Impact Assessment and Utilization of Eastern Redcedar (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) is one of widely distributed species in Oklahoma with an estimated current area covered beyond 9 million acres. It is expected that such resource will reach to 13 million acres by 2013 at a growth rate of 762 acres per day resulting in a significant adverse impact on ecology (Bidwell et al., 1996; Philips, 2005). The largest areas of recent expansion have been in the southwestern part of the state, characterized by an arid climate and rocky soils and the northwestern part of the state; primarily open prairie land dissected by waterways. It is concerned that encroaching redcedar may someday capture over the tall grass prairies in northern Oklahoma. Eastern redcedar is a problem to farmers and ranchers who often lose crop and pasture land to the species. The trees are generally considered a waterstealing and space-taking nuisance. Many wildlife species that require open range also are adversely affected by this species. Currently the wood from eastern redcedar is used for fence posts and novelty items, while the species maybe planted for shelterbelts and windbreaks.