Towards optimization of conservation benefits and market-based products from riparian forest buffers in the Mark Twain Lake watershed: an analysis of a proposed medium density fiberboard plant

Abstract

<p>The Midwestern United States has long been an important provider of agricultural commodities; however, crop and animal agriculture production has not come without an environmental price tag developed external to the marketplace. Riparian forest buffers (RFB) have been shown to be an effective management strategy to reduce the impact of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution from agriculture. The objectives of this study were to determine if conservation and market-based benefits could be jointly achieved from the existing and potential riparian forest buffers in the Mark Twain Lake watershed (MTLW). And, if the market-based benefits from fiber (biomass) can support a new medium density fiberboard (MDF) mill. To show how different buffer designs can produce different outcomes, six multi-species riparian buffers were created to meet two different mixes of conservation and biomass benefits. Through the use of Arc View, estimates of potential woody and herbaceous biomass were obtained. With 100% of all eligible land in riparian buffers, enough fiber would be available to supply a MDF plant capable of manufacturing 130,000 thousand square feet (msf) of three-quarter inch material annually. With 10% of all eligible land in riparian buffers, approximately 10-20% of the annual fiber requirements for a MDF plant can be met while jointly producing conservational benefits in the riparian area. On average 63% of all eligible land needs to be in production of woody and herbaceous fiber to meet the plants requirements. If fiber supply is limited to only woody materials, this percentage increases to 91%. In addition, it was found that high quality, light-colored MDF product could generate a net present value (NPV) of $976.94 per thousand square feet whereas low quality, dark-colored MDF could produce a NPV of $160.18 per thousand square feet.</p>