Search

Literature shows that tourists can make significant financial contributions towards efforts of erosion prevention, but very few studies are done in the context of developing countries, especially to protect World Heritage sites. This paper provides the first estimates of willingness to pay (WTP) for differing coastal erosion measures by domestic and foreign tourists visiting Hoi An, an UNESCO World Heritage site located in Vietnam. Using a discrete choice experiment, our study presents several new and important findings. Tourists support visible protection structures and trees on beaches even though these hard measures can affect the natural aesthetics. There exists preference heterogeneity among tourists. Most importantly, our analysis shows that WTP of each tourist is USD $13.45, nearly seven times greater than WTP by local residents estimated in previous literature for a similar erosion protection program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractProblem, research strategy, and findingsTakeaway for practiceTrees are vital for terrestrial ecosystems and community wellbeing. Local tree protection ordinances typically limit the removal of trees or require replanting for mitigation. Because conserving trees advances climate change mitigation and adaptation, tree ordinances will likely become more widespread and demanding, prompting more pushback from property owners. Such pushback happened recently in response to a Michigan township’s tree protection ordinance. Two adjacent property owners alleged in federal and state court, respectively, that the ordinance effected a special kind of regulatory taking, one premised on an unconstitutional condition. The township lost both cases, voiding its efforts to mitigate the substantial loss of trees. This article analyzes the two legal cases together as a single case study. That case suggests that, rather than contesting the legitimacy of tree protection ordinances generally, property owners will assert instead that the public—not individual tree owners—should bear all the costs of conserving trees. The case highlights key ethical, legal, and planning principles to consider for making tree protection ordinances both effective and legally defensible, including the use of a mitigation plan and determination when requiring mitigation, and it suggests needed additional research on tree mitigation assessment methods for planning and zoning.It is not enough to ensure that mitigation requirements for tree removal are reasonably related to community welfare, climate change mitigation, and other goals; it is also necessary to fully justify those requirements to property owners and sometimes to courts, especially when addressing the distribution of the burdens and benefits of those requirements across property owners and deciding who—property owners or the community—should “pay” to protect trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beehives have previously been used to protect large trees from elephant impact in sub-arid savannas, thus improving the persistence of large trees as habitats for other species. This brief report aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the presence and absence of beehives as a management tool for reducing elephant-induced tree mortality. The study was conducted in three phases: Phase 1 (2015–2020) involved actively maintaining beehives on marula trees (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra), Phase 2 (2020–2022) the systematic reduction in the number of active beehives, and Phase 3 (2022–2024) the removal of all beehives. The persistence rates of the trees with beehives were compared to those without beehives. We found that beehives significantly improved the persistence of the trees in the presence of elephants. During Phase 1, only 10% of the trees with beehives died compared to 34% of the trees with no beehives. In Phase 2, with a reduced number of active beehives, the mortality rates increased slightly for both trees with beehives and those without. However, in Phase 3, after the removal of all the beehives, the mortality rates significantly increased for all the trees monitored as part of the study. We also found that the mortality rate of the original trees with no beehives increased when beehives were removed from the study site, whilst the mortality rate of the original beehive trees without beehives in Phase 3 (8.7%) surpassed that of the 8.1% prior to the hanging of beehives. These findings highlight the effectiveness of beehives as a tree protection method against elephant impact and how beehives can improve the persistence of tree populations co-occurring with elephants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The result of the research project "Environmental awareness campaign: reforestation, care and protection of the trees of the Centro de Estudios Espiritu Santo de la Ciudad de Guayaquil" is presented. The protection of the environment has become an essential and mandatory need, so the objective is to implement community participation strategies to involve students of the Centro de Estudios Espiritu Santo de la Ciudad de Guayaquil in urban forestation activities, environmental awareness and care of green areas. The study adopted a qualitative and quantitative methodological approach, using specific techniques such as documentary review and bibliographic research. The sample selected for this study focused on the Centro de Estudios Espíritu Santo in the city of Guayaquil. The results show a clear discrepancy between the perceptions of the surveyed population regarding deforestation in the city of Guayaquil; while the authors made a contrast between the results obtained from different theses, scientific studies, etc. In conclusions, this study proposes new research questions or proposals for ecological projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic utilization of woody vegetation by African savanna elephants may transform woodland vegetation to open savanna and threaten the extirpation of targeted species. This situation has arisen in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP), Zimbabwe, where a large elephant population (>2 km−2) threatens the persistence of the long‐lived baobab (Adansonia digitata) tree, through elevated mortality levels. This study investigated whether complete or partial refugia from elephant utilization existed for baobabs, and whether protection of trees by management, using wire netting or log‐ or rock‐packs around a tree base, had been effective. A total of 563 baobabs were sampled across northern GNP. Elephants had debarked 99% of trees to some degree, and gouged holes in the stem of 22% of trees. The probability, and severity, of debarking and gouging decreased with increasing distance to permanent water, increasing slope, and the amount of boulder cover. Slope gradient had the greatest effect on elephant impact, with trees located on steep slopes being less affected by elephants than those on flat ground. Distance to water had an effect despite the farthest tree, at 9 km from water, being within the 15 km foraging range of bull elephants. Large boulders partly protected trees even on gentle terrain. None of these factors provided a complete refuge from elephant impact within GNP, but, individually and collectively, provided a partial refuge at current elephant densities. Protection measures doubled tree survival over approximately 5 years, with fencing wire wrapped around baobab stems proving to be the most effective method. Assessment of the future security of baobabs in GNP requires knowledge of their distribution and that of the refugia provided by distance from permanent water, slope, and boulder cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-native invasive box-tree moth Cydalima perspectalis causes severe damage to ornamental box trees (Buxus spp.) and natural boxwood stands. So far, no promising natural enemy of C. perspectalis has been discovered in Europe. Many garden owners would like to protect their box trees from C. perspectalis without the use of insecticides, which also harm other arthropod species. In a controlled experiment under natural conditions, we tested whether box trees covered with a net during the flight period of C. perspectalis are as well protected against the moth as trees treated with a bioinsecticide. After 1 year, the box trees covered with a net during the moths' flight activity (monitored by light traps) showed no damage by larvae (average loss of leaves 0%), as did box trees regularly treated with a bioinsecticide (control group 1). In contrast, box trees with no protection (untreated box trees; control group 2) lost 97.7% of their leaves due to larval feeding. In a second experiment, we investigated whether defoliated box trees can recover when covered with a net during the flight period of the moth. Protected by the net, the emerging new leaves were not attacked by C. perspectalis. After 1.5 years, the trees had 24% of their original foliage again. Our study demonstrates that temporarily covering box trees with a net protects them against damage by C. perspectalis in an effective way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trees growing in urban environments are often impacted by maintenance or construction work involving the cutting of roots. Tree protection zones have been proposed to avoid critical damage to the tree. However, despite incorporating quantitative information, they heavily rely on expert judgement that remains to be validated. In a study conducted across six parks in Quebec City, Canada, two commonly found tree species, Acer platanoides L. and Tilia cordata Mill., presumed to be different in terms of vulnerability to root damage, were subjected to a range of trenching treatments. The trees were between 23 and 40 cm diameter at breast height (DBH). A safety factor was calculated relating the turning moment the tree can withstand to the turning moment imposed by high winds likely to occur. The safety factor against uprooting was assessed for each tree before and after root trenching using a non-destructive pulling approach. The effects of tree species, distance to the trench, and their combined interaction were tested on tree stability. The relationship between tree stability and soil texture, tree characteristics, and the number of damaged roots were also tested. Safety factors were initially variable, ranging from 0.5 to 4.5. T. cordata safety factors were lower than those of A. platanoides and influenced by soil texture. Trenching treatments had no effect on the safety factor, even when two perpendicular trenches were dug at 1 m from the stem. No index of the amount of root damaged was significantly related to the safety factor. Root trenching treatments that encroached closer to the tree trunk than the recommended tree protection zones did not affect the stability of both species. Nevertheless, it is essential to recognize that other ecophysiological processes might still be influenced, and long-term monitoring is crucial. Both should be taken into account when determining these zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During an interdisciplinary study of the mire "Torfowisko pod Małym Śnieżnikiem", a very old specimen of the Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) was encountered. The aim of the present work was to perform a detailed examination of this tree, to compare it to other spruce trees on the mire, and to provide support for establishing protection for this tree stand. Tree ring cores were sampled at 1.3 m above ground using a Pressler borer, in two field campaigns: June and July 2023, the latter campaign aiming to find the oldest trees. A total of 46 trees were sampled, yielding 84 measured radii. Tree ring widths were measured down to 0.01 mm under a stereomicroscope. The oldest sampled tree yielded a total of 370 tree rings in the two radii, representing the period 1653–2022. The average tree ring width for this oldest tree equals 0.33 mm/year, and shows low values (on average 0.19 mm/year) for the period 1742–1943, i.e., during the Little Ice Age cooling. Changes in the tree ring width coincide with periods of cooling and warming in the nearby Tatra Mountains. The oldest tree does not stand out from other trees from the population with respect to height or trunk diameter. A comparison of the age of this tree to the oldest spruce trees in Poland indicates that it is one of the longest living specimens of this species. Considering the natural character of the stand, the remaining flora, and the peat-forming processes taking place within the mire "Pod Małym Śnieżnikiem", we argue that the mire should become protected by the law as soon as possible in order to preserve this valuable high mountain habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most destructive pest of mature spruce (Picea) in western North America. Recent outbreaks in Alaska and other western US states highlight the need for tools to protect Picea from D. rufipennis. The primary antiaggregation pheromone of D. rufipennis (3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one, MCH) and various combinations of potential repellents (1-octen-3-ol, exo -brevicomin, endo -brevicomin, ipsdienol, ipsenol, limonene, and verbenone) were tested for their ability to disrupt the response of D. rufipennis to attractant-baited multiple-funnel traps. Two assays were conducted on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, in June and July 2021. All treatments significantly reduced the mean number of D. rufipennis caught compared to the baited control. No other significant differences were observed among treatments. Informed by these and other data, tree protection studies were established in Lutz spruce, Picea  ×  lutzii , on the Kenai Peninsula in 2022 and in Engelmann spruce, Pi. engelmannii , in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, in 2021. All experimental trees were baited with frontalin. Repellent treatments included MCH (SPLAT MCH, ISCA Inc. Riverside, CA, USA) and at least 1 additional repellent combination. In Alaska, all treatments significantly reduced colonization (strip attacks + mass attacks) and mortality of individually treated Pi. × lutzii and all Picea within 11.3-m radius of each treated Pi. × lutzii compared to the control. In Utah, all treatments except for SPLAT MCH + octenol significantly reduced colonization compared to the control. Only SPLAT MCH +  Acer kairomone blend (AKB) and SPLAT MCH + octenol reduced Pi. engelmannii mortality compared to the control. SPLAT MCH + AKB and SPLAT MCH + acetophenone and green leaf volatiles (PLUS) were the most effective across both studies. The implications of these and other results to the development of an effective semiochemical repellent for D. rufipennis are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit tree frost, an agricultural meteorological disaster primarily occurring in spring, severely impacts the growth and development of trees and fruit set. Therefore, exploring the temperature change rules of fruit trees during frost events is of considerable importance. This study used a T40 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as the test vehicle based on the air disturbance frost prevention principle. The airflow field change pattern of the UAV was explored using the computational fluid dynamics simulation method, and the reliability of the multi-rotor UAV in frost prevention was verified using field tests. Setting the UAV height at 6.0 m above the ground and the rotor speed at 1000 r min−1, it was found that under the conditions of the inverse temperature phenomenon, the temperatures of different altitude layers will eventually converge to a stable value when the UAV down-rotating airflow is disturbed, which could be completed rapidly within 20 s. The results of the field test also showed that when the fruit trees reached the critical temperature of frost at the flowering stage, UAV intervention could have a substantial effect on the warming of the near-surface layers, whose warming amplitude was in the range of 2.5 °C–3 °C. This study provides a reliable method for mitigating frost, which serves as an important theoretical and guiding basis for improving agricultural frost disasters in China. • A multi-rotor UAV is used to test frost protection performance on fruit trees. • The temperature field characterizations are obtained. • The anti-frost effectiveness of UAV intervention is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to guide orchard management robots to realize some tasks in orchard production such as autonomic navigation and precision spraying, this research proposed a deep-learning network called dynamic fusion segmentation network (DFSNet). The network contains a local feature aggregation (LFA) layer and a dynamic fusion segmentation architecture. The LFA layer uses the positional encoders for initial transforming embedding, and progressively aggregates local patterns via the multi-stage hierarchy. The fusion segmentation module (Fus-Seg) can format point tags by learning a multi-embedding space, and the generated tags can further mine the point cloud features. At the experimental stage, significant segmentation results of the DFSNet were demonstrated on the dataset of orchard fields, achieving an accuracy rate of 89.43% and an mIoU rate of 74.05%. DFSNet outperforms other semantic segmentation networks, such as PointNet, PointNet++, D-PointNet++, DGCNN, and Point-NN, with improved accuracies over them by 11.73%, 3.76%, 2.36%, and 2.74%, respectively, and improved mIoUs over the these networks by 28.19%, 9.89%, 6.33%, 9.89, and 24.69%, respectively, on the all-scale dataset (simple-scale dataset + complex-scale dataset). The proposed DFSNet can capture more information from orchard scene point clouds and provide more accurate point cloud segmentation results, which are beneficial to the management of orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acer truncatum is a unique multipurpose woody oil species in China. It is crucial to study the geographical distribution patterns of fruit utilization of A. truncatum under climate change scenarios to ensure the rational site selection and germplasm resource protection of this tree. In this study, the Maxent model and Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis technology were used to construct a suitable area model for the plant under current climate conditions by selecting 138 sample points and 15 ecological factors, and to predict the potentially suitable areas under four climate scenarios in 2050 and 2070. The results showed that under current conditions, the main suitable areas were concentrated in China, such as Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi and Hebei, with an area of 1.64 × 106 km2. Under future conditions, the suitable area in 2050 and 2070 showed an expanding trend compared with that in the current period, and the expansion ratios were as high as 36.52% and 45.80% under the RCP2.6-2050 and RCP8.5-2070 scenarios, respectively. The expansion area is concentrated in the middle latitudes of China (38° N~52° N), basically covering the middle and northeast of Inner Mongolia and the middle and north of Heilongjiang, while the loss area is mainly located in northern Sichuan, northern Hubei and eastern Henan. The center of the suitable area is expected to migrate to the northeast in 2050 and 2070, with a maximum migration distance of 355.46 km. Under future conditions, the suitable area shrinks in low-latitude regions and expands in high-latitude regions, and the expanded area becomes larger than the contracted area. This conclusion provides important guidelines for the directional cultivation of A. truncatum for utilization of its fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is a study of risk assessment posed by trees in selected urban woodlands (urban forests) of Warsaw. Two groups of trees were analysed and compared: exhibiting signs of maturity and ageing (hollow-bearing trees with open or hidden cavities and/or caries) and with no signs of decay. 373 individual trees growing near routes frequently or continuously used for recreational purposes were examined using Roloff's vitality classification, and tree risk assessment method, complemented by instrumental studies: a resistance resistograph, pulling tests, and sonic tomography (SoT). The collected data was analysed using the Chi-square test. The results indicate that it is not possible to conclude unequivocally that the presence of hollows in aged trees significantly increases the risk of falling. According to the safety factor results from the SoT and pulling tests, no correlation was demonstrated between the presence of hollow trees and an increase in risk class. The highest proportion of hollow trees (89.42%) was in the low risk group for trunk fracture and uprooting. The results also indicate the coherence of the diagnostic methods to be necessary for providing sufficient information to assess the statics and, ultimately, as our study showed, the protection of hollow trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions due to global climate change is threatening citrus orchards. Young seedlings and some citrus varieties like lemons are especially susceptible to frost damage. Many orchards have installed expensive wind machines that use electricity to ward off cold air. When the temperature falls below −4 °C, even for several hours in a year, frost damage can kill citrus trees, thus causing serious economic loses. In this experimental study, we developed new phase change material (PCM) packages for passive solar protection of citrus trees from frost damage. Aqueous solutions of ethanol, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol were evaluated as three PCMs due to their suitable chemical properties and abundance. Flexible packaging for the PCMs that can be easily applied to citrus trees were developed, and thermal protection performance of developed packages were tested on citrus seedlings. Supercooling of PCMs was seen as a problem during the tests, which was solved by adding a nucleating agent based on silver iodide developed in our laboratory. Results show that the ethanol containing PCM provided the longest thermal protection and succeeded in keeping seedling temperatures within the target interval for 10.5 h, while ethylene glycol and propylene glycol containing PCM packages provided 6.9 and 6.0 h of protection, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Daena: International Journal of Good Conscience is the property of Spenta University Mexico 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.)

This study aims to categorise the tree protection legislative provisions (TPLPs) being implemented by local planning authorities (LPAs) worldwide to protect their urban trees. Through inductive thematic analysis of content in numerous LPA websites and the legislation documents downloaded from the websites, this study identified five categories of TPLPs: 1) Tree Felling Prohibition, 2) Significant Tree Register Establishment, 3) Tree Conservation Area Designation, 4) Tree Preservation Order (TPO), and 5) Tree Protection Planning Conditions. The first TPLPs category is for LPAs to prohibit tree felling or other tree damaging activities without their consent. The second category is to allow LPAs establishing registers of trees that are considered significant for protection. The third gives power to LPAs to designate their conservation areas and protect the trees inside the areas. Next, the TPO is the orders made by LPAs to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity. The final TPLPs category is about conditions imposed by LPAs on a grant of planning permission that requires the developers to retain and protect any tree. The comprehensive information gathered has also enabled and protected urban trees to be broadly categorised into two: 1) Regulated Trees, and 2) Registered Trees. Moreover, several concepts of urban tree protection were developed and described to elucidate the categorisation. The concepts are: "Prohibitive vs Directive" commands pertaining to approaches taken by LPAs to protect trees; "Specific vs Blanket" methods to declare the protected trees; and "To be Protected vs To be Preserved" status to explain implications of being in each of the protected urban tree categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-destructive testing of tree roots has the vast application potential to the root system evaluation of fruit and ancient trees for the better management of plant health. Among them, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) can be expected to nondestructively detect the tree roots, due to the portable and low-cost. However, the interpretation of GPR data is dependent mainly on the manual analysis, leading to the reduced automation and accuracy. Moreover, the clutters and noise that caused by soil heterogeneity can severely affect the accuracy of root detection and identification. In this study, a detection method was proposed for the clutter suppression and root parameter prediction of ground penetrating radar. The data collection was divided into two parts: the dataset and field test. The datasets consisted of simulated and synthesized real data. The roots with the radius ranging from 5 to 30 mm were randomly distributed within 300 mm underground. The field experiment was conducted in three sand pits. The soil heterogeneity was simulated to create the different moisture levels, when adding water into different parts in two of the dry sand pits. The rest sandpit was a condition of higher water content after heavy rainfall. At the same time, the roots were excavated to verify the model under real soil conditions. Four test pits contained the roots of different tree species, the different soil environments, as well as the different radii and depths. The attention mechanism was integrated into the U-net model, in order to enhance the capability in the clutter suppression and root target reflection restoration. A clutter suppression network was constructed to test the effectiveness of the model. The encoding-decoding structure of U-net was separated the target root hyperbolic reflection from the overall background. The attention mechanism enabled the network to better adaptively focus on the hyperbolic reflection of the target root system without identifying the clutter as the target reflection. The clutter suppression was realized for the original B-scan image to remove the adverse effects, due to the soil heterogeneity and radar antenna coupling. Furthermore, the network of root parameter prediction was constructed using residual blocks and inception. The multi-scale receptive field of inception was used to extract the global and local features, and simultaneously to predict the root radius and depth. The predicted results were obtained by parallel inputting the clutter suppressed image and the original B-scan image into the network. The effectiveness of the model was evaluated using datasets and field experiments. The test results of clutter suppression were evaluated using peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM), which were 39.42 dB and 0.991, respectively, better than before. The test results on datasets showed the mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.7 mm, and the coefficient of determination R² value of 0.914 for the root radius prediction, while the mean absolute error (MAE) of 6.3 mm and the R² value of 0.989 for the root depth prediction. The clutter suppression was also achieved in the better performance than the rest on the field data. The maximum prediction errors for the root radius and depth were 1.85, and 13.6 mm, respectively, where the total average relative error was 6.55%. Influencing factors were determined for the prediction effectiveness of ground-penetrating radar. The future research directions were pointed out as well. The findings can be applied to the actual prediction of root depth and radius of tree roots, particularly for the health administration of fruit trees and the protection of ancient trees.protection of ancient trees.protection of ancient trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In IP networks, packet forwarding is destination-based and hop-by-hop, and routes are built as needed. Kwong et al. introduced a protection routing in which packet delivery to the destination node can proceed uninterrupted in the event of any single node or link failure. He then showed that "whether there is a protection routing to the destination" is NP-complete. Tapolcai found that two completely independent spanning trees, abbreviated as CISTs, can be used to configure the protection routing. In this paper, we proposed dual protection routing trees, denoted as dual-PRTs to replace CISTs, which are less restrictive than CISTs. Next, we proposed a transformation algorithm that uses dual-PRTs to configure the protection routing. Taking complete graphs Kn, complete bipartite graphs Km,n, hypercubes Qn, and locally twisted cubes LTQn as examples, we provided a recursive method to construct dual-PRTs on them. This article showed that there are no two CISTs on K3,3, Q3, and LTQ3, but there exist dual-PRTs that can be used to configure the protection routing. As shown in the performance evaluation of simulation results, for both Qn and LTQn, we get the average path length of protection routing configured by dual-PRTs is shorter than that by two CISTs. [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.)

Copyright of Nachhaltigkeitsrecht is the property of Verlag Oesterreich GmbH 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.)

We assessed attraction of pine engraver, Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Scolytinae), to pheromone-baited funnel traps treated with repellent semiochemicals in ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Engelm. forests in northern Arizona. Treatments included: 1) baited control (B, ipsdienol + lanierone), 2) 70 g of SPLAT Verb (a flowable, biodegradable formulation containing 10% verbenone, ISCA Technologies Inc. Riverside, CA, USA) + B, 3) 70 g of SPLAT Verb + (E)-2-hexen-1-ol+(Z)-2-hexen-1-ol + acetophenone + B, 4) 7.84-g verbenone pouch (Product #3413, Synergy Semiochemicals Corp. Delta, British Columbia, Canada) + B, and 5) 7.84-g verbenone pouch + (E)-2-hexen-1-ol+(Z)-2-hexen-1-ol + acetophenone + B. In total, 472 I. pini were collected. Trap catches were highest in baited traps and declined significantly with the addition of both formulations of verbenone. Traps treated with SPLAT Verb caught significantly fewer I. pini and male I. pini than those treated with verbenone pouches. The addition of (E)-2-hexen-1-ol+(Z)-2-hexen-1-ol + acetophenone to SPLAT Verb and the verbenone pouch had no effect on trap catch. Verbenone has potential as an effective tool for protecting P. ponderosa trees and slash from I. pini in northern Arizona, but the addition of (E)-2-hexen-1-ol+(Z)-2-hexen-1-ol + acetophenone to verbenone is unwarranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any stretch of coastline requires protection when the rate of erosion exceeds a certain threshold and seasonal coastal drift fluctuations fail to restore balance. Coast erosion can be caused by natural, synthetic, or a combination of the two. Severe storm occurrences, onshore interventions liable for sedimentation, wave action on the coastlines, and rising sea levels caused by climate change are instances of natural factors. The protective methods used to counteract or prevent coastal flooding are categorized as hard and soft engineering techniques. This review paper is based on extensive reviews and analyses of scientific publications. In order to establish a foundation for the selection of appropriate adaptation measures for coastal protection, this research compiles literature on a combination of both natural and artificial models using mangrove trees and polymer-based models' configurations and their efficiency in coastal flooding. Mangrove roots occur naturally and cannot be manipulated unlike artificial model configuration which can be structurally configured with different hydrodynamic properties. Artificial models may lack the real structural features and hydrodynamic resistance of the mangrove root it depicts, and this can reduce its real-life application and accuracy. Further research is required on the integration of hybrid configuration to fully optimize the functionality of mangrove trees for coastal protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree diseases endanger forestry and fruit tree plantations seriously worldwide in the past decades, leading to significant economic losses for the agricultural production sector. Rapid and accurate detection of tree diseases is crucial in tree protection. Despite molecular biological detection methods have prominent specificity, they are time-consuming and laborious, and are not suitable for large-scale detection of tree diseases. Spectroscopy with nondestructive, rapid, and high throughput characteristics has been applied to plant disease detection. Spectral detection systems are divided into three categories according to the spectrometer's carrying platform: portable hand-held spectrometer, airborne vehicle-mounted spectrometer, and large laboratory spectrometer. This review summarized three main spectral detection systems and their advantages and disadvantages in detecting various diseases of forestry and fruit trees: including detection of the single disease, multiple stress, and early disease using Visible/near-infrared, Raman, and hyperspectral imaging. Finally, spectroscopy detection technology applications of challenges were summarized, highlighting future trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of kauri dieback and myrtle rust pathogens in Aotearoa|New Zealand prompted the government to fund research and engagement into what has been constructed both as a biosecurity risk and a threat to species of profound cultural significance. Researchers, iwi, public sector staff and community members are now working across projects and locations to build an understanding of these two plant pathogens and to develop protections for the trees they target. This paper combines interview material from two projects within Ngā Rakau Taketake's Postcolonial Biosecurity Possibilities remit to investigate the factors that enable and constrain plant pathogen research and practice. Actors in this space discuss the difficulty of working around gaps in basic research, a fragmented and competitive research sector, and expectations of a technological fix for a complex pathogen and its varied ecological relations. We argue that these accounts illustrate the ongoing effects of Aotearoa's neoliberal turn, which continues to shape knowledge production and, in turn, what it is to be a researcher in Aotearoa. While the effects of these reforms have been well documented in relation to higher education and other spheres, their impact on the sciences has received less scrutiny. Foregrounding the views of those involved in kauri dieback and myrtle rust highlights the everyday manifestations and material environmental consequences of a pervasively neoliberalised research landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last five years, one of the targets of our research work from the area of South-Western part of Romania was to determine the most important diseases sources for maintaining their infectious pressure the diseases of plum trees from a very favorable area as there are the western part of Romania. Also, it is an attempt to see the dynamics of those pathogens. It is our duty to show from the very beginning that this paper contain data from last five years of research and this is the reason why data statistic interpretation could suffer dramatic changes in the near future, after we bring more observations data for statistic analyze. On the plum orchards, Stigmina carpophila is one of the pathogens which take it's share from the leafs of plum trees and so it take a part of the plum crop. Never the less the pathogen produce a premature aging of the trees by reducing each ear the plum trees vigor. As an active measure to prevent this pathogen to produce damage to the trees and plum harvest it is necessary to apply some treatments after a premade plan of trees protection measure. But all these measures bring a higher cost to the harvest and also some pollution by using some fungicides. To reduce the number of treatments it is sometimes useful to know the infetios preasure of the pathogens which are the target of the phytosanitary plan of actions. Results point out that the best rain distribution and temepratures for fungus Stigmina carpophila were in those from 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Voluntaris: Journal of Volunteer Services & Civic Engagement / Zeitschrift für Freiwilligendienste und Zivilgesellschaftliches Engagement is the property of Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG 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.)

Exclusion of ground-nesting ants from tree canopies is an ant-management technique used in fruit crops. This strategy aims to disrupt the symbiotic relationship between ants and honeydew-producing herbivores, which are protected by ants, and enhance the biological control of these herbivores. Here, we evaluated this strategy to enhance the biological control of mealybugs in persimmon, but obtained an unexpected outcome. Using a randomized block design in a commercial persimmon orchard during two consecutive years, we demonstrated that physical barriers based on sticky bands excluded native ground-nesting ant species from persimmon trees and reduced the protection that these ants provided to mealybugs. The exclusion of native ground-nesting ants also increased the density and efficacy of the biological control agents of the mealybug. However, physical barriers favoured the establishment of the exotic canopy-nesting ant species Cardiocondyla obscurior. This ant species established its colonies under the sepals of persimmon fruit, and its abundance increased by more than 10 times in trees with physical barriers. Our results show that the exclusion of native ground-nesting from fruit trees can promote the control of invasive mealybugs, but may also facilitate the establishment and spread of exotic canopy-nesting ant species, hence increasing their invasive potential. Further research should evaluate alternative ant management strategies to enhance biological control of honeydew-producing herbivores without benefiting exotic canopy-nesting ant species. • Physical barriers excluded native ground-nesting ant species from persimmon trees. • Excluding ground-nesting ants increased mealybug parasitism and predators abundance, ultimately reducing mealybug abundance. • However, the exclusion of native ground-nesting ants favoured the establishment of an exotic canopy-nesting ant species. • Excluding ground-nesting ants can promote mealybug control, but it can also facilitate the spread of exotic canopy-nesting ants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban afforestation is an important strategy for promoting sustainable urban development. In cities where large new green spaces are not available, the planting of curbside trees is deemed to be an important afforestation strategy. However, variations in the ecosystem services provided by street tree assemblages across socioeconomic gradients have been unexplored. We examined such variations in ecosystem services provided by street tree assemblages along an urban–suburban continuum. Our findings were as follows. (i) Not all ecosystem services showed increasing trends along the urban–suburban continuum. Some ecosystem services at the street tree assemblage level, such as air purification and rainfall interception were prominent in areas of high urbanization intensity. (ii) Diverse ecosystem service trends were found in relation to differential characteristics of street trees assemblages. Structural properties of street tree assemblages, such as tree density and age structure, are likely key factors influencing variations. (iii) Although street tree density could partially compensate for the loss of large old trees, the protection of such trees is important because of their close associations with key ecosystem services, such as total carbon storage. To maximize the value of street trees in promoting urban sustainable development, trade-offs among multiple ecosystem services should be integrated within the overall planning process and adjustments of planting regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection of Norway spruce stands using anti-attractants was tested during an outbreak of bark beetles (Ips typographus) in their spring flight. The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to test the proposed experimental design for tree protection; (2) to evaluate height-specific alternatives for dispenser installation on trees; and (3) to evaluate the efficiency of tree protection measures using anti-attractants under bark beetle infestation and drought stress. The experiment was conducted at the forest edges adjacent to recent clearcuts on 10 blocks in the eastern Czech Republic. Each block had three adjacent experimental areas, with 20 trees growing in two rows at the recently cut forest edge (10 trees per row). In front of a block in each of the three areas, four pheromone traps were installed. The treatment area was protected by anti-attractants. The second area served as a so-called switch area, where beetles from the treatment area, as the outflux redirected from the anti-attractant, would start new attacks if not caught in nearby pheromone traps. The third area was a control. We attached anti-attractant tube dispensers on each tree trunk of the treated area at two heights. The results suggest a redirecting effect of anti-attractants, pushing beetles into the switch area and causing subsequent attacks, which was greater than in areas containing treated trees. There was no difference between two dispensers placed at 1 and 8 m height and both at 1 m. A switching effect of beetle attacks occurring outside of the treated areas was observed. Mounting anti-attractant dispensers on tree trunks at one low position above the ground can be substantially less labour-intensive and as efficient as positioning them at two different heights. For areas affected by severe drought and extremely dense bark beetle populations, the use of anti-attractants did not prove effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Central and North Gondar Zone, climate change is causing a challenge for smallholder farmers to improve their living standards. Rural communities face different climate change variables which negatively affect their livelihoods. Hence, this paper investigates rural households' perception of climate change, its determinants and their indigenous mitigation strategies in response to the perceived impacts of climate change. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and a review of different documents. To carry out the study, a multistage sampling procedure was employed. From each zone, study districts were selected purposively based on their economic activity and agroecological representativeness of the zone. A systematic sampling technique was employed to select 130 rural households. Primary data collected were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics and a logit regression model. The study results revealed that rural households did not similarly perceive climate change due to socioeconomic factors. Socioeconomic factors that significantly (at p≤0.05) determined rural households' perceptions of climate change were age, sex, educational status and access to extension services (at p≤0.01). The finding indicates that smallholder farmers used different indigenous mitigation strategies such as reforestation, minimizing deforestation, planting trees on their farmland and protection and tillage management practices for resolving climate change. According to the study, female-headed households participated less in agricultural training and had less access to information and restricted mobility outside the community to share information that help them to perceive climate change. Hence, equity issues should be considered for female-headed households and concerned bodies such as environmental protection experts and agricultural extension service providers should emphasize the upgrade of the farmer's capacity to mitigate climate change through indigenous knowledge for enhancing their living standard. In addition, development agents' facilitation of indigenous knowledge sharing among farmers should be emphasized to mitigate climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is the ecological evaluation of the trees of a riparian peri-urban park, with measurement, inventory and processing of qualitative and quantitative variables of trees (Dendometry) in the riparian forest of the river Karpenissiotis in Central Greece. Each tree is recorded in relation to its species (structural elements) including the diameter at breast height (DBH), the height (H), the ruggedness coefficient (H/D), the height of the crown (Hk), the length of the crown (Lk), the diameter of the crown (Dk), the order of the crown, the order of vitality, the tendency of evolution, the position of the trunk, the shape of the crown, the problems in the space of the roots, the crown, pruning, insect infestations, fungi, and runoff. From the statistical analysis and processing of the measurements, assessment was made of the condition of their health and stability; and necessary measures are proposed in order to significantly improve the ecological conditions of a riparian forest. Thus, the main problems presented by the forest species of trees concerned mainly the sloping, crooked and serpentine trunks, asymmetrical crown shape, insect and fungal infestations. The riparian peri-urban plane forest studied is dominated by trees, which are classified as remaining, normally growing with long asymmetrical crowns with a moderate health status and moderate stability. For the sustainable management and sustainable development of the riparian forest, measures are proposed which are necessary for the forest protection of the trees including their health and safe growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerrado is one of the largest biomes in Brazil and has undergone constant changes in its landscape over the years. Modifications driven by the expansion of agriculture and uncontrolled deforestation endanger the permanence of several species in the territory. Ecological imbalances demand the application of methodologies that seek the conservation of species, however, conflicts between theoretical expectations and empirical observations have suggested the need for studies that carefully assess the impacts of fragmentation on different species. In this study, we investigated the impact of changes in the seed and pollen dispersal of an isolated population of Caryocar brasiliense Camb. through in silico analyzes, in order to evaluate their impact on genetic variability of populations. We simulated different scenarios with changes in seed dispersal and pollination patterns in an isolated population. Populations with well preserved pollinators had lower rates of inbreeding and maintained greater genetic diversity over time, even in the absence of the seed disperser. In contrast, in scenarios with reduction of pollen dispersal distance or pollination efficiency, populations had an increase in inbreeding and in extinction probability, and reduction in genetic diversity over time. Small areas of conservation of C. brasiliense can harbor viable populations only if pollination service is maintained, so conservation strategies must consider both tree and pollinator protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policies and strategies for tree management and protection on a national, regional, and local level have not sufficiently considered differences between rural and urban areas. We used expert knowledge to compare rural and urban areas in a case study evaluating the relative importance of ecosystem services (ES) in policy development. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and focus group discussions were used to rank 17 ES, representing four classes of services: provisioning, regulating, habitat, and cultural. The results indicated that effective protection strategies, beyond simply increasing general tree cover, should consider specific benefits trees provide to local communities. We discuss the role of objective prioritization of ES delivered by trees in urban and rural areas and their consequences for decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective of the study: to review the history of the strategy to protect trees in the city of São Carlos/SP and analyze the main reasons. Methodology: a qualitative methodological approach, called documentary research, was adopted to conduct this study, covering the years between 1948 and 2020. Originality/Relevance: although the protection of trees through the official declaration or listing is part of the legal framework, there is a lack of work focused on the qualitative analysis and reflection of the motivations for the special protection of these individual trees. Results: between 2001 and 2007, 134 trees were declared protected from felling by 6 municipal decrees. The main reasons for protection were: "site/location", "ecological" and "beauty". Of note is Decree No. 133 of 2001, which protects the tree species Araucaria angustifolia from felling. All trees were declared protected from felling when the same political grouping was at the head of the local government, showing that this strategy is a government policy rather than a state policy. Social/Management Contributions: This work contributes to the development of knowledge on the legal protection of tree species and the politicization of the urban forest issue, which has historically been shaped by the technical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Catalana de Dret Ambiental is the property of Universitat Rovira I Virgili 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 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) plantations in central Europe are currently damaged by a large-scale infestation by bark beetles (Scolytinae). Ips acuminatus and Ips sexdentatus are among the most aggressive species causing infestations of pine trees that are currently simultaneously attacked by Ips typographus. In pine plantations prone to damage, it is therefore necessary to carry out the bark beetle monitoring. One of the used methods is the pheromone bark beetle trapping using synthetic lures. The efficacy of synthetic lures differs. We tested the efficacy of commercially available lures used in the protection of pine trees. In total, we deployed 10 trap series, each consisting of traps with eight different lures and two unbaited traps (controls). Ips acuminatus and I. sexdentatus were most abundantly captured in Pheagr-IAC- and Sexowit-baited traps. Interestingly, the spruce species I. typographus was also captured and most often found in traps with Pheagr-IAC and Erosowit Tube lures. The number of captured beetles was consistent with the gradation phase of bark beetles. Our results suggest the suitability of pheromone traps for bark beetle monitoring. The use of Sexowit can be recommended especially in southwestern Moravia, where I. sexdentatus occurs in high numbers in the long run. In other parts of the Czech Republic, Pheagr-IAC alone can be used with sufficient efficacy. The use of the Erosowit Tube lure is also suitable for I. typographus and I. sexdentatus monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]