Search

Sustainable biomasses are vital to ensure preservation of the Amazon biome within the Mato Grosso State whilst enabling energy generation for the region and its population. Here, the potential of the elephant grass cultivar BRS Capiaçu as an alternative to replace native forest wood as biomass for energy generation is investigated, considering the whole process from plant cultivation to biomass characterisation in terms of productivity of green and dry mass per hectare; density, moisture, ash, volatile and fixed carbon content, as well as higher heating value (HHV). MANOVA indicates that the effects of plant parts and age on density and proximate analysis parameters are influenced by the plant parts and age interaction, whereas HHV can be considered similar between them. The cultivar BRS Capiaçu showed suitable energetic values (17,922 < HHV < 18,918 kJ.kg−1) compared to that of native Amazon wood. Energetic results combined with cultivation outputs of high productivity (dry mass production of 44.1 tonnes.ha−1 at 180 days) with a short cutting interval (3 months), adaptation to the region's climate and soil, and the possibility of cultivation in areas currently consolidated for agriculture demonstrate the potential of BRS Capiaçu as biomass to reduce native wood usage and deforestation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black elder, Sambucus nigra, is a non-native but now partly naturalized shrub in Sweden; it has been cultivated here at least since the Middle Ages. Previously, this plant was associated with a supernatural being to whom sacrifices were made, and its fruits were used in folk medicine and wood for fuel and crafts. Traditional economic uses vanished with industrialization and urbanization and black elder was mostly planted as an ornamental shrub in urban parks. At the end of the 1970s, however, it made a sudden comeback: city dwellers started to gather flowers to make a refreshing non-alcoholic cordial. This diachronic study of Sambucus nigra spanning over a millennium reflects various attitudes and uses within the context of a changing human society. In addition to the simple but popular cordial, side dishes and desserts made of its fragrant flowers are becoming increasingly popular in modern Swedish cuisine. Globally it has also been (re)discovered and the utilization of this plant is growing: its flowers are used to add flavor to soft drinks, salads, desserts and various dishes; berries are used for medicine and in cooking, especially with meats, and its future uses seem to be limited only by human imagination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread fuel accumulation in various strata is increasing the risk of high‐severity, crown‐fires. Knowing the vertical forest structure is a crucial factor for fire management planning.Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors have successfully retrieved the main characteristics of the vertical structure of forests. However, detecting and vertically mapping the various fuel strata that can act as ladder fuels (i.e. fuel arrangements that will bring the fire from the surface to the canopy) is challenging and limits our ability to manage the most hazardous forests.Here we show how using LiDAR data and the LadderFuelsR package, developed in the R platform, can provide an automated tool for analysing the vertical fuel structure of a forest and to calculate crown base height (CBH) at tree‐level, among other parameters. We include a suite of tools integrated into a sequential workflow for: (1) calculating the leaf area density (LAD) profiles of each segmented tree; (2) identifying gaps and the non‐continuous fuel layers present; (3) estimating the vertical distance between fuel layers; and (4) retrieving their base height and depth. Additionally, other functions recalculate previous metrics after considering vertical distances greater than certain threshold and calculates the LAD percentage comprised in each fuel layer removing fuel layers below a specified value. Moreover, it calculates tree's CBH based on three criteria: maximum LAD, and both the largest and the last vertical distance between fuel layers. Additionally, when the LAD profiles showed only one fuel layer with CBH at the minimum base height, it identifies the tree's CBH by performing a segmented linear regression. Finally, a collection of plotting functions is developed to represent all previous metrics.This tool has been tested with different LiDAR sensors and thousands of trees in several Pinus pinaster forest areas in Central Spain, and its accuracy has been evaluated using field‐based tree CBH in Pinus palustris Mills dominated forests in Florida (USA). This tool provides accurate information about the vertical structure of a forest, which can be used for prioritizing treatment areas to reduce fire hazard or identify high crown‐fire risk areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fire Ecology is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), one of the indigenous tree species in sub‐Saharan Africa, is facing extinction because of its hardwood, which provides the best fuel wood, and its charcoal is the best amongst all tree species in Uganda. To conserve these trees in Northern Uganda, the Community Environment Conservation Fund was implemented to help communities harness its benefits, such as carbon sequestration, microenvironment regulation and income generation through the sale of shea nuts and shea butter. As a result, there was a need to understand the opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the Community Environment Conservation Fund. Qualitative methods like the key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used and a participatory process mapping tool called the Process Net‐Map was applied to identify the actors involved and assess their level of influence in the implementation process, eliciting the opportunities and challenges faced. The research findings showed multiple opportunities in the conservation efforts, including enhanced adoption of community‐conservation by‐laws, positive mindset change towards shea tree and environmental conservation, improved credit access, diversification of income‐generating alternatives and asset creation. However, some challenges existed during the implementation phase, including moral hazard, strategic defaulting, free riding and limited financial resources. Each of these challenges significantly impacted the effectiveness and sustainability of the fund, enlightening the need for adaptive strategies. Some strategies identified were enhancing training, especially regarding fund management and enterprise selection; increasing the startup funds to at least UGX 3,000,000 ($790) per group; incorporating the declining balance approach; and lengthening the gestation period to at least 6 months. By addressing these challenges, more resilient and sustainable conservation efforts can be made, safeguarding the invaluable shea trees for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgency of addressing environmental challenges has become more apparent than ever in recent years. Using existing renewable resources and reducing environmental impacts is critical for boosting economic growth and sustainable development. Ethiopia has limited access to modern bioenergy because of insufficient biomass data and policy gaps. This study estimated the theoretical potential of forest residue biomass resources for modern bioenergy production in Ethiopia. A combination of forest statistics data, publicly available data, literature models, and standard procedures was utilized. Ethiopia generates approximately 16.4 million dry tons of recoverable forest residue biomass each year. This indicates that the theoretical energy potential of forest residue available in Ethiopia is about 1.8–4.93 billion liters of ethanol each year, equivalent to 172%–469% of the country's gasoline consumption. Alternatively, the same amount of residue could generate 1.23–3.29 billion liters of biodiesel (biomass to Fischer–Tropsch) each year, accounting for 40%–107% of the country's biodiesel consumption. The theoretical estimations also show that the recoverable forest residues have the potential to produce about 12.7–34 TWh of electricity. This could significantly improve remote rural household electrification while decreasing the country's reliance on fuel wood biomass for traditional biofuels by 26%. The findings indicate that generating modern bioenergy from forest biomass residue has the potential to contribute to Ethiopia's energy mix, boost rural power access, and open new avenues for socioeconomic development. Finally, it can be concluded that the study findings reported in this study are useful to energy professionals, researchers, and policymakers interested in biomass fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalent use of inefficient traditional stoves for biomass cooking energy in Nigeria contributes to high rates of biomass consumption, deforestation, and harmful pollutant emissions. This study aimed to assess the constraints hindering the adoption of improved biomass cookstoves (IBCS) in Benue State, Nigeria. Data were randomly collected from 135 households and analyzed using descriptive (frequency, mean and percentage) as well as inferential statistics (binary probit regression). Findings revealed that 88% of households rely on fuelwood for cooking, with approximately 35% still using traditional stoves. However, 46% of households have adopted IBCS and recognized its advantages, including improved cooking speed, fuel economy, time savings in fuelwood collection, cost savings, and reduced smoke emissions. Additionally, various factors such as age, household size, access to credit, location, distance to market, membership of women's associations, fuelwood collection distance, and fuelwood sources were identified as constraints to IBCS adoption. To promote IBCS adoption, we recommend that development planners and extension officers raise awareness among households and provide them credit incentives through government and NGO support. This research significantly contributes to pertinent knowledge by shedding light on the challenges and opportunities associated with IBCS adoption in Nigeria, thereby informing policy and development initiatives in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fire is one of the dominant disturbances in the forests of Heilongjiang Province, China, and is one of the most rapid response predictors that indicate the impact of climate change on forests. This study calculated the Canadian FWI (Fire Weather Index) and its components from meteorological record over past years, and a linear model was built from the monthly mean FWI and monthly fire numbers. The significance test showed that fire numbers and FWI had a very pronounced correlation, and monthly mean FWI was suitable for predicting the monthly fire numbers in this region. Then FWI and its components were calculated from the SRES (IPCC Special Report on Emission Scenarios) A2 and B2 climatic scenarios, and the linear model was rebuilt to be suitable for the climatic scenarios. The results indicated that fire numbers would increase by 2.98–129.97% and −2.86–103.30% in the A2 and B2 climatic scenarios during 2020–2090, respectively. The monthly variation tendency of the FWI components is similar in the A2 and B2 climatic scenarios. The increasing fire risk is uneven across months in these two climatic scenarios. The monthly analysis showed that the FFMC (Fine Fuel Moisture Code) would increase dramatically in summer, and the decreasing precipitation in summer would contribute greatly to this tendency. The FWI would increase rapidly from the spring fire season to the autumn fire season, and the FWI would have the most rapid increase in speed in the spring fire season. DMC (Duff Moisture Code) and DC (Drought Code) have relatively balanced rates of increasing from spring to autumn. The change in the FWI in this region is uneven in space as well. In early 21st century, the FWI of the north of Heilongjiang Province would increase more rapidly than the south, whereas the FWI of the middle and south of Heilongjiang Province would gradually catch up with the increasing speed of the north from the middle of 21st century. The changes in the FWI across seasons and space would influence the fire management policy in this region, and the increasing fire numbers and variations in the FWI scross season and space suggest that suitable development of the management of fire sources and forest fuel should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory chronic disease. The objective of the study was to assess the influence of environmental factors on the severity of atopic dermatitis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted at a pediatric department in Cotonou and Parakou among children aged 0-17 years with atopic dermatitis. The severity of atopic dermatitis was assessed using SCORAD. Data on environmental factors was collected on the fields or by asking questions to the parents. Results: Sixty-seven girls and forty boys were included using the United Kingdom Working Party criteria. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis was 5.1%. The mean age at the onset of disease was 36.06 +- 42.48 months. Pruritis was present in 97.2% of the cases and sleep disturbing in 25.2% of the cases. Common eczema was present in 44.8% of the cases and follicular eczema in 11.2%. Mild to severe atopic dermatitis were observed in 68.8%. Factors associated with the severity of atopic dermatitis were dry season, light wind's rate, some foods such as maize, sorghum, millet, eggs, okra, use of a cream called Sinzaa. Firewood, coal, domestic gas, pets (dogs, cats), garden, dust, mold, and the number of people in the room were not associated with the severity of atopic dermatitis. Discussion: Local foods were the environmental factors that had an influence on the severity of atopic dermatitis in our study. Conclusion: Some environmental factors had an influence on the severity of atopic dermatitis in Cotonou and Parakou, Benin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing global concern regarding the detrimental health impacts of PM2.5 emissions from traditional stoves that utilize polluting fuels. Conventional methods for estimating daily personal PM2.5 exposure involve personal air samplers and measuring devices placed in a waist pouch, but these instruments are cumbersome and inconvenient. To address this issue, we developed a novel neck-mounted PM2.5 monitoring device (Pocket PM2.5 Logger) that is compact, lightweight, and can operate continuously for 1 week without recharging. Twelve participants who utilized charcoal, firewood, or propane gas for cooking in rural regions of Rwanda wore the Pocket PM2.5 Logger continuously for 1 week, and time-series variations in personal PM2.5 exposure were recorded at 5-min intervals. Individual daily exposure concentrations during cooking differed significantly among users of the different fuel types, and PM2.5 exposure was at least 2.6 and 3.4 times higher for charcoal and firewood users, respectively, than for propane gas users. Therefore, switching from biomass fuels to propane gas would reduce daily individual exposure by at least one-third. An analysis of cooking times showed that the median cooking time per meal was 30 min; however, half the participants cooked for 1.5 h per meal, and one-third cooked for over 4.5 h per meal. Reducing these extremely long cooking times would reduce exposure with all fuel types. The Pocket PM2.5 Logger facilitates the comprehensive assessment of personal PM2.5 exposure dynamics and is beneficial for the development of intervention strategies targeting household air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates non-price determinants of fuel choice and consumption decision of households in rural India. Fuel consumption varies at household levels from traditional fuels like firewood and chips to modern fuels such as LPG. Fuel consumption is based on two-stage decisions: (a) whether households participate or not; and (b) how much they consume if they participate. Significant factors might be different in the first stage and the second stage due to certain socio-economic or non-price factors. Applying Cragg's double hurdle model on NSSO data, this article finds determinants of fuel choice and its consumption at the household level in rural India. Empirical findings indicate that income significantly determines quantity consumption, not choice decision. The role of assets in determining fuel choice and quantity decision is also considered through a comparative study including and excluding landholding, a major asset in rural India. Bottom and top quintile results suggest that advancement of the economic position of the households changes their attitude towards dirty fuel selection and consumption. Firewood fuel consumption decreases with the rising education level of the household head, especially women-headed households. Increased awareness through education and removing social barriers might help to reduce dirty fuel consumption, and India might move towards Sustainable Development Goal. JEL Codes: C20, C13, C34, O13, Q23, Q40, Q56 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor air quality can be affected by the presence of atmospheric pollutants, which impact severely in human health. The objectives were to show the characterization of particle number (PN0.3–PN2.5), particles mass (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10), Black Carbon (BC), Brown Carbon (BrC) and bioaerosols (fungi and bacteria) in indoor environments of three pizzerias that have wood ovens as fuel at Londrina, Brazil. Mean Particle mass concentration varied amongst the pizzerias (28.9–42.4 µg m−3 for PM2.5) with the levels of BC and BrC reaching up to 42.9 µg m−3 and 29.4 µg m−3, respectively. These were correlated with the air ventilation of the place, the amount of wood burned, and service mode (e.g., all-can-eat). Furthermore, an average of 934 ± 404 CFU m−3 of bacteria was found in all places and Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosphialophora were the most important fungal genera found. Inside kitchens, the concentrations of PM2.5, BC, BrC, bacteria and fungi were 29.6, 3.0, 2.8 µg m−3, 876, and 1261 CFU m−3, with a mean ratio of BrC/PM2.5 of 0.06, that indicates this as a significant source for BrC. Finally, the concentrations of PM and bioaerosols found inside kitchens demonstrate pollution levels much higher than those recommended by national and international guidelines. Consequently, problems associated with poor indoor air quality will only be solved when adequate kitchen designs are considered. From the results of this work is possible to conclude that the building characteristics of kitchen and the burning process carried out are important factors for the concentrations of pollutants analyzed in the indoor air of wood-burning kitchens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the capability of an unmanned aerial vehicle with a LiDAR sensor (UAV-LiDAR) to classify and map fuel types based on the Prometheus classification in Mediterranean environments. UAV data were collected across 73 forest plots located in NE of Spain. Furthermore, data collected from a handheld mobile laser scanner system (HMLS) in 43 out of the 73 plots were used to assess the extent of improvement in fuel identification resulting from the fusion of UAV and HMLS data. UAV three-dimensional point clouds (average density: 452 points/m2) allowed the generation of LiDAR metrics and indices related to vegetation structure. Additionally, voxels of 5 cm3 derived from HMLS three-dimensional point clouds (average density: 63,148 points/m2) facilitated the calculation of fuel volume at each Prometheus fuel type height stratum (0.60, 2, and 4 m). Two different models based on three machine learning techniques (Random Forest, Linear Support Vector Machine, and Radial Support Vector Machine) were employed to classify the fuel types: one including only UAV variables and the other incorporating HMLS volume data. The most relevant UAV variables introduced into the classification models, according to Dunn's test, were the 99th and 10th percentile of the vegetation heights, the standard deviation of the heights, the total returns above 4 m, and the LiDAR Height Diversity Index (LHDI). The best classification using only UAV data was achieved with Random Forest (overall accuracy = 81.28%), with confusion mainly found between similar shrub and tree fuel types. The integration of fuel volume from HMLS data yielded a substantial improvement, especially in Random Forest (overall accuracy = 95.05%). The mapping of the UAV model correctly estimated the fuel types in the total area of 55 plots and at least part of the area of 59 plots. These results confirm that UAV-LiDAR systems are valid and operational tools for forest fuel classification and mapping and show how fusion with HMLS data refines the identification of fuel types, contributing to more effective management of forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe mainly at winter season the PM levels exceed air quality limits, which correlated with the operation of solid-fired boilers. More and more people are returning to using these devices due to energy shortage caused by the pandemic and regional conflicts. In addition, the phenomena of co-burning fuels and municipal waste in residential boilers in primarily fuel poverty households increases further the amount of pollutants in the atmosphere. This study aims to correlate the quantity and quality of air pollutants with the type of fuel (wood and wastes) burned. Combustion experiments were conducted using oak fuel mixed with three waste groups: (1) plastics (PP, HDPE, PET); (2) textiles (polyester—PES, cotton—COT); and (3) papers (cardboard—CARD, glossy coated paper—GCP, 84C/PAP). The addition of waste to wood fuel altered the morphology of emitted particles. While waste burning doesn't always increase particle quantity, it significantly raises PAH concentrations. A strong relationship exists between waste type, particle morphology, and PAH quality, where with lower molecular weight PAHs linked to tar agglomerates and higher ones to soot agglomerates with inorganic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: In recent years, forest fires have become increasingly frequent both domestically and internationally. The pollutants emitted from the burning of fuel have exerted considerable environmental stress. To investigate the influence of forest fires on the atmospheric environment, it is crucial to analyze the variations in PM2.5 emissions from various forest fuels under differing fire conditions. This assessment is essential for evaluating the effects on both the atmospheric environment and human health. (2) Methods: Indoor simulated combustion experiments were conducted on the branches, leaves, and bark of typical tree species in the Liangshui National Natural Reserve, including Pinus koraiensis (PK), Larix gmelinii (LG), Picea koraiensis (PAK), Betula platyphylla (BP), Fraxinus mandshurica (FM), and Populus davidiana (PD). The PM2.5 concentrations emitted by six tree species under various combustion states were measured and analyzed, reflecting the impact of moisture content on the emission of pollutants from fuel combustion, as indicated by the emission factors for pollutants. (3) Results: Under different fuel loading and moisture content conditions, the mass concentration values of PM2.5 emitted from the combustion of different organs of various tree species exhibit variability. (4) Conclusions: Among the various tree species, broad-leaved varieties release a greater quantity of PM2.5 compared to coniferous ones. A positive correlation exists between the moisture content of the fuel and the concentration of PM2.5; changes in moisture content notably influence PM2.5 levels. The emission of PM2.5 from fuel with varying loads increases exponentially. Utilizing the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) model for simulation, it was determined that both moisture content and fuel load exert a significant combined effect on the release of PM2.5 during combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since forest fuel decomposes slowly and increases the risk of forest fires by accumulating over the years, forest fuel management to accelerate the decomposition process is essential to prevent forest fires and protect forest resources. In this study, we conducted experiments on forest fuels (Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica, Larix gmelinii, Quercus mongolica and Fraxinus mandshurica) in four typical plantation forests in northeast China by adding Trichoderma spp. to investigate the decomposition process and the changes in cellulose, hemicellulose and the water-holding capacity of the fuels. The addition of Trichoderma spp. accelerated the decomposition of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in the fuel. Trichoderma spp. promoted the ratio of water absorption and loss, as well as the water-holding capacity of the fuels. The ratio of water absorption and loss reached equilibrium when the decomposition time was up to 35 days, and the addition of Trichoderma spp. increased the maximal water-holding capacity of the fuel. The residual ratio of the four types of fuel degraded by the different treatments was inversely proportional to their maximal water-holding capacities and to the residual ratios of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The residual ratios of degradation of the four fuels under different treatments were linearly related to their maximum water-holding capacity, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin residual ratios. Trichoderma spp. had a positive effect on the degradation effect and water-holding capacity of fuel on the ground surface of four typical plantation forests. The study is of positive significance for the decomposition of fuel in forests, it promotes the development of biological fire prevention technology and provides a basis for the reinforcement of the management of fuel in forests and the protection of forest resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal degradation behavior of forest fuels is crucial to optimize the environmental conditions before processing it for energy utilization. The ambient oxygen concentration affects the combustion kinetics and gas emissions during thermal degradation. In this study, the effects of oxygen concentration on the combustion kinetics and gas emission characteristics of forest duff (FD) were investigated by the coupling technique of thermogravimetric analysis—Fourier transform infrared spectrometry/mass spectrometry (TG-FTIR/MS). TG results reveal that thermal degradation rate was enhanced by increasing oxygen concentration. FTIR/MS results show that oxygen facilitated the generation of CO, CO2, H2O, carboxylic acids [COOH]+, and ester group [OCOH]+ but was not conducive to the formation of pyrolyzates of H2, –CH2–/–CH3, CH4, aldehyde groups [COH]+, acetaldehyde groups [CH2COH]+, and aryl groups [C7H7]+. The generation of a small amount of pyrolyzates except for [C7H7]+ at higher temperatures (> 400 °C) in oxidative atmospheres was confirmed to be attributed to the char volatilization. According to the integrated findings from TG-FTIR/MS analysis, a comprehensive six-step reaction scheme including drying, FD pyrolysis, FD oxidation, char volatilization, and the oxidation of char and char residue was proposed for the kinetic analysis. A favorable agreement between the experimental and simulated TG and derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves was obtained. The kinetic model reveals that secondary char oxidation (i.e., the oxidation of char residue) is more pronounced in conditions of oxygen deficiency and high heating rates. The results of this study are conductive to understanding the thermal degradation behavior of FD in different atmospheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investment potential for biochar production from low‐value forest biomass in the western USA is over USD 20 billion at current carbon prices. This investment could generate approximately 70 million carbon credits annual – roughly the same number currently generated globally by all forestry and agricultural carbon projects. Biochar production that utilizes woody biomass specifically from wildfire fuel thinning projects as a feedstock can contribute financially to much‐needed fuel thinning projects. Each coupled biochar and carbon credit production system has positive returns in certain scenarios. Light upgrades to existing biopower facilities have the highest returns, with internal rates of return generally between 10–30%. Mobile biochar production often had the lowest returns. However, land managers can subsidize mobile biochar production up to USD 150–300 per tonne of biochar and still save money in comparison with pile‐burning low‐value biomass while also generating approximately one carbon credit for every two bone‐dry tonnes of low‐value biomass turned to biochar. The critical barrier to industry growth is the lack of transparent biomass supply chains that enable long‐term contracting for feedstock, production schedules, and investment. Moving forward, there are three potential pathways for the biochar industry to scale and utilize biomass from forest management and fuel thinning projects. Either (1) the carbon market will need to sustain high carbon prices, (2) a subsidy or other mechanism will need to decrease the cost of feedstock biomass, or (3) production will need to take advantage of economies of scale to bring down biochar prices while increasing production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trees provide vital ecosystem services, yet anthropogenic activities have continued to reduce tree cover (TC) globally, leading to disparities in the distribution of ecosystem services at various scales. Similarly, empirical analysis of indicators that measure variations in TC at various temporal and spatial scales is limited in the semi-arid regions where global environmental challenges such as climate change are already affecting TC distribution. This paper quantified recent (2017 - 2019) TC changes in the semi-arid region of Ghana using Sentinel-2 times series data and the application of landscape metrics. The results showed that TC declined by 30% within two years. Urbanizing areas showed more rapid TC depletion rates, while some rural areas experienced a slight increase in TC. The findings suggest the need for local environmental governance by consolidating actions towards conserving semi-arid TC. Sustainable charcoal and fuelwood production are imperative for a long-term sustainable supply of ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many research methodologies aim to calculate forest resource and firewood consumption on the village, community, municipality, regional, and national levels. This parameter is vital for decision-makers in a number of areas, such as environmental protection, forest governance, energy, the economy, and disaster risk management and prevention. As a number of studies show, there is no alternative to heating with firewood in Georgian villages. This model uses a dataset for Georgia to facilitate the calculation of the aforementioned parameter for populated areas via PostGIS spatial analysis and statistical analysis of existing data. Elevations, degree-days, and firewood consumption rates were measured per capita and household for populated areas. The model determines the volume of firewood required for heating in rural settlements. The demand for firewood in each village can be calculated by the number of inhabitants. Settlements represent minor administrative units according to which firewood consumption on any administrative level, whether it be on regional or municipal levels, is defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Arqueologia is the property of Revista de Arqueologia 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.)

Characterizing forest fuel properties in terms of their distribution and flammability behaviour offers useful information for effective fire management. Satellite images provide synoptic images capturing the vegetation state and their change including burn area loss, enabling stratification, and narrowing down the search for further investigation on ground or laboratory. The study investigated the flammability of various forest fuels including sal, teak, bamboo and grass species, by analysing different fuel variables such as moisture content (MC), volatile matter (VM), ash content (AC), fixed carbon (FC), higher heating value (HHV) and minimum ignition temperature (MIT), and exploring the intrinsic relationships between and among them. The teak wood showed low MC (5.08%), high VM (81.91%), low AC (1.1%), high HHV (19.93 MJ/kg), high CF (93.82) indicating high sustainability, combustibility and consumability characteristics. Teak indicated higher flammability characteristics compared to sal, while grass indicated higher sustainability and combustibility characteristics compared to bamboo. Overall woody species (sal and teak) indicated high ignitability and sustainability characteristics over grass and bamboo. Among the plant components, leaves indicated high ignitability, wood indicated high sustainability, combustibility and consumability, and barks indicated low flammability characteristics. This study registers a maiden and early attempt using satellite and laboratory-based analysis to characterize the flammability properties of dominant species of tropical dry forests in eastern India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Wildland Fire Science is the property of Journal of Wildland Fire Science Editorial Office 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.)

The rising costs of petroleum-based fuels for internal combustion engines and their detrimental environmental impacts have spurred the search for alternative fuels. This study explores minor modifications to a compression ignition engine, enabling it to operate in dual fuel mode using biofuels as a viable alternative to neat diesel. A novel biofuel was developed using cedar wood oil, and its performance was experimentally investigated in a single-cylinder diesel engine operating at a constant speed. Acetylene was continuously introduced to the engine at a flow rate of 6 L per minute, chosen for its optimal performance, yielding a brake thermal efficiency of over 30.7%. The engine was operated under constant conditions, including a compression ratio of 18, an ignition timing of 23°CA before top dead centre, and an injection pressure of 220 bar. Comparative evaluations were performed by analyzing the combustion characteristics and emission levels of diesel and cedar wood oil-based fuels with and without nanoadditive for diesel, B50 and B100 with a constant acetylene gas supply at 6 Lit/min. The primary objective was to reduce toxic emissions, including smoke, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides, released during fuel combustion with the help nanoadditives in fuel. The effects of cerium nanoparticles as an additive were considered in this study due its thermal stability and activation energy which reduce CO and HC emission significantly.The smoke, CO and HC were decreased for B100 + 6L A + 50 ppm blend by 20.21%, 65.52% and 51.42% for 100% load. It is found that cedar wood oil oil with nanoparticle additives could effectively reduce smoke and hydrocarbon emissions while maintaining comparable efficiency to neat diesel and pure biodiesel modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Knowledge of how fire regimes influence flammability, and its role in shaping future fire regimes, exists mostly at species composition and ecosystem levels. The effect of fire regimes on fuel at the chemical level is poorly known. Aim: We aimed to empirically investigate the association between recent fire history and forest foliage chemistry; and to explore potential implications for forest fuel flammability. Methods: Using an orthogonal study design, we investigated the effects of fire frequency and time since fire on the chemical composition of Eucalyptus pilularis leaves from forest canopies and surface litter in south-eastern Australia. Key results: We found high fire frequency (fire-return interval 10–13 years) was associated with higher C:N, C:P, and C:K ratios in E. pilularis surface litter, and higher C:P in canopy leaves. Conclusions: Nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorous reduce flammability of plant tissues, and hence, the observed differences in leaf nutrients between high and low fire frequency sites could have important implications for future flammability of these forests. Implications: Our study has demonstrated a relationship between fire frequency and leaf nutrient stoichiometry, which may act as a mechanism through which repeated fires could increase fuel flammability. This warrants further investigation in other environments. Knowledge of how past fires may influence the future flammability of ecosystems remains poorly resolved. Here, we report significant effects of past fire frequency on the chemical properties of canopy leaves and leaf litter in a coastal Eucalyptus forest, which may have important implications for future forest flammability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how party fragmentation and electoral competition relate to the outcome of environmental policy. It is assumed that when elections happen the electoral punishment and incentives will be distributed. Specifically, when there are high number of effective number parties (ENP) in the legislature, it brings competition to the incumbent to provide more public goods. Hence, the electoral competition and party fragmentation will bring more provision of public goods. Using these assumptions, the electoral competition theory provides basic pieces of information to predict the effect of electoral competition on environmental policy outcome; a high ENP will provide a better outcome of environmental policy. Taking Indonesia as our case selection, we discovered a positive association between the number of effective parties and energy efficiency, such as LED, and a negative correlation between the usage of wood for domestic fuel. This means that political competition such as electoral competition promotes better outcome for environmental policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water content is an essential parameter for assessing the quality of solid biofuels. In terms of economic, technical and environmental aspects a continuous determination of the solid fuel water content is sought. This article investigates the use of microwave technology for the continuous measurement of fuel water content. For this purpose, a microwave sensor was evaluated with five different types of wood chips (forest residues, beech, pine, and ash). The results of the online measurements showed a strong correlation with the reference method r < 0.9 for most materials. This means that continuous water content determination of wood fuels using microwave technology is fundamentally possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals often rely on the presence of multiple, spatially segregated cover types to satisfy their ecological needs; the juxtaposition of these cover types is called landscape complementation. In ecosystems that have been homogenized because of human land use, such as fire‐suppressed forests, management activities have the potential to increase the heterogeneity of cover types and, therefore, landscape complementation. We modeled changes to California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) nesting/roosting habitat, foraging habitat and habitat co‐occurrence (i.e. landscape complementation) within a 971 245‐ha forest landscape restoration project area, the Tahoe‐Central Sierra Initiative (TCSI) landscape, through mid‐century as a function of fuels reduction, fire and climate change. Compared to a minimal management scenario, accelerated management within the TCSI landscape was predicted to increase the number of potential 400‐ha spotted owl territories containing a high degree of landscape complementation (defined as containing >20% nest/roost habitat and >20% foraging habitat) at lower elevations (<5000 ft.) by an average of 90 to 118 territories by 2050, depending on the climate scenario examined. At higher elevations (>5000 ft.), potential benefits of treatments to spotted owl nesting/roosting and foraging habitat were less evident, but accelerated management did not result in habitat loss. Our results suggest that accelerated fuels reduction and forest restoration treatments within this large landscape are expected to benefit spotted owls by improving the spatial juxtaposition of nesting/roosting and foraging cover types by 2050 compared to a minimal management scenario. Fuels reduction and forest restoration in this landscape thus can both increase the resilience of forest ecosystems to disturbances as well as benefit the habitat of a sensitive old‐forest species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woodfuel production and consumption have been a concern for multiple stakeholders involved in household energy use, deforestation, and climate change. While research into the underlying decision-making process is growing, it remains insufficient. Such a study offers opportunities to develop policies that enable diversification of household energy consumption and livelihood options away from woodfuel use. Policymakers often lack an understanding of factors correlated with households' participation in woodfuel production. Therefore, this study examined the correlation between household participation in woodfuel production and factors that influence households' participation in woodfuel production in dryland areas of Ethiopia. Data were collected from 1,114 purposively selected woodfuel-producing and non-producing households through household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The sample included 775 participant households and 339 non-participant households. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regressionmodel. The results revealed that drought and related shocks are the main factors that forced households to participate in woodfuel production. The model results indicated that age, education, landholding, livestock holding, production asset value, ownership of improved cook stoves, number of years lived in the area, distance fromthe forest, access to forest extension, and institutional membership are statistically significant factors that negatively influence household participation in woodfuel production. On the other hand, household expenditure and drought occurrence positively and significantly influence the participation of households in woodfuel production. The findings of the study suggest that sustainable management and utilization of dryland forest resources require considering socioeconomic, demographic, institutional, and environmental factors correlated with households' decisions to participate in woodfuel production. This can be achieved through sound institutional setups and policy frameworks in the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire is a common threat to forests in our country. It is usually uncontrolled and consumes the natural fuels of the forest, affecting both the vegetation and the soil. In the Philippines, forest fires are mostly frequent in regions with naturally occurring vegetation that is highly susceptible to forest fire, and one of them is the Cordillera Administrative Region. This study was conducted to [1] determine forest fire occurrences in Benguet province, [2] generate forest fire hazard maps using three indices [structural fire index (SFI), fire risk index (FRI), and hybrid fire index (HFI)], and [3] recommend potential forest management strategies to reduce fire susceptibility or manage fire occurrence in the province. NDMI, elevation, slope, aspect, distance from roads, and vicinity to settlements were the influencing factors used in the occurrence of forest fires. Moreover, forest fire occurrences in the province were collected from DENR records. Results revealed that from 2019-2021, a total of 90 forest fire incidents were observed in the area. In terms of the indices, results showed that maps using HFI and FRI revealed better results than the SFI model. Furthermore, there were forest fire incidences that coincided with the FRI model, particularly in those areas identified as having high and very high susceptibility ratings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armed conflicts can lead to environmental degradation, thereby threatening the basis of people's livelihoods and wellbeing. Identifying areas where conflicts drive environmental degradation is important for designing effective recovery strategies, but this is inherently challenging in insecure contexts. We use a case study in Tigray, Ethiopia to illustrate how open-source satellite data can be used to support the identification of woody vegetation loss during armed conflicts in situations where ground-based assessments are difficult or impossible. Areas of potential woody vegetation loss extend across 930 km2 (approximately 4% of the area occupied by forest and other woody vegetation in Tigray) and appear to be concentrated mostly along major roads; however, vegetation recovery has continued during the war across a significantly larger area (approximately 2600 km2). Spatial patterns of woody vegetation loss appear to be unrelated to drought conditions and large-scale wildfires. Based on these observations and anecdotal evidence of deforestation, we propose that it may be conflict-driven deforestation, caused by increases in fuel wood demands, that are driving the woody vegetation losses in some areas of Tigray. Eventual recovery efforts will have to consider the loss in landscape health during the war in areas where woody vegetation has declined, and include efforts to restore this vegetation to ensure both food security and livelihoods. Open access satellite data, together with ground-based data collection, could inform such post-war restoration efforts by helping identify degraded areas at a regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prescriptions for fuel management are universally applied across the forest types in British Columbia, Canada, to reduce the fire behaviour potential in the wildland–urban interface. Fuel thinning treatments have been advocated as a means of minimizing the likelihood of crown fire development in conifer forests. We hypothesized that these types of prescriptions are inappropriate for the coastal rainforests of the Whistler region of the province. Our study examined the impact of fuel thinning treatments in four stands located in the Whistler community forest. We measured several in-stand microclimatic variables beginning with snow melt in the spring up to the height of fire danger in late summer, at paired thinned and unthinned stand locations. We found that the thinning led to warmer, drier, and windier fire environments. The difference in mean soil moisture, ambient air temperature, and relative humidity between thinned and unthinned stands was significant in the spring with approximate p-values of 0.000217, 9.40 × 10−5, and 4.33 × 10−8, respectively, though there were no discernible differences in the late summer. The difference in mean solar radiation, average wind speed, and average cross wind between thinned and unthinned locations are significant in the spring and late summer (with approximate p-values for spring of 9.54 × 10−7, 0.02101, 1.92 × 10−9, and for late summer of 2.45 × 10−7, 4.08 × 10−6, and 2.45 × 10−5, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for nontimber forest products (NTFPs) has increased significantly in recent years. Hundreds of plant species that grow naturally in Türkiye have medicinal and aromatic value. Medicinal and aromatic plants are primarily used as a sources of tea, spices, condiments and essential oils. Species belonging to the genus Arbutus L. are used for decorative purposes and as fuel wood in many wood-based industries, they also have a wide range of uses in packaging, chairs making and furniture production. Additionally, the fruits of these trees are widely consumed by humans and animals because they are rich in sugar and vitamin C. It is predicted that changes in climatic conditions will significantly change the distribution, composition and function of forests threatening biodiversity. The purpose of this study was to model current and future potential geographical distributions of Arbutus unedo L., which is among the species that naturally grow in Türkiye and is of substantial value in terms of its ecological contribution to forest ecosystems, based on species presence data and environmental variables (bioclimatic variables and altitude). The current and future distribution area models for Arbutus unedo L. indicate that the potential distribution areas of the species in the coming years will gradually decrease, and in the SSP5 8.5 model, which represents the highest level of world resource usage this gradual decrease will reach its highest level and there will be no suitable distribution area left for the species. Therefore, it is predicted that the species will become endangered. In-situ and ex-situ conservation measures need to be taken to ensure the sustainability of the species in forestry and landscape areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Funerary cremations in Roman times were important rites of passage that involved the use of fire to accompany the dead into the afterlife. In the present study, we investigated the wood fuel that was used to build cremation pyres and the foodstuffs involved in offerings and funerary feasts in a necropolis of Barcino (present-day Barcelona), dated to the 1st century CE and located at the Sant Antoni Market site. Our approach began with the analysis of wood charcoal and fruit/seed remains, which were preserved over time through carbonisation. These archaeobotanical remains offer valuable insights into the selection of woody species and the condition of wood logs used for cremations. Additionally, they shed light on the food composition of offerings and feasts in this area of the Mediterranean coast, where data on such practices are scarce. The anthracological analysis of different combustion structures revealed that the principal taxon used for the stacks was evergreen oak, with deciduous oak playing a significant role during the initial use of the necropolis. Dendro-anthracological analysis indicated that medium to large diameters wood logs of deciduous oak obtained from mature individuals were commonly employed. Moreover, charcoal analysis suggested the use of pruning remains from fruit trees such as olive, grapevine, walnut, plums, and members of the apple family, providing evidence of arboriculture practices in the city. Additionally, various minor woody species (Aleppo and mountain pines, juniper, cypress, mastic, and rockroses) may have had several functions, including symbolic sensory aspects relating to smell and good flammability, the constitution of small objects or furniture placed on the stack (boxwood), and fire kindling or decoration (mastic, rockroses, honeysuckle, and laurustinus). Carpological analysis indicated that the most abundant offerings and/or feast remains consisted primarily of cultivated fruits such as figs, walnuts, and grapes, while pulses and cereals were comparatively scarce or absent. Finally, a noteworthy quantity of Arbutus berry remains was recorded, marking the first occurrence of such findings in similar Roman contexts to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy supply in Ethiopia is dominated by biomass energy, mainly for household consumption. The development of gasification‐based gasifier baking stoves for energy demand is the subject of this study. The novelty of the gasifier baking stove is its ability to bake food more quickly while using less wood fuel. Biomass fuels are used inefficiently in poorly ventilated kitchens, resulting in indoor air pollution and the consumption of large amounts of wood fuel. Biomass gasifier baking stoves can improve fuel efficiency, baking time, and indoor air pollution while producing char as a byproduct. The proposed new gasifier study shows an average fuel use efficiency of 45% and time savings of 12% compared to Mirt stoves. Furthermore, the grate cover of the biomass gasifier stove is also used to regulate the airflow rate. The primary air that enters the reactor is controlled by a manually operated slide grate cover. The water boiling test and control cooking test were developed to mirror the performance of a modern baking and cooking stove. The baking stove was tested with Eucalyptus globulus as a feedstock. A technoeconomic assessment was conducted on a biomass gasifier baking stove for commercial purposes. For the technoeconomic assessment, we mostly employed the simple payback period projection. The economic analysis was conducted using Ethiopian supply and market rates, which may differ from region to region. The baking stove has an initial capital cost of about 15,100 ETB and a payback period of 2.49 years, which makes it economically viable for those living in remote locations. According to the study, the typical emissions from a biomass gasifier stove running on eucalyptus wood fuel are 0.24 ppm CO and 8.91 ppm CO2. The results of the stove's economic study demonstrate that using eucalyptus wood fuel results in a shorter payback period. The performance efficiency of the new gasifier stove in terms of wood fuel and time saving as compared to the Mirt stove is 45% and 12%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of traditional biomass in developing countries such as Ethiopia accounts for approximately 90% of the total primary energy consumption at the household level. Such heavy dependency threatens the natural forest ecosystem and contributes to climate change. However, empirical evidence on the extent of fuelwood consumption is limited. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the status of firewood consumption in the Negele Arsi District of Oromia Region, Ethiopia, and its contribution to climate change. Door‐to‐door surveys and measurements were made to estimate the extent of firewood consumption and the resultant greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions at the household level. The major type of woody species used as household energy sources and the amount of firewood saved while using the improved stove were also predicted through kitchen performance tests. The findings showed that 84.5% of the energy needed for home‐based activities was fulfilled by firewood. Eucalyptus species, Podocarpus facaltus and Acacia etbaica, were the most common tree species used as household energy sources in the district. It was found that 17.02 tons of firewood was consumed, and 18 × 103 tCO2e was emitted annually at the household level. Baking Injera using Mirt stove was found to reduce firewood consumption by approximately 25% compared to a traditional open stone stove. The study showed that firewood consumption is the main cause of deforestation in the district and has a large contribution to climate change. Hence, coordinated effort and appropriate interventions are needed to avert the situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite data are effective for mapping wildfires, particularly in remote locations where monitoring is rare. Geolocated fire detections can be used for enhanced fire management and fire modelling through daily fire progression mapping. Here we present the Canadian Fire Spread Dataset (CFSDS), encompassing interpolated progressions for fires >1,000 ha in Canada from 2002–2021, representing the day-of-burning and 50 environmental covariates for every pixel. Day-of-burning was calculated by ordinary kriging of active fire detections from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite, enabling a substantial improvement in coverage and resolution over existing datasets. Day of burning at each pixel was used to identify environmental conditions of burning such as daily weather, derived weather metrics, topography, and forest fuels characteristics. This dataset can be used in a broad range of research and management applications, such as retrospective analysis of fire spread, as a benchmark dataset for validating statistical or machine-learning models, and for forecasting the effects of climate change on fire activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass, due to its neutrality in terms of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere during its life cycle, is considered an interesting renewable source for energy production as an alternative to the use of more polluting fossil fuels. Among the different wood fuels, pellets are convenient for use in dedicated stoves, and pellet heating systems have a high energy efficiency. The aim of this work was to estimate the economic and global warming potential (GWP100a) generated along the thermal energy supply chain of wood pellets, starting from the production of raw biomass from dedicated poplar cultivations and ending with the use of pellets in stoves by the end-user to produce thermal energy and ash. The Eco-Efficiency Indicator (EEI) was used to link the economic and environmental performance for eight proposed scenarios, obtained by combining different levels of mechanisation for poplar harvesting and wood biomass management before arrival at the pellet plant. For the thermal energy produced by the poplar wood pellet, the GWP100a ranged from 1.5 × 10−2 to 2.1 × 10−2 kg CO2−eq MJ−1 for three-year-old plantations and from 1.9 × 10−2 to 2.4 × 10−2 kg CO2−eq MJ−1, for six-year-old plantations. In terms of eco-efficiency of the baseline scenario (EEIb), the most favourable scenarios remain those linked to the use of biomass from three-year-old poplar plantations, with EEIb values ranging from 0.31 to 0.60 € kgCO2−eq−1, compared to from 0.29 to 0.36 € kgCO2−eq−1 for pellets obtained from biomass produced from six-year-old poplar plantations. In terms of the Global Eco-Efficiency Indicator (EEIg), which also takes into account the positive effect on the reduction of greenhouse gases due to the storage of carbon in the soil by the plantations and the reduction of emissions from avoided fossil fuels, the most favourable scenarios remain those linked to the use of biomass from three-year-old poplar plantations, with EEIg values that vary in the range of 0.60 ÷ 1.04 € kgCO2−eq−1, compared to 0.55 ÷ 0.62 € kg CO2−eq−1 for thermal energy obtained using biomass from six-year-old poplar plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper includes a discussion of the results of tests concerning changes in the thermal and emission parameters of a boiler fuelled with wood biomass under the influence of air gradation in the combustion process. The test results ensure insight into the combustion process of wood biomass with air gradation, which significantly affected the operation of the device, increasing the mass concentration of the emitted nitrogen oxide (NOx) by combustion temperature lowering, especially in the afterburning zone. The authors observed an increase in the emission of particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) related to the change in the combustion process stoichiometry. The tests were carried out with the use of a heating boiler equipped with an automatic pellet burner. Apart from the mass concentration measurement of the pollution emitted, the tests focused on the measurements of temperature and oxygen levels in the flue gas. The objective of the tests was to confirm the applicability of the air gradation techniques in biomass combustion in order to reduce the emission of harmful substances from heating boilers, which is a technique that has recently been used in this group of devices. The test results obtained confirm the necessity for reorganising the technical systems of the currently used pellet burners and implementing further empirical tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present research, the open-source WRF-SFIRE model has been used to carry out surface forest fire spread forecasting in the North Sikkim region of the Indian Himalayas. Global forecast system (GFS)-based hourly forecasted weather model data obtained through the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) at 0.25 degree resolution were used to provide the initial conditions for running WRF-SFIRE. A landuse–landcover map at 1:10,000 scale was used to define fuel parameters for different vegetation types. The fuel parameters, i.e., fuel depth and fuel load, were collected from 23 sample plots (0.1 ha each) laid down in the study area. Samples of different categories of forest fuels were measured for their wet and dry weights to obtain the fuel load. The vegetation specific surface area-to-volume ratio was referenced from the literature. The atmospheric data were downscaled using nested domains in the WRF model to capture fire–atmosphere interactions at a finer resolution (40 m). VIIRS satellite sensor-based fire alert (375 m spatial resolution) was used as ignition initiation point for the fire spread forecasting, whereas the forecasted hourly weather data (time synchronized with the fire alert) were used for dynamic forest-fire spread forecasting. The forecasted burnt area (1.72 km2) was validated against the satellite-based burnt area (1.07 km2) obtained through Sentinel 2 satellite data. The shapes of the original and forecasted burnt areas matched well. Based on the various simulation studies conducted, an operational fire spread forecasting system, i.e., Sikkim Wildfire Forecasting and Monitoring System (SWFMS), has been developed to facilitate firefighting agencies to issue early warnings and carry out strategic firefighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential wood combustion (RWC) is a significant source of gaseous and particulate emissions causing adverse health and environmental effects. Several factors affect emissions, but the effects of the fuel wood species on emissions are currently not well understood. In this study, the Nordic wood species (named BirchA, BirchB, Spruce, SpruceDry, Pine and Alder) were combusted in a modern stove, and the emissions were studied. The lowest emissions were obtained from the combustion of BirchA and the highest from Spruce and Alder. The fine particle mass (PM2.5) was mainly composed of elemental carbon (50–70% of PM2.5), which is typical in modern appliances. The lowest PAH concentrations were measured from BirchA (total PAH 107 µg/m3) and Pine (250 µg/m3). In the ignition batch, the PAH concentration was about 4-fold (416 µg/m3). The PAHs did not correlate with other organic compounds, and thus, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or organic carbon (OC) concentrations cannot be used as an indicator of PAH emissions. Two birch species from different origins with a similar chemical composition but different density produced partially different emission profiles. This study indicates that emission differences may be due more to the physical properties of the wood and the combustion conditions than to the wood species themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combustion features are routinely studied using micro-geoarchaeology in prehistoric sites, providing information on human social life. In submerged prehistory such features have not been studied from the microscopic perspective, and here we present a study of three combustion features from two submerged Neolithic sites from the southeastern Mediterranean: Atlit-Yam (ninth-millennium cal BP) and Neve Yam (eighth-millennium cal BP). Mineralogical analyses were utilized to detect heated clay while quantification of phytoliths, ash pseudomorphs, and dung spherulites allowed determination of fuel sources. Micromorphology was deployed to determine whether or not the features represent in situ combustion activities and to understand formation processes. Two installations from Atlit-Yam contain evidence for short in situ fire events that were fueled by wood and reached 700–900 °C. One installation from Neve Yam contains reworked deposits that bear evidence for combustion at 500–700 °C, includes remains of wood ash and livestock dung. However, this feature cannot be identified with certainty as an in situ combustion feature. This research shows that pyrotechnological, functional, and social information can be gleaned from underwater combustion features using a micro-geoarchaeological approach and techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates how children involved in fuelwood collection affects their educational outcomes by utilizing primary data from a rural district of the newly formed Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The study also examines whether gender bias exists in collecting fuelwood for cooking purposes. The study assesses the educational outcomes of the children engaged in fuelwood collection using various critical parameters like literacy and numeracy skills, coping skills and social competencies and positive self-image and set of values. The study finds that in the study area, the majority of the households exclusively relied on wood as their primary source of energy for cooking and heating, and school-aged children are actively involved and devote substantial time to collecting fuelwood. Our results reveal that time spent on fuelwood collection has a severely negative impact on their educational outcomes. The adverse educational outcomes are more pronounced among females than males, underscoring the gender-specific nature of these impacts. To address this issue, one potential solution could involve reducing household's dependence on fuelwood by providing alternative energy sources. The paper suggests interventions to accelerate the transition to cleaner cooking fuels in the study area. Government should make concerted efforts to meet households' energy needs in a cost-effective and eco-friendly manner to accelerate the transition to clean household energy sources and reduce their reliance on fuelwood. This transition will be a crucial step in improving the well-being and educational outcomes of the children in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality pellets are typically produced from coniferous sawdust. However, achieving comparable quality from alternative feedstocks, such as broadleaf wood, often necessitates pre-treatments or additives. Yet, within the framework of small-scale pellet production, local forest enterprises may lack the resources for such treatments and usually produce pellets from the whole trees, including branches, leaves and tops. This can have an impact on the quality of the pellets obtained in this manner. To be classified as high-quality pellets (A1 class), the specific features of the pellet must be higher or fall below the thresholds specified in the EN ISO 17225 standard. In this study, we developed an alternative statistical approach to evaluate pellet quality in comparison to the constant thresholds reported in the technical standard. We applied such an approach to evaluate the quality of pellets produced from the broadleaved species common in the Mediterranean forestry, including European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.), Eucalyptus (clone Eucalyptus camaldulensis x C. bicostata), and Poplar clone AF6. In particular, we focused on three variables that are generally the most troublesome for the production of high-quality pellets from the broadleaved species, namely bulk density, ash content, and lower heating value. We found that the beech pellets showed satisfactory bulk density (average effect size of −1.2, with no statistical difference in comparison to the standard's threshold) and ash content (average effect size of about −5 and significantly lower than the standard's threshold), but the heating value was significantly lower than the threshold required by the standard (average effect size of about −3). Conversely, other investigated species exhibited notable deficiencies, with turkey oak pellets displaying acceptable heating values. We found a significant improvement in ash content and heating value with increasing stem age within the same species thus suggesting that material derived from thinning interventions might be preferable over coppice-derived biomass for high-quality pellet production. We suggest that future research on the topic should focus on investigating pellets produced from blends of beech and turkey oak biomass. We further recommend a wider application of the proposed statistical approach, considering that it is clear and easy to interpret, and allows for a statistical comparison of the obtained values against the requirements of the technical standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prediction of the propagation of wildland fires is an important socio-technical problem. Wildland fires are often initiated by small spot ignition sources and then spread to larger burning areas. Methods: Experiments are conducted for the spotting ignition of a forest surface fuel (pine needles) in a relatively large (up to 1 m2), horizontal laboratory bed, and the subsequent fire spread without wind. The spotting ignition sources are a cluster of steel particles, an ember and a small pilot flame. Key results and conclusions: Wildfire spread has an initial acceleration phase, with the growth of the burned area in the fuel bed following a power law dependence in time, almost independent of the ignition source. Comparison with previous larger-scale experiments and FARSITE modelling of the fire spread over similar fuel beds shows that the power function with time describes well the combined results of the initial wildfire growth and the transition to larger fire propagation for relatively long times. Implications: The Rothermel equation under different environmental conditions may be extended to describe the initial accelerative growth of a spot fire. This work supports the modelling of fire propagation that currently is geared to a later time in the development of a wildfire. Wildland fires are often initiated by small spot ignition sources. Their transition into wildfire spread has an initial acceleration phase, and the growth of a burned area of the fuel bed follows a power law dependence in time. Such a trend is almost independent of the ignition source and can be extended over relatively long times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assessment of fuel hazard has become the dominant method of describing Australian forest fuel complexes, despite a lack of evidence supporting the veracity of its underpinning assumptions. Aims: To analyse and discuss the merits of fuel hazard ratings and scores in representing measurable fuel characteristics, such as fuel load and fire behaviour potential. Methods: Published findings were reviewed, and available data analysed to investigate the validity of the Australian fuel hazard assessment concepts. Key results: Multiple published studies showed the Australian fuel hazard assessment methods to be subjective and non-replicable. All available evidence shows no relationship between fuel hazard ratings and fuel quantity. No relationship between the ratings and fire behaviour potential was found. Conclusions: The principles underpinning the use of fuel hazard ratings for fuel assessment were shown to be unfounded. The ratings cannot be converted into physical fuel characteristics or fire behaviour potential, and its application in Australian fire management is unwarranted. The validity of fuel hazard rating for assessment of fuels in Australian forests was reviewed. The principles underpinning the rating method were shown to be unfounded, with ratings found to be neither related to physical fuel characteristics nor fire behaviour potential. Their application in Australian fire management and research is unwarranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many developing countries, particularly in Africa and Asia, still widely use traditional cooking methods that rely on solid fuels such as wood and charcoal. These inefficient and polluting cooking practices have severe health impacts due to household air pollution, and they contribute to environmental degradation through deforestation and black carbon emissions. This has driven growing interest in cleaner and more sustainable cooking alternatives such as electric cooking (e-cooking), improved biomass cookstoves, biogas systems, and modern fuel stoves that can reduce emissions and fuel consumption while providing a safer cooking experience. E-cooking has emerged as a promising option to traditional cooking methods due to sustainability, health benefits, energy efficiency, convenience, safety, and potential for grid integration, making it a promising alternative to traditional cooking methods. This study followed the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews to assess the existing literature on e-cooking from 1993 to 2023. In addition, the biblioshiny package in R software was used to perform bibliometric analysis to identify key trends and evolutions. The results indicate that the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Australia, and China are the top five countries leading in e-cooking research. The study identified promising areas for future research, such as optimising solar e-cookers using artificial intelligence techniques, integrating internet of things and automation technologies in e-cookers, integrating e-cooking appliances into smart grid systems, examining effective behavioural change interventions, and exploring innovative business models. The study findings highlight the need for interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, engineers, social scientists, and policymakers to address the technical, economic, socio-cultural, and environmental factors influencing the transition to e-cooking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this industrialized world, in which the daily consumption of fossil fuels occurs, companies seek to prioritize energy generation through renewable energy sources with minimal environmental impact to improve their energy efficiency. The research objective was to calculate CO2 emissions for the pyrolysis process (conventional low-temperature pyrolysis) in two types of reactors, electric and traditional, where solar panels power the electric reactor. In addition, the amount of polluting gases and the energy consumption necessary to convert biomass into biochar were compared. Residual lignocellulosic biomass (RLB) from various species present in the southern region of Ecuador (eucalyptus, capuli, and acacia) was used, with three replicates per reactor. The electrical reactor (ER) consumed 82.60% less energy than the primary forest biomass fuel "traditional reactor (TR)" and distributed heat better in each pyrolytic process. The TR generated more pollution than the ER; it generated 40.48% more CO, 50% more NO2, 66.67% more SO2, and 79.63% more CH4. Undoubtedly, the pyrolysis process in an ER reduces environmental pollution and creates new bioproducts that could replace fossil fuels. This study provides relevant information on the residual biomass pyrolysis of plant species. These species are traditionally grown in the southern Ecuadorian region. In addition, an analysis of polluting gases for the TR and ER is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]