Sustainable management of unused eastern redcedar: An integrated spatial and economic analysis approach

Abstract

The changes in native forest and grassland management regimes following European settlement, particularly fire exclusion, have prompted the growth of fire intolerant woody tree species such as eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana). Eastern redcedar is a native species that has encroached into the prairies and forests of the southern Great Plains of the United States. Over the past few decades, the state of Oklahoma has witnessed considerable ecological and economic losses due to the widespread encroachment of eastern redcedar. This study performed an economic impact analysis in conjunction with a spatial analysis to understand the impacts of the introduction of new eastern redcedar-based bioproducts industries on the economy of Oklahoma. The results suggested that the new eastern redcedar industry manufacturing particleboard, mulch, and oil would contribute an additional USD 96 million per year to the economy of Oklahoma, while generating 319 employment opportunities. In addition, the spatial analysis identified two hotspot clusters suggesting that the existing biomass in the northwest and southeast counties of the state could sustain the bioproducts industry for two to ten decades based on the annual feedstock requirement of different operations.