913 results
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2. Ecology, Diversity, Conservation and Management of Ungulates.
- Author
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Reimoser, Friedrich and Nopp-Mayr, Ursula
- Subjects
WILD boar ,UNGULATES ,FOREST biodiversity ,ANIMAL diversity ,RANGE management ,ANIMAL communities ,COMPETITION (Biology) - Abstract
This document is an overview of a special issue on the ecology, diversity, conservation, and management of ungulates (hoofed mammals). The issue includes ten papers that cover various topics related to ungulates and their habitats. The papers discuss the impact of ungulates on vegetation, forest composition, and structure, as well as their role as pests in forestry and agriculture. Other topics include the interactions between ungulates and predators, the conservation of ungulates and their habitats, and the genetic diversity of ungulates. The document also highlights research gaps and provides recommendations for integrated ungulate-forest management. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Fertility Variation and Gene Diversity in Forest Populations.
- Author
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Kang, Kyu-Suk, Bilir, Nebi, Jeon, Koeun, and Kim, Ye-Ji
- Subjects
FERTILITY ,FOREST biodiversity ,HUMAN fertility ,FORESTS & forestry ,GERMPLASM - Abstract
Fertility variation, defined as a difference in the ability to create progeny (i.e., reproductive success) among individuals, was reviewed using the related available theoretical and practical literature in an attempt to contribute to and improve future studies on the subject. Fertility variation is a useful guide for various purposes such as gene conservation, seed production programs, forest genetic resource (i.e., seed sources) management, other forestry practices (e.g., regeneration), and evolutional and physiological studies. Many papers and proceedings have been published, including both theoretical and practical approaches, on how fertility variation has improved in the last two decades. Large variations in fertility were widely reported among populations within species and among species. We reviewed the literature and combined our diverse knowledge to examine fertility variations and their linkage parameters. Fertility variations and their related parameters (e.g., gene diversity, status number, effective parent number, parental–balance curves) estimated based on reproductive characteristics have been studied for many years using easy and cheap surveys that are used for different purposes in forest sciences. Their importance is increasing and their use is becoming more widespread because of these advantages, leading to improvements in research papers. While many research papers have recently been published on fertility variations and linkage parameters, a review paper has not been published to date. Therefore, a review paper is needed based on a literature survey and unpublished experience, as a guide for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation: Introduction to the Special Issue.
- Author
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Dinca, Lucian and Zhiyanski, Miglena
- Subjects
FOREST management ,BIODIVERSITY conservation ,FOREST biodiversity ,URBAN forestry ,ECOSYSTEM services ,GENOTYPE-environment interaction ,MOUNTAIN ecology ,GREEN infrastructure - Abstract
These research articles are highly varied and can be classified into eight sub-domains that are representative of the chosen domain: natural and human disturbances, genetics, site conditions, tropical forest, peri-urban forest, forest soils, forest reserves, and mountain ecosystems (Figure 2). The sustainable and regular supply of ecosystem services by forests requires excellent knowledge of the functional and biological diversity in these complex ecosystems [[7], [9]]. In this study, natural forests were the most positively rated type of forest, while the managed ones were the least positively rated, revealing an important trend among the participants, and human intervention was not the foremost landscape-related factor affecting this perception. Forest ecosystems contribute to human wellbeing and the economy through the complex ecosystem services they provide [[1], [3], [5]]. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2023
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5. Politics of forests and environmental data: Innovation from above, innovation from below, and conflicts over land use and property in Sweden.
- Author
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ALARCON, CRISTIAN
- Subjects
LAND use ,DIGITAL transformation ,FORESTS & forestry ,FOREST biodiversity ,PRODUCTION management (Manufacturing) ,TREE farms - Abstract
This paper offers an exploratory analysis of the links between the politics of forest and struggles over environmental data in Sweden. The term politics of data is used to analyse data production orientated to productivity-oriented forestry and the use of digital technologies that allow ordinary citizens to produce data and knowledge on forests and biodiversity in Sweden. While both processes can be understood as innovation, they differ in terms of drivers and actors. The paper proposes to approach the former process as innovation from above, and the latter process will be understood as innovation from below. In this regard, the main argument to be developed in the paper is that these two forms of innovation reveal the key role of struggles on environmental data in the political interlinkages between contemporary land and property questions in forest and forestry in Sweden. By looking at data production from below, the paper attempts to bring a more dynamic understanding of the production, use and exchange of innovations for data production in environmental conflicts. The empirical analysis of the paper is based on cases where the role of data production in discussions on forestry in Sweden show contestation about the procedures to produce data and its use through digital transformations. These cases will serve to discuss the relations between political struggles over data and knowledge produced through digital tools, how land use and property are politically contested in the context of forestry, and how digital platforms for data production and management also become tools for incipient forms of democratization of knowledge production and innovation in decision making concerning forest and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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6. Prototype Biodiversity Digital Twin: Forest Biodiversity Dynamics.
- Author
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Afsar, Bekir, Eyvindson, Kyle, Rossi, Tuomas, Versluijs, Martijn, and Ovaskainen, Otso
- Subjects
FOREST biodiversity ,BIODIVERSITY ,DIGITAL twins ,VIRTUAL design ,FOREST management - Abstract
Forests are crucial in supporting biodiversity and providing ecosystem services. Understanding forest biodiversity dynamics under different management strategies and climate change scenarios is essential for effective conservation and management. This paper introduces the Forest Biodiversity Dynamics Prototype Digital Twin (pDT), integrating forest and biodiversity models to predict the effects of management options on forest ecosystems. The primary objective is to identify optimal management strategies that promote biodiversity, focusing on conservation and adaptation to different climate conditions. We start with the case of Finnish forests and bird species and plan to expand to include more European countries and a variety of species as the pDT is further developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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7. Relative roles of local disturbance, current climate and palaeoclimate in determining phylogenetic and functional diversity in Chinese forests.
- Author
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G. Feng, X. C. Mi, Bøcher, P. K., L. F. Mao, Sandel, B., M. Cao, W. H. Ye, Z. Q. Hao, H. D. Gong, Y. T. Zhang, X. H. Zhao, G. Z. Jin, K. P. Ma, and Svenning, J.-C.
- Subjects
PHYLOGENY ,PALEOCLIMATOLOGY ,FOREST biodiversity ,SPECIES ,LAST Glacial Maximum ,ECOLOGICAL disturbances ,FORESTS & forestry - Abstract
The main processes underlying the generation and maintenance of biodiversity include both local factors such as competition and abiotic filtering and regional forces such as palaeoclimate, speciation and dispersal. While the effects of regional and local drivers on species diversity are increasingly studied, their relative importance for other aspects of diversity, notably phylogenetic and functional diversity is so far little studied. Here, we link data from large Chinese forest plots to data on current and Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) climate as well as local disturbance regimes to study their relative roles in determining woody plant phylogenetic and functional diversity in this important hotspot for woody plant diversity. Local disturbance was the best predictor of functional diversity as represented by maximum canopy height (H
max ), probably reflecting the dominant role of competition for light in determining the forest Hmax structure. In contrast, the LGM-present anomaly in temperature was the factor with the strongest explanatory power for phylogenetic diversity, with modern climate also important. Hence, local contemporary and regional historical factors have highly contrasting importance for the geographic patterns of the functional and phylogenetic aspects of Chinese forest woody plant diversity. Importantly, contemporary factors are of overriding importance for functional diversity, while palaeoclimate has left a strong signature in the phylogenetic diversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2013
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8. Forest environmental frontiers around the globe: Old patterns and new trends in forest governance.
- Author
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Winkel, Georg, Sotirov, Metodi, and Moseley, Cassandra
- Subjects
FOREST biodiversity ,CLIMATE change mitigation ,ENVIRONMENTAL justice ,FOREST conservation ,BIODIVERSITY conservation ,FOREST management ,CONTINENTS - Abstract
Forests are subject to a huge variety of often competing socio-economic demands and environmental change. This paper assesses the related conflicts that occur along what we label to be a "Global Forest Environmental Frontier". Assessing 11 contributions to a special issue on the same topic, it summarizes the main contents of these papers and concludes with an assessment of major trends. The contributions to the special issue take both a regional and topic-related approach, assessing forest environmental conflicts on all five forested continents and investigating issues such as forest biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental justice and equity, development, and forest management and conservation discourses. Taken together, they provide an overview on the multiple facets of the Global Forest Environmental Frontier, but also identify some shared patterns and trajectories, which are outlined at the end of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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9. YOLO-Based Models for Smoke and Wildfire Detection in Ground and Aerial Images.
- Author
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Gonçalves, Leon Augusto Okida, Ghali, Rafik, and Akhloufi, Moulay A.
- Subjects
WILDFIRES ,FIRE detectors ,SMOKE ,FOREST biodiversity ,DEEP learning ,WEATHER ,OBJECT recognition (Computer vision) - Abstract
Wildland fires negatively impact forest biodiversity and human lives. They also spread very rapidly. Early detection of smoke and fires plays a crucial role in improving the efficiency of firefighting operations. Deep learning techniques are used to detect fires and smoke. However, the different shapes, sizes, and colors of smoke and fires make their detection a challenging task. In this paper, recent YOLO-based algorithms are adopted and implemented for detecting and localizing smoke and wildfires within ground and aerial images. Notably, the YOLOv7x model achieved the best performance with an mAP (mean Average Precision) score of 80.40% and fast detection speed, outperforming the baseline models in detecting both smoke and wildfires. YOLOv8s obtained a high mAP of 98.10% in identifying and localizing only wildfire smoke. These models demonstrated their significant potential in handling challenging scenarios, including detecting small fire and smoke areas; varying fire and smoke features such as shape, size, and colors; the complexity of background, which can include diverse terrain, weather conditions, and vegetation; and addressing visual similarities among smoke, fog, and clouds and the the visual resemblances among fire, lighting, and sun glare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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10. Stability Analysis of a Delayed Paranthrene tabaniformis (Rott.) Control Model for Poplar Forests in China.
- Author
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Wang, Meiyan, Han, Leilei, and Ding, Yuting
- Subjects
POPLARS ,FOREST biodiversity ,PLANT parasites ,HOPF bifurcations ,WATER conservation ,PEST control - Abstract
Forest pests and diseases can diminish forest biodiversity, damage forest ecosystem functions, and have an impact on water conservation. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the interaction mechanism between plants and pests. In this paper, the prevention and control of a specific pest—namely the larva of Paranthrene tabaniformis (Rott.) (hereinafter referred to as larva)—are studied. Based on the invasion mechanism of the larva in poplar, we establish a delayed differential equation and analyze the existence and stability of equilibria. Next, we assess the existence of a Hopf bifurcation to determine the range of parameters that ensures that the equilibria are stable. Then, we select a set of parameters to verify the results of the stability analysis. Finally, we provide biological explanations and effective theoretical control methods for poplar pests and diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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11. Using Biodiversity Indices Effectively: Considerations for Forest Management.
- Author
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Kitikidou, Kyriaki, Milios, Elias, Stampoulidis, Athanasios, Pipinis, Elias, and Radoglou, Kalliopi
- Subjects
FOREST management ,FOREST biodiversity ,BIODIVERSITY - Abstract
Since biodiversity is a multifaceted aspect of natural systems, several indices have been suggested to measure it. In this paper, we examined a number of well-known diversity indexes to see whether some performed better than others when applied to forest data. In order to reach this goal, we used data on basic forest variables (such as the diameters, heights, and volumes of trees) from forest plots to see if common diversity indices lead to the same conclusions about changes in biodiversity in a pairwise comparison (i.e., comparing the same region at two different times or two different regions at the same time). Out of a collection of 17 diversity indices, 8 of them exhibited robustness, indicating their constant ability to demonstrate either an increase or decrease in biodiversity over pairwise comparisons. However, it is important to note that the remaining seven diversity indices may yield inconsistent or inconclusive results, but only with regard to forest data, highlighting the complexity and nuances of measuring biodiversity with different sorts of data. In this review article, all 17 indices are presented, allowing the reader to choose which ones are most applicable to their particular dataset (genetic, econometric, sociometric, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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12. A Comparison of Random Forest Algorithm-Based Forest Extraction with GF-1 WFV, Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 Images.
- Author
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Peng, Xueli, He, Guojin, She, Wenqing, Zhang, Xiaomei, Wang, Guizhou, Yin, Ranyu, and Long, Tengfei
- Subjects
LANDSAT satellites ,RANDOM forest algorithms ,FOREST management ,FOREST conservation ,FOREST biodiversity ,FOREST monitoring ,ECOSYSTEMS - Abstract
Forests are an essential part of the ecosystem and play an irreplaceable role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem and protecting biodiversity. The monitoring of forest distribution plays an important role in the conservation and management of forests. This paper analyzes and compares the performance of imagery from GF-1 WFV, Landsat 8, and Sentinel-2 satellites with respect to forest/non-forest classification tasks using the random forest algorithm (RF). The results show that in the classification task of this paper, although the differences in classification accuracy among the three satellite datasets are not remarkable, the Sentinel-2 data have the highest accuracy, GF-1 WFV the second highest, and Landsat 8 the lowest. In addition, it was found that remotely sensed data of different processing levels show little influence on the classification accuracy with respect to the forest/non-forest classification task. However, the classification accuracy of the top of the atmosphere reflectance product was the most stable, and the vegetation index has a marginal effect on the distinction between forest and non-forest areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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13. TAPPI Fifth Forest Biology Conference.
- Author
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Gardner, Howard S.
- Subjects
CONFERENCES & conventions ,PAPER industry conferences ,FOREST biodiversity - Abstract
Information about the Fifth Forest Biology Conference, which was hosted by the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) in Raleigh, North Carolina, on May 11-13, 1970, is presented. Topics discussed include silviculture, the effect of phosphorous on the slash and loblolly pine in the South Carolina coastal plain and the evaluation of the wood, fiber and paper properties. Speakers of the event include Bruce Zobel, J. J. Wiley and W. T. Gladstone.
- Published
- 1971
14. Advancing forest inventorying and monitoring.
- Author
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Ferretti, Marco, Fischer, Christoph, Gessler, Arthur, Graham, Catherine, Meusburger, Katrin, Abegg, Meinrad, Bebi, Peter, Bergamini, Ariel, Brockerhoff, Eckehard G., Brunner, Ivano, Bühler, Christoph, Conedera, Marco, Cothereau, Pierre, D'Odorico, Petra, Düggelin, Christoph, Ginzler, Christian, Grendelmeier, Alex, Haeni, Matthias, Hagedorn, Frank, and Hägeli, Martin
- Subjects
FOREST surveys ,FOREST monitoring ,ECOSYSTEM dynamics ,NETWORK governance ,PARTICIPATORY design ,FOOD chains ,BIODIVERSITY monitoring ,ABIOTIC stress - Abstract
Key message: Evolving societal demands and accelerated ecological dynamics due to global change are rapidly altering forest ecosystems and their services. This has prompted the need for advancing forest inventorying and monitoring initatives to expand their scope, improve data collection, foster scientific understanding, and better inform policy responses. Here, we discuss the collaborative processes followed to develop an Advanced Inventorying and Monitoring (AIM) system for Swiss forests. Further, we provide the key messages that emerged from this process which can be of interest to those involved in similar processes at the national/international level. Forests are under pressure and going through rapid changes. However, current inventorying and monitoring (IM) programs are often either disjointed, too narrow in their scope and/or do not operate at fine enough temporal resolutions, which may hinder scientific understanding, the timely supply of information, fast decision making, and may result in the sub-optimal use of resources. For these reasons, there is an urgent need for Advanced Forest Inventorying and Monitoring (AIM) programs to (i) achieve expanded relevance (by augmenting data/information across ecosystem properties and trophic levels), (ii) have increased temporal resolution (by tailored data collection frequency), and (iii) make use of technological advances (by incorporating novel tools and technologies). The Advanced Inventorying and Monitoring for Swiss Forests (SwissAIM) initiative was launched in 2020 to address these needs. SwissAIM builds upon the foundation offered by the existing programs (e.g., national forest inventory, long-term forest ecosystem research, biodiversity monitoring). It aims to offer a collaborative and adaptive framework to enable integrated data collection, evaluation, interpretation, analysis, and modeling. Ideally, it will result in a more responsive system with respect to current and predicted biotic/abiotic stressors that will challenge Swiss forests. Developing such a system implies identifying the information needs of different stakeholders (e.g., science, policy, practice), related technical requirements, and governance frameworks. Here, we present (i) the main features of the SwissAIM initiative (vision, scientific questions and variables, governance and engagement), (ii) the main outcomes of the participatory design process (measurements, sampling, and plot design), (iii) the potential transferability of AIM initiatives outside Switzerland (timing, relevance, practicability), and (iv) the key messages that emerged (i.e., need for advancement, integration and transdisciplinarity, statistical underpinning). Since similar needs related to forest inventorying and monitoring are emerging throughout Europe and elsewhere, the objective of this opinion paper is to share our experience and promote a dialog with those interested in developing AIM initiatives in other countries and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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15. Phytocoenological and ecological typification of the March Mushroom (Hygrophorus marzuolus (Fr.) Bres.) habitat in Bijambare, Sarajevo Canton.
- Author
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Hasanbegović, Anis and Pintarić, Dario
- Subjects
FOREST biodiversity ,NUMBERS of species ,SOIL testing ,TRAILS ,ANALYTICAL chemistry - Abstract
Copyright of Works of the Faculty of Forestry University of Sarajevo is the property of Faculty of Forestry University of Sarajevo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2024
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16. Saproxylic beetles' morphological traits and higher trophic guilds indicate boreal forest naturalness.
- Author
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Wetherbee, Ross, Birkemoe, Tone, Burner, Ryan C., and Sverdrup‐Thygeson, Anne
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TAIGAS ,SPECIES diversity ,BEETLES ,BIODIVERSITY ,BIODIVERSITY monitoring ,FOREST biodiversity ,FOREST management - Abstract
Forests contribute to numerous ecosystem functions and services and contain a large proportion of terrestrial biodiversity, but they are being negatively impaced by anthropogenic activities. Forests that have never been clear‐cut and have old growth characteristics, termed "near‐natural," often harbor different and richer species assemblages than managed forests. Alternative management strategies may be able to balance the needs of biodiversity with the demands of forestry, but evaluation efforts are limited by the challenges of measuring biodiversity. Species richness is frequently used as a simple measure of biodiversity, but research indicates that it may not adequately capture community‐level changes. Alternatively, trait‐based measures of biodiversity may prove to be useful, but research is lacking. In this paper, we use a large dataset that includes 339 obligate saproxylic beetle species collected over a decade in the boreal region throughout southern Norway to: (1) establish if there is a difference in beetle community composition between near‐natural and managed forests; and (2) determine which measures of beetle biodiversity best indicate forest naturalness. We arranged the sites in an ordination space and tested for differences in community composition between these forest types. We also tested different measures of biodiversity to determine which were the most predictive of forest naturalness. We found a clear difference in community composition between near‐natural and managed forests. Additionally, three measures of biodiversity were most predictive of forest naturalness: proportional abundance of predators, community weighted mean (CWM) of wing length, and CWM of body roundness. The probability that a forest was near‐natural increased with the proportional abundance of predators but decreased with CWM wing length and body roundness. Although species richness was higher in near‐natural forests, the effect was not significant. Overall, our findings underscore the conservation value of near‐natural forests and highlight the potential of several measures of biodiversity for determining forest quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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17. Composition of Species and Spatial Patterns of Phyllostachys edulis Mixed Forests in a Succession after Enclosure.
- Author
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Liu, Jiaying, Zheng, Suyun, Lin, Yuwei, Zhang, Yirong, Rong, Jundong, He, Tianyou, Zheng, Junming, Chen, Liguang, and Zheng, Yushan
- Subjects
MIXED forests ,FOREST succession ,PHYLLOSTACHYS ,BAMBOO ,COMMUNITY forests ,SPECIES ,FOREST biodiversity - Abstract
This paper investigates the changes in species diversity and the spatial pattern of the population of a moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forest community in the Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve in Fujian Province, China. Using the method of space–time substitution, the composition of species and changes in the spatial patterns of different communities were analyzed by taking Phyllostachys edulis mixed forests after 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 40 years of enclosure as the survey object. The results showed that as the number of years of enclosure extended, the important values of the Japanese bay tree (Machilus thunbergii Sieb. & Zucc.), chinquapin (Castanopsis faberi Hance), and Masson's pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) increased continuously. These trees became the dominant species of mature forest after 40 years of enclosure. The species diversity of mature and young trees in the community generally increased in parallel with the years of enclosure, and the species diversity of the shrubs generally increased first and then decreased as the number of years of enclosure increased. With the extension of enclosure years, the average diameter at breast height of the mature trees tended to increase, indicating that there were increasing advantages of mature growth as the time of enclosure increased. With the extension of enclosure years, the pattern of spatial distribution of the mature trees in the forest community was generally an aggregated distribution. The Phyllostachys edulis forest community under the prolonged enclosure conditions responded in a positive direction and ultimately formed a more stable Phyllostachys edulis mixed forest community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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18. Impact of Land Use Change on the Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Ecosystem Service Values in South China Karst Areas.
- Author
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Chi, Yongkuan and He, Cheng
- Subjects
LAND use ,KARST ,WATER conservation ,ECOSYSTEM services ,FOREST biodiversity ,BIODIVERSITY conservation ,FORESTS & forestry ,RESOURCE exploitation ,ARABLE land - Abstract
Resource depletion, land-use change, and population growth triggered by the industrial revolution represent serious issues shared globally that have altered the structure, processes, and functions of ecosystems and had significant impacts on human well-being and survival security. This paper assesses changes in ecosystem service values (ESVs) in karst areas based on the perspective of land-use change. Guizhou province, which is typical of the South China Karst (SCK) ecologically fragile areas, was taken as a research subject. The past, current, and future spatial-temporal evolution of karst ESVs were assessed, using equivalence factors and CA-Markov modelling methods. The results show that: (1) from 1980 to 2040, arable land, woodland, and grassland occupy the main land types in the study area; at the same time, the water and built-up areas show a steady growth trend, with dramatic land use shifts occurring in the western, middle, and northern parts. (2) The overall ESVs increased by US$ 31.12 million during the study period, showing a temporal change trend of first decreasing and then increasing; forest land, grassland, and arable land area shift are the main factors of ESVs change; soil conservation, biodiversity conservation, and gas regulation functions are enhanced and play a vital role in the single ESVs increase; ESVs show a basin-type spatial distribution pattern. (3) The sensitivity index is <1, the ESV is inelastic to the VC factor adjustment, and the results are true and valid. This paper found that using quantitative methods to predict land use change of the South China Karst can provide accurate assessment of the differences in supply and demand for natural and social ecosystem services (ES) in a region, clarifying the trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem service functions, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development, and providing a practical reference for global land landscape optimization and land resource planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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19. Forest adaptation and restoration under global change.
- Author
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Bolte, Andreas, Mansourian, Stephanie, Madsen, Palle, Derkyi, Mercy, Kleine, Michael, and Stanturf, John
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FOREST restoration ,MANGROVE plants ,FOREST biodiversity ,WATER supply ,FOREST conservation ,FORESTS & forestry ,FOREST management - Abstract
1 Forested landscapes as multidisciplinary spaces contributing to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (modified from Mansourian [12]) However, forest landscapes are under pressure with the loss of forest areas by conversion to other land uses and degradation of existing forests, and reduced biodiversity. The paper of Jandl et al. ([11]) considers the strategy of non-management and of the reliance solely on natural forest dynamics as an optimal approach for adapting forests to climate change. Forests and forest landscapes, characterised by dominant forest areas with other embedded land uses, fulfil multiple essential ecosystem services (ES). With this, forests and forest landscapes may lose their characteristic structural and ecological features, and societies worldwide face diminishing levels of ecosystem services provided by forest landscapes. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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20. Making the paper: Jared Leadbetter.
- Subjects
- *
TERMITES , *INSECT body composition , *INSECT societies , *SPIROCHETES , *FUNGUS-bacterium relationships , *PATHOGENIC bacteria , *FOREST biodiversity - Abstract
The article highlights the background of termite's research by Jared Leadbetter during his journey to Costa Rica in May 2005. It is said that Leadbetter, an environmental microbiologist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, took a slice of the termite nest and transported it and its inhabitants, the tropical Nasutitermes termites, to Costa Rica's National Biodiversity Institute wherein he dissected almost 200 termites. Leadbetter found a high concentration of spirochetes, a helical bacteria that are usually associated with disease, in the termite's hindgut. It is claimed that the research implicates spirochetes in the initial hydrolysis of wood polysaccharides, making it a crucial part of the termite's digestive machinery.
- Published
- 2007
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21. Moving Away from Paper Corridors in Southeast Asia.
- Author
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JAIN, ANUJ, CHONG, KWEK YAN, CHUA, MARCUS AIK HWEE, and CLEMENTS, GOPALASAMY REUBEN
- Subjects
BIODIVERSITY ,FOREST degradation ,ENVIRONMENTAL degradation ,FOREST conversion ,FOREST biodiversity - Abstract
The authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of corridors as biodiversity conservation solutions. Topics discussed include the impact of poorly implemented corridor, corridors as conservation measures to reduce the negative impacts of forest fragmentation on biodiversity and the Central Forest Spine (CFS) Master Plan for Ecological Linkages from Peninsular Malaysia designed to restore ecological connectivity between 4 fragmented forest complexes through 17 primary linkages or corridors.
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
22. Potential of Morus nigra in Central Europe focused on micropropagation: A short review.
- Author
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ŠVAGR, PAVEL, GALLO, JOSEF, VÍTÁMVÁS, JAN, PODRÁZSKÝ, VILÉM, and BALÁŠ, MARTIN
- Subjects
MULBERRY ,LITERATURE reviews ,CHEMICAL composition of plants ,CLIMATE change ,FOREST biodiversity ,AGROFORESTRY ,BIODIVERSITY - Abstract
This paper is focused on the description of the black mulberry (Morus nigra), its ecology and the possibilities of its in vitro propagation for quick and efficient obtaining of a large quantity of clones in a relatively short time for subsequent planting or sale. Due to ongoing climate change, it is considerable to use mulberry trees in horticulture, agroforestry and forestry under the conditions of Central Europe. The use of the mulberry is conditioned by the availability of planting stock. A proven and successful method of mulberry propagation is in vitro cultivation. Based on literature review, the recommended composition of planting media and other procedures for in vitro cultivation of mulberries are presented. The aim of the article is to inform foresters about the possibilities of using the black mulberry tree in our conditions and, using its example, to point out the possibility of using non-standard species of trees both as part of adaptation measures to the expected climate change and as one of the options for increasing the biodiversity of the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Effects of Stand Structure of Artificial Shelter Forest on Understory Herb Diversity in Desert-Oasis Ecotone.
- Author
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Yang, Yan, Zhou, Zhengli, Shen, Liuji, Zhao, Yachong, Tang, Yuansheng, and Tian, Jiahe
- Subjects
FOREST biodiversity ,ECOTONES ,DESERTS ,PEARSON correlation (Statistics) ,ECOSYSTEMS ,UNDERSTORY plants - Abstract
The relationship between the spatial structure of shelter forests and the diversity of understory herbaceous plants in desert–oasis ecotones is important for maintaining biodiversity indices and protecting the oasis ecosystem. In this paper, we explore the coupling relationship between tree layer structure (competition index, angle scale, neighborhood comparison, DBH, etc.) and understory herb diversity in the transition zone of shelter forest plots near oases and near deserts; in addition, we also aim to elucidate the dominant stand structure factors affecting herb biodiversity. The results indicated the following: A total of 13 herbaceous plant species were discovered in the transitional zone, with 11 species found near the oasis area and 4 species near the desert region. The Shannon, Simpson, and Pielou indices of understory herbaceous plants were significantly higher near the oasis area compared to the desert region. The Margalef index mean was higher in the oasis area compared to the desert region. Pearson and canonical correlation analyses revealed significant associations between specific stand structure indicators and diversity in the herbaceous layer. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the competition index had a significant impact on the Shannon, Simpson, and Pielou diversity indices of the herbaceous layer in the understory of the shelterbelt forest near the oasis, with corresponding impact coefficients of 0.911, 0.936, and 0.831, respectively. The mingling degree was found to be the primary influencing factor for the Margalef index, with an impact coefficient of 0.825. However, in the understory of the shelterbelt forest near the desert, the neighborhood comparison ratio negatively affected the Shannon and Margalef indices, with impact coefficients of −0.634 and −0.736, respectively. Additionally, tree height negatively impacted the Simpson and Pielou indices, with impact coefficients of −0.645 and −0.677, respectively. In order to enhance the diversity of understory herbaceous species in the transitional zone and preserve the ecological system of the oasis, specific modifications to the forest structure and arrangement are essential. Pruning and thinning are necessary for shelterbelt forests located near desert regions, while shelterbelt forests near oases should use a suitable mix of tree species. These measures can help preserve or enhance the diversity of understory herbaceous plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Capturing red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) on camera: A cost‐effective approach for monitoring relative abundance and habitat preference.
- Author
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Shannon, Graeme, Valle, Simon, and Shuttleworth, Craig M.
- Subjects
TAMIASCIURUS ,HABITAT selection ,SQUIRRELS ,WILDLIFE conservation ,FOREST thinning ,FOREST biodiversity - Abstract
Effective methods for monitoring animal populations are crucial for species conservation and habitat management. Motion‐activated cameras provide an affordable method for passively surveying animal presence across the landscape but have mainly been used for studying large‐bodied mammals. This paper explores the relative abundance and habitat preferences of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in coniferous forests using cameras and live trapping. The study was conducted in two forests (Newborough and Pentraeth) on Anglesey, North Wales, with a total of 50 sampling locations across four habitat categories. Detailed woodland structure and composition data were gathered around each sampling location. We found a strong positive correlation between the number of individual red squirrels live trapped over 10 days with the number of camera images of squirrels recorded during a previous 5‐day period. The time interval between camera deployment and the first recorded image of a red squirrel showed a significant negative correlation with the number of individuals live trapped. Red squirrel relative abundance was negatively related to forest canopy openness, while the presence of Scots pine and increased tree species diversity were positively associated with the relative abundance of squirrels. There was also a strong site difference with lower relative abundance at Newborough compared with Pentraeth, which likely reflects the heavy thinning of mature forest at Newborough reducing tree crown connectivity. The results show that remotely activated cameras are an effective method for monitoring red squirrel populations across varying animal densities. The cameras also provided crucial information on red squirrel habitat preferences that can aid in woodland management and conservation efforts. Cameras have great potential to collect data on the population status of other small mammals, but it is essential that these methods are validated on a species‐by‐species basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Effects of Forestry Transformation on the Ecosystem Level of Biodiversity in Poland's Forests.
- Author
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Referowska-Chodak, Ewa and Kornatowska, Bożena
- Subjects
FOREST restoration ,FOREST policy ,FORESTS & forestry ,FOREST management ,FOREST biodiversity ,ECOSYSTEMS ,FOREST reserves ,BIODIVERSITY - Abstract
This paper presents the results of an analysis of the effects of Poland's forest management evolution over the last 75 years on forest biodiversity at the ecosystem level. Forest biodiversity changes in the two politically and economically different eras (socialism and democracy) are interpreted based on four indicators used in assessments of forest stands (naturalness; habitat diversity; forest management system; forest stand age structure). In the era of socialism (1945–1989), there were dynamic increases in the area of semi-natural forests as well as in the proportion of the most fertile habitats, whilst the proportion of the poorest habitats decreased quite dynamically. Then, the clearcutting management system was regularly implemented, with adverse impacts on forest spatial structure diversity. The proportion of old/mature tree stands and the stand average age increased at relatively slow rates. In the era of democracy (1990–2020), there were comparatively more dynamic increases observed in the area of forests undisturbed by man, as well as in the proportions of mixed broadleaved and wetland forest habitats. At the same time, the proportion of old/mature stands and stand average age kept increasing at relatively fast rates. The area of forests managed with the use of the shelterwood system increased and the area of forest plantations substantially decreased. On the other hand, irrespective of the era under study, there occurred a noticeable not-so-favourable decreasing trend in the proportion of the youngest forest stands. All in all, during the analysed period of more than seven decades, the evolution of forest management practice implemented in Poland's forests by State Forests National Forest Holding led to the restoration of/an increase in biodiversity at the ecosystem level. Yet, there have remained unsolved issues, as regards the following aspects: organisational (the assurance of further reconstruction of forest stands, and the restoration of water profiles), political (a lack of up-to-date national forest policy), and financial (the costs of protecting/restoring biodiversity vs. State Forests' self-financing), as well as conceptual (old-growth stands in managed forests, and controversy over clearcutting) and natural/anthropogenic (climate change, and the eutrophication of forest habitats) issues. The solutions may require measures outside the limits of Poland's forestry, if not far beyond national borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo).
- Author
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Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoudé, Akpamou, Kokouvi Gbétey, Konko, Yawo, Gaglo, John Kokou Toviho, Ketoh, Guillaume Koffivi, Dendi, Daniele, Fa, Julia Elizabeth, and Luiselli, Luca
- Subjects
FOREST canopy gaps ,HIPPOPOTAMUS ,ENDANGERED species ,MAMMAL communities ,NUMBERS of species ,UNGULATES ,MAMMALS ,FOREST biodiversity - Abstract
Simple Summary: One of the most important vegetation zones in West Africa is the so-called "Dahomey Gap", which is a mostly savannah region that separates two rainforest blocks, the West African one (scientifically known as the Upper Guinean Forest block) and the central African one (Lower Guinean Forest block). Forest patches are sparsely distributed within the Dahomey Gap region. In this paper, we studied medium and large mammals (especially ungulates) within an area dominated by patches of flooded forests near the Mono river in south-eastern Togo. We described the species richness of mammals in this area. We found that 19 species coexisted in these forests. The number of species in each forest area correlated with the size of the forest patch. We stress that to ensure the protection of the Dahomey Gap mammals, we should seriously consider protecting not only the forest patches but also the surroundings, mainly savannah landscapes. "The Dahomey Gap" is a human-derived mostly savannah region that separates the Guineo-Congolian rainforest block into two major units: the Upper Guinean and the Lower Guinean Forest blocks. Several forest patches are distributed throughout this savannah-dominated habitat. The mammal communities in the Dahomey Gap region have been poorly studied. In this paper we analyse the species richness and abundance of, as well as conservation implications for, medium and large mammals (especially ungulates) inhabiting a complex of flooded forests near the Mono river in south-eastern Togo. We use several field methods to describe the species richness of mammals in this area, including camera-trapping, recce transects, Kilometric Index of Abundance (KIA) estimates, examination of hunters' catches and face-to-face hunter interviews. Overall, we directly recorded 19 species that coexist in these forests. Based on interviews, nine other species were confirmed as present in the study area. Only five species were common: Cephalophus rufilatus, Tragelaphus scriptus, Chlorocebus aethiops, Atilax paludinosus and Herpestes ichneumon. The area still contains various threatened species such as Tragelaphus spekii and Hippopotamus amphibius. We stress that to ensure the protection of the Dahomey Gap mammals, it is important to seriously consider protecting not only the forest patches but also the surroundings, mainly savannah landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Ecological and economic analyses of the forest metabolism system: A case study of Guangdong Province, China.
- Author
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Zhang, Xin, Huang, Guohe, Liu, Lirong, Zhai, Mengyu, and Li, Jizhe
- Subjects
- *
FOREST management , *FOREST biodiversity , *BIOTIC communities , *PAPERMAKING , *PAPER products , *ECONOMIC development , *ECONOMICS - Abstract
Highlights • Forest resource Metabolism Network model isdeveloped for ecological and economic analysis. • Exploitation index is developed to reveal the weaker sectors in the ecological relations. • A case study of Guangdong province, China isconducted to illustrate the potential benefits. • Scientific Basis are provided to allocate forestresources and stabilize industrial structure. Abstract Integrating forest resources into the socio-economic system correctly and reasonably is of vital importance to tackle the increasingly scarce forest resources. In this paper, forest resource input-output model and forest resource metabolism network model are established to provide new insights into the relationships among the systems, industries and sectors related to forest resources. A promising indicator named exploitation index is developed to reveal the weaker sectors in the ecological relations, which will further help to provide better corrective actions and integrated strategic measures. Guangdong is taken as an example to verify the availability of the model and solve the problem. The results show that the primary manufacturing consumes more direct timber, while advanced manufacturing and the service sector utilize timber indirectly. In addition, Guangdong forest metabolism system shows a negative correlation and the whole network does not achieve the mutualism state, leading to competition relationships between pairwise sectors that should not appear, such as Forestry sector and Papermaking and Paper Products sector. These results provide the corresponding reference for helping the decision makers to allocate forest resources and coordinate ecological and economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Simulation Study of an Abstract Forest Ecosystem with Multi-Species under Lightning-Caused Fires.
- Author
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Ouyang, Zhi, Wang, Shiying, and Du, Nisuo
- Subjects
FIRE management ,FOREST biodiversity ,FOREST fires ,ECOSYSTEMS ,BIODIVERSITY conservation ,ANIMAL behavior ,FOREST fire ecology ,FIRE ecology - Abstract
There is a complex interaction between lightning-caused fire behavior and the flora and fauna of the forest, which involves the influence of a large number of ecological factors. However, more comprehensive simulation studies under multi-system interactions between lightning ignition, forest fire spread, and animal behavior are not well developed. In this paper, we propose a forest ecosystem model based on the Agent-based modelling approach to explore the detailed linkages between different forms of lightning-caused fires and forest biodiversity. The model simulates the lightning ignition, fire spread, vegetation burning and recovery, and multi-species-survival dynamics. The experimental results show the sensitivity between environmental parameters and the magnitude of lightning-caused fires, and the beneficial ecological consequences of lightning-caused fires on forest ecosystems. By exploring detailed linkages between different forms of lightning-caused fires and forest biodiversity, we provide theoretical insights and reference suggestions for forest system governance and biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Indigenous people's approach to woody plant species conservation in selected spots in Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria.
- Author
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Asuoha, Godson Chinonyerem, Okafor, Uchenna Paulinus, Onyekwelu, Chukwuemeka Anthony, Ayadiuno, Romanus Udegbunam, and Phil-Eze, Philip Ogbonnia
- Subjects
PLANT conservation ,PLANT species ,WOODY plants ,WILDLIFE conservation ,INDIGENOUS peoples ,FOREST biodiversity - Abstract
The 15th of United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. This paper investigates the approach adopted by indigenous peoples for conservation of woody plant species diversity in some selected spots in Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria. Relying on mixed method approach to research, data collection comprising field observation, ground truthing, plant species inventory, and key-informant interviews and analysis of data, two spots were purposively sampled, one from each of the two LGAs; Mbom in Bende LGA and Amangwu in Ohafia Local Government Area (LGA). A 50 × 20 m quadrat was sampled from each site, from where plant species inventory was undertaken. Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') was used to analyse the data. The result of Shannon-Wiener diversity index, shows that the diversity indices of the plant species for the two sites were 3.20 (Mbom) and 3.95 (Amangwu) respectively. The people of Bende and Ohafia LGAs employ some traditional laws to ensure conservation of woody plant species so as to achieve goal 15th of the SDGs. This paper advocates sustenance of those traditional laws that encourage conservation of woody plant species in the study area with enforceable sanctions to deter defaulters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. The forest restoration frontier.
- Author
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de Jong, Wil, Liu, Jinlong, and Long, Hexing
- Subjects
FOREST restoration ,BIODIVERSITY conservation ,COMMUNITY forestry ,FOREST products ,ECOSYSTEM services ,GOAL (Psychology) ,FOREST biodiversity ,ECOSYSTEMS - Abstract
Forest restoration has resulted in approximately 300 million ha of restored forests until today. During the second decade of the twenty-first century several international initiatives have sprung up which aim to add 350 million ha of restored forest by 2030. The paper reviews the development of the forest restoration frontier. It tracks trends of the increase of restored forests, emphasizing developments since the second half of the last century. It equally reviews past and ongoing policies, programs, and projects to restore forests. Available data show how the area of restored forests has progressively increased since the 1960s. There are three major objectives to restoring forest: (1) to produce forest products (timber and other products) or spaces for recreation, (2) to produce regulatory ecosystem services (sequestered carbon, erosion control) and (3) to achieve improvement of rural livelihoods. The emphasis on each of these objectives has changed over time and each objective implied different policies and arrangements, involvement of actors and use of technology and know-how. The large international programs and projects since the beginning of the twenty-first century promote forest restoration for biodiversity conservation, regulatory ecosystem services and improving wellbeing of resident populations. Some of the findings related to the development of the forest restoration frontier since the mid-twentieth century suggest that some of the ambitious goals may be unrealistic and result in unwanted outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Camera trap surveys of Atlantic Forest mammals: A data set for analyses considering imperfect detection (2004–2020).
- Author
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Franceschi, Ingridi Camboim, Dornas, Rubem Augusto da Paixão, Lermen, Isabel Salgueiro, Coelho, Artur Vicente Pfeifer, Vilas Boas, Ademir Henrique, Chiarello, Adriano Garcia, Paglia, Adriano Pereira, de Souza, Agnis Cristiane, Borsekowsky, Alana Rafaela, Rocha, Alessandro, Bager, Alex, de Souza, Alexander Zaidan, Lopes, Alexandre Martins Costa, de Moura, Aloysio Souza, Ferreira, Aluane Silva, García‐Olaechea, Alvaro, Delciellos, Ana Cláudia, Bacellar, Ana Elisa de Faria, Campelo, Ana Kellen Nogueira, and Paschoal, Ana Maria Oliveira
- Subjects
- *
FOREST surveys , *FOREST conservation , *FOREST biodiversity , *MAMMAL populations , *DATA analysis , *CAMERAS - Abstract
Camera traps became the main observational method of a myriad of species over large areas. Data sets from camera traps can be used to describe the patterns and monitor the occupancy, abundance, and richness of wildlife, essential information for conservation in times of rapid climate and land‐cover changes. Habitat loss and poaching are responsible for historical population losses of mammals in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, especially for medium to large‐sized species. Here we present a data set from camera trap surveys of medium to large‐sized native mammals (>1 kg) across the Atlantic Forest. We compiled data from 5380 ground‐level camera trap deployments in 3046 locations, from 2004 to 2020, resulting in 43,068 records of 58 species. These data add to existing data sets of mammals in the Atlantic Forest by including dates of camera operation needed for analyses dealing with imperfect detection. We also included, when available, information on important predictors of detection, namely the camera brand and model, use of bait, and obstruction of camera viewshed that can be measured from example pictures at each camera location. Besides its application in studies on the patterns and mechanisms behind occupancy, relative abundance, richness, and detection, the data set presented here can be used to study species' daily activity patterns, activity levels, and spatiotemporal interactions between species. Moreover, data can be used combined with other data sources in the multiple and expanding uses of integrated population modeling. An R script is available to view summaries of the data set. We expect that this data set will be used to advance the knowledge of mammal assemblages and to inform evidence‐based solutions for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest. The data are not copyright restricted; please cite this paper when using the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Disrupted montane forest recovery hinders biodiversity conservation in the tropical Andes.
- Author
-
Christmann, Tina, Palomeque, Ximena, Armenteras, Dolors, Wilson, Sarah Jane, Malhi, Yadvinder, and Oliveras Menor, Imma
- Subjects
MOUNTAIN forests ,FOREST restoration ,BIODIVERSITY conservation ,FOREST biodiversity ,TROPICAL forests ,TIME series analysis ,FOREST dynamics - Abstract
Aim: Andean montane forests are biodiversity hotspots and large carbon stores and they provide numerous ecosystem services. Following land abandonment after centuries of forest clearing for agriculture in the Andes, there is an opportunity for forest recovery. Field‐based studies show that forests do not always recover. However, large‐scale and long‐term knowledge of recovery dynamics of Andean forests remains scarce. This paper analyses tropical montane forest recovery trajectories over a 15‐year time frame at the landscape and tropical Andean scale to inform restoration planning. Methods: We first detect "potential recovery" as areas that have experienced a forest transition between 2000 and 2005. Then, we use Landsat time series analysis of the normalized difference water index (NDWI) to classify four "realized recovery" trajectories ("ongoing", "arrested", "disrupted" and "no recovery") based on a sequential pattern of 5‐yearly Z‐score anomalies for 2005–2020. We compare these results against an analysis of change in tree cover to validate against other datasets. Results: Across the tropical Andes, we detected a potential recovery area of 274 km2 over the period. Despite increases in tree cover, most areas of the Andes remained in early successional states (10–25% tree cover), and NDWI levelled out after 5–10 years. Of all potential forest recovery areas, 22% showed "ongoing recovery", 61% showed either "disrupted" or "arrested recovery", and 17% showed "no recovery". Our method captured forest recovery dynamics in a Peruvian arrested succession context and in landscape‐scale tree‐planting efforts in Ecuador. Main conclusions: Forest recovery across the Andes is mostly disrupted, arrested or unsuccessful, with consequences for biodiversity recovery and provision of ecosystem services. Low‐recovery areas identified in this study might be good candidates for active restoration interventions in this UN Decade on Restoration. Future studies could determine restoration strategies and priorities and suggest management strategies at a local planning scale across key regions in the biodiversity hotspot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Circular Bioeconomy and the Forest-Wood Sector: Bridging the Gap between Policies and Disadvantaged Forest Areas.
- Author
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Borrello, Massimiliano, Altomonte, Elisa, Cembalo, Luigi, D'Amico, Valentina, and Lombardi, Alessia
- Subjects
FOREST policy ,FOREST productivity ,WOOD waste ,CIRCULAR economy ,SUPPLY chains ,WOOD ,BRIDGES ,FOREST biodiversity - Abstract
The adoption of circular bioeconomy (CBE) strategies in forest-wood supply chains is a possible avenue for the future of this sector. However, the uptake of CBE models may face several barriers in the coming years, particularly in disadvantaged forest areas lacking appropriate resources and a suitable business environment to start radical innovation pathways. Based on interviews with 29 representatives (business actors and other key informants) of the forest-food sector of the Salerno province (Italy), the current study investigated the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) involved in the transition of disadvantaged forest areas into a circular bioeconomy. Respondents also contributed to identifying the most suitable strategies in order to foster the CBE transition in the territory at hand. The paper offers an outlook for the potentialities of CBE in disadvantaged forest areas for policy actors, willing to bridge the gap between CBE agendas and territorial development challenges. The role of policy actors is particularly crucial, in order to patronize investments, stimulate improved know-how and cooperation, and fix policy inconsistencies related to biomass valorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Environmental Performance of Regional Protected Area Network: Typological Diversity and Fragmentation of Forests.
- Author
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Chernenkova, Tatiana, Kotlov, Ivan, Belyaeva, Nadezhda, Suslova, Elena, and Lebedeva, Natalia
- Subjects
FOREST biodiversity ,PROTECTED areas ,RANDOM forest algorithms ,METROPOLITAN areas ,CARTOGRAPHIC materials ,LAND cover - Abstract
Protected areas (PAs) are among the main tools for preserving biodiversity and creating an environment for the natural course of ecological processes. The identification of forest biodiversity is especially important for large metropolitan areas. An obvious problem in assessing the efficiency of the PAs network is the lack of up-to-date cartographic materials representing the typological diversity of vegetation. The aim of the paper is to identify forest biodiversity and fragmentation in the example of the Moscow region (MR)—the largest metropolis in Eastern Europe. The typological classification was carried out at a detailed hierarchical level—33 association groups (ass. gr.) considering the diversity of the land cover. A random forest algorithm was used for cartographic mapping (overall accuracy 0.59). Remote sensing (RS) data included Sentinel-2A, DEM SRTM, and PALSAR radar images. Six fragmentation metrics were calculated based on the raster map of forest typological diversity. A significant correlation between the forest diversity and PAs forest patch fragmentation metrics was noted. It has been established that the PAs proportion of the territory accounts for almost 20% only within the northernmost district and noticeably decreases to the south to 1–2%. At the same time, fragmentation noticeably increases from Northeast to Southwest. The category of PAs does not affect the state of the forest cover. Additionally, there was no direct influence of the anthropogenic factor from both local sources and a large regional source, i.e., the city of Moscow. It is shown that the average area of PAs, supporting 75% of the typological diversity of regional communities, was about 1000 ha. The results of the study suggest that there is a general lack of environmental protection measures in the region. It is recommended to increase the area of PAs, primarily for less fragmented forest patches, including indigenous forest-steppe and forest types of communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Bibliometric analysis of Journal of Plant Ecology during 2017–2021.
- Author
-
Wang, Pu, Liu, Lijuan, Dong, Bi-Cheng, Zhang, Wen-Hao, and Schmid, Bernhard
- Subjects
PLANT competition ,PLANT ecology ,FOREST biodiversity ,BIBLIOMETRICS ,INVASIVE plants ,SALT marsh plants ,DISPERSAL (Ecology) ,PLANT diversity - Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Integrating Social Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation in Indonesia.
- Author
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Gunawan, Hendra, Yeny, Irma, Karlina, Endang, Suharti, Sri, Murniati, Subarudi, Mulyanto, Budi, Ekawati, Sulistya, Garsetiasih, Raden, Pratiwi, Sumirat, Bugi Kabul, Sawitri, Reny, Heriyanto, Nur M., Takandjandji, Mariana, Widarti, Asmanah, Surati, Desmiwati, Kalima, Titi, Effendi, Rachman, and Martin, Edwin
- Subjects
BIODIVERSITY conservation ,FORESTS & forestry ,HABITATS ,FOREST management ,FOREST conservation ,FOREST biodiversity - Abstract
Social forestry (SF) has long been implemented in production and protected forests in Indonesia. SF is considered to be a win–win solution for occupied and cultivated forest areas. The aim of this paper was to review the implementation of social forestry in Indonesia and its strengths and challenges. The secondary purpose was to synthesize the lessons learned and recommendations for the government about designing SF that can integrate the objective of forest biodiversity conservation and the social welfare of the surrounding communities. The study used a systematic literature review (SLR) of international and national peer-reviewed articles. The results of the study indicate that SF is intended to achieve benefits in three main areas: social, economic, and ecological. However, the review found that the ecological aspects of biodiversity conservation often receive less attention compared to the social and economic goals. A strong point of SF implementation is increasing community access to forest land use, while a challenge that must be resolved is that including communities in forest management can result in fragmentation and changes to animal habitats; thus, there is the potential for population decline and extinction. This study advises policymakers to pay more attention to ecological functions to ensure forest sustainability in SF development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Seedling diversity and spatial distribution of some conifers and associated tree species in highly disturbed Western Himalayan regions in Pakistan.
- Author
-
KHAN, AFSHEEN
- Subjects
CONIFERS ,TREE seedlings ,SPECIES ,FOREST biodiversity ,SEEDLINGS ,SPECIES diversity ,PINACEAE - Abstract
This article encompasses the impacts of disturbance, regeneration potential of conifers and the dynamics of tree species seedlings along the spatial scale in Murree forest. The seedling status preferably of conifers along with associated broadleaved dominant tree species is determined by a quantitative evaluation of diversity functions. An empirical approach is applied to predicting the future of seedlings under stress as well as the current hypothetical appearance of seedlings in the forest. The need of analysing diversity of this forest is due to highly disturbed conditions there, and this paper is designed to know the recent trends of species diversity in the area. Species diversity and species abundance at a seedling level are estimated by using standard formulas of diversity measurements. Thirty stands are used for the evaluation of seedling abundance in highly disturbed conditions with the examination of diversity in the area. Seedling density is too low in the forest whereas diversity is also in poor condition. Seedlings from four conifers with three broadleaved species in different stands indicated the low density of future trees. The mean density·ha-1 of pine seedlings is consecutively low in Pinus wallichiana (16 ± 2), Pinus roxburghii (11 ± 3), Cedrus deodara (9 ± 3), Abies pindrow (8 ± 3). The correlation coefficient is as low as 0.76, 0.66 and 0.61 in Pinus roxburghii, Cedrus deodara and Abies pindrow, respectively, while Pinus wallichiana showed a significant correlation, i.e. P > 0.5. Hence, this study claims that the survival of the forest is threatened as seedling density and diversity are too low. This forest needs serious attention towards preventing and conserving pines and other associated species seedlings for the existence of this forest in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Evolutionary history of host trees amplifies the dilution effect of biodiversity on forest pests.
- Author
-
Gougherty, Andrew V. and Davies, T. Jonathan
- Subjects
FOREST biodiversity ,TREE diseases & pests ,PESTS ,FOREST fires ,DILUTION ,FOREST surveys ,PLANT identification ,CULTURAL pluralism - Abstract
Biodiversity appears to strongly suppress pathogens and pests in many plant and animal systems. However, this "dilution effect" is not consistently detected, and when present can vary strikingly in magnitude. Here, we use forest inventory data from over 25,000 plots (>1.1 million sampled trees) to quantify the strength of the dilution effect on dozens of forest pests and clarify why some pests are particularly sensitive to biodiversity. Using Bayesian hierarchical models, we show that pest prevalence is frequently lower in highly diverse forests, but there is considerable variability in the magnitude of this dilution effect among pests. The strength of dilution was not closely associated with host specialization or pest nativity. Instead, pest prevalence was lower in forests where co-occurring tree species were more distantly related to a pest's preferred hosts. Our analyses indicate that host evolutionary history and forest composition are key to understanding how species diversity may dilute the impacts of tree pests, with important implications for predicting how future biodiversity change may affect the spread and distribution of damaging forest pests. Biodiversity appears to strongly suppress pathogens and pests in many plant and animal systems, but this 'dilution effect' can vary strikingly in magnitude. This study uses forest inventory data from over 25,000 plots to show that the prevalence of tree pests is jointly controlled by the diversity and phylogenetic composition of forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Climate change increases threat to plant diversity in tropical forests of Central America and southern Mexico.
- Author
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Ortega, Miguel A., Cayuela, Luis, Griffith, Daniel M., Camacho, Angélica, Coronado, Indiana M., del Castillo, Rafael F., Figueroa-Rangel, Blanca L., Fonseca, William, Garibaldi, Cristina, Kelly, Daniel L., Letcher, Susan G., Meave, Jorge A., Merino-Martín, Luis, Meza, Víctor H., Ochoa-Gaona, Susana, Olvera-Vargas, Miguel, Ramírez-Marcial, Neptalí, Tun-Dzul, Fernando J., Valdez-Hernández, Mirna, and Velázquez, Eduardo
- Subjects
PLANT diversity ,TROPICAL forests ,FOREST biodiversity ,GREENHOUSE gases ,ENDANGERED species ,CLIMATE change - Abstract
Global biodiversity is negatively affected by anthropogenic climate change. As species distributions shift due to increasing temperatures and precipitation fluctuations, many species face the risk of extinction. In this study, we explore the expected trend for plant species distributions in Central America and southern Mexico under two alternative Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) portraying moderate (RCP4.5) and severe (RCP8.5) increases in greenhouse gas emissions, combined with two species dispersal assumptions (limited and unlimited), for the 2061–2080 climate forecast. Using an ensemble approach employing three techniques to generate species distribution models, we classified 1924 plant species from the region's (sub)tropical forests according to IUCN Red List categories. To infer the spatial and taxonomic distribution of species' vulnerability under each scenario, we calculated the proportion of species in a threat category (Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered) at a pixel resolution of 30 arc seconds and by family. Our results show a high proportion (58–67%) of threatened species among the four experimental scenarios, with the highest proportion under RCP8.5 and limited dispersal. Threatened species were concentrated in montane areas and avoided lowland areas where conditions are likely to be increasingly inhospitable. Annual precipitation and diurnal temperature range were the main drivers of species' relative vulnerability. Our approach identifies strategic montane areas and taxa of conservation concern that merit urgent inclusion in management plans to improve climatic resilience in the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot. Such information is necessary to develop policies that prioritize vulnerable elements and mitigate threats to biodiversity under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Treemendous: an R package for integrating taxonomic information across backbones.
- Author
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Specker, Felix, Paz, Andrea, Crowther, Thomas W., and Maynard, Daniel S.
- Subjects
FOREST biodiversity ,SPINE ,DATABASES ,FLEXIBLE packaging ,INTEGRATED software ,FOREST surveys - Abstract
Standardizing and translating species names from different databases is key to the successful integration of data sources in biodiversity research. There are numerous taxonomic name-resolution applications that implement increasingly powerful namecleaning and matching approaches, allowing the user to resolve species relative to multiple backbones simultaneously. Yet there remains no principled approach for combining information across these underlying taxonomic backbones, complicating efforts to combine and merge species lists with inconsistent and conflicting taxonomic information. Here, we present Treemendous, an open-source software package for the R programming environment that integrates taxonomic relationships across four publicly available backbones to improve the name resolution of tree species. By mapping relationships across the backbones, this package can be used to resolve datasets with conflicting and inconsistent taxonomic origins, while ensuring the resulting species are accepted and consistent with a single reference backbone. The user can chain together different functionalities ranging from simple matching to a single backbone, to graphbased iterative matching using synonym-accepted relations across all backbones in the database. In addition, the package allows users to 'translate' one tree species list into another, streamlining the assimilation of new data into preexisting datasets or models. The package provides a flexible workflow depending on the use case, and can either be used as a stand-alone name-resolution package or in conjunction with existing packages as a final step in the name-resolution pipeline. The Treemendous package is fast and easy to use, allowing users to quickly merge different data sources by standardizing their species names according to the regularly updated database. By combining taxonomic information across multiple backbones, the package increases matching rates and minimizes data loss, allowing for more efficient translation of tree species datasets to aid research into forest biodiversity and tree ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. A Method for Forest Canopy Height Inversion Based on Machine Learning and Feature Mining Using UAVSAR.
- Author
-
Luo, Hongbin, Yue, Cairong, Xie, Fuming, Zhu, Bodong, and Chen, Si
- Subjects
FOREST canopies ,RAIN forests ,FOREST biodiversity ,TROPICAL forests ,RANDOM forest algorithms ,INDEPENDENT variables ,MACHINE learning - Abstract
The mapping of tropical rainforest forest structure parameters plays an important role in biodiversity and carbon stock estimation. The current mechanism models based on PolInSAR for forest height inversion (e.g., the RVoG model) are physical process models, and realistic conditions for model parameterization are often difficult to establish for practical applications, resulting in large forest height estimation errors. As an alternative, machine learning approaches offer the benefit of model simplicity, but these tools provide limited capabilities for interpretation and generalization. To explore the forest height estimation method combining the mechanism model and the empirical model, we utilized UAVSAR multi-baseline PolInSAR L-band data from the AfriSAR project and propose a solution of a mechanism model combined with machine learning. In this paper, two mechanism models were used as controls, the RVoG three-phase method and the RVoG phase-coherence amplitude method. The vertical structure parameters of the forest obtained from the mechanism model were used as the independent variables of the machine learning model. Random forest (RF) and partial least squares (PLS) regression models were used to invert the forest canopy height. Results show that the inversion accuracy of the machine learning method, combined with the mechanism model, is significantly better than that of the single-mechanism model method. The most influential independent variables were penetration depth, volume coherence phase center height, coherence separation, and baseline selection. With the precondition that the cumulative contribution of the independent variables was greater than 90%, the number of independent variables in the two study areas was reduced from 19 to 4, and the accuracy of the RF-RVoG-DEP model was higher than that of the PLS-RVoG-DEP model. For the Lope test area, the R
2 of the RVoG phase coherence amplitude method is 0.723, the RMSE is 8.583 m, and the model bias is −2.431 m; the R2 of the RVoG three-stage method is 0.775, the RMSE is 7.748, and the bias is 1.120 m, the R2 of the PLS-RVoG-DEP model is 0.850, the RMSE is 6.320 m, and the bias is 0.002 m; and the R2 of the RF-RVoG-DEP model is 0.900, the RMSE is 5.154 m, and the bias is −0.061 m. The results for the Pongara test area are consistent with the pattern for the Lope test area. The combined "fusion model" offers a substantial improvement in forest height estimation from the traditional mechanism modeling method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. Genome-Wide SNP Markers Accelerate Perennial Forest Tree Breeding Rate for Disease Resistance through Marker-Assisted and Genome-Wide Selection.
- Author
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Younessi-Hamzekhanlu, Mehdi and Gailing, Oliver
- Subjects
TREE breeding ,NATURAL immunity ,GENE families ,GENOME-wide association studies ,GENETIC variation ,PLANT species diversity ,FOREST biodiversity - Abstract
The ecological and economic importance of forest trees is evident and their survival is necessary to provide the raw materials needed for wood and paper industries, to preserve the diversity of associated animal and plant species, to protect water and soil, and to regulate climate. Forest trees are threatened by anthropogenic factors and biotic and abiotic stresses. Various diseases, including those caused by fungal pathogens, are one of the main threats to forest trees that lead to their dieback. Genomics and transcriptomics studies using next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods can help reveal the architecture of resistance to various diseases and exploit natural genetic diversity to select elite genotypes with high resistance to diseases. In the last two decades, QTL mapping studies led to the identification of QTLs related to disease resistance traits and gene families and transcription factors involved in them, including NB-LRR, WRKY, bZIP and MYB. On the other hand, due to the limitation of recombination events in traditional QTL mapping in families derived from bi-parental crosses, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that are based on linkage disequilibrium (LD) in unstructured populations overcame these limitations and were able to narrow down QTLs to single genes through genotyping of many individuals using high-throughput markers. Association and QTL mapping studies, by identifying markers closely linked to the target trait, are the prerequisite for marker-assisted selection (MAS) and reduce the breeding period in perennial forest trees. The genomic selection (GS) method uses the information on all markers across the whole genome, regardless of their significance for development of a predictive model for the performance of individuals in relation to a specific trait. GS studies also increase gain per unit of time and dramatically increase the speed of breeding programs. This review article is focused on the progress achieved in the field of dissecting forest tree disease resistance architecture through GWAS and QTL mapping studies. Finally, the merit of methods such as GS in accelerating forest tree breeding programs is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Diversity and Distribution of Macrofungi in Protected Mountain Forest Habitats in Serbia and Its Relation to Abiotic Factors.
- Author
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Rakić, Milana, Marković, Miroslav, Galić, Zoran, Galović, Vladislava, and Karaman, Maja
- Subjects
MOUNTAIN forests ,MACROFUNGI ,MOUNTAIN ecology ,HABITATS ,FOREST biodiversity ,HABITAT conservation - Abstract
Fungal diversity is one of the most important indicators of overall forest biodiversity and its health. However, scarce information exists on the state of macrofungal communities of mountain forests in Serbia, making it one of the countries with the least-published mycological data in the Mediterranean and Balkan region of Europe. This paper presents the results of the first comprehensive, long-term study of macrofungal communities in some of the most important mountain forest ecosystems in Serbia (Tara, Kopaonik and Vidlič). In the course of three consecutive years, the sampling of five permanent experimental plots resulted in 245 species of macrofungi, classified into three functional groups (terricolous saprothrophs, lignicolous, and mycorrhizal fungi). Special attention was given to protected and indicator species, which point out the great value of studied forest habitats and the importance of their conservation. It was found that precipitation, habitat humidity, and temperature significantly influence the occurrence and distribution, primarily of mycorrhizal and lignicolous group of fungi. Thus, the continuation of long-term monitoring is crucial in order to more precisely determine which groups/species of macrofungi would, and to what extent they would, adapt to a rapidly changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Community Assembly of Forest Vegetation along Compound Habitat Gradients across Different Climatic Regions in China.
- Author
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Yao, Liangjin, Xu, Yue, Wu, Chuping, Deng, Fuying, Yao, Lan, Ai, Xunru, and Zang, Runguo
- Subjects
COMMUNITY forests ,FOREST plants ,HABITATS ,COMPETITION (Biology) ,FOREST biodiversity ,TEMPERATE forests ,CLIMATIC zones - Abstract
Community assembly research has mostly focused on areas with single vegetation types; however, the abiotic and biotic factors affecting community assembly act across regions. Integrating biotic and abiotic factors into "compound" habitats has gained attention as an emerging strategy to analyze spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity. We used a compound habitat approach to explore the relative roles of habitat filtering, biotic competition, and stochastic processes in the forest community assembly of four climatic zones (tropical, subtropical, temperate, and cold temperate forests). Specifically, we combined biotic and abiotic factors in four compound ecological gradients by principal component analysis (PCA), which we used to assess the geographic and phylogenetic distribution of multiple woody plant functional traits. We found that forest functional and phylogenetic diversity shifted from clustered to overdispersed along the first compound habitat gradient (PC1) across climate zones. This finding indicates that competitive exclusion strongly affected the community assembly in tropical and subtropical forests, while habitat filtering played a key role in cold temperate forests; these mechanisms may both exist and interact in temperate forests. We also found that both habitat filtering and biotic competition affected forest community assembly across climatic regions in China. Our results elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving geographical differentiation of forest vegetation across climatic zones, and bolster empirical evidence for the conservation of forest biodiversity in China. Further research is also needed to explore whether the patterns found in this paper are prevalent in different locations in different climatic zones in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. Increasing loss of mature boreal forests around protected areas with red-listed forest species.
- Author
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Määttänen, Aino-Maija, Virkkala, Raimo, Leikola, Niko, and Heikkinen, Risto K.
- Subjects
FOREST biodiversity ,TAIGAS ,PROTECTED areas ,FOREST management ,BIODIVERSITY conservation ,ENVIRONMENTAL degradation - Abstract
Background: Protected areas (PA) are central to biodiversity, but their efficiency is challenged by human-induced habitat loss and fragmentation. In the Fennoscandian boreal region, forestry with clearcutting is a threat to biodiversity causing the loss of mature forest elements and deterioration of ecological processes in forest landscapes, ultimately affecting PAs via declined structural connectivity. This paper aims to (1) determine PAs with high, red-listed species concentrations; (2) estimate the change in forest habitat around these PAs on different spatial scales; and (3) determine if forest management intensity is higher around biologically most valuable PAs. Occurrences of red-listed forest-dwelling species in Finland were used to identify PAs harbouring these species and to produce site-specific importance indices. CORINE landcover data was used as a baseline for the distribution of forests to assess the cover of clear-cuttings from 2001 to 2019 with the Global Forest Change (GFC) data set in three buffer areas around the PAs with occurrences of red-listed species. Results: The largest proportion of clear-cuts occurred in 1 km and 10 km buffers around the PAs in the southern and middle boreal zones, being ca. 20%. This indicates that the forest habitat is degrading fast at regional and landscape levels. On the positive side, the change in forest cover was lower around the biologically most important PAs compared to other PAs with red-listed species. Conclusions: Open and free satellite-data based assessments of the cover and change of forests provide reliable estimates about the rates at which mature and old-growth forests are being converted into young managed ones in Finland mainly via clear-cuts on different scales around PAs. The rate of clear-cuts was lowest in adjacent buffer areas next to the most species-rich PAs, which provides opportunities for biodiversity conservation efforts to be targeted to the remaining mature and old-growth forests found in the vicinity of these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. Responses of functional traits in cavity-nesting birds to logging in subtropical and temperate forests of the Americas.
- Author
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Schaaf, Alejandro A., Gomez, Daniela, Tallei, Ever, Vivanco, Constanza G., and Ruggera, Román A.
- Subjects
TEMPERATE forests ,BIRD nests ,LOGGING ,FOREST biodiversity ,BIRD habitats ,SPECIES diversity ,BIRD diversity ,AVIAN influenza - Abstract
Logging causes changes in habitat structure, which can potentially lead to variations in taxonomic and functional richness of biodiversity. Studies on how functional traits in birds are affected by logging operations can provide an important element for the understanding of ecosystem processes. In this paper, we examined how logging in subtropical Andean forests influenced taxonomic and functional diversity of cavity-nesting birds. We used these results to compare how logging affected ecosystem functions in temperate and subtropical forests of the Americas. We used point-counts to examine the effects of logging on taxonomic and functional traits in avian communities (Functional Richness, Functional evenness, Functional Divergence, and Community-weighted mean). We found that logging changed bird richness and abundance, although it had no effect on the functional response to the measured traits. The comparison of our results with those of temperate forests of Canada and Chile reveals differences in the functional richness of birds in these habitats, with a lower impact of logging on functional traits. We highlight the importance of including functional traits in the analyses, since the reduction in the species richness and abundance may not be translated into functional changes within the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. The coalitional politics of the European Union's environmental forest policy: Biodiversity conservation, timber legality, and climate protection.
- Author
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Sotirov, Metodi, Winkel, Georg, and Eckerberg, Katarina
- Subjects
FOREST policy ,BIODIVERSITY conservation ,ENVIRONMENTAL policy ,FOREST biodiversity ,ADVOCACY coalition framework ,GOVERNMENT policy on climate change ,EUROPEAN integration - Abstract
European forest policymaking is shaped by progressing European integration, yet with notable ideological divisions and diverging interests among countries. This paper focuses on the coalitional politics of key environmental forest issues: biodiversity conservation, timber legality, and climate protection policy. Combining the Advocacy Coalition Framework and the Shifting Coalition Theory, and informed by more than 186 key informant interviews and 73 policy documents spanning a 20-year timeframe, we examine the evolution of coalitional forest politics in Europe. We find that the basic line-up has remained stable: an environmental coalition supporting EU environmental forest policy integration and a forest sector coalition mostly opposing it. Still, strategic alliances across these coalitions have occurred for specific policy issues which have resulted in a gradual establishment of an EU environmental forest policy. We conclude with discussion of our findings and provide suggestions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. Forest naturalness assessment as a component of biodiversity monitoring and conservation management.
- Author
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Winter, Susanne
- Subjects
FOREST management ,FOREST conservation ,FOREST monitoring ,FOREST biodiversity ,PLANT communities ,ENVIRONMENTAL impact analysis - Abstract
A primary prerequisite for the preservation of global diversity is often assumed to be a high level of naturalness. This paper reports a synthesis of naturalness definitions, distinctions between the concepts of naturalness and of hemeroby and an analysis of different naturalness assessment approaches. Naturalness may be commonly defined as ‘the similarity of a current ecosystem state to its natural state’. Hemeroby, a concept related to human impacts, is often associated with naturalness but, in principle, the two concepts are not inversely related. The hemeroby concept defines narrow assessment classes for greater hemeroby, whereas the naturalness concept defines narrow assessment classes for great naturalness. The rapidly increasing number of forest naturalness papers relies on the following main indicators in decreasing order of use: tree species, forest structure, fauna, ground vegetation and deadwood. A review of the literature on forest naturalness suggests four main reasons for the lack of a widely accepted approach for assessing naturalness: (1) the lack of a commonly accepted reference concept, (2) an incomplete list of essential naturalness traits, (3) unknown linkages between some naturalness traits and biodiversity and (4) the lack of an assessment approach that can be adapted for use at both regional and large scales. Following review of the literature on forest naturalness, a seven-level framework is presented to guide development of naturalness assessment approaches as a component of forest biodiversity monitoring and conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. A 5,000-year vegetation and fire history for tierra firme forests in the Medio Putumayo-Algodón watersheds, northeastern Peru.
- Author
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Piperno, Dolores R., McMichael, Crystal H., Pitman, Nigel C. A., Guevara Andino, Juan Ernesto, Paredes, Marcos Ríos, Heijink, Britte M., and Torres-Montenegro, Luis A.
- Subjects
FIRE management ,NUMBERS of species ,WATERSHEDS ,ROOT crops ,FOREST biodiversity ,SOIL testing - Abstract
This paper addresses an important debate in Amazonian studies; namely, the scale, intensity, and nature of human modification of the forests in prehistory. Phytolith and charcoal analysis of terrestrial soils underneath mature tierra firme (nonflooded, nonriverine) forests in the remote Medio Putumayo-Algodón watersheds, northeastern Peru, provide a vegetation and fire history spanning at least the past 5,000 y. A tree inventory carried out in the region enables calibration of ancient phytolith records with standing vegetation and estimates of palm species densities on the landscape through time. Phytolith records show no evidence for forest clearing or agriculture with major annual seed and root crops. Frequencies of important economic palms such as Oenocarpus, Euterpe, Bactris, and Astrocaryum spp., some of which contain hyperdominant species in the modern flora, do not increase through prehistoric time. This indicates pre-Columbian occupations, if documented in the region with future research, did not significantly increase the abundance of those species through management or cultivation. Phytoliths from other arboreal and woody species similarly reflect a stable forest structure and diversity throughout the records. Charcoal 14C dates evidence local forest burning between ca. 2,800 and 1,400 y ago. Our data support previous research indicating that considerable areas of some Amazonian tierra firme forests were not significantly impacted by human activities during the prehistoric era. Rather, it appears that over the last 5,000 y, indigenous populations in this region coexisted with, and helped maintain, large expanses of relatively unmodified forest, as they continue to do today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. DEMENTIA DISEASE CLASSIFICATION WITH ROTATION FORESTS BASED DCGAN.
- Author
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Prabhakar, K., Umaselvi, M., Said, Shibili, and Das, Saswata
- Subjects
NOSOLOGY ,GENERATIVE adversarial networks ,DEMENTIA ,DEEP learning ,OLDER people ,FOREST biodiversity ,FEATURE extraction - Abstract
This research paper introduces a novel approach for the classification of dementia disease using Rotation Forests based on Deep Convolutional Generative Adversarial Networks (DCGAN). Dementia is a significant cognitive disorder prevalent among the elderly population, demanding accurate and early diagnosis for effective intervention. Traditional methods often rely on manual feature extraction and shallow learning, which may lack the ability to capture intricate patterns in complex medical data. In this study, we propose a fusion of Rotation Forests, a robust ensemble learning technique, with DCGAN, a deep learning model recognized for its feature extraction capabilities. The Rotation Forests enhance the diversity of the base classifiers, while DCGAN learns meaningful features from raw medical imaging data. We validate the proposed approach on a comprehensive dataset and compare its performance against existing methods. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the Rotation Forests based on DCGAN approach in accurately classifying dementia diseases, showcasing its potential as a valuable tool in medical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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