Brian Richardson

Bio: Brian Richardson is an academic researcher from Scion. The author has contributed to research in topics: Pinus radiata & Weed. The author has an hindex of 21, co-authored 56 publications receiving 1479 citations. Previous affiliations of Brian Richardson include Forest Research Institute.

The role of vegetation management for enhancing productivity of the world's forests

Abstract: The management of competing vegetation has evolved with forest management over the past half century and is now an integral part of modern forestry practice in many parts of the world. Vegetation management, primarily using herbicides, has proven especially important in the establishment of high-yield forest plantations. There has been a substantial amount of research quantifying the wood yield gains from the management of competing vegetation over the past few decades. We reviewed results from 60 of the longest-term studies in North America (Canada and US), South Africa, South America (Brazil) and New Zealand/Australia. About three-quarters of the studies reported 30-500 per cent increases in wood volume from the most effective vegetation treatments. In North America, where the longest-term studies for a variety of tree species were between 10 and 35 years old (or from 20-100 per cent of rotation age), gains in wood volume ranged from 4-11 800 per cent in Pacific north-western forests, 14-5840 per cent in the south-eastern forests, and 49-5478 per cent in northern forests. In South Africa and South America (Brazil), several full-rotation (6-8 years) studies with eucalyptus indicate 29-122 per cent and 10-179 per cent increases in wood volume yield, respectively, from effective vegetation management. In New Zealand, time gains of 1 to 4 years from early vegetation control in radiata pine plantations translated into 7-27 per cent increases in wood volume yield over a 25- to 30-year rotation.

Sorption of the herbicide terbuthylazine in two New Zealand forest soils amended with biosolids and biochars

Abstract: Terbuthylazine is one of the most commonly used herbicides for vegetation management in forest plantations in New Zealand. Knowledge about the sorption of terbuthylazine on forest soils, especially the influence of coexisting organic amendments, remains obscure. In this study, we evaluated the effects of biosolids and biochars on the sorption of terbuthylazine to forest soils. Two pumice soils, including a forest landing site soil with low soil organic matter content and an organic carbon rich topsoil under standard forest management, were sampled from a 2-year-old replanted pine plantation. The soils were mixed with four organic amendments, including two thermally dried biosolids with one digested and the other undigested, a biochar produced from high temperature pyrolysis (700°C), and a biochar from pyrolysis with a lower temperature (approximately 350°C). A batch equilibration method was used to determine terbuthylazine adsorption-desorption in organic amendment-treated and untreated soils. Adsorption and desorption isotherms were described with the Freundlich equation. Adsorption and desorption isotherms in the soils with or without organic amendments were well described by the Freundlich model. The undigested or digested biosolids added to the topsoil had a negligible or limited effect on the adsorption to terbuthylazine. The addition of the other amendments to the two soils all enhanced the adsorption. The biochars displayed higher efficiency in improving soils’ adsorption capacity to terbuthylazine than the biosolids. Among the organic amendments evaluated, the biochar obtained from high temperature pyrolysis demonstrated the most significant enhancement on adsorption with an enhancing factor of 63; whereas, the digested biosolids showed the weakest enhancement. Furthermore, terbuthylazine adsorbed by the digested biosolids appeared to be more easily desorbed than that by biochar treatments. This work indicates that the addition of organic amendments to forest soils, particularly biochar to a soil with low native organic matter, may enhance soil sorption of terbuthylazine and thus reduce the possibility of the hydrophobic herbicide leaching to groundwater.

Vegetation management practices in plantation forests of Australia and New Zealand

Abstract: Radiata pine (Pinusradiata D. Don) is the predominant species in plantation forests of Australia and New Zealand. Removal or suppression of noncrop vegetation is often carried out to enhance crop g...

Eradication of invasive forest insects: concepts, methods, costs and benefits

Abstract: Invasive exotic insects can cause substantial damage to trees and the environment, and may reduce biodiversity. They can have a large negative economic effect on the forest industry, urban amenity trees and numerous other sectors, and they may necessitate extensive management expenditures. For such high-impact invaders, eradication is desirable but also difficult and often highly controversial. It requires substantial input of resources and commitment from managers and stakeholders, including the general public. Appropriate tools for surveillance and control of the target species must be available if success is to be achieved. This review outlines the sequence of steps required in well-managed operations; examines characteristics of successful and unsuccessful eradication campaigns; describes methods and tools known to be effective against specific pests; and discusses the analysis of costs and benefits of eradication programmes. Feasibility of eradication is increased by early detection, which is facilitated by systematic surveillance. A strong positive relationship exists between size of the affected geographical area and the cost of eradication. Treatment costs for large populations may be prohibitive. Five recent campaigns against lepidopteran species in New Zealand have provided substantial economic benefits, despite the fact that various non-market values were not considered. Although progress has been made in the development, utilisation and integration of eradication tools, some insects are still not amenable to treatment. There is a need for new methods shown to have a minimal effect on other organisms, including human beings. Public attitudes to eradication programmes must always be taken into account during planning and deployment.

Plantation Forests and Biodiversity: Oxymoron or Opportunity?

Abstract: Losses of natural and semi-natural forests, mostly to agriculture, are a significant concern for biodiversity. Against this trend, the area of intensively managed plantation forests increases, and there is much debate about the implications for biodiversity. We provide a comprehensive review of the function of plantation forests as habitat compared with other land cover, examine the effects on biodiversity at the landscape scale, and synthesise context-specific effects of plantation forestry on biodiversity. Natural forests are usually more suitable as habitat for a wider range of native forest species than plantation forests but there is abundant evidence that plantation forests can provide valuable habitat, even for some threatened and endangered species, and may contribute to the conservation of biodiversity by various mechanisms. In landscapes where forest is the natural land cover, plantation forests may represent a low-contrast matrix, and afforestation of agricultural land can assist conservation by providing complementary forest habitat, buffering edge effects, and increasing connectivity. In contrast, conversion of natural forests and afforestation of natural non-forest land is detrimental. However, regional deforestation pressure for agricultural development may render plantation forestry a ‘lesser evil’ if forest managers protect indigenous vegetation remnants. We provide numerous context-specific examples and case studies to assist impact assessments of plantation forestry, and we offer a range of management recommendations. This paper also serves as an introduction and background paper to this special issue on the effects of plantation forests on biodiversity.

Using biochar for remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants

Abstract: Soil contamination with heavy metals and organic pollutants has increasingly become a serious global environmental issue in recent years. Considerable efforts have been made to remediate contaminated soils. Biochar has a large surface area, and high capacity to adsorb heavy metals and organic pollutants. Biochar can potentially be used to reduce the bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals and organic pollutants in soils through adsorption and other physicochemical reactions. Biochar is typically an alkaline material which can increase soil pH and contribute to stabilization of heavy metals. Application of biochar for remediation of contaminated soils may provide a new solution to the soil pollution problem. This paper provides an overview on the impact of biochar on the environmental fate and mobility of heavy metals and organic pollutants in contaminated soils and its implication for remediation of contaminated soils. Further research directions are identified to ensure a safe and sustainable use of biochar as a soil amendment for remediation of contaminated soils.