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Forest and biomass crops for bioenergy and bioproducts can promote a sustainable bioeconomy while effectively reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to mitigate global warming. One of the most concerning issues is selecting and using appropriate modeling and analytical technologies to optimize the benefits of multi-feedstock biomass supply chains, including logistics. Machine learning (ML) has been used to solve increasingly complex supply chain problems, providing powerful tools for sustainable forest management and biomass resource development. Existing research is extensive and spans many different ML techniques, but synthesis is needed to help guide the adoption of these rapidly evolving tools. This review summarizes ML applications in forest and biomass supply chain management in terms of data, algorithms, and process examples, with an emphasis on direct application to supply chain management. ML is a viable technique to support strategic, operational, and tactical planning and decision-making in this field and can enhance the environmental and economic performance of diverse forest and biomass supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gunung Merapi National Park (GMNP) is an inseparable conservation area from the surrounding community, as the buffer village community has used its existing forest resources. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the forest resources used by the buffer village community and assess the economic benefit value generated by GMNP. The economic benefits evaluation adopted the direct use value approach and market prices. The results showed that the community used water, firewood, grass, land, and sand. Utilization was conducted in utilization, traditional, and rehabilitation zones. These resource utilizations generated a value of IDR426,230,560,828/year, significantly contributing to the welfare of the buffer village community.

Despite being extensively studied as a white-rot fungus, there have been no efforts to explore and cultivate the high-yielding wild Trametes versicolor strains in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was initiated to assess the growth performance of T. versicolor on various growth media. Accordingly, ten substrates (S1–S10) were formulated by a combination of agro-industrial by-products that mainly constituted sugarcane wastes and animal manures. The effect of substrates on yields, biological efficiencies, and nutritional compositions was examined. The mushroom developed a white mycelium on the growth media. T. versicolor cultivated on the S5 blend, comprising 80% sugarcane bagasse, 12% horse manure, and 8% poultry manure, exhibited the most substantial fruiting body yield (158.33 g/500 g bag) and the highest biological efficiency (31.5%), with an optimal C:N ratio of 31:1. It has shown good mycelial growth, short colonization, and short pinhead formation time compared to other substrates. S7, lacking nitrogen supplementation, yielded low biological efficiency and fruiting bodies at 11.50% and 57.67%, respectively. The crude protein, fiber, low fat, and carbohydrate content ranged from 7.46 to 14.65%, 12.89 to 18.38%, 0.42 to 0.53%, and 48.75 to 66.75%, respectively. Notably, the highest nutritional values, excluding carbohydrates, were obtained from S5, while the sugarcane bagasse had the highest carbohydrate content among substrates. Consequently, S5 emerged as a suitable medium for cultivating wild T. versicolor mushrooms, particularly in regions abundant in poultry, horse manures, and sugarcane bagasse. Therefore, S5 represents an optimal substrate for T. versicolor cultivation, offering improved productivity and nutritional quality at reduced costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A comprehensive analysis was conducted using optical microscopy based on wood anatomy to enhance the preservation of wooden components in Tingbao Yang's former residence. This study identified wood samples, and statistical examination of wood species, variations in their configuration, physical and mechanical properties, and natural durability were examined. The principles for wood species selection were assessed. Findings indicate that Cunninghamia lanceolata , Pseudotsuga spp., Populus spp. and Ulmus spp. are the primary choices for these wooden components. However, certain portions incorporate Larix sect. Multiseriales , Picea brachytyla , Pinus bungeana , Pinus massoniana , Castanea sp. and Quercus subg. Lepidabalanus , sect. Prinus. Pseudotsuga spp., C. lanceolata , Ulmus spp. and Populus spp. are primarily utilized for wooden columns and melon columns. However, C. lanceolata , Ulmus spp. and Populus spp. possess inadequate parallel grain compressive strength for load-bearing compression wooden components. C. lanceolata and Ulmus spp. are widely utilized in beams, lintels, purlins, and rafters owing to their exceptional bending strength. It was noted that Castanea sp. and Quercus subg. Lepidabalanus , sect. Prinus wood varieties demonstrate superior resistance to rotting and insects compared with other types of wood. The selection of wood species for the ancient buildings of Tingbao Yang's former residence relies on crucial principles, such as the suitability of wood properties and local selection. This selection process involves analyzing the wood properties, assessing the natural durability of wooden components, and considering the distribution of forest resources in Henan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the Ecuadorian Amazon, a crucial region for forest biodiversity and conservation of native species, which faces challenges due to timber extraction. The research objective was to characterize timber harvesting during 2012 to 2021, focusing on the ten most harvested forest species in terms of volume and provincial distribution, as well as their conservation status according to the IUCN. For the methodology, data were extracted and analyzed from Ecuador's Forest Management System (SAF), focusing on timber extraction in six provinces and assessing 210 species. The results revealed that, from 2,627,659.17 m3 authorized, 2,296,238.08 m3 were harvested, representing 54.17% of the national timber harvest from native forests. Species of the Fabaceae family predominated in number and volume, with yields varying from 0.5 m3/ha in Orellana to 2.8 m3/ha in Zamora Chinchipe. Analysis of the IUCN categories showed that 67.6% (142 species) are Least Concern (LC), while 3.3% (7 species) are Vulnerable (VU), and 1% (2 species) Endangered (EN). Two species were listed as Data Deficient (DD), one as Critically Endangered (CR) and one as Near Threatened (NT). It is crucial to note that, of the 210 species analyzed, 55 species (26.2%) are not included in the IUCN database, highlighting the importance of more detailed assessments for their conservation and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019–2023 the 13th Finnish National Forest Inventory (NFI) was implemented by measuring a total of 62 266 sample plots across the country. The methodology of the sampling and measurements was similar as in the previous inventory, but the proportion and number of remeasured permanent plots was increased to improve the monitoring of annual increment and other changes in the forests. Only 6.2 M ha (14%) of Finland’s total land area (30.4 M ha) is other land than forestry land. Productive and poorly productive forests cover 22.9 M ha (75%) of the total land area. The forest area has remained stable in recent decades but the forest area available for wood supply (FAWS) has decreased due to increased forest protection – 23% of the forestry land and 10% of the productive forest are not available for wood supply. Compared to the previous inventory, forest resources have continued to increase but the average annual increment has declined from 107.8 M m3 to 103.0 M m3. The quality of forests from the timber production point of view has remained relatively good or improved slightly. The area of observed forest damage on FAWS is 8.4 M ha (46% of FAWS area), half of these minor damages with no impact on stand quality. Although the area of forest damage has not increased, the amount of mortality has continued to increase, and is now 8.8 M m3 year–1. The amount of dead wood has continued to increase in South Finland, while in North Finland the declining trend has turned into a slight increase. Since the 1920s, the area of forestry land has remained stable, but the area of productive forest has increased due to the drainage of poorly productive or treeless peatlands. The total volume of growing stock has increased by 84% and annual increment has more than doubled.

The forest resources of Russia, primarily concentrated in the taiga zone, are actively exploited, especially in the European part of Russia. Forest management even under conditions of one natural zone has significant spatial disparities due to natural climatic differences of territories and spatial and temporal peculiarities of forest exploitation. This study aims to analyze the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of forest resources and the structure and productivity of felling from the viewpoint of the transformation of the forest resource base of the Vologda Region. The dynamics of forest cover, area and structure of timber reserves during the XX century are considered for the region as a whole. The forest fund and estimates of forest resources for the XXI century are characterized under the authors’ calculations and are given by districts and areas of the region. All estimates are based on official statistical data taken from the comprehensive territorial inventories of natural resources and the reporting documents of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Vologda Region. The reserves and forest resources analyzed under the cartographical modeling show an increase in the volume and intensity of felling against the decrease in the share of both coniferous and mature timber. Since the beginning of the XX century, the share of coniferous trees in the forest stand structure has decreased to 50-55%. The dominating timber species in the taiga forests of the Vologda Region as of today is birch. The share of mature forests has also decreased to 50%, with the deciduous forests prevailing among the mature ones. The results of the study show a dangerous transformation of forest resources for the near future, thereby greatly threatening both sustainable forest resources and the conservation of taiga landscapes on the whole.

Sustainable forest management can play a vital role in building resilient economies and communities that can withstand pandemics, climate change, and other global challenges. Through a comprehensive analysis of local communities surrounding protected areas, we examine the extent of forest reliance for livelihoods and identify key drivers behind changes in forest-resource use during the pre-pandemic in 2019 and post-pandemic in 2022. The study's findings reveal a noteworthy increase in the proportion of land utilized for livelihood activities, especially for production forests, in study sites between 2019 and 2022. Local communities still heavily rely on forest resources for their livelihoods, with a significant increase in household income derived from forest-based activities between 2019 and 2022, approximately 112.1%, 28.7%, and 1.68% for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, respectively. Additionally, the study highlights an upsurge in forest dependence during the pandemic period, emphasizing the importance of forests in safeguarding the economies of forest-dependent communities. Findings also shed light on the determinants of forest dependence changes amid the pandemic, including income from forests, poverty status, minority group status, and receipt of COVID-19 relief. These results provide valuable insights into the relationship between forest resources and rural livelihoods for promoting sustainable forest management and safeguarding the well-being of local communities in the face of future challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Forest resources play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of rural communities residing in forest-rich areas. In India, a forest-rich country, a significant proportion of nontimber forest products (NTFPs) is consumed locally, supporting numerous rural communities relying on forests for essential resources, such as firewood, timber, and NTFPs. This study focuses on two forest-dominant districts in West Bengal of India, namely, Jhargram District and Paschim Medinipur District. Furthermore, this study aims to enhance the understanding of forest-dependent communities by comparing the standard of living among different village classes. Thus, we categorized villages into three classes based on the distance from home to forests, including inner villages, fringe villages, and outer villages. Through focus group discussions and household surveys, we explored the sources of local economy, income sources of household, and reasons for economic diversification in different village classes. The study findings confirm that substantial variations existed in the income sources and the standard of living in these villages. Forest income varied dramatically among the three village classes, with inner villages having greater forest income than fringe villages and outer villages. Meanwhile, households in outer villages depended on forests and engaged in diverse economic activities for their livelihoods. Compared with inner and fringe villages, households in outer villages derived a significant portion of their income from livestock. This discrepancy can be attributed to challenges, such as inadequate transportation, communication, and underdeveloped market chains in inner villages. Moreover, these findings emphasize the need to develop sustainable forest management practices, create alternative income-generation opportunities, and improve infrastructure and market access in inner villages, as well as promote economic diversification in outer villages. Through targeted policy measures, these forest-rich regions can achieve improved livelihoods, enhanced standard of living, and increased resilience for their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between forest landscapes, local, and indigenous populations is of interest to researchers and conservation officials in protected areas. Ignorance of this relationship is often the root cause of the failures of many conservation projects and the implementation of management plans. This study, conducted in seven villages on the periphery of Deng Deng National Park, assessed the level of dependence of local and indigenous people living around this park on its forest resources. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 105 randomly selected households. The results showed that the surveyed households were strongly dependent on forest products. Nearly nine out of 10 households derived their income from agricultural products, compared to nearly seven out of 10 who derived their income from non-timber forest products, and about one-quarter from hunting products. Dependency on the forest varied with social class. Dependency on agricultural products and non-timber forest products increased with increasing household size. Although the exploitation of forest products may be leading to the degradation of forest landscapes, it is important to consider the dependence of the population on forest products in the implementation of protected area management plans and the development of projects and conservation program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern forestry systems rely on typologies of forest types (FTs). In Argentina, several proposals have been developed, but they lack unified criteria. The objective was to compare different approaches, specifically focusing on (i) phenoclusters (functional forests based on vegetation phenology variations and climate variables) and (ii) forest canopy cover composition by tree species. We conducted comparative uni-variate analyses using data from national forest inventories, forest models (biodiversity, carbon, structure), and regional climate. We assessed the performance of phenoclusters in differentiating the variability of native forests (proxy: forest structure), biodiversity (proxy: indicator species), and environmental factors (proxies: soil carbon stock, elevation, climate). Additionally, we proposed a simple FT classification methodology based on species composition, considering the basal area of tree species. Finally, we compared the performance of both proposals. Our findings showed that classifications based on forest canopy cover composition are feasible to implement in regions dominated by mono-specific forests. However, phenoclusters allowed for the increased complexity of categories at the landscape level. Conversely, in regions where multi-specific stands prevailed, classifications based on forest canopy cover composition proved ineffective; however, phenoclusters facilitated a reduction in complexity at the landscape level. These results offer a pathway to harmonize national FT classifications by employing criteria and indicators to achieve sustainable forest management and conservation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the Ecuadorian Amazon, a crucial region for forest biodiversity and conservation of native species, which faces challenges due to timber extraction. The research objective was to characterize timber harvesting during 2012 to 2021, focusing on the ten most harvested forest species in terms of volume and provincial distribution, as well as their conservation status according to the IUCN. For the methodology, data were extracted and analyzed from Ecuador’s Forest Management System (SAF), focusing on timber extraction in six provinces and assessing 210 species. The results revealed that, from 2,627,659.17 m3 authorized, 2,296,238.08 m3 were harvested, representing 54.17% of the national timber harvest from native forests. Species of the Fabaceae family predominated in number and volume, with yields varying from 0.5 m3/ha in Orellana to 2.8 m3/ha in Zamora Chinchipe. Analysis of the IUCN categories showed that 67.6% (142 species) are Least Concern (LC), while 3.3% (7 species) are Vulnerable (VU), and 1% (2 species) Endangered (EN). Two species were listed as Data Deficient (DD), one as Critically Endangered (CR) and one as Near Threatened (NT). It is crucial to note that, of the 210 species analyzed, 55 species (26.2%) are not included in the IUCN database, highlighting the importance of more detailed assessments for their conservation and distribution.

Abstract Aim Biocultural legacy practices are intricately tied to forestry resources, ethnic identity, and social cohesiveness. This study aims to determine the plant cultural values of forest resources and identify plant cultural indicators in each ethnic group, which can aid in long-term natural resource management plans in the current debate on socio-environmental and ecological transitions. Methods Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations were employed to collect data for a comprehensive and systematic ethnobotanical survey from February 2018 to October 2022. Results A total of 330 informants reported 154 plant species from 65 families. Asteraceae was the most prominent botanical family, with herbaceous plant groups outnumbering trees and shrubs. The Gujjar and Pahari groups exhibited the highest level of overlap, followed by significant overlaps between the Gujjar and Kashmiri communities. The close affinity observed between the Gujjar and Pahari groups suggests the horizontal pattern of local plant knowledge between these communities, influenced by their sociocultural interactions and intermarriages. Notably, the Pahari community displayed a rich understanding of medicinal plants and shared unique uses for the reported taxa. This study affirms that both ecological factors and sociocultural influences have played significant roles in shaping local plant knowledge. A total of 31 plant species have been identified as plant cultural markers among all four ethnic groups. We observed a positive correlation between plant cultural values and plant use with the Gujjar and Kashmiri ethnic groups. Artemisia absinthium reported the highest use value of (0.57) with use reports of (189). Adonis aestivalis, Cynoglossum nervosum, Geum elatum, Geranium himalayense, Juncus inflexus, Oxalis acetosella, Polygonatum biflorum, and Salvia hians from the Himalayan region are among the plant taxa whose ethnomedicinal applications are described here for the first time. Conclusion Our data show that local and indigenous forest knowledge and practices could significantly contribute to forest conservation and ecological transition. This may happen if stakeholders generate clear frameworks and biocultural conservation strategies aimed at both dynamically preserve natural habitats and ways of traditional management of local natural resources.

Aim: Biocultural legacy practices are intricately tied to forestry resources, ethnic identity, and social cohesiveness. This study aims to determine the plant cultural values of forest resources and identify plant cultural indicators in each ethnic group, which can aid in long-term natural resource management plans in the current debate on socio-environmental and ecological transitions. Methods: Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations were employed to collect data for a comprehensive and systematic ethnobotanical survey from February 2018 to October 2022. Results: A total of 330 informants reported 154 plant species from 65 families. Asteraceae was the most prominent botanical family, with herbaceous plant groups outnumbering trees and shrubs. The Gujjar and Pahari groups exhibited the highest level of overlap, followed by significant overlaps between the Gujjar and Kashmiri communities. The close affinity observed between the Gujjar and Pahari groups suggests the horizontal pattern of local plant knowledge between these communities, influenced by their sociocultural interactions and intermarriages. Notably, the Pahari community displayed a rich understanding of medicinal plants and shared unique uses for the reported taxa. This study affirms that both ecological factors and sociocultural influences have played significant roles in shaping local plant knowledge. A total of 31 plant species have been identified as plant cultural markers among all four ethnic groups. We observed a positive correlation between plant cultural values and plant use with the Gujjar and Kashmiri ethnic groups. Artemisia absinthium reported the highest use value of (0.57) with use reports of (189). Adonis aestivalis, Cynoglossum nervosum, Geum elatum, Geranium himalayense, Juncus inflexus, Oxalis acetosella, Polygonatum biflorum, and Salvia hians from the Himalayan region are among the plant taxa whose ethnomedicinal applications are described here for the first time. Conclusion: Our data show that local and indigenous forest knowledge and practices could significantly contribute to forest conservation and ecological transition. This may happen if stakeholders generate clear frameworks and biocultural conservation strategies aimed at both dynamically preserve natural habitats and ways of traditional management of local natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The available amount of wood supply is essential for national strategic planning and evaluation of forestry in Sweden. Since Sweden holds a large part of the forests in the European Union and plays a significant role in the global trade of wood-based products, a precise estimate of the potential of the Swedish forest resource is also important in regional and global outlook studies. In this study, we analyse factors influencing the availability and mobilization of wood supply. By comparing data from the Swedish National Forest Inventory with the stand registers of the five largest forest owners in Sweden, we estimate the productive forest area not included in the forest owners' stand databases. Our results show that 0.4 million hectares, or 5% of these large-scale forest owners productive forest area, is outside their stand registers and therefore neither included in their long-term harvesting plans nor in their nature conservation plans. For small-scale forest owners, we analyse the final felling rate during 2004–2020 using satellite imagery to estimate the proportion of properties that abstain from final fellings and thereby could affect the potential mobilization of wood supply. During this period, 32% of the forest properties owned by small-scale forest owners have not done any final felling. These forest estates hold in total 1.1 million hectares of productive forest land or 9% of the area owned by small-scale forest owners. This implies a gap between the potential and realistic estimates for Forest Available for Wood Supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest resources play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of rural communities residing in forest-rich areas. In India, a forest-rich country, a significant proportion of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is consumed locally, supporting numerous rural communities relying on forests for essential resources, such as firewood, timber, and NTFPs. This study focuses on two forest-dominant districts in West Bengal of India, namely, Jhargram District and Paschim Medinipur District. Furthermore, this study aims to enhance the understanding of forest-dependent communities by comparing the standard of living among different village classes. Thus, we categorized villages into three classes based on the distance from home to forests, including inner villages, fringe villages, and outer villages. Through focus group discussions and household surveys, we explored the sources of local economy, income sources of household, and reasons for economic diversification in different village classes. The study findings confirm that substantial variations existed in the income sources and the standard of living in these villages. Forest income varied dramatically among the three village classes, with inner villages having greater forest income than fringe villages and outer villages. Meanwhile, households in outer villages depended on forests and engaged in diverse economic activities for their livelihoods. Compared with inner and fringe villages, households in outer villages derived a significant portion of their income from livestock. This discrepancy can be attributed to challenges, such as inadequate transportation, communication, and underdeveloped market chains in inner villages. Moreover, these findings emphasize the need to develop sustainable forest management practices, create alternative income-generation opportunities, and improve infrastructure and market access in inner villages, as well as promote economic diversification in outer villages. Through targeted policy measures, these forest-rich regions can achieve improved livelihoods, enhanced standard of living, and increased resilience for their communities.

The Iron Age site of Tossal de Baltarga (Bellver de Cerdanya) was a large Iberian residential complex occupying a strategic position in the middle of the Eastern Pyrenees. It was destroyed by fire in the second half of the 3rd century BCE, preserving an important volume of archaeological and bioarchaeological material in certain areas. This is the case of Building G, a two-story construction whose violent blaze has offered the possibility of analyzing a precise moment in the history of an Iron Age productive unit. The existence of a stable on the lower floor, where four sheep, a goat, and a horse were documented, and an upper floor, where textile production and storage were evidenced, allows us to analyse the complexity of the economic activities and exploitation of local resources, such as livestock, agriculture, forestry and mining.

This study was aimed at assessing the indigenous knowledge of rural women in forest resources conservation in Agoi-ekpo and Agoi-ibami in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The objective of the study is: To examine the extent to which indigenous knowledge of rural women have influenced forest resources utilization and conservation. The sampling techniques used for the study are purposive and systematic in the selection of settlements. Purposive sampling was adopted because it was the researcher’s deliberate intention to choose the rural communities in Yakurr L.G.A. that have direct interface with the Forest Reserves and are involved in the use and management of forest resources. While the systematic sampling was used to select rural women households at fixed intervals. The research findings revealed that a significant percent (71.2%) of the rural women were involved in the harvesting of forest resources. The study also showed that different quantities of edible leaves, fruits, snails, and medicinal herbs were collected by rural women for varying purposes. It further showed that these forest resources were harvested at varying frequencies and that they generate income to the rural women. The main forest resources conserved as revealed by the study included afang, atama, editan, bush mango, and hot leaf because of the high exploitation. Restrictions on the felling and uprooting of plants as well as ban on exploitation were the two prominent ways of forest resources conservation. Pearson’s correlation result indicated a positive and significant association between indigenous practices of rural women and forest resources utilization and conservation. It also showed that problems encountered in the collection of forest resources did not vary by the ages of rural women. In order to control unwanted exploitation of forest resources as well ensure the availability for the future, local communities should set-up forest guards or vigilante to control the quantity of edible forest resources that will be harvested from the forest.

In the context of low provision of Ukraine with forests, its uneven distribution and low level of forest cover of the territory, and, as a result, forestry reserves, it seems promising to determine the priority areas for the development of the forest industry and mechanisms for effective management of the modern forestry industry complex, taking into account the experience of the structural policy of the countries with the forest fund that is similar in terms of extent. The aim of the article is to provide an in-depth analysis of the status and tendencies in the development of the forestry industry complex of Ukraine in the pre-war period, taking into account its integral components. The article analyzes the status and tendencies in the development of the forestry industry complex of Ukraine in the context of uneven distribution of forests and the extent of the forest fund in different regions of Ukraine. An in-depth analysis of the components of the forestry industry complex in the pre-war period is carried out, in particular, such as: woodworking industry, production of paper and paper products, furniture production. At presence, the woodworking industry of Ukraine has a low level of provision of mainly coniferous wood for forest consumers and the needs of the domestic market, which, in turn, leads to inefficient use of wood resources in conditions of low rates of reproduction of forest plantations. It is determined that the woodworking industry is a priority industry for most of the western regions of Ukraine and can further become a driving force for the intensive development of their economy. The activity of enterprises of the woodworking industry is also characterized from the standpoint of their number, net profit (loss) and profitability. An analysis of the foreign economic component of the development of the woodworking industry of Ukraine is carried out. It is proved that the prerequisite for the further development of the forestry industry complex of Ukraine in the post-war recovery period is its existing potential, which, under the conditions of an effective and systematic State policy in the field of forest management, will achieve an increase in competitiveness and growth of production at the regional level.

In a dual context characterized, on the one hand, by the proliferation of forest areas made possible by initiatives such as “one department, one forest”, and on the other hand, by the devolution of the management of these forest areas to local populations through decentralization, it is necessary and opportune to investigate the management of these forest resources. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the management of two community forests by examining the access of local residents to information related to these forests and their participation in their management. To this end, quantitative data were collected from 201 households living near these forests. The Likert scale, consisting of four possible options, was used to assess the level of access of local residents to information related to the forests and the extent of their participation in forest management. The results of this analysis revealed respective overall mean scores of 3.59 for information access and 2.89 for participation in management, indicating a high level of information access and a moderate degree of peasant participation in forest management. These farmers should be encouraged to maximize their participation in the management of the forests to which they are adjacent.

Non-timber forest product (NTFP) contributes to the livelihoods of about 2 billion people worldwide, and are among the most valuable plant resources for current and future food security. However, their exploitation is becoming problematic due to their increasing scarcity and the rudimentary and arduous working conditions for rural populations whose incomes are inextricably linked. The aim of this study was to analyze the working conditions of NTFP harvesters in Eastern Cameroon, in order to detect bottlenecks and ultimately to propose ways of improvement. The methodological approach consisted of semi-structured surveys of 180 households belonging to two ethnic groups, including Baka and Bantou. This was done in three villages around Boumba Bek and Nki national parks (BBNNP). Surveys focused on working conditions related to five important NTFPs, namely Irvingia gabonensis, Ricinodendron heudelotii, Monodora myristica, Afrostyrax lepidophyllus and Afromomum melegueta. Distance walking from villages to gathering sites, working time and drudgery perception were studied comparatively for these two ethnic groups. Results show that the most active age group in NTFP gathering is between 30 and 45 for Bantou and Baka. Baka travel longer distances in forests, reaching records of over 23 km to gather NTFP. R. heudelotii is the most time-consuming species gathered. I. Gabonensis and A. lepidophyllus also require significant working time. Overall, the two ethnic groups have almost similar drudgery perceptions involved in all NTFP gathering activities. A. lepidophyllus and R. heudelotii showed the highest drudgery scores compared with other NTFPs. The domestication of priority NTFP species and the provision of shelling machines would improve the working conditions of local populations.

This study evaluated the socioeconomic factors determining rural households' reliance on forest resources, a case of forested communities in Quan'Pan Council Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling process, 150 household heads were chosen for the study. Descriptive statistics, five point Likert scale and binary logit regression analysis were used to achieve the objectives of the study. The study's outcome showed that the heads of the households were averagely 40years. About 71% of the selected persons were men with a greater (89%) number married. Majority (58%) of them had only primary education. Findings from the study also revealed that 82% of the heads of the households were into farming as their major occupation. They practice farming on average farm sizes of 1.6hectares. All (100%) interviewed household heads collected and utilized a variety of forest products throughout the year for their daily subsistence and income generation. The respondents showed high level of dependability on resources from the forest to support themselves such as firewood (4.7), timber (4.0), charcoal (4.0), fruits and nuts (3.8), bush meat (3.7), honey (3.7) and medicinal herbs (3.0). Forest products contributed the second largest proportion of income in the home by 27.0% after income from agriculture (51.0%). Gender (0.944), education status (-0.385), household size (0.432), farm size (-0.581) and farm income (-0.024) were significant determinant of households reliance on the resources of the forest. Gender (0.944) and household size (0.432) had positive and significant relationships with households dependence on forest resources while education status (- 0.385), farm size (-0.581) and farm income (-0.024) showed a significant inverse relationship with the reliance of households on forest resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest resource reporting techniques primarily use the two most recent measurements for understanding forest change. Multiple remeasurements now exist within the US national forest inventory (NFI), providing an opportunity to examine long-term forest demographics. We leverage two decades of remeasurements to quantify live-dead wood demographics which can better inform estimates of resource changes in forest ecosystems. Our overall objective is to identify opportunities and gaps in tracking 20 years of forest demographics within the US NFI using east Texas as a pilot study region given its diversity of tree species, prevalence of managed conditions, frequency of disturbances, and relatively rapid change driven by a warm, humid climate. We examine growth and mortality rates, identify transitions to downed dead wood/litter and removal via harvest, and describe implications of these processes focusing on key species groups (i.e., loblolly pine, post oak, and water oak) and size classes (i.e., saplings, small and large trees). Growth and mortality rates fluctuated differently over time by species and stem sizes in response to large-scale disturbances, namely the 2011 drought in Texas. Tree-fall rates were highest in saplings and snag-fall rates trended higher in smaller trees. For removal rates, different stem sizes generally followed similar patterns within each species group. Forest demographics from the field-based US NFI are informative for identifying diffuse lagged mortality, species- and size-specific effects, and management effects. Moreover, researchers continually seek to employ ancillary data and develop new statistical methods to enhance understanding of forest resource changes from field-based inventories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild mushrooms and truffles (MT) are important resources, which can contribute to the socioeconomic sustainability of forestry ecosystems. However, not all wild MT are edible. Fast, cheap, and reliable methods that distinguish wild MT species (including the deadly ones) can contribute to valuing these important forest resources. Here, we tested if wild MT species, and their edibility, could be distinguished based on their aroma profiles (i.e., smellprints). For that, we combined the use of the electronic nose with classification models (linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA)) to distinguish between 14 wild MT species (including edible and non-edible species) collected in Portugal. The 14 wild MT species could be accurately distinguished using LDA (93% accuracy), while the edible and non-edible species could be accurately distinguished using both LDA and PLS-DA (97% and 99% accuracy, respectively). Keeping in mind that our methodological design's feasibility was verified using a small sample, the data show the potential of the combined use of the electronic nose with discriminant analysis to distinguish wild MT species and their edibility based on their aromatic profile. Although a larger dataset will be necessary to develop a quick and reliable identification method, it shows potential to be as accurate as the identification performed by mycologists and molecular biology, yet requiring less technical training, and the analyses are cheaper and faster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing concern for environmental sustainability drives efforts toward balancing economic growth with responsible resource management. Forests represent invaluable green assets central to combating climate change and supporting biodiversity. This research investigates the intricate interaction between forest resources and economic and green performances within the European Union (EU). The European Union, as a conglomerate of diverse member states with varying forest endowments and economic contexts, provides a rich framework for examining these connections. This paper applies structural equation modeling (SEM) and cluster analysis to a dataset collected from Eurostat. This study's empirical findings underscore the multidimensional relationship between forest resources and green and economic performances. The findings reveal significant positive relationships between economic and green performances and forest resources and a negative relationship between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and forest resources, implying a decline in GHG while green and economic performances increase. Cluster analysis identifies distinct groups of EU countries exhibiting similar profiles concerning forest management and economic and green performances. The cluster analysis results highlight the necessity for tailored strategies and policy benchmarking that acknowledge the heterogeneity of EU member states and their unique combinations of forest resources, economic structures, and ecological commitments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing concern for sustainable forest and protected forest resources motivates this study. In the wake of rising protected forest depletion, climate change and public health problems, this study through a bidding game format develops a sustainability index to show households' sustainability behavior toward the protected forests in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Relying on a cross-section of household survey data and regression analysis, this study finds that overall, approximately 79% of respondents exhibited sustainable behavior toward protected forests in GAR. Also, this sustainable behavior is associated with expected revenue of GH¢ 80,837,594 (USD$ 15,368,398) per annum. We also find that socioeconomic, psychological, and environmental factors are the main drivers of protected forest sustainability in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. This study has important implications for institutions working toward sustaining protected forest and forest resources in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road initiative is a comprehensive strategic initiative initiated by the Chinese government; it encompasses a significant segment of geo-territory, interaction of economy, investment, environment and ecology worldwide. In recent years, much has been said and written about the Belt and Road initiative's economic and investment prospectus; however, relatively little attention has been paid to the comprehensive quest of its emergent ecological and sustainable environmental spares. This paper aims to investigate the association of forest resources, agricultural expansion, and financial development with energy demand and environment; based on ecological footprints among selected ninety-seven nations of Belt and Road initiative from 1995 to 2018 by employing a Generalized Method of Moments and Driscoll and Kraay approaches. Empirical outcomes of the study have revealed that GDP growth reduces the environmental burden, and agricultural expansion deteriorates the environment. Contrarily, finance, foreign direct investment, and forest resources are providing solutions for environmental improvement in the study area. Similarly, the role of forests, agriculture, and finance remain positive determinants of energy demand in the study area. From the causal test, we found that the indicators of environment, energy, forest, agriculture, and finance all have bidirectional linkages. Based on our research results, we have concluded some policy implications for policymakers within the Belt and Road initiative framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present of rapid development of information technology, it is of great practical significance to extract and analyze electronic information. This paper combines ORB features and an improved convolutional neural network, establishes ORB feature extraction by fast key point extraction and rBRIEF, and also improves the data layer, convolutional layer and loss layer of convolutional neural network to construct the information extraction network model, and images the electronic information to obtain more key information. Taking the forest resources of land M as an example for application research, remote sensing data are collected, and the research is carried out in terms of the dynamic changes of different levels of forest resource information extraction. The results can be obtained that the forests in the middle and eastern parts of Land M have a low degree of depression, with an average diameter at breast height (DBH) of less than 18 cm and a stock volume of less than 100 m3/ha, while in the western part, the degree of depression and the average diameter at breast height (DBH) are higher, and the density of the forest stands in each region is concentrated at 500-1000 plants/ha. The overall forest cover of the land showed an increasing trend from 2016 to 2020. In general, from 2019 to 2020, the area of broadleaf forests, coniferous forests, and non-forested land increased, while the area of bamboo forests decreased. Broadleaf and coniferous forests saw an increase of 14.25% and 3.11% respectively. The area of bamboo forest decreased by 15.42%. The effectiveness of the constructed method for intelligent extraction of key electronic information was verified through application analysis.

This study evaluated the socioeconomic factors determining rural households' reliance on forest resources, a case of forested communities in Quan’Pan Council Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling process, 150 household heads were chosen for the study. Descriptive statistics, five point Likert scale and binary logit regression analysis were used to achieve the objectives of the study. The study's outcome showed that the heads of the households were averagely 40years. About 71% of the selected persons were men with a greater (89%) number married. Majority (58%) of them had only primary education. Findings from the study also revealed that 82% of the heads of the households were into farming as their major occupation. They practice farming on average farm sizes of 1.6hectares. All (100%) interviewed household heads collected and utilized a variety of forest products throughout the year for their daily subsistence and income generation. The respondents showed high level of dependability on resources from the forest to support themselves such as firewood (4.7), timber (4.0), charcoal (4.0), fruits and nuts (3.8), bush meat (3.7), honey (3.7) and medicinal herbs (3.0). Forest products contributed the second largest proportion of income in the home by 27.0% after income from agriculture (51.0%). Gender (0.944), education status (-0.385), household size (0.432), farm size (-0.581) and farm income (-0.024) were significant determinant of households reliance on the resources of the forest. Gender (0.944) and household size (0.432) had positive and significant relationships with households dependence on forest resources while education status (-0.385), farm size (-0.581) and farm income (-0.024) showed a significant inverse relationship with the reliance of households on forest resources.

Given the importance of forests and the role of public environmental policies, using an interdisciplinary methodology, this study explained the various levels of effectiveness of Complementary Law No. 233/2005, which aims to ensure the flora and allows sustainable exploitation, implanted in the state of Mato Grosso. Eight municipalities were selected, located in the Amazon biome, with significant indicators of deforestation and illegal logging. The analysis considered the potential in areas of standing forest, from which seven municipalities had areas suitable for legal exploitation, the forest managements implemented, environmental assessments against flora and the discharge of these fines, of which only 4% were paid. To analyze the behavior of deforestation in relation to the independent variables, a multiple linear regression model was used. The estimation resulted in a positive relationship between management and deforestation, demonstrating the feeling of false legality. Logging establishments did not show a statistical relationship with deforestation, unlike the employment link variable, which was positive. The assessments against flora showed a negative relationship with deforestation, which is attributed to deficits related to the application of sanctions and the payment of fines in the municipalities studied. Thus, it was understood that the complementary law alone is not able to act efficiently in relation to the protection of flora and the promotion of sustainable activities, requiring an alignment between the agents, the State and the competent bodies, evidencing that the factors associated with deforestation in these municipalities are complex and are not related only to the timber sector.

Environmental degradation is one of the main causes of concern in the world. There is a dilemma on policies that are devised to improve the quality of the environment with those meant to promote economic growth, since factors that foster economic growth degrade the environment. The present research seeks to examine the influence of energy efficiency, forest resources, and renewable energy among the less-emitter and high-emitter sub-Saharan African nations, for the period 1990 to 2020. The present research is significant in providing a comparative analysis of less- and high-emitter sub-Saharan African nations on this subject, hence the main novelty of the research. The panel Autoregressive distributive lag and cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributive methods are used for data analysis, and their results are compared and contrasted. The research presents in its findings that renewable energy, forest resources, and energy efficiency improve the environment, while economic growth distorts the environment in both regions. No asymmetries exist between the less- and high-emitter sub-Saharan African nations, on the impact of energy efficiency, economic growth, forest resources, and renewable energy to the environment. Non-renewable energy, in the high-emitter sub-Saharan African nations, degrades the environment. The policy recommendations are also given in line with the research findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, there has been a perception that the Mozambican forests have been threatened with massive exploitation for commercialization, deforesting vast areas, leading to desertification and contributing to the extinction of some forest species. The present research summarizes the official information obtained by monitoring the country's natural resources over time and identifying the major types of existing forests in Mozambique. The main objective is to elucidate on the current state of Mozambican forests, analyze change and trends, and characterize the actual distribution of forest species in Mozambique to verify the sustainability of forest resources and their composition. It is a case study of the qualitative descriptive type, with data obtained through a bibliographic research method focusing on scientific articles on the type of forest species existing in Africa and Mozambique and data from official sources of the forests. Various types of forests were identified, such as mopane, mercrusse, semi-deciduous, miombo, and semi-evergreen, including the gallery forest. Forest species with particular relevance were highlighted, such as Afzelia quanzensis, Swartzia madagascariensis, Pterocarpaus angolensis, Combretum imberbe, and Millettia stuhalmannii. Major threats to these natural resources were identified and reported, including anthropogenic activity associated with traditional practices of illegal logging or due to the valuation of other goods of primary necessity, lack of protection and conservation measures, and impacts resulting from climate change. The Munza district is presented as a case study, carrying out a characterization of the forest in this district and identifying the main threats in the study area from 2015 to 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the history of any state, the forest domain played a great role. Russia, being a country with the richest forest resources, pays great attention to the state regulation of forest management and forest conservation. The history of the use of forest resources is part of the history of Russia. The relevance of the topic is due to the change in the concept of teaching the history of Russia for students studying in specialized historical and non-core specialties and areas of training in universities. The number of hours devoted to the study of national history is increasing; the history of Russia will be singled out from the course of world history as an independent academic discipline. Students will have the opportunity to study in more detail various aspects of the history of the Russian state. The article analyzes the measures of state regulation of the use of forest resources for the production of potash, resin and tar in Russia in the 17th century. — the first quarter of the XVIII century. and also questions of regulation of trade in the specified goods. The analysis of normative legal acts that determined the conditions and features of production and trade in products obtained from wood processing was carried out. It is concluded that the state’s focus only on administrative and legal measures to regulate the use of forests in Russia, without taking into account economic realities, demonstrates low efficiency and leads to crisis phenomena in the area under study.

Tanzania, like many other tropical countries, has streamlined its environmental policies to institutionalise community participation and improve governance of community forests. The question is: to what extent has the governance of these forests improved as a result of the specified measures? The aim of this paper is to understand whether the institutionalisation of community participation through Community Forest Management Agreements (CoFMAs) guarantees sustainability in the governance of community forests in Zanzibar. Data for this paper were collected through structured interviews from 323 respondents in selected households, and complemented with in-depth interviews with 27 key informants (government officials, elders from the communities, local leaders and leaders of community conservation groups). The results show that the establishment of CoFMAs followed existing legislative frameworks to formalize community participation to ensure governance sustainability of community forests. However, the established conservation initiatives such as community participation in decision-making processes, benefit-sharing of forest resources, technological transfer, and community monitoring of forest resources have remained elusive as most of those initiatives have not been sustained overtime. Although CoFMAs have slightly improved community forest areas, illegal hunting of wildlife in and out of the conserved forests still remains a challenge. As such, the institutionalization of community participation under CoFMA cannot guarantee sustainability in the governance of community forest resources, unless it is community-led, and has access to reliable sources of income. Communities should, therefore, be facilitated with income-generating conservation projects, and/or establish reliable alternative sources of income to meet their needs to ensure sustainable governance of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a dual context characterized, on the one hand, by the proliferation of forest areas made possible by initiatives such as "one department, one forest", and on the other hand, by the devolution of the management of these forest areas to local populations through decentralization, it is necessary and opportune to investigate the management of these forest resources. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the management of two community forests by examining the access of local residents to information related to these forests and their participation in their management. To this end, quantitative data were collected from 201 households living near these forests. The Likert scale, consisting of four possible options, was used to assess the level of access of local residents to information related to the forests and the extent of their participation in forest management. The results of this analysis revealed respective overall mean scores of 3.59 for information access and 2.89 for participation in management, indicating a high level of information access and a moderate degree of peasant participation in forest management. These farmers should be encouraged to maximize their participation in the management of the forests to which they are adjacent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Trees outside forests (TOFs) are important landscape features that provide numerous functions (ecosystem services) that are not valued due to a lack of knowledge about these resources. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes induced by the anthropogenic land use change in relation to their effects on TOFs. The dynamics of TOFs were examined through detailed photointerpretation mapping and characterization by land use/land cover and other environmental variables. The landscape function of TOFs and relative dynamics were analyzed, revealing landscape simplification due to the loss of TOFs, both in number and area, and a relative loss of connectivity. In 2000, TOFs accounted for 2.6% more forest area than mapped in the regional forest map; in fifteen years, about 30% of the total area has been lost, one-third of which has been converted to forest and the remainder permanently lost. The causes of the loss of TOFs are partly due to the abandonment of agricultural land, but also to the actions of farmers who remove these elements for various reasons. In protected areas (Natura 2000 network), the loss is less due to the different characteristics of land use/cover and land management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern era, forest resources are integrated into the life and general social relations of human communities, having a significant impact on their cultural and social organization. It is recognized that forest resources were indeed the basis on which people built their material existence, economic development for many centuries, bearing par excellence the seal of wood. Currently, the area covered with forests in the Republic of Moldova is 362.7 thousand hectares, which is 10.7% of the country's territory. The share of forests in the total area of the country is insufficient to ensure the ecological balance and meet the needs of the national economy in the products and services of forestry.

Balancing the relationship between forest resources and economic growth is crucial for achieving sustainable development in China. Inner Mongolia, with its unique geographical environment and relatively underdeveloped economy, exhibits distinctive patterns in its forest resources development and changes. This study investigates the impact of economic growth on forest resources in Inner Mongolia using time-series data from 1980 to 2018 and the cubic curve regression model based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. The results reveal an inverted N-shaped EKC relationship, with the forest coverage rate undergoing a “decline-up-decline” evolution process, characterized by turning points 1984 and 2015, and the forest stock volume exhibiting a “decline-up” evolution process with a minimum turning point around 1999. Remarkably, the forest stock volume continues to increase at present and over a foreseeable future. Furthermore, the study finds that population density has a negligible effect on the reduction of forest coverage rate in Inner Mongolia. Lastly, the paper offers policy suggestions to promote the sustainable development of forest resources in the region.

Modern forestry systems rely on typologies of forest types (FTs). In Argentina, several proposals have been developed, but they lack unified criteria. The objective was to compare different approaches, specifically focusing on (i) phenoclusters (functional forests based on vegetation phenology variations and climate variables) and (ii) forest canopy cover composition by tree species. We conducted comparative uni-variate analyses using data from national forest inventories, forest models (biodiversity, carbon, structure), and regional climate. We assessed the performance of phenoclusters in differentiating the variability of native forests (proxy: forest structure), biodiversity (proxy: indicator species), and environmental factors (proxies: soil carbon stock, elevation, climate). Additionally, we proposed a simple FT classification methodology based on species composition, considering the basal area of tree species. Finally, we compared the performance of both proposals. Our findings showed that classifications based on forest canopy cover composition are feasible to implement in regions dominated by mono-specific forests. However, phenoclusters allowed for the increased complexity of categories at the landscape level. Conversely, in regions where multi-specific stands prevailed, classifications based on forest canopy cover composition proved ineffective; however, phenoclusters facilitated a reduction in complexity at the landscape level. These results offer a pathway to harmonize national FT classifications by employing criteria and indicators to achieve sustainable forest management and conservation initiatives.

Climate change is predicted to lead to increasingly intense and hotter droughts, causing physiological weakness followed by forest decline in many regions of the world. Long- and short-range remote sensing (satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called drones) can sense drought-induced changes in vegetation. Although several studies have addressed forest decline events, none have analyzed the forest decline attributable to climate change using remote sensing in a concise manner. A bibliometric analysis was carried out to characterize the scientific production reported in the Web of Science repository. The search descriptors were a combination of keywords related to forest decline and remote sensing. The results showed 278 articles published between 1989 and 2021 in 92 journals, with an average annual increase of 31%. A total of 29 nodes and 220 scientific collaboration links were located, mainly led by researchers from USA, Germany and China. Keyword analysis using World-TreeMap reflected the association of different key forest decline phenomena such as drought stress and climate change. Although the use of satellite information to study and understand forest decline has been reported for just over three decades, the most notable feature of the present research was the limited role of drones with only 5 studies. This reveals an area of opportunity to take advantage of the main strengths of drones, i.e., spatial and temporal resolution, low cost compared to manned flights, and centimeter accuracy. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to increase studies to improve the use of multispectral sensors, thermal and LiDAR technology for long-term monitoring of forest decline related to climate change.