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Salinity is an abiotic factor limiting plant fitness and therefore forest crop productivity, and salt-affected areas have been expanding throughout the world. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can improve the salt tolerance of woody plants, including Eucalyptus species To screen for salt-resistant Pisolithus albus (PA) isolates, 16 PA isolates were cultivated on modified Melin-Norkrans agar containing NaCl at concentrations of 0, 10, 20, and 30 dS m−1. The P. albus isolate PA33 had the greatest salt resistance under 10 and 20 dS m−1 NaCl, which are soil salinity levels in salt-affected areas of Thailand. We studied the effect of PA33 on Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. pellita cuttings under salt stress (0 and 16 dS m−1) for 1 month. PA enhanced the growth of the Eucalyptus seedlings, as indicated by higher relative growth rates in height and root collar diameter of inoculated seedlings compared with non-inoculated seedlings. Moreover, the inoculated seedlings had less cell damage from NaCl, as indicated by significantly lesser leaf thickness and electrolyte leakage than the controls. These findings could lead to practices conferring socioeconomic and environmental benefits, as abandoned salt-affected areas could be reclaimed using such Eucalyptus seedlings inoculated with salt-tolerant ECM fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novelty claims in carbon forestry often obscure the complex histories and the colonial entanglements of carbon forest socioecologies. This paper argues that the conditions of possibility of carbon forestry in ‘Nigeria’s last rainforest’ are tightly linked to the uneven colonial production of forests across Southern Nigeria. Drawing on archival research, ethnographic fieldwork and analysis of program documents and academic literature, the paper unsettles claims of novelty in Nigeria’s carbon forestry by demonstrating the material continuity between colonial forestry and carbon forestry. Focusing on the development of colonial forestry in Southern Nigeria under British colonial rule, the paper traces the coloniality of scientific forestry as a form of environmental rule, and its entanglements with imperial capitalism and presumptions of racial hierarchy. If the success of scientific forestry in Southern Nigeria meant the draining of Nigeria’s forests as timber export, its failure in Cross River paradoxically produced ‘Nigeria’s last rainforest,’ a literal ‘colonial residue’ . In colonial forestry, as in contemporary carbon forestry, a reductionist knowledge of forests, capitalist interests and a racialized global division of labor all interact in consequential ways. The paper concludes that decolonizing Nigeria’s forestry is a precondition for saving its ‘last rainforest.’ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forestry plantations have been expanded to meet the increasing demand for tree products, impacting evapotranspiration rates and hydrology. We explore how three Eucalyptus spp. respond to environmental resources using productivity and water use efficiency as indicators. Environmental variables, tree transpiration, soil physical properties, soil water content, and plant productivity were monitored. Eucalyptus saligna was the most productive, with higher volume, basal area and average annual increment compared to E. benthamii and E. dunnii. Transpiration of E. saligna (1249 mm year−1) was also higher than that of E. benthamii (928 mm year−1) and E. dunnii (733 mm year−1). The highest water use efficiency was evident for E. dunnii. Soil water rarely limited plant growth. Nevertheless, annual transpiration for E. saligna exceeded annual rainfall. Eucalyptus species with high water use should be avoided in areas of limited water availability, while species with low water use can provide productivity without depleting water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economies and livelihoods in the Caribbean strongly depend on the terrestrial and marine natural resource base. There are critical gaps in quantitative data and the contextual and compositional factors affecting perceptions of changes in ecosystems and natural resources. This paper used interview data from 441 households in Belize, Dominican Republic, and Suriname to explore the contextual and compositional determinants of perceptions of change in the quality of the terrestrial, coastal/marine environment and natural resources as a composite variable. The outcome variable comprised changes in fishing effort, marine and coastal environment, forest cover, agricultural land area, and soil fertility, and relationships with predictor variables were explored using univariate, bivariate, and three multivariate models. At the univariate level, most respondents in Belize and Suriname reported perceiving a significant increase in fishing effort (i.e. days and fuel spent at sea) and a decrease in forest cover, quality of the coastal/marine environment, area of agricultural land, and fertility and productivity of soils. Sex, marital status, household size, and years of experience were not significantly associated with the terrestrial variables and fishing effort. Sex was only significantly associated with the quality of the marine environment. At the multivariate level, the elderly, high school education, and household incomes were associated with a lower perception of the outcome variable. It is concluded that policy and interventions should strongly consider ethnicity and community, and improve education and household incomes to enhance perceptions of changes in the quality of the terrestrial and coastal/marine environment in the studied countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was aimed to estimate the economic value of timber products from the forest stands that are potentially saved from wildfires after improving road standards. The study was implemented in the Alanya Forest Enterprise Directorate (FED) in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, Turkey. In the solution process, the possible increase in the accessible forest areas with improved forest road standards was investigated by using GIS-based network analysis methods. In the next step, the timber production in the forest areas potentially saved from the wildfire was calculated based on parameters such as site index, rotation period, and stand structure. Then, the economic value of timber product types was calculated using market prices. The results indicated that increasing the design speed on improved forest roads reduced the arrival time of firefighting teams to the forests, which consequently increased the accessible forest areas within the critical response time. It was found that the accessible forest areas within the critical response time increased from 47,231 hectares to 59,354 hectares when standards of the forest roads were improved. This saved 12,123 hectares of additional forest area from the wildfire in the Alanya FED. The cost of road improvement activities was estimated at US$ 2,286,998. It was calculated that the total timber products obtained from the forest area potentially saved was about 94,721 m3, and worth US$7,545,579 at market prices. The results can be used by policymakers in determining the potential investments in improving forest road standards to enhance the efficiency of firefighting activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, machinery used in forest harvesting operations has incorporated the ability to collect data during the harvesting operation automatically. The processing of these data allows for obtaining new perspectives on the harvest characteristics. In this sense, it is that the development of predictive models for harvest productivity is approached by processing the automatically retrieved data. In turn, these new models pave the way to develop new tools for operations management decision-making processes, providing a data-driven approach. In this case, forest productivity is analyzed based on different harvesting operational configurations defined by stand, trees, species, operators, shifts, etc. which make it possible to adequately predict what the wood-harvested volume will be, and thus, synchronize the rest of the supply chain logistics operations. The data processing is done through decision tree methods. Different methods of decision trees based on exhaustive Chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID), recursive binary partition, and conditional inference based that also uses binary recursive partition are tested. The results show that decision recursive binary partition methods tend to model the entire spectrum of the target variable in a more balanced manner. While exhaustive CHAID-based methods tend to be more accurate in global terms but more unbalanced. As a general comment of the method, global confusion matrices are around 50% accurate, and some operational configurations and productivity classes are predicted with almost 90% accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forestry in general and the wood supply chain in particular are facing a wide range of challenges. Digitalization seems to be able to provide a remedy, but the forest-based sector's high degree of heterogeneity and the large number of actors hampers the search for solutions – in Germany and beyond. In the presented Smart Forestry approach, we apply concepts from Forestry 4.0 to achieve intelligent and fully integrated timber harvesting. It is based on digital twins that are networked and orchestrated in an Internet of Things. First, we reengineer existing forestry processes, identify the relevant objects and messages, and specify templates for digital twins. The necessary Internet of Things technologies are selected and enhanced for use in forestry. Finally, we build first prototypes of the target system that are the basis for upcoming reference experiments in practice – from the forest owner via production in the forest and logistics to the timber buyer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing interest in continuous cover forestry in Sweden. The historical domination of even-aged forest management means there is a need to focus on methods for transforming even-aged to uneven-aged stands. Practical conversion management today is highly adaptive, and the possibility of failures, such as persistent lack of tree recruitment, must be allowed for. We used simulations to evaluate various scenarios in which conversion management is introduced at different development stages in even-aged stands and then abandoned in favour of clear-felling. A shift towards an inverse J-shaped diameter distribution at the end of the simulations was most evident in northern Sweden and with an early introduction of conversion forestry. The largest losses were incurred in a scenario where the conversion management started with removing larger trees at pre-commercial thinning: it reduced the volume of production by up to 25% and, if clear-felled, resulted in a lower land expectation value than conventional management. Earlier decision to abandon conversion management reduced the losses, but the effect of timing was minor. In summary, the results indicate that conversion management could be started and abandoned without any major economic loss during the timeframe of a normal rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skidding operations affect soil physical properties, which may impact soil sustainability and forest productivity. While the relationship among harvest machine traffic, slope gradients, and increased soil damage has been well-investigated, it is still unclear how soil damage due to repeated passes of different skidder types is interacting with soil moisture and slope conditions. We examined dry bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), and rutting depth (RD) of skid trail soil in an Iranian temperate forest. The study took into consideration a combination of five different traffic intensities (TI) (1, 4, 8, 12, and 15 passes), two levels of slope gradients (SGs) (≤20% and > 20%), two rubber-tired skidder types (STs) (Timberjack 450C and TAF E655), and two soil moisture contents (SMC) (18% and 31%). Results showed that changes in BD and TP were mainly related to TI regardless of the ST and the skid trail slope. Regardless of TI, SG, and SMC, the TAF E655 skidder caused a higher dry BD increase and soil porosity reduction than the Timberjack 450C. Furthermore, the higher the SMC, the deeper the ruts at all combinations of TI, SG, and ST. Our findings highlighted that ST, SMC, TI, and SG strongly affect rutting and physical properties of soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key component of forest productivity and soil organic carbon stock. However, little is known about SOM and carbon variability in miombo woodlands, which is an important ecosystem in sub-Sahara African forests and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+) initiatives. In this study, nine factors were measured and used to analyze the variability of SOM in miombo woodland sites with different tree structures in Luanshya, Zambia. The findings showed variability of SOM stocks at different soils decreasing by 14% from 0–10 cm depth to 10–20 cm depth and increasing by 13% from 10–20 cm depth to 20–30 cm depth. The mean soil organic carbon stock (SOCs) also varied between miombo woodland sites of different successional stages or management practices (ρ < 0.05), notably that the areas affected by recent selective tree clearance and secondary succession (partially disturbed miombo woodlands, secondary miombo woodlands, and regenerating miombo woodlands) had higher SOCs mean values per layer (0–10 cm: +6%; 10–20 cm: +4%; 20–30 cm: +4%) than the undisturbed miombo woodlands (0–10 cm: −42%; 10–20 cm: 4%; 20–30 cm: −39%). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that the most important factors that regulate SOM and carbon stock were woodland thinning by clearance and silt content within soils. The novelty of this study is particularly relevant for monitoring and evaluating the REDD+ reforestation and management strategies in Miombo ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dangers confronting forest ecosystems are many and the strength of these biological systems is deteriorating, thus substantially affecting tree physiology, phenology, and growth. The establishment of genetically engineered trees into degraded woodlands, which would be adaptive to changing climate, could help in subsiding ecological threats and bring new prospects. This should not be resisted due to the apprehension of transgene dispersal in forests. Consequently, it is important to have a deep insight into the genetic structure and phenotypic limits of the reproductive capability of tree stands/population(s) to endure tolerance and survival. Importantly, for a better understanding of genes and their functional mechanisms, gene editing (GeEd) technology is an excellent molecular tool to unravel adaptation progressions. Therefore, GeEd could be harnessed for resolving the allelic interactions for the creation of gene diversity, and transgene dispersal may be alleviated among the population or species in different bioclimatic zones around the globe. This review highlights the potential of the CRISPR/Cas tools in genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic-based assorted and programmable alterations of genes in trees that might be able to fix the trait-specific gene function. Also, we have discussed the application of diverse forms of GeEd to genetically improve several traits, such as wood density, phytochemical constituents, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and photosynthetic efficiency in trees. We believe that the technology encourages fundamental research in the forestry sector besides addressing key aspects, which might fasten tree breeding and germplasm improvement programs worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to protection targets of EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, 30% of EU's land and sea area should be legally protected by 2030. While the actual targets and even terms are still to be defined, the strategy's possible impacts can be simulated for policy support purposes. The strategy aims to increase protection by setting aside forests and extending closer-to-nature forest management practices. We simulated Finland's forest resources with the European Forestry Dynamics Model (EFDM) considering the protection targets. According to our simulations, the total growing stock and net present value will be lower with the additional protection than by carrying on the business-as-usual management. The additional protection resulted in intensified harvesting in the remaining forest area available for wood supply with the current harvest level. This may weaken the positive ecological impacts of protection. Reducing the harvest level from the current level is not a likely alternative either, because the demand for biomass is predicted to increase in the future, while the supply is insufficient, and EU policies aim to avoid shifting the negative impacts of resource extraction outside the EU. The feasibility of the additional protection depends on the actual implementation and definitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection of vulnerable species often creates conflicts between land use and conservation management. Particularly challenging is the case of Siberian flying squirrel (SFS; Pteromys volans). SFS favours mature forest habitats, which are often the target for logging, and therefore its protection causes opportunity costs. In our analysis a regional case study was applied as a platform to create alternative forest management scenarios. These scenarios aimed to maintain and improve SFS habitats with varying magnitudes, from no action in SFS habitat improvement to increasing the amount of suitable habitat for SFS. Stand projections for each forest management scenario were modelled with the Motti stand simulator, and the simulated stand structures were further analyzed using specific indexes with Geographic Information System (GIS) methodologies and tools to predict potential nesting and feeding habitats and connectivity for SFS. Connectivity between habitats was assessed with a Least Cost Path analysis. The results showed that some forest management scenarios were more cost-efficient than others in maintaining habitat suitability and connectivity for SFS. Further, with adjusted cutting removals (due to restrictions other than SFS habitat related, mainly recreation) an additional hectare suitable for SFS habitat was considerably more cost-efficient than without the adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary montane forests, covering 30% of forested lands in the Andes, play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of carbon release. However, the mechanisms responsible for carbon sequestration in the above-ground biomass of these forests are not well quantified. Understanding the determinants of above-ground carbon (AGC) dynamics in secondary forests along a 3000-m elevational gradient in the Andes to assess their mitigation potential. We assessed how abiotic and biotic conditions and past human disturbances were related to forest structure and composition, AGC stocks and productivity within sixteen 0.36-ha plots established in secondary forest stands of 30–35 years of age. Structural equation models revealed that changes in temperature conditions along the elevation gradient shaped leaf functional composition, which in turn controlled AGC dynamics. Productivity and temperature decreased with increasing elevation and decreased tree community leaf area. Disturbance legacy (Tree mortality) increased with competitive thinning and low soil fertility. We show that temperature drives AGC dynamics by changing the functional trait composition. This highlights the importance of preserving these forests along elevation gradients and implies potentially strong future changes due to global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest carbon sequestration has great potential for climate change mitigation. We show the cost-effectiveness of using forests as Nature-based Solutions pathways that offset carbon dioxide (CO2). Afforestation and reforestation expand forest cover, sustainable forest management increases forest productivity, and substituting carbon-intensive materials with wood products avoids the CO2 emitted in the production processes of these materials. In terms of these activities, we estimate that China's total forest carbon sequestration potential will reach 2.4 billion tons of CO2 in 2050. Scenario analysis shows that the carbon sequestered by the forests in 2050 helps China meet its goal of carbon neutrality or net zero emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Highlights: This study presented novel evidence of the optimal level of forest thinning to maintain nutrient cycling and achieve management objectives. Background and Objectives: Litter dynamics play a vital role in balancing forest nutritional dynamics, which may be related to forest productivity. This study aimed to examine the influence of thinning intensity on litter quantity and quality in a secondary forest (a natural tropical secondary forest in southeastern Taiwan). Materials and Methods: Five different thinning treatments were implemented, and forest dynamics were measured. The litterbag method was used to assess the initial status of litter decomposition. Results: The rate of litter accumulation without thinning ranged from 5.14 to 5.63 t ha−1 yr−1. Thinning altered the litter decomposition rate. A 20% thinning intensity resulted in the fastest litter decomposition, with an annual litter loss of 22.4% compared with the control area. However, at >60% thinning intensity, the rate of litter decomposition slowed down, and the annual loss increased to 42.5%. Conclusions: Thinning changes the litter decomposition rate mainly by influencing soil humidity and temperature. A thinning intensity of 20% in secondary forest thins the forest, improves litter status, accelerates litter decomposition, and promotes nutrient cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global demand for forest products is ever-increasing, creating competition for water between downstream water users and commercial forest producers. Tree production should therefore aim at the effective use of water by producing maximum tree biomass from water used with the least total evaporative losses. A ratio of accumulated biomass to transpiration (T) known as the water use efficiency (WUE) is a common technique used to determine commercial forest plantation productivity. This review argues that WUE does not account for total plantation water use (ET), transpiration efficiency of trees (TE) and harvest index (HI, the tree stemwood, which is the most profitable component of a tree). This research suggests using PWPWOOD which is defined as the maximum amount of wood produced, also referred to as plantation yield (TE × HI) from a given volume of ET (T + canopy interception + soil water evaporation). Improving PWPWOOD requires that TE and HI are increased while ET losses are kept to a minimum. Practical interventions to improve plantation yield (TE and HI) are discussed in detail while techniques to minimise ET are discussed to a lesser extent. PWPWOOD has been shown to be a better measure and found to improve commercial forest plantation productivity as indicated by different case studies presented in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoption of rotational grazing or multi-species herbal leys, planting trees and integrating livestock into arable rotations can increase agricultural productivity and carbon storage on temperate ruminant livestock farms. However, farmers frequently have rational reasons for not adopting seemingly beneficial management practices. Here, we conduct semi-structured interviews with sheep and beef cattle farmers and industry representatives in England, to determine the advantages, disadvantages, and reasons for non-adoption of these four management practices. We find key reasons that farmers rationally do not adopt these practices include capital outlay, incompatibility with farming objectives, and the risk that desired benefits are not delivered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Texture-based informal settlement (IS) mapping has gained attention in urban remote sensing (RS) research. Numerous studies conducted on the use of texture analysis for IS mapping have investigated wide-ranging sensors, algorithms, scale, classifiers, feature selection methods, and other factors of interest. However, no study has systematically investigated key factors affecting texture-based classification processes. This paper presents a detailed synthesis of scientific progress in texture based IS mapping. Results revealed that grey level co-occurrence matrix was the most popularly used algorithm.Quickbird was the widely used sensor. The use of machine-learning classifiers, particularly, support vector machine and random forest yielded, comparatively, high accuracies (>80%). Interestingly, deep learning showed potential to advance IS identification. Multi-city comparison studies demonstrated need for texture features to be locally specific in order to allow transferability. Thus, integration of RS data and field survey statistics could be crucial in enhancing understanding of morphological variations for improved IS mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The light use efficiency (LUE) approach is a well-established method for estimating gross primary productivity (GPP) over large areas using Earth observation data. The present study aims to determine maximum light use efficiency (LUEmax) values specific to the northwest Himalayan foothills of India. It also aims to estimate the spatio-temporal variability of GPP from 2001 to 2020 using remote sensing data in combination with eddy covariance data in the LUE-based model. The model was parameterized using different sets of default and calculated parameters. The study showed that the use of PFT-specific LUEmax and temperatures increased the accuracy of the model predictions. On validation, the LUE-based model predicted GPP showed R² = 0.82 for moist deciduous and R² = 0.83 for dry deciduous PFTs. The study revealed that with rigorous model parameterization, RS data can be used in an LUE-based model to achieve accurate spatio-temporal estimates of GPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellowwood or Podocarpus (spp.) holds the esteemed biodiversity status, as key forest species in the mist-belt Afromontane forests of southern Africa. The podocarps are listed as endangered species owing to extensive logging. The forest species support large communities of plants and birds, attributing to the maintenance of biodiversity. Therefore, there is a need to understand the condition of such keystone species if effective and comprehensive biodiversity conservation measures are to be drawn for these dwindling forests. Leaf area index is a crucial eco-physiological parameter applied in the evaluation of the growth and productivity of forest trees, hence it is a suitable proxy for understanding the condition of Yellowwood trees. This study, therefore, sought to estimate the leaf area index of the Yellowwood spp. using Sentinel 2 Multispectral instrument (S2 MSI) data in concert with the Random Forest regression ensemble. Specifically, individual wavebands and vegetation indices were used in developing leaf area index prediction models based on two approaches. The multistage approach, categorised the predictors according to the generalised order of progression, from standard spectral bands to vegetation indices. The second approach involved using a pooled set of predictors, with the backward elimination of poorly performing wavebands and vegetation indices. Results showed that the backward elimination method produced a better model (R2 = 0.59; RMSE = 0.48) when compared to the multistage approach (R2 = 0.50; RMSE = 0.48). The most influential predictor variables in both models were Band 5 and NDVI Red Edge 2. Results of this study underscore the prospects of Sentinel 2 MSI data in characterising the productivity of critical forest species such as the Yellowwoods of the Afromontane forest in southern Africa. The findings of this study are a fundamental step towards understanding forest health and productivity, required in deriving comprehensive monitoring and management strategies in biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the above-ground biomass (AGB) of tropical deciduous forests in Central India using field-based techniques and spaceborne quad-pol ALOS PALSAR-2 L-band and dual-pol Sentinel 1A C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Field sampling based on 73 forested grids exhibited a diverse forest composition in the Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) with a total of 54 tree species of which 31.48% species were IUCN Red-Listed. The forests were highly diverse (H′=3.22) with a low concentration of dominance (CD = 0.06) and a quite high species evenness (E = 0.81). The sensitivity and correlation between field-based AGB and SAR backscatter in STR were highest in cross-polarization due to its higher sensitivity to the vegetation structure in both L- and C-band SAR, where L-VH based AGB estimates were found more accurate (RMSE:5.17%). The study provided vital information for setting up strategies for biodiversity conservation, enhancing forest productivity, and restoring wildlife habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability of forest production is based on an adequate balance between soil nutrient supply and its demand by forest plantations, which may vary depending on the species and the site. In Uruguay, the low to medium fertility of the soils under forest production makes this aspect relevant. The objectives of the study were: (a) to quantify the concentration and distribution of nutrients in the harvested biomass of Eucalyptus dunnii, Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus globulus in the predominant soils of the zones of greater forestry aptitude of Uruguay; and (b) to compare the nutrient use efficiencies of the three mentioned species in different soil types, as a criterion to evaluate the sustainability of the productive system in the long term. In 29 sites located in the three main forest areas of the country, nine trees with average diameter at breast height (DBH) and height were harvested at eight to eleven years of age. The aerial biomass and nutrient uptake (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium) in commercial wood, bark, leaves and branches were quantified, and two nutrient use efficiency indexes (nutrient use efficiency and biological utilisation coefficient) were calculated. Although the zones offered different conditions for growth and nutrient uptake, E. dunnii presented the highest extraction of nutrients in commercial wood, considering all sites, these indexes being lower for E. dunnii. Therefore, when planting E. dunnii, its greater use of the soil's resources must be considered, particularly in soils that are naturally less fertile. Likewise, E. grandis presented a greater extraction of cations than E. globulus because of more extensive growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multispectral indices are useful to improve the knowledge of plant organic functionality. Geographically weighted regression (GWR), multispectral data from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and individual tree attributes were used in combination to generate forest parameters in an even-aged orchard of Pinus arizonica Engelm. The NDVI index was the best indicator of vegetation vigour, correlated to diameter at breast height (DBH) and total estimated tree height (UAVe) as explanatory variables. Geospatial models explained the variance of orchard vigour (R2 = 39 for DBH and R2 = 52 for UAVe), suggesting the crucial requirement for individual or zonal management of the trees. Our results thus provide timely indicators of plant health conditions in the clonal orchard that may be useful for adaptive management strategies in the face of predicted climatic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clear-cutting is an extensively used silvicultural method in the Nordic and Baltic countries, which strongly influences the site's carbon (C) budget. In the current study, C budgets for a young silver birch stand chronosequence (2–8-year-old) were compiled using the C budgeting method. High variability of annual NEP between stands of similar ages occurred, as the C accumulation ability of young stands was site specific. Heterotrophic respiration (Rh), the main C efflux from the ecosystem, varied between (3.7 and 6.3 t C ha−1 yr−1) across all stands. Modelling of the annual NEP dynamics across the chronosequence revealed the C compensation point at a stand age of 6 years. The estimated cumulative C loss for the period when NEP was negative was almost 5 t C ha−1 and the amount of lost C could have been recaptured already in a 10-year-old stand. The C sink capacity of the studied sites depended mostly on the production of herbaceous plants until the production of the new tree generation became the main driver of ecosystem's net primary production. Hence, site's C accumulation capacity largely depends on the density and quality of the new forest regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, community involvement in forest management has been hailed as an effective strategy to achieve both conservation and livelihoods improvement goals. In Uganda, Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) has been promoted to enable registered local community groups to co-manage specified areas of state forests with state agencies. However, there is paucity of empirical research evidence on conservation outcomes that are attributable to CFM. To fill this gap, this study used forest inventory data collected in compartments under different forest management regimes (CFM, inactive-CFM, and non-CFM) in 2003 and 2016 to assess spatial and temporal changes in forest structural attributes in a semideciduous forest in mid-western Uganda. Our ordination results show significant changes in tree communities in the non-CFM compartment. The CFM compartment registered a net increase in basal area. We attribute these changes to the high rate of illegal timber extraction and charcoal processing, with signs of the latter only recorded in the inactive- and non-CFM compartments. Illegal timber extraction was perpetuated by powerful outsiders while charcoal processing was dominated by local area residents for cash income. Deliberate management interventions should be instituted to curb illegal human activities and enhance regeneration and recruitment of target tree species in the forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest roads are a basic necessity in forestry policies and should be planned by considering many factors. This study aims to generate optimum forest road routes and to compare them with current forest roads. First, FRNSM has been produced according to AHP, using nine factors for the study area. Then, risk statuses of the current forest roads are examined. According to results, 35% of the total forest road has high risk. A MATLAB-GUI based an application using optimal path algorithm developed for the second stage of the study has been produced. Using this application, optimum forest road routes have been produced for 11 pilot areas selected from the region. Generated routes have been compared with current forest roads in the region. It has been observed that generated routes in all areas are more suitable than current forest roads in terms of total length and average risk of suitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of site quality was developed to project the expected production of timber species in even-aged stands in order to produce standardized site index curves. This concept can also be used in a more ecological sense to discern the spatial growth patterns of timber species in natural forests. We used the height-diameter relationship to evaluate a method to determine site quality for Swietenia macrophylla King in natural forests in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Using linear models and analysis of covariance, we detected significant and notable differences in mahogany development (p <.001), with some trees exceeding the predicted height by more than one meter. These differences were related to micro-topographic and edaphic factors and to the spectral response of the vegetation. Using a predictive model of site quality to develop a site quality map, we also determined that 86% of the production forest in the study area fit in the low productivity category, with mahogany growing below the predicted height for the area. These results suggest that site quality maps can contribute to effective forest management where forest aptitude is not homogeneous for timber growth. Concentrating management practices on high quality sites has the potential to conserve investment resources and increase production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When modelling forest growth, capturing the effects of climate change is needed for reliable long-term predictions and management choices. This remains a challenge because commonly used mensurational forest growth and yield models, relying on inventory data, cannot account for climate change effects. We developed hybrid physiological/mensurational basal area growth and yield models, which combine physiological response to climatic conditions and empirical relations. We included climate and site effects by replacing time with light sums of photosynthetically active radiation and modifying the latter with monthly soil water, vapour pressure deficit, temperature, and frost days. When parameterised with permanent sample plot data for Scots pine and Norway spruce across Sweden, the hybrid models could reproduce observations well, although with no increase in precision compared with time-based mensurational models. When considering different climate scenarios, a significant impact on productivity from climate change emerged. For example, a 2 °C warming enhanced Scots pine production by up to 14% in regions where temperatures were originally cooler and soil water deficit was low (i.e. northwest Sweden), but depressed it, up to 9%, elsewhere. Hence, climate-sensitive models that take local variations into account are necessary for accurate predictions and sustainable forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of wood harvesting operations is one of the main viability indicators of the forestry enterprise, which is directly influenced by land, population, and operational planning characteristics. The variables that affect the productivity of harvesting machines are particularly difficult to measure and have complex relationships, making it challenging to predict the productivity of operations. This study generated a model using machine learning (ML) techniques to estimate harvesting productivity in Eucalyptus plantations in southeastern Brazil. The input variables for modelling harvesting productivity were the average individual tree volumes, wood volume in the stand, cutting age, spacing, operator experience, and the management regime. The database was randomly divided into training (70%) and validation (30%) datasets. Boosted, artificial neural network (ANN), and adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) techniques were used to fit the model and were evaluated through statistics and graphical analysis of the residues. The configurations selected for training and validation to estimate harvester productivity resulted in correlation coefficient values greater than 0.9, and root-mean-square error (RMSE) percentages less than 12.41, indicating a strong correlation and high accuracy between the estimates and the observed values. The boosted technique yielded the best results, with correlation coefficients of 0.98 and 0.97, and RMSE percentages of 6.15 and 6.65 in training and validation, respectively. The worst performance for estimating harvesting productivity was obtained using the ANFIS technique. ML techniques were efficient in modelling the productivity of mechanised forest cutting with a harvesting model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial and temporal patterns of vegetation productivity in semi-arid savanna national parks are influenced by differences in land cover and changes in time series trends. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse patterns of vegetation productivity metrics of base value, peak value, amplitude, and small and large integrals in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) in south-eastern Zimbabwe from 1981 to 2015. Three sample sites comprising shrublands, deciduous broadleaved forested woodlands and mixed cover (shrublands, broadleaved deciduous forested woodlands and grasslands) were selected to show existing patterns of vegetation productivity for GNP. We used remotely sensed Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data which was further processed in the TIMESAT 3.3 program to derive productivity metrics. We then tested differences in land cover using analysis of variance and changes in time-series trends using Mann–Kendall and Theil–Sen's tests. We note significant differences in land cover (P < 0.01) in selected samples. There are significant downward trends in the base value in shrublands (P < 0.01) and broadleaved deciduous forested woodlands (P = 0.04). Significant upward trends in the amplitude in the shrublands (P < 0.01) and mixed cover areas (P = 0.01) were noted. However, there are no changes in vegetation productivity, as indicated by the peak value and large and small integral indices. Shrublands are becoming vulnerable in terms of energy and vegetation productivity and need constant monitoring. Long-span coarse-resolution images are important stepping stones in providing a baseline for further studies from moderate and fine-resolution imagery. Research on vegetation productivity using fine-resolution imagery is more suitable for GNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity and productivity are the two most important attributes linked to the functioning of forest ecosystems. Understanding how diversity and productivity of a forest ecosystem change at a regional scale is crucial for conservation priority. We present an investigation of the structural attributes of forest with respect to biodiversity and biomass through a case study of Dachigam National Park (DNP), a protected forest in Indian Kashmir Himalaya. Systematic random sampling was performed in 60 forest stands of five different forest types of the study region. To compare the biodiversity and biomass attributes among forest types, we used Gaussian error distribution followed by the chi-square Wald test. We estimated structural attributes of the forest to visualize how they relate to the changing biodiversity across different forest types within DNP. The highest values of aboveground, below ground and total biomass were found in Pinus wallichiana forest, while it was lowest in scrub forest. Pinus wallichiana and Quercus robur tree species stocked the largest amounts of biomass, 24.83% and 17.20% respectively, and is a dominant carbon sink. The study would assist in evaluating the forested ecosystems by considering two important attributes of forests represented by diversity and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite well-formulated goals for environmental protection in the forestry sector, the biodiversity crisis remains. Protected habitats are often small, isolated and lack continuity. We studied forest planning at a landscape scale as a method to increase habitat connectivity, and improve conservation values whilst maintaining high levels of forest production. We assessed the financial impacts of landscape planning for the landowners, and present a fee-fund system to solve unequal burdens among them. As case studies, we used three landscapes along a latitudinal gradient in Sweden. The results demonstrate some variation between the landscapes in terms of the total cost for set asides and large differences in terms of the financial impact per landowner. Our conclusion is that forest landscape planning may be a way forward to improve conservation efforts, but given the variation in financial impacts, we propose to combine landscape planning with economic tools for compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is related to drying of wood chips as a preconditioning step for wood pellet production. This article presents experimental data which are important in designing an industrial drying process: initial moisture content, bulk density, bulk porosity and desorption isotherm. Five wood species from the boreal forest have been investigated and two initial hydric states were considered, i.e. green state and pre-dried state. Desorption isotherms have been modelled using the GAB model, whose constants have been determined using a linearization method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Fennoscandia, mixtures of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) are of increasing interest, since they may deliver simultaneously a wide variety of benefits. However, there is still lack of information on how young mixed stands in managed production forests would develop under even-aged management with artificial regeneration of spruce. We inventoried ten such stands (age range: 8–26), with soil properties, tree characteristics, and locations recorded in three plots. In each plot, five sample trees of both species were selected, and their past diameter and height growth were reconstructed through stem analysis. We compared species-specific mean stand parameters, and we modeled the individual tree growth. Spruce and pine had reached similar mean size, with only slight differences. The spatial distribution of the two species was even across the plots. Only 8% and 1%, respectively, of the total pine and spruce trees were damaged, with browsing the most common damage cause (62% for pine). The modeling results suggest that pine had only a small competitive advantage on spruce, and less so in higher fertility sites. Our observations showed that it is possible to develop single-storied pine–spruce mixture with the help of careful management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests in the Philippines, and many other developing countries in the tropics, have been extensively cleared over recent decades. There have been increasing efforts to reforest these cleared lands to achieve both socio-economic and environmental objectives. To date, planted forests have been dominated by monocultures. There has however been increasing calls to use mixtures of species, although there is limited evidence to support mixed-species plantations being a better or win-win approach to reforestation. To address this, we compared the tree growth, forest structure, and tree species diversity performance of monoculture and mixed-species tree plantations across 168 sites (251 survey plots) on Leyte Island, the Philippines. Our results indicate that mixtures of fast-growing exotics species had better growth performance compared to monocultures of fast-growing exotics species, and also better tree species diversity performance at both the plot and landscape scale. Our results suggest that mixtures of exotic or native species can provide benefits over monoculture plantations. Mixtures of productive exotic species are most suited to situations where the production function of the forest is most important, while mixtures of native species are most suited to situations where the biodiversity function of the forest is most important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding diversity-productivity relationships (DPRs) is of theoretical importance and has practical implications for biodiversity conservation and forest management. Although the effects of species diversity and structural diversity on productivity have been a focus of intense research, the relative importance of these effects in different environments remains poorly understood. Based on three extensive datasets obtained from northeastern China, we examine how the species-diversity-productivity and structural-diversity-productivity relationships change with local conditions, and we compare the relative importance of these diversity effects on productivity in the different environments. Our results show that: (1) Positive relationships exist between species diversity and productivity in the overall structural equation model as well as the specific ones for each forest separately. Structural diversity only had a significant effect on productivity in the homogeneous environment of forest 1. (2) Species diversity showed stronger and more consistent effects on productivity than structural diversity. The relationship between structural diversity and productivity was more constrained by local environmental condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Admixtures of birch in Norway spruce plantations are being promoted as a means to increase habitat and species diversity. The implications of this mixture were analysed with regional survey data from southern Sweden. Permanent sample plots from the Swedish National Forest Inventory (NFI), with Norway spruce and admixture of birch, were used to describe the temporal trends in the admixture, regarding species composition and competitive strength. Observations from thinned plots show a higher harvest removal in birch (35%) than for Norway spruce (19%). Observations without thinnings in the period before measurement showed that individual birch tree growth was lower compared to Norway spruce and it decreased even more with increasing stand age and competition. In addition, a complementary field survey, with multiple distributed sample plots in each stand, was used to detect within-stand variation of species composition and density. Although within-stand heterogeneity was larger in mixed stands in terms of species composition, it was not different from Norway spruce monocultures in terms of stand density. These two surveys show that the admixture of birch, for several reasons, decreases over stand age and although birch increases tree species diversity, it does not necessary imply a change in density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frost is a sporadic meteorological event affecting the productivity of commercial forests in South Africa. Severe frost occurrences may cause irreversible damage to forest stands, slowing down tree growth or leading to tree mortality. Using the Moderate Imaging Spectrometer (spatial resolution: 1 km by 1 km, swath: 1 200 km by 1 200 km) night-time land surface temperatures between 2002 and 2011, this study mapped frost risk classes using six satellite-derived variables at the landscape level. These variables included calculated thresholds of minimum temperature, probability of frost occurrence, mean temperature, total number of frost days, frost duration and the frost severity index. Results show that, using an unsupervised random forest approach with partitioning around medoids, clustering was successful in mapping frost risk using eight optimal clusters. The methodology developed in this study contributes to building a robust frost-risk model to manage and mitigate forest frost damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstructing past anthropogenic influences on forest and woodland resources is an important tool to understand the development of present patterns of land use, and their long-term impacts. Past metallurgical activity undoubtedly consumed significant charcoal, exploiting forest resources for fuel at various stages of metal extraction and processing. This study aimed to quantify this fuel consumption from archaeometallurgical remains, with North Pare as a case study – a prominent centre of precolonial iron production activity in north Tanzania, and a mountainous region subject to considerable erosion processes attributed to changes in forest cover. Archaeometallurgical remains from Pare were examined with bulk chemical analysis, optical microscopy and elemental analysis to reconstruct Pare's past iron production technologies. The data was interrogated to distinguish the contribution of the fuel ash to the smelting system, with implications for our understanding of past forest degradation processes in relation to metallurgy, reducing reliance on potentially problematic analogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018, global crude steel production was approx. 1.8 gigatonnes while its direct CO2 emissions stood at 2 giga tonnes (2017), representing 23.5% of all direct industrial emissions. Globally iron and steel industry (ISI sector) is the second largest emitter after the cement industry while in Finland and Sweden the ISI sector is the largest industrial source of fossil CO2. Biocarbon received from forest sector residues, such as bark, sawdust and lignin, provides an opportunity to a rapid reduction in fossil CO2 emissions in the industry. Use of biocarbon for reduction purposes bestows an asset for both the forest and metals production and processing industry in Finland as well as in the Scandinavian countries. In this study, the focus was on the techno-economic evaluation of biocarbon production (1) from bark-based black pellets produced in a stand-alone plant close to a steel mill and (2) from bark produced in a pulp mill integrated plant. The economics of biocarbon production costs from bark appear promising, providing also an ample source, at an annual potential of up to 95,000 tonnes of biocarbon from a single pulp mill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The share of women among forest owners is growing in the traditionally masculine family forest sector. The present study continues the research on women who own forest in the Nordic setting. The focus is on the behaviour and role of rural female forest owners in Finland, as well as on the benefits of peer learning when building self-efficacy as a forest owner. The qualitative data consist of interviews with female forest owners, peer-learning group observations and feedback. The studied female forest owners who participated in the peer-learning group focused on silvicultural actions on the home farm. These women were eager to learn, but uncertain about their experience and capabilities as forest owners, which reduced their confidence to participate in forest-related discussions outside the home farm. The responsibility and decision-making power regarding the forest property is, in many cases, given to the husband. Within the studied group, the desired aim of learning seems to be the same silvicultural and timber production-oriented knowledge as held by male forest owners. In order to create new ideas and even business opportunities, the facilitator of peer-learning group plays an important role in encouraging participants to take part in more diverse discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focusses on mapping the seasonal and spatial variability of agricultural water productivity of sugarcane crop in three large irrigation schemes of Ethiopia (Wonji, Fincha'a and Metahara) from open source remote sensing data. The 100m spatial resolution of WaPOR data base was used to acquire the satellite data used for water productivity estimation. The average crop water productivity was 7.5kg/m3 at Wonji, 7kg/m3 at Fincha'a and 4.3kg/m3 at Metahara irrigation schemes respectively during time period of January 1/2009 to June 30/2019. Some plots located at Dodota, Sodare and Wake-Tiyo of Wonji scheme show high water productivity during time period of January 1/2018 to June 30/2019. But the value of water productivity show decreasing at Wonji main scheme during time period of January 1/2012 to June 30/2013. At Fincha'a irrigation scheme the high-water productivity was observed at most plots located at northern part of East Bank site, northern part of West Bank site and southern part of Neshie site during the study period of January 1/2009 to June 30/2019. And low water productivity at Fincha'a was observed at plots located at northern part of Neshie site, southern part of East and West Bank site. At Metahara irrigation scheme, some plots located near Basaka lake and northern part of the scheme, show low water productivity and some plots located at southern part of the scheme show high water productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the ways in which embodiments of femme within administrative academic settings intervene in dominant discourses that (incorrectly) frame us as being "in service" of male-identified colleagues, supervisors, and institutionalized heteropatriarchies. We posit femme as an important and complex counternarrative to the heterocentric, cissexist, and masculinist discourses that are ubiquitous within academic administration in both historical and present-day contexts. Additionally, we consider femme as a site of resistance to feminized discourses of nurturance and of (re)productivity. In this collaborative project, we study the labor involved in administering an English Department and a Writing Program at a four-year public college, interrogating, through autoethnographic reflections and analyses, the ways in which this service labor often falls to/gets thrust upon those of us who identify as femme faculty members. Our article illustrates how we resist the imposition of care work and assert our own agency while conducting administrative work on our own, femme, terms. We offer a list of usable interventions to common, predictable, yet sometimes disorienting situations, and although we do not advance these responses as easy conclusions to problematic interactions, we consider how this list might aid femme administrators in managing quotidian, misguided, at times hostile scenarios. Our work calls allies and comrades to identify systemic asymmetries and generate collaborative solutions within a paradigm of affirmation: One that places a commitment to "femme witnessing" at its center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A natural holm oak forest was selectively thinned to test thinning as a tool to reduce tree mortality, increase productivity, and reverse the recent regression of the dominant species (Quercus ilex) induced by climate change. Thinning increased aboveground productivity and reduced stem mortality in this Mediterranean forest during four years just after thinning, contributing to the maintenance of forest functioning under changing climatic conditions. Q. ilex was the only species positively affected by the thinning: stem growth increased for all stem sizes, and mortality was significantly lower in thinned plots. On the contrary, mortality rates of Phillyrea latifolia and Arbutus unedo were not significantly lower. Stem growth increased for P. latifolia only in the smallest stem-size class. Our results highlight the suitability of selective thinning for improving the forest productivity and ensuring the conservation of Mediterranean coppices. Other benefits of selective thinning, such as a decrease in the risk of fire dispersion and an increase in the water supply for human populations, are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest site quality assessment refers to the judgment and prediction of the appropriate forestry or potential productivity of the site. It is an extremely important basic work in the forest management. Taking Zhejiang province as a research area, based on the four consecutive National Forest Inventory (NFI) data from 1994 to 2009, the maximum DBH growth rate as a site quality evaluation indicator on Chinese fir plantation is proposed. The quantification theory model I was used to establish a regression model of the relationship between the maximum growth rate of the DBH and the site factors. The results show that the model's multiple correlation coefficient is 0.3167, and the F test reaches a significant level at the F0.01 (7,190). The model's RMSE and RRMSE are 3.4160, 30.3165%, respectively. The RMSE and RRMSE of the test data are, respectively, 3.249% and 29.1397% and the fitting accuracy is acceptable. The impact of the site quality factor on DBH growth rate of Chinese fir plantation in descending order is followed by aspect, soil, topography, slope, slope position, altitude, latitude. As an indicator on-site quality evaluation, maximum DBH growth rate is easy to be extracted from NFI data, and forest age as the traditional key dependence will no longer be essential. The method with effective use of NFI historical data is applicable to the even-aged forest and uneven-aged forest. Constructing a site quality evaluation model with the maximum growth rate of the DBH can effectively evaluate the site quality of the study area and is of great significance in forestry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstructing past anthropogenic influences on forest and woodland resources is an important tool to understand the development of present patterns of land use, and their long-term impacts. Past metallurgical activity undoubtedly consumed significant charcoal, exploiting forest resources for fuel at various stages of metal extraction and processing. This study aimed to quantify this fuel consumption from archaeometallurgical remains, with North Pare as a case study – a prominent centre of precolonial iron production activity in north Tanzania, and a mountainous region subject to considerable erosion processes attributed to changes in forest cover. Archaeometallurgical remains from Pare were examined with bulk chemical analysis, optical microscopy and elemental analysis to reconstruct Pare's past iron production technologies. The data was interrogated to distinguish the contribution of the fuel ash to the smelting system, with implications for our understanding of past forest degradation processes in relation to metallurgy, reducing reliance on potentially problematic analogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous forests represent South Africa's smallest biome, yet they are critical spaces for aligning sustainable development goals with carbon mitigation activities and conservation. The objectives of this study were to quantify the productivity and biodiversity of coastal lowland forests in the Dwesa Cwebe nature reserve in the Eastern Cape Province and characterize how estimates differed among alternative allometric equations. Using a complete tree census across six plots in the reserve, a total of 1489 trees were inventoried in 2011 and again in 2016. Aboveground tree carbon averaged 99.8 Mg C ha−1 (range 77.2–126.9 Mg C ha−1) using locally derived equations and 214.6 Mg C ha−1 using generalized equations. Tree aboveground net primary productivity averaged 1041.8 g C m−2 y−1. Forty-eight tree species were identified, including many species important to the livelihoods of local communities for medicinal, ceremonial, and other provisioning services. Overall, this study shows that current conservation activities are concomitant with high tree productivity and high levels of C stocks and biodiversity, including species of local and regional significance. Sustaining forest productivity and biodiversity in the future will be critical for maintaining ecosystem services and enhancing stewardship of forest resources in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second-generation biofuels are often seen as essential element in the future bioeconomy strategy. Countries with extensive forest resources such as Norway often view wood as preferred bio-feedstock, yet the effects of wood demand on assortments of harvested wood and other wood-based industries are unclear. Focusing on the importance of feedstock choice, we analyse the impacts of establishing a second-generation medium-scale biofuel plant in Norway. For the analysis, a dynamic forest sector model where the choice of tree species, wood assortments, production of bioenergy, and forest industry products are explicitly included, was applied. We find the optimal biofuel feedstock mix to be dominated by softwood chips from pulpwood comprising 48% of total biomass inputs in 2030 and increasing to 67% by 2055, followed by hardwood chips from birch, comprising initially 34% of total biomass inputs and 16% by 2055. The proportion of harvest residues remained constant at about 18% over time and roundwood was not used at all for biofuel production. Despite the additional demand for chips, the single medium-scale biofuel plant will have only minor effects on existing forest industries and harvests in Norway, as the domestic impact is dampened by changes in foreign trade flows, especially of chips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial forestry plantations are an important and valuable segment of the South African economy and forest managers are required to maximise and sustain forest productivity. However, various factors such as the outbreak of damaging agents are constantly hampering forest health and thus decrease productivity. It is therefore important to detect the presence and spread of these agents within plantation forests, a task efficiently achieved using remote sensing technology. A wide assortment of sensors with varying resolutions are available and have been extensively used for this purpose. This paper reviews the current status of remote sensing of forest health in South Africa by providing insight on the latest developments on the use of the technology in forest plantations. A systematic search was executed on Google Scholar, ScienceDirect® and EBSCOhost® databases that identified 627 articles of which 29 made reference to remote sensing of forest health in South Africa. Four key results were found: (1) the latest technology is capable of detecting and monitoring forest health with great accuracy, especially with the adoption of machine learning methods; (2) studies employing remote sensing to characterise forest health have burgeoned since 2006 with even more applying hyperspectral data; (3) most studies were spatially concentrated in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands region around Pietermaritzburg with only a few over the Western Cape; and (4) the remote detection of pest outbreaks and pathogens have received much attention followed by alien invasive plants and a few studies directed to fragmentation. Present and future partnerships may open up opportunities for exploit- ing remote sensing further; this should address growing expectations from government and industry for more detailed and accurate information concerning the health and condition of South Africa's plantation forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]