Thomas O. Ochuodho, Ph.D.

Project title: Enhancing the Awareness, Knowledge, and Understanding of Sustainable Maple Syrup Production Practices among Current and Potential Maple Syrup Producers

Brief project description: Sustainable maple syrup production is dependent upon many factors, including forest stand dynamics, the number and size of sugar and red maple trees suitable for tapping, and the optimal temperature range during the tapping season. Furthermore, forest succession, climate change, and natural disturbances all influence these factors. The interplay among these factors determine potential level of maple syrup production in a particular locality. The long-term goal of this project is to develop education and extension training resources, building on integrated research to enhance producer and landowner awareness, understanding, and knowledge of sustainable maple syrup production in Kentucky and other maple producing states. To achieve this long-term goal, several activities will be implemented under two specific objectives: (i) develop spatiotemporal-economic education and extension analytic tools to enhance maple syrup production by county in syrup producing states, and (ii) develop and implement novel education and extension resources targeting new and current maple syrup producers in Kentucky. The project will utilize the most current and forecasted data on maple syrup production for all maple syrup producing states by county with flexibility for similar application at individual producer and landowner unit in an easy to use online dashboard portal. This project will recruit new maple syrup producers, expand current maple syrup production, and educate landowners and operators about the economic benefits of maple syrup production as a viable business and a sustainable natural resource activity.

Duration: 2020-2023.

Project title: Forest Landowner Survey on Emerald Ash Borer in Kentucky

Brief project description: Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. As of October 2018, it is now found in 35 states in the U.S. and some Canadian provinces. Since its arrival in the U.S., EAB has: (i) killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in North America; (ii) caused regulatory agencies and the USDA to enforce quarantines and fines to prevent potentially infested ash trees, logs or hardwood firewood from moving out of areas where EAB occurs; and (iii) cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators, and forest products industries hundreds of millions of dollars. In Kentucky, EAB was first discoveries in 2009 in Boone, Jessamine, and Shelby counties. Since then, this invasive insect has spread through normal dispersal flights and the inadvertent movement of infested wood. Tunneling beneath the bark by the larvae, this insect has caused extensive ash mortality. Effective control of EAB spread would require a multi-prong approach that will entail, management, quarantine, and treatment, among other options. Given that majority of forestland in Kentucky are under private ownership, private landowners are key to EAB control. Therefore, landowners’ knowledge, opinions, attitudes, and decisions are central to EAB control and management. The objective of this study is therefore to conduct forestland owners’ survey to solicit pertinent information on EAB infestation in their own forestland. 

Duration: 2020-2021.

Project title: Economic Analysis of Maple Syrup Production Potential in Kentucky

Brief project description: Kentucky is not known for maple syrup production like Vermont or New York. However, current data indicate potential for this as a viable enterprise for woodland owners. This project focuses on “Economic Analysis of Maple Syrup Production Potential in Kentucky”. The objectives are to assess statewide maple syrup production potential in Kentucky; conduct cost-benefit analysis; assess energy conservation measures; and assess potential economic impacts of maple syrup production in Kentucky’s economy. The project will work very closely with Kentucky Maple Syrup Association (KMSA) members. Project deliverables will include current and projected potential maple syrup production map by county for Kentucky; economic break-even production by production scale; energy and other cost-saving strategies to help producers maximize returns; and economic impacts of maple syrup production in Kentucky.

Duration: 2019-2022.

Project title: Informing Management Practice Through Understanding the Effects of Species and Tree Characteristics on Maple Sap Volume and Sugar Content

Brief project description: Maple syrup production is a traditional, non-timber forest product that yields important economic returns to landowners. A growing body of producers in Kentucky are now managing for syrup/sugar production, but the existing research and management guidelines are focused on the historical production range (northeastern United States) and tree species (sugar maple). The objective of this study is to establish a sampling network in Kentucky that will facilitate development of a model for quantifying the effect of local climate patterns, site conditions, maple species, tree size, growing space characteristics on maple sap volume production and sugar content. The project will engage with producer members of the Kentucky Maple Syrup Association to translate study results into management practices that guide sugarbush site location, tree selection, and thinning practices that increase production.

Duration: 2018-2022.

Project Title:  Structural Change in Kentucky’s Forest Sector and its Economic Impact           

Brief project description: The Kentucky forest sector makes significant economic contribution to the livelihood of Kentuckians. Notably, the forest sector plays a significant role in ensuring economic stability of rural households who are most dependent on the sector for their economic well-being. However, the evolution of the structure of the Kentucky forest sector has witnessed some changing patterns in the past few years. Reduction in the share of the forest sector in total economic activity could have significant social, economic, and environmental implications. Hence, understanding the factors that cause this structural change in the sector is critical for ensuring growth and long-term sustainability of the sector. This study focuses on identifying the drivers of structural change in Kentucky forest sector and assesses the impacts of the forest sector’s structural change on economic growth and its attendant economic impacts. It is expected that this study will provide insights into how to adapt to factors causing decline in the shares of the forest sector in aggregate economic activity and inform policy-making process in response to the evolving forest sector. 

Duration: 2017-2021.

Project Title: Forest Sector Dependence and Economic Well-Being of Kentucky Communities

Brief Project Description: The forest sector plays a vital role in Kentucky’s rural economic development through provision of market and non-market goods and services in addition to employment. However, the extent of community dependence on forest sector and how this supports their well-being is not well-documented. An assessment of the level of communities’ dependence on the forest sector and the impacts of dependency on their economic well-being is critical in economic development policy-making, particularly in structuring government forest incentive programs, among others. Further, it is important to understand regional and sub-sectoral aspects of forest sector dependence and its impact on community well-being over time. In this study, we analyze patterns of regional differences in the relationship between communities’ forest sector dependence and their economic well-being, over time, in Kentucky. Results from this study will guide policy decision makers in understanding extent of communities’ dependence on forest sub-sectors by region and what factors drive this. This is vital strategic information for designing incentive programs to support sustainable and thriving forest sector. The expected results will also enable forest-dependent communities to examine their strategies for maintaining investments and coping with any negative externalities affecting the forest sector.

Duration: 2018-2020

Project title: Sustainability and Economics of White Oak (Quercus alba) Timber Supply in Kentucky

Brief project description: White Oak, a keystone species, is widely used for flooring, cabinet making, and veneer production and in particular, bourbon barrel production in Kentucky. However, current forest data from the Central Hardwood Region, shows poor recruitment of white oak. In addition, present high export demand of white oak logs has put more pressure on long-term white oak resource sustainability. Poor regeneration coupled with long rotation (70-100 years) for high quality white oak timber put additional forecasted pressure on economic sectors that rely on sustained white oak timber supply. This project assesses white oak inventory, projected white oak timber supply, and its economic impacts in Kentucky under projected future case scenarios. Project deliverables will include past and present trends of white oak recruitment; projected growth and yield of white oak timber for the next decades; and economic impacts of white oak timber supply in Kentucky. 

Duration: 2019-2021

Project title: Ecosystems Services Assessment and Valuation

Brief project description: Forests provide many benefits to society, which are often grouped into four main categories: (i) provisioning (timber, water, non-timber forest products); (ii) regulating (climate and flood control, carbon storage, water purification, clean air); (iii) supporting (pollination services, photosynthesis, biodiversity, wildlife habitat); and (iv) cultural (aesthetics, recreation, education). In the realm of economics, these benefits can be grouped into market and non-market goods and services. Market goods and services are those that are traded formally in the market and have market prices. Non-market goods and services are not traded in markets and, hence, their economic value is not revealed in market prices despite the benefits accrued from them. While market-based contributions of the forest sector to Kentucky’s economy are routinely reported, the value of non-market contributions are not well documented. This project therefore helps answer questions like: (i) what are the economic values of ecosystem services supplied by the forests in Kentucky?, (ii) how does a proposed change in forest management plan (if any) affect carbon sequestration and storage, sediment retention, water quality, and recreation?, (iii) which parts of a watershed provide the greatest ecosystem services (such as carbon sequestration, crop pollination, and tourism values?, (iv)  how will climate change and demographic growth impact forest ecosystem services provision?, and (v) what is the relationship between economic growth and ecosystem services supply? Such information would be critical for formulating forest policy and management strategies.

Duration: 2019-2023

Project title: Stakeholder Perceptions of White Oak Supply in Kentucky

Brief project description: Growing demand for white oak (Quercus alba) timber and difficulties in regenerating white oak point toward future supply issues. Implementing forest policy and management interventions to support its long-term supply will be necessary. To increase the probability that these actions will be successful, it is advisable to consider perceptions of stakeholders who are most likely to be involved with and impacted by those decisions. The combined Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat (SWOT) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique used in this study facilitated independent capturing and ranking of perceptions from three key stakeholder groups (woodland owners, forest industry, and distilling industry) regarding long-term supply of white oak.

Duration: 2017-2020

Project title: How can economic development, human well-being, and environmental sustainability be balanced in the Central Appalachian Coalfields region?

Brief project description: Thriving mining, forestry, agriculture, and chemical industries once supported local economies in the Central Appalachian Coalfields region, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. This region remains among the most impoverished in the United States, making local concern about the economic impact of phasing out coal as an energy source far from groundless. However, the region is well-positioned to embrace a vibrant, diverse economy, including manufacturing, service industries, renewable energy development, tourism, and a revived forest products industry. Experts in economic modeling, rural sociology, ecology, forestry, tourism, and policy, are collaborating with community economic development practitioners who understand the unique culture, opportunities, and constraints of the Central Appalachian Coalfields. The project goals are: (i) understand tradeoffs between the region’s economy, environment, and social welfare through various economic development scenarios; (ii) engage local decision makers and global experts to create a roadmap that guides: the achievement of substantive social and economic benefits, increased ecological resilience and connectivity, increased carbon stocks, and renewable energy technology deployment in the Appalachian Coalfields region.

Duration: 2018-2020.