Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species
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Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species Brian K. Brashaw Robert J. Ross Xiping Wang Michael C. Wiemann Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species Brian K. Brashaw Robert J. Ross Xiping Wang Michael C. Wiemann Cover photo taken by Don Peterson. Insect photos (from top to bottom): Asian longhorned beetle photo courtesy of Michael Smith, USDA Agricultural Research Service; emerald ash borer photo courtesy of Stephan Ausmus, USDA Agricultural Research Service; and gypsy caterpillar photo courtesy of Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service. Copyright © 2012 University of Minnesota The work upon which this publication is based was funded in whole or in part through a grant awarded by the Wood Education and Resource Center, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, Building,age, or disability. 1400 Independence To file a complaint Avenue, of SW,discrimination, Washington, write DC USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten an equal opportunity employer. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is Table of Contents Preface . v About the Authors . vii Acknowledgments . ix Part One – Overview of Invasive Species and Utilization Options for Hardwoods by Brian K. Brashaw . 1 Part Two – Basic Wood Properties of Hardwoods Affected by Invasive Species by Robert J. Ross and Michael C. Wiemann . 13 Part Three – Market and Utilization Options for Ash Logs, Lumber, and Other Products by Brian K. Brashaw . 29 Part Four – Heat Treatment of Wood for Invasive Forest Pests by Xiping Wang . 61 Table of Contents iii iv Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species Preface This publication is a compilation of information on the properties, pro- cessing characteristics, and potential products that can be manufactured from hardwoods that have been attacked by various invasive species . Part One provides background information and outlines the magni- tude of the problem in the United States . Part Two provides basic information for many U S. hardwood species that grow in urban areas . Scientific and common names, physical and me- chanical property data, machining characteristics, and other important information are summarized . Micrographs of the cross sections of several species or representative specie for a species grouping are included . Part Three provides summaries that highlight a wide range of product options for wood from these species . Part Four summarizes results from a recently completed, extensive re- search program focused on providing detailed, practical heat sterilization options for treating firewood obtained from these trees . This publication was designed to serve as a primary reference on the topic for land management professionals, arborists, utilization specialists, and other natural resource professionals who are at the forefront of dealing with invasive species and their devastating effect on our forest resources . Preface v vi Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species About the Authors Brian K. Brashaw Brian Brashaw is Director of the Wood Materials and Engineering Program at the based research focuses on nondestructive testing and evaluation methods for wood ma terialsNatural and Resources structures, Research applied Institute product (NRRI), development, University resource of Minnesota utilization, Duluth. renewableHis broad- energy, and technology transfer. He coordinates NRRI’s Physical and Mechanical Testing- cations including the popular Wood and Timber Condition Assessment Manual, published byLaboratory. the Forest He Products is the author Society. or co-author Brian holds of moreBS and than MS 300 degrees technical from reports the University and publi of- Wisconsin Stevens Point and Washington State University, respectively, and is currently a PhD candidate at Mississippi State University. Robert J. Ross Dr. Robert Ross is a Project Leader at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), Madison, WI. His research focuses on the development and use of nondestructive evalu ation technologies for wood products and structures. Bob has worked on a variety of - projects, including in-place assessment of members of the USS Constitution. He has Woodwritten Handbook: or co-authored Wood moreas an thanEngineering 200 technical Material reports and is and a Fellow articles, in theand International jointly holds Academy29 U.S. and of foreignWood Science. patents. He He holds was Technical BS and MS Editor degrees for thefrom Centennial Michigan EditionTechnological of the University, and a PhD from Washington State University. Xiping Wang Dr. Xiping Wang is a Research Forest Products Technologist at the USDA Forest Prod ucts Laboratory (FPL), Madison, WI. His work at FPL focuses on nondestructive testing and evaluation of wood products, condition assessment of wood structures, and urban- tree hazard assessment. He has worked on numerous structural inspection projects, in cluding those for industrial buildings, timber bridges, and historic wooden sailing ves sels. He recently completed an extensive effort focused on developing heat sterilization- procedures for wood products infected by invasive species. He is the Associate Editor of- the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering (published by the American Society of Civil Engineers), jointly holds six U.S. and foreign patents, and has published more than 100 technical reports and publications. Xiping holds BS and MS degrees in Mechanical En gineering and Forest Engineering, respectively, from Beijing Forestry University, and a PhD from Michigan Technological University. - Michael C. Wiemann Dr. Michael Wiemann is a Research Botanist at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory About(FPL), the Madison, Authors WI. His research specialty is examining and defining the relationshipvii of ecology and growth conditions to wood properties and quality. His primary research goals are to explore the effects of climate, geography, and silvicultural treatments on wood anatomy and properties. He is especially interested in the similarities and dif ferences among species of tropical America and Africa, both in their properties and in methods that can be used to differentiate between similar woods. Mike has prepared nu- Characteristics and Availability of Commercially Important Woods, one of the most widely used chapters- merous publications that summarizeWood hisHandbook: research Wood findings as an and Engineering authored Material. Mike holds the following degrees: AAS (Forestry from Paul Smith’s College), BS (North Caro linafrom State FPL’s University), flagship publication, MS (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry), and PhD (Louisiana State University). - viii Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species Acknowledgments The authors would like to express their appreciation to the following organizations and individuals for their efforts in making this publication a reality: • The USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, Wood Education and Resource Center for providing financial support; • Ms . Jessica Simons, Southeast Michigan Resource Conservation and Development Council, for preparing a section on Michigan’s Urbanwood Project; • Ms . Pamela Byrd, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, for compiling the technical data used in Part Two; • All of the individuals and organizations who provided photos of their excellent products; • The individuals who provided technical reviews of various parts of the book; and • Ms . Susan Stamm, editor and designer of the book, for her patience and outstanding effort in its preparation . Finally, we would like acknowledge the outstanding efforts of our col- leagues in the field who are fighting the battle against invasive species and their detrimental effects on our natural resources . Acknowledgments ix x Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species Part One – Overview of Invasive Species and Utilization Options for Hardwoods by Brian K. Brashaw Introduction The introduction and spread of non-native invasive species are causing significant ecological- and economic damage to U.S. urban and rural forests. The National Invasive Species Management Plan (2008) defines invasive species as a “species that is non-native to the ecosystem under con sideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm- or harm to human health.” As a result of infestation from invasive species, particularly emerald ash borer (EAB) but also Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), gypsy moth, and thousand canker dis ease, tremendous numbers of infested trees are being killed and removed each year for control and ultimate eradication of the pests (USDA APHIS 2006). Proper utilization and safe disposal of woody biomass from these trees present considerable challenges to many local communities- and landowners. Urban forestry professionals are increasingly faced with the task of selecting appropriate utilization options for the materials and locating the necessary technical informa tion for making such decisions. Although many studies and wood utilization projects have been conducted for wood from trees attacked by invasive species, much of the basic information on wood materials, product options, and corresponding manufacturing requirements