Economics and Survival of Hand Planted Riparian Forest Buffers in West
Central Maine
Updated
08/05/2005
Maine NRCS recently conducted a case study on the survivorship and
establishment costs of two riparian forest buffers planted during 2002 under the
continuous CRP program in Somerset County, Maine.
A modified protocol, developed by the University of Washington and Lummi
Indian Nation, was used to obtain field data in the buffers. A total of
twenty-four sample plots each 1/50th of an acre in size was surveyed. Several
types of information were collected including species planted, planting rate,
survival rates, use of tree shelters and geotextile mats, and animal damage.
Copies of bills submitted for cost-share reimbursement were collected from
NRCS field office records. Establishment budgets were constructed to itemize the
various costs for materials and services. Costs were analyzed on a per acre and
per plant basis.
Plant survival rates and average establishment costs were compared. Using the
cost data collected, scenarios with various planting rates, numbers of tree
shelters and geotextile mats, and types of site preparation were constructed to
analyze tradeoffs between establishment cost and likelihood of plant survival.
Recommendations were made for planting rates, the number of trees shelters and
geotextile mats to be used, and site preparation. The establishment cost data
will be useful as well for planning riparian forest buffers in the future, and
in setting conservation program cost-share reimbursement rates.
John Long, USDA-NRCS Maine
Address: USDA-NRCS, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 3, Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: 207-990-9504
Fax: 207-990-9599
Email:
john.long@me.usda.gov
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Link to Powerpoint Poster
Link
to longer PDF documentation of the study.
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