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We aimed to understand the correlation between the microclimate environment within a forest and NVOC (Natural volatile organic compounds) concentration and the concentration of NVOC more efficiently through the prediction model method. In this study, 380 samples were collected and analyzed to examine the characteristics of NVOC emitted from a birch forest. NVOC were analyzed in May and July 2019, and measurements were performed at three different locations. Using a pump and stainless-steel tube filled with Tenax-TA, 9 L of NVOC was collected at a speed of 150 mL/h. The analysis of NVOC composition in the forest showed that it comprised α-pinene 27% and camphor 10%. Evaluation of the correlation between the NVOC concentration and the microclimate in the forests showed that the concentration increased markedly with the increase in temperature and humidity, and the concentration decreased with the increase in wind velocity. Nineteen substances in total including α-pinene and β-pinene were detected at high concentrations during the sunset. The results of the study site analysis presented a significant regression model with a R 2 as high as 60.1%, confirming that the regression model of the concentration prediction of NVOC in birch forest has significant explanatory power.

Research highlights: The increasing rates of mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic have popularized the notion of access to natural environments as a solution, leading to a surge in demand for urban green spaces. The concentration of natural volatile organic compounds (NVOCs) in forests, resulting from plant metabolism, plays a crucial role in forest-based healing and ecosystem health. Background and objectives: This study aimed to investigate how tree spacing influences NVOC concentrations within forest ecosystems using passive samplers, thereby enhancing the understanding of optimal forest management practices to promote human health benefits. Methods: We employed passive samplers to investigate tree spacing effects on NVOC concentrations. We placed passive samplers among trees in the study area to measure NVOC concentrations in individual trees and analyzed the relationship between NVOC concentration and tree spacing and structure. Results: A multiple regression analysis using distance decay models showed that a tree spacing of 2.7–3 m had a significant impact on NVOC concentrations. These findings provide a better understanding of how tree structure, tree spacing, and microclimate within the forest influence NVOC concentration. Conclusion: These findings have important implications for forest management and the design of forest landscapes to promote human health and well-being by considering the spatial distribution of NVOC concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid deforestation, coupled with the growing population seeking forest therapy, urges the necessity for research on how to maximize forests' therapeutic functions when cultivating damaged or unmanaged forests. This study was formulated to provide a basis for forest stand density management to maximize the therapeutic effects of forests with a focus on natural volatile organic compounds (NVOCs), a representative component of forest therapy through analysis of variance and regression analyses. The results of this study revealed all studied stand densities yield the highest total NVOC (TNVOC) emissions in summer, especially in the study site which has a forest density of 700/ha. In addition, treeless areas (0/ha) were found to have the most significant difference in average NVOC emissions when cultivated at a density of 700/ha. When managing forests with a density of 900/ha to 1000/ha, it has been shown that it is most desirable, in terms of therapeutic function efficiency, to control a density of 500/ha to 700/ha. Finally, regression equations for the five experimental sites with significant explanatory power were derived. Based on the results of the conducted analyses, 700/ha of forest density is recommended to maximize the therapeutic effects of forests, compared to other ranges of forest density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, people in countries around the world including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Canada, and South Korea are seeking physiological and psychological healing by visiting forests as stay-at-home orders continue. NVOCs (natural volatile organic compounds), a major healing factor of forests, have several positive effects on human health. This study specifically researched the NVOC characteristics of bamboo groves. This study revealed that α-pinene, 3-carene, and camphene were observed to emit the most, and the largest amount of NVOC emitted was seen during the early morning and late afternoon within bamboo groves. Furthermore, NVOC emission was found to have normal correlations with temperature and humidity, and inverse correlations with solar radiation, PAR (photosynthetically active radiation), and wind speed. A regression analysis conducted to predict the effect of microclimate factors on NVOC emissions resulted in a regression equation with 82.9% explanatory power, finding that PAR, temperature, and humidity had a significant effect on NVOC emission prediction. In conclusion, this study investigated NVOC emission of bamboo groves, examined the relationship between NVOC emissions and microclimate factors, and derived a prediction equation of NVOC emissions to figure out bamboo groves' forest healing effects. These results are expected to provide a basis for establishing more effective forest healing programs in bamboo groves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]