assembly of the 23-billion-basepair genome, and researchers are actively seeking ways to exploit this resource for purposes of applied breeding. The objective of this proposal is to test the hypothesis that specific regions of the pine genome are enriched in sequence variants that affect phenotype, and therefore have practical value for applied pine breeding purposes. A variety of methods will be used to add value to the current draft assembly, with the goal of creating a more useful resource for pine breeders to use in increasing the productivity and adaptability of loblolly pine. Preliminary data showing the feasibility of each of these methods in loblolly pine are available. The same or similar methods could be applied to other agricultural species, so benefits of this research will extend to crop and livestock breeders.

Title: Long-term Phosphorus Carryover in Loblolly Pine Plantations

PI: Cook, Rachel
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
Amount Awarded: 649912

Abstract: We will investigate the carryover effects of P fertilization on loblolly pine plantations and the effects on the soil microbial community.

Title: Loblolly Pine Biomass and Economic Analysis

PI: Cook, Rachel
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Amount Awarded: 35842

Abstract: Loblolly pine can provide an excellent source of bioenergy in the Southeast. Optimizing the production of bioenergy can be accomplished through management practices such as stand density, silviculture, and appropriate genetics, however long-term trials are necessary to evaluate interactions among treatments and timing of peak biomass accumulation. Additionally, economical analysis is required to determine which combination of treatments optimizes not just the biological production of biomass but also results in the best return on investment. The “correct” combination of treatments will vary by site depending what resources are limiting, the cost of seedling genetics, and the number of trees planted per acre. We will evaluate the effects of silviculture, genetics (clones, controlled pollinated, and open pollinated families), and stand density on the production of biomass for bioenergy on two typical sites, one on a poorly drained site in the coastal plain and one on a well drained site in the Piedmont. Long-term and continued biomass harvesting of these treatments will help determine the optimal rotation length given different treatment scenarios. Economical analysis of each combination of treatments will provide landowners with information necessary to determine which scenario works best given local costs and market conditions.

Title: I/UCRC Phase III North Carolina State University Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (CAFS)

PI: Cook, Rachel
Direct Sponsor Name: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Amount Awarded: 418357

Abstract: The Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (CAFS) is a multi-university collaborative in Year 2 of Phase III of support under the NSF IUCRC program. The universities in CAFS, including North Carolina State University (NCSU), partner with forest business sector members to coordinate research relevant to forest management across the nation’s major timber producing regions. CAFS has the opportunity to further its educational scope with partners at two-year Institutions of Higher Education (2-yr IHE) through Skills Training in Advanced Research & Technology (START). Internships to build forestry-related professional skills will be developed in conjunction with Montgomery Community College, which offers a technical curriculum in Forest Management and Technology in an important timber producing region of North Carolina.

Title: Elongate Hemlock Scale and Fraser Fir

PI: Jetton, Robert M
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Amount Awarded: 122800

Abstract: The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University will conduct field, greenhouse and laboratory studies to improve our understanding of the ecology and management of the exotic insect pest Elongate Hemlock Scale in Fraser fir Christmas trees, one of North Carolina’s most important specialty crops. Although the scale typically causes little damage to Fraser fir, its presence on Christmas trees represents an important pathway by which this insect can spread to new areas where more susceptible host species might exist. When detected on Christmas trees entering states where the scale is not yet present, local regulatory agencies intercept and destroy the infested material. This causes detriment to the revenues and reputation of North Carolina’s Christmas tree industry. The results of this research will inform management recommendations to growers for reducing scale infestations and limiting the risk of future spread via infested Fraser fir. Outcomes will be reported to stakeholders through presentations at the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association (NCCTA), articles in Limbs and Needles (the official trade magazine of the NCCTA), and papers published in the scientific literature.

Title: Target-tree Release to Improve the Sustainability of Eastern Hemlock in the Southern Appalachian Mountains

PI: Jetton, Robert M
Direct Sponsor Name: US Forest Service
Amount Awarded: 225237

Abstract: This project will develop and validate a silvicultural tool that improves the health and sustainability of eastern hemlock, an ecologically keystone species in the southern Appalachians threatened by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). Individual or small clusters of ‘target’ trees (i.e., suppressed or intermediate eastern hemlocks with moderate to good crown health) will be released by removing or girdling other stems competing for sunlight directly above and adjacent to the target trees. Increased sunlight is expected to improve hemlock crown health via improved carbon balance, enhanced foliage production, and reduced HWA settlement rates relative to unreleased trees. Treatments will be replicated at a number southern Appalachian sites and will evaluate release by girdling vs. felling and variations on the size of the resulting canopy gap. Operationally, the tool is expected to prolong hemlock health and survival and increase the efficacy of existing HWA management tools (e.g. biological and chemical control) when integrated with them.

Title: Genetic Resource Conservation of Threatened and Endangered Tree Species in the Eastern United States

PI: Jetton, Robert M
Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service
Amount Awarded: 146000

Abstract: The eastern United States is home to some of the most biologically diverse temperate forests in the world that provide a number of ecosystem services including clean air and water, carbon storage, recreational opportunities, and wood and fiber to feed a growing population’s need for solid wood and paper products. These critical forest ecosystems are anchored by more than 140 tree species, many of which are threatened by natural and human-caused disturbances including native and exotic insects, diseases, invasive plants, tropical weather systems, wildland fire, development, fragmentation, and climate change (per Forest Tree Genetic Risk Assessment System, Potter and Crane, 2010). As tree populations begin to decline, dynamic approaches to ex situ genetic resource conservation are necessary to secure seed resources for long-term preservation and the eventual restoration of the species and ecosystems. The knowledge gained and materials produced through this agreement will further the mission of the U.S. Forest Service R8 National Forest System Genetic Resource Management Program. It will help to further support the ecosystem health, diversity, sustainability, and productivity philosophy espoused by the U.S. Forest Service. And further, will contribute seed for the restoration of disturbed or degraded forests throughout the eastern United States. The Cooperator will benefit through the strengthening of its genetic resource conservation program, the production of new scientific knowledge, the generation of technical and peer-reviewed publications, and training and education opportunities for students. The objectives accomplished through this agreement will demonstrate that the U.S. Forest Service and Camcore/N.C. State University are leaders in the field of genetic resource conservation of threatened and endangered tree species.

Title: Genetic Understanding of HWA-Susceptibility in Hemlocks

PI: Wang, Jack
Direct Sponsor Name: NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Amount Awarded: 125000

Abstract: This project will be a collaboration between the Forest Biotechnology Group in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources and the Forest Restoration Alliance in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University. We propose a integrative approach to understanding the genetic response to hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) infestation in susceptible and resistant hemlock species, and how these genetic regulations are transduced to alterations in phenotypic traits associated with HWA susceptibility. The proposed project builds upon ongoing research in developing a CRISPR genome editing system for hemlocks funded by the SCBGP in 2020-21. Comparative transcriptomics and phenomics of hemlock variants with varying extent of HWA susceptibility will produce genetic insights that facilitate identification of candidate gene targets for editing using CRISPR-Cas to enhance HWA resistance. This project will focus on four key objectives: (1) controlled HWA infestation in putatively susceptible and resistant genotypes of hemlock species, (2) assessment of phenotypic response to infestation in hemlocks, (3) full transcriptomic analysis of hemlock response to HWA infestation, and (4) integration of transcriptomic and phenotypic responses to identify putative gene targets associated with HWA resistance. The putative genes identified in this project will be targeted for hemlock genome editing in a subsequent research that is beyond the scope of this project period.