Journal Description
Forests
Forests
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on forestry and forest ecology published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Ei Compendex, GEOBASE, PubAg, AGRIS, PaperChem, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Forestry) / CiteScore - Q1 (Forestry)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.9 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our editors and authors say about Forests.
Impact Factor:
2.9 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
Elevation Accuracy of Forest Road Maps Derived from Aerial Imaging, Airborne Laser Scanning and Mobile Laser Scanning Data
Forests 2024, 15(5), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050840 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Forest road maps are a fundamental source of information for the sustainable management, protection, and public utilization of forests. However, the precision of these maps is crucial to their use. In this context, we assessed and compared the elevation accuracy of terrain on
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Forest road maps are a fundamental source of information for the sustainable management, protection, and public utilization of forests. However, the precision of these maps is crucial to their use. In this context, we assessed and compared the elevation accuracy of terrain on three forest road surfaces (i.e., asphalt, concrete, and stone), which were derived based on data from three remote sensing technologies (i.e., aerial imaging, airborne laser scanning, and mobile laser scanning) using five geospatial techniques (i.e., inverse distance; natural neighbor; and conversion by average, maximal, and minimal elevation value). Specifically, the elevation accuracy was assessed based on 700 points at which elevation was measured in the field, and these elevations were extracted from fifteen derived forest road maps with a resolution of 0.5 m. The highest precision was found on asphalt roads derived from mobile laser scanning data (RMSE from ±0.01 m to ±0.04 m) and airborne laser scanning data (RMSE from ±0.03 m to ±0.04 m). On the other hand, the lowest precision was found on all roads derived from aerial imaging data (RMSE from ±0.11 m to ±0.23 m). Furthermore, we found significant differences in elevation between the measured and derived terrains. However, the differences in elevation between specific techniques, such as inverse distance, natural neighbor, and conversion by average, were mostly random. Moreover, we found that airborne and mobile laser scanning technologies provided terrain on concrete and stone roads with random elevation differences. In these cases, it is possible to replace a specific technique or technology with one that is similar without significantly decreasing the elevation accuracy (α = 0.05).
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Forests Roads Research)
Open AccessArticle
Forest Smoke-Fire Net (FSF Net): A Wildfire Smoke Detection Model That Combines MODIS Remote Sensing Images with Regional Dynamic Brightness Temperature Thresholds
by
Yunhong Ding, Mingyang Wang, Yujia Fu and Qian Wang
Forests 2024, 15(5), 839; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050839 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Satellite remote sensing plays a significant role in the detection of smoke from forest fires. However, existing methods for detecting smoke from forest fires based on remote sensing images rely solely on the information provided by the images, overlooking the positional information and
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Satellite remote sensing plays a significant role in the detection of smoke from forest fires. However, existing methods for detecting smoke from forest fires based on remote sensing images rely solely on the information provided by the images, overlooking the positional information and brightness temperature of the fire spots in forest fires. This oversight significantly increases the probability of misjudging smoke plumes. This paper proposes a smoke detection model, Forest Smoke-Fire Net (FSF Net), which integrates wildfire smoke images with the dynamic brightness temperature information of the region. The MODIS_Smoke_FPT dataset was constructed using a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the meteorological information at the site of the fire, and elevation data to determine the location of smoke and the brightness temperature threshold for wildfires. Deep learning and machine learning models were trained separately using the image data and fire spot area data provided by the dataset. The performance of the deep learning model was evaluated using metric MAP, while the regression performance of machine learning was assessed with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The selected machine learning and deep learning models were organically integrated. The results show that the Mask_RCNN_ResNet50_FPN and XGR models performed best among the deep learning and machine learning models, respectively. Combining the two models achieved good smoke detection results (Precisionsmoke = 89.12%). Compared with wildfire smoke detection models that solely use image recognition, the model proposed in this paper demonstrates stronger applicability in improving the precision of smoke detection, thereby providing beneficial support for the timely detection of forest fires and applications of remote sensing.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Natural Hazards and Risk Management)
Open AccessArticle
Impact of Malayan Uniform System and Selective Management System of Logging on Soil Quality in Selected Logged-Over Forest in Johor, Malaysia
by
Nor Halizah Abd Halim, Jiang Jiang, Arifin Abdu, Daljit Singh Karam, Keeren Sundara Rajoo, Zahari Ibrahim and Salim Aman
Forests 2024, 15(5), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050838 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Understanding the effects of various forest management systems, including logging practices, on soil properties is essential for implementing sustainable management strategies. In Malaysia, two types of forest management systems were commonly used: Malayan Uniform System (MUS) and Selective Management System (SMS) practices. However,
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Understanding the effects of various forest management systems, including logging practices, on soil properties is essential for implementing sustainable management strategies. In Malaysia, two types of forest management systems were commonly used: Malayan Uniform System (MUS) and Selective Management System (SMS) practices. However, their effects on soil quality remained elusive, especially after decades of recovery. To address this need, we selected three plots for the MUS and SMS in Johor, Malaysia, to assess soil properties in logged-over forest plots. All the plots were natural forest reserves. Soil properties analyzed include soil acidity, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, selected nutrient contents, and soil compaction. Generally, the results of the study indicate that forests logged using the SMS exhibit superior soil quality compared to those logged using the MUS according to several key soil properties. Specifically, significantly higher cation exchange capacity, potassium content, calcium content, and magnesium content with lower soil compaction was observed in the SMS when compared to MUS plots. In short, the SMS enhances soil quality more effectively than the MUS, even with a shorter logging cycle. This is because the SMS does not harvest all trees and distributes the impact of harvesting more evenly over time, rather than concentrating it at a single time point. Ultimately, this highlights that the SMS can play a significant role in promoting sustainable forest management practices by preserving soil quality.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)
Open AccessReview
Estimating Economic and Livelihood Values of the World’s Largest Mangrove Forest (Sundarbans): A Meta-Analysis
by
Akbar Hossain Kanan, Mauro Masiero and Francesco Pirotti
Forests 2024, 15(5), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050837 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
We explored the state of the art economic and livelihood valuation of ecosystem services (ES) in the Sundarbans mangroves, including a comparative analysis between the Bangladesh and Indian parts of the region. We identified 145 values from 26 studies to estimate the Sundarbans’
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We explored the state of the art economic and livelihood valuation of ecosystem services (ES) in the Sundarbans mangroves, including a comparative analysis between the Bangladesh and Indian parts of the region. We identified 145 values from 26 studies to estimate the Sundarbans’ economic and livelihood values. The number of ES valuation studies of the Sundarbans is scant, and it has gradually increased over time, focusing mainly on the estimation of provisioning ES (66.2%), followed by regulating and maintenance (25.5%), and cultural (8.3%) ES. However, recently, attention has been paid to estimation, regulating and maintenance, and cultural ES. The number of studies on ES was higher for the Bangladesh (73%) part of the Sundarbans than the Indian (27%) one. The estimated economic values of the Sundarbans’ provisioning, regulating and maintenance, and cultural ES were US $ 713.30 ha−1 yr−1, US $ 2584.46 ha−1 yr−1, and US $ 151.88 ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Except for cultural ES, the identified values for the other two ES categories were about 1.5 to 2.5 times higher for the Bangladesh Sundarbans compared to the Indian ones. The results of the meta-regression model showed that the estimated economic and livelihood values of ES are affected by the associated variables (e.g., type of ES, valuation methods, study area, population, and GDP). Our study also identified some remarkable gaps and limitations in the economic and livelihood valuation of the ES of the Sundarbans, highlighting the need for further research to find out the values of all ES to help with policy decision-making.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Valuation of Forest Resources)
Open AccessArticle
Highly Mechanical Strength, Flexible and Stretchable Wood-Based Elastomers without Chemical Cross-Linking
by
Yongyue Zhang, Jiayao Li, Yun Lu and Jiangtao Shi
Forests 2024, 15(5), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050836 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Wood exhibits a limited elastic deformation capacity under external forces due to its small range of elastic limit, which restricts its widespread use as an elastic material. This study presents the development of a stretchable wood-based elastomer (SWE) that is highly mechanical and
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Wood exhibits a limited elastic deformation capacity under external forces due to its small range of elastic limit, which restricts its widespread use as an elastic material. This study presents the development of a stretchable wood-based elastomer (SWE) that is highly mechanical and flexible, achieved without the use of chemical cross-linking. Balsa wood was utilized as a raw material, which was chemically pretreated to remove the majority of the lignin and create a more abundant pore structure, while exposing the active hydroxyl groups on the cellulose surface. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution was impregnated into delignified wood, resulting in the formation of a cross-linked structure through multiple freeze–thaw cycles. After eight cycles, the tensile strength in the longitudinal direction reached up to 25.68 MPa with a strain of ~463%. This excellent mechanical strength is superior to that of most wood-based elastomers reported to date. The SWE can also perform complex deformations such as winding and knotting, and SWE soaked in salt solution exhibits excellent sensing characteristics and can be used to detect human finger bending. Stretchable wood-based elastomers with high mechanical strength and toughness have potential future applications in biomedicine, flexible electronics, and other fields.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood- and Bamboo-Based Materials)
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Open AccessArticle
Mitogenome Assembly Reveals Gene Migration and RNA Editing Events in Plateau Hongliu (Myricaria elegans Royle.)
by
Xue Li, Hao Wu, Xingyao Hu, Yunhua Wu, Feng Nie, Tao Su, Mei Han and Fuliang Cao
Forests 2024, 15(5), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050835 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
The Plateau Hongliu (Myricaria elegans Royle.) is a woody shrub halophyte that thrives in arid areas of western Tibet, in the Himalayan Mountains. It is acclaimed as superior in saline stress acclimation and as a critical pharmaceutical resource of the Tibetan traditional
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The Plateau Hongliu (Myricaria elegans Royle.) is a woody shrub halophyte that thrives in arid areas of western Tibet, in the Himalayan Mountains. It is acclaimed as superior in saline stress acclimation and as a critical pharmaceutical resource of the Tibetan traditional herb. Nevertheless, the mitogenome in the genus Myricaria remains unknown. Here, using the Illumina and PacBio sequencing assays, the first complete mitogenome of the M. elegans revealed a multi-branched skeleton with a total length of 416,354 bp and GC content of 44.33%, comprising two circular molecules (M1 and 2). The complete mitogenome annotates 31 unique protein-encoding genes (PEGs), fifteen tRNAs, and three rRNA genes. The UAA exhibits the most prominent codon usage preference as a termination, followed by UUA codons for leucine. The mitogenome contains 99 simple sequence repeats and 353 pairs of dispersed repeats, displaying the most frequent in palindromic repeats. Gene transfer analyses identified 8438 bp of 18 homologous fragments from the plastome, accounting for 2.03% of the total length. Using the PREP suite, 350 C-U RNA editing sites were predicted, of which nad4 and ccmB were on the top frequency. Syntenic and phylogenetic analyses suggested weakly conserved patterns of M. elegans in Caryophyllales owing to the genome rearrangement. In summary, the deciphered unique features and complexities of the mitogenome in M. elegans provide novel insights into understanding the evolution and biological conservation underlying climate resilience in halophytes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecophysiology and Biology)
Open AccessArticle
Genetic Divergence and Evolutionary Adaption of Four Wild Almond Species (Prunus spp. L.)
by
Hong-Xiang Zhang, Xiao-Fang Zhang and Jian Zhang
Forests 2024, 15(5), 834; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050834 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Parallel evolution usually occurs among related species with similar morphological characters in adaptation to particular environments. Four wild almond species (Prunus) sharing the character of dry mesocarp splitting are distributed in China, most of which occur in arid Northwestern China. In
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Parallel evolution usually occurs among related species with similar morphological characters in adaptation to particular environments. Four wild almond species (Prunus) sharing the character of dry mesocarp splitting are distributed in China, most of which occur in arid Northwestern China. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the phylogenetic relationship, evolutionary history, and environmental adaptation of these wild almond species based on genome-wide SNP data and chloroplast genomes. Chloroplast phylogeny showed P. pedunculata and P. tenella were clustered with wild cherry species (Prunus), while P. mongolica and P. tangutica were clustered with wild peach species (Prunus). Genomic phylogeny suggested P. tenella formed an independent clade. An ABC-RF approach showed P. pedunculata was merged with P. tenella and, then, diverged from the ancestor of P. mongolica and P. tangutica. P. tenella was split from other wild almond species at ca. 7.81 to 17.77 Ma. Genetic environment association analysis showed precipitation variables contributed the most to genetic variations between P. mongolica from an arid environment and P. tangutica from a humid environment. Finally, a total of 29 adaptive loci were successfully annotated, which were related to physiological processes in response to abiotic stresses. Inconsistent genomic and chloroplast phylogenetic positions of P. tenella suggested this species could have originated from historical hybridization among different clades of Prunus. Physiological mechanisms promoted P. mongolica in adapting to the arid environment in Northwestern China.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Variation and Adaptation of Forest Trees to Environmental Changes)
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Open AccessArticle
Phenology, Yield and Nut Traits Evaluation of Twelve European Hazelnut Cultivars Grown in Central Italy
by
Alberto Pacchiarelli, Michela Lupo, Andrea Ferrucci, Francesco Giovanelli, Simone Priori, Aniello Luca Pica, Cristian Silvestri and Valerio Cristofori
Forests 2024, 15(5), 833; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050833 - 10 May 2024
Abstract
European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivation has grown worldwide in recent years, even though the world’s production is still fulfilled by a few dozen cultivars well adapted to the local environments of their selection. After Turkey, Italy is the second largest producer
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European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivation has grown worldwide in recent years, even though the world’s production is still fulfilled by a few dozen cultivars well adapted to the local environments of their selection. After Turkey, Italy is the second largest producer of hazelnuts, and the province of Viterbo, in central Italy, is recognized as one of the most suitable districts for hazelnut cultivation. The production in this area relies almost entirely on local cultivar ‘Tonda Gentile Romana’, whereas cultivar ‘Nocchione’ is used as the main pollinizer. More recently, cultivar ‘Tonda di Giffoni’ has been introduced in new local plantations. Cultivation of many cultivars in different areas is of fundamental importance to test their adaptability to different environmental conditions, a need currently accentuated by ongoing climate change. With this aim, a European hazelnut collection field was established in 2000 in Caprarola municipality (Viterbo province), where plants of twelve hazelnut cultivars were observed over four growing seasons for their phenological, agronomic and nut traits. The cultivars studied, namely ‘Barcelona’, ‘Camponica’, ‘Ennis’, ‘Merveille de Bollwiller’, ‘Negret’, ‘Nocchione’, ‘Riccia di Talanico’, ‘San Giovanni’, ‘Tombul’, ‘Tonda di Giffoni’, ‘Tonda Gentile’ and ‘Tonda Gentile Romana’, showed a high diversity in their phenological behaviour, yield efficiency and nut and kernel traits. Cultivars ‘Negret’, ‘Tombul’ and ‘Tonda Gentile’, with poor yields over the years of research, do not seem suitable to be cultivated as main cultivars in the studied environment, contrary to ‘Camponica’ and ‘San Giovanni’, which produced abundantly, reaching a total of almost 30 and 25 kg plant—1 of in–shell hazelnuts, respectively. Cultivars ‘Tonda Gentile Romana’ and ‘Nocchione’ confirmed their yield consistency, whereas ‘Ennis’, ‘Barcelona’ and ‘Tombul’ seem suitable to be introduced as pollinizers thanks to their male blooming overlapping with the female blooming of the main cultivar ‘Tonda Gentile Romana’. Cultivar ‘Tonda di Giffoni’ did not perform well in the studied environment, despite being recognized as one of the highest-yield cultivars.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hazelnut Germplasm and Genetic Improvement)
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Open AccessArticle
Complete Plastid Genome Sequences of Three Tropical African Beilschmiediineae Trees (Lauraceae: Crytocaryeae)
by
Wen Zhu, Haorong Zhang, Qishao Li, Zhengying Cao, Yu Song and Peiyao Xin
Forests 2024, 15(5), 832; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050832 - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Millions of years of isolation have given Madagascar a unique flora that still reflects some of its relationship with the continents of Africa and India. Here, the complete chloroplast sequence of Beilschmiedia moratii, a tropical tree in Madagascar, was determined. The plastome,
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Millions of years of isolation have given Madagascar a unique flora that still reflects some of its relationship with the continents of Africa and India. Here, the complete chloroplast sequence of Beilschmiedia moratii, a tropical tree in Madagascar, was determined. The plastome, with a length of 158,410 bp, was 143 bp and 187 bp smaller than those of two closely related species, B. pierreana and Potameia microphylla, in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar with published sequences, respectively. A total of 124 repeats and 114 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected in the plastome of B. moratii. Six highly variable regions, including ndhF, ndhF-rpl32, trnC-petN, pebE-petL, rpl32-trnL, and ycf1, among the three African species were identified and 1151 mutation events, including 14 SVs, 351 indels, and 786 substitutions, were accurately located. There were 634 mutation events between B. moratii and P. microphylla with a mean nucleotide variability (π) value of 0.00279, while there were 827 mutation events between B. moratii and B. pierreana with a mean π value of 0.00385. The Ka/Ks ratios of 86 protein-coding genes in the three African species were less than 1, and the mean value between B. moratii and P. microphylla was 0.184, while the mean value between B. moratii and B. pierreana was 0.286. In this study, the plastid genomes of the three African Beilschmiediineae species were compared for the first time and revealed that B. moratii and P. microphylla from Madagascar were relatively conserved, with low mutation rates and slower evolutionary rates.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest-Tree Comparative Genomics and Adaptive Evolution)
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Open AccessArticle
Effects of Biochar on Soil Inorganic Phosphorus Components, Available Phosphorus, Enzyme Activities Related to Phosphorus Cycle, Microbial Functional Genes, and Seedling Growth of Populus euphratica under Different Water Conditions
by
Yuxian Fan, Yudong Chen and Guanghui Lv
Forests 2024, 15(5), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050831 - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Cow dung is a kind of high quality and renewable biological resource. Biochar made from cow dung can be used as a soil amendment to improve soil nutrient status. The relationship between soil water and phosphorus is very close, and the water status
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Cow dung is a kind of high quality and renewable biological resource. Biochar made from cow dung can be used as a soil amendment to improve soil nutrient status. The relationship between soil water and phosphorus is very close, and the water status determines the form, content, and availability of phosphorus. In order to investigate the effects of biochar on soil inorganic phosphorus components, available phosphorus, enzyme activities related to the phosphorus cycle, microbial functional genes, and seedling growth under different soil water conditions were investigated. Field experiments were carried out by setting different water conditions (30%, 60%, and 100%) and biochar addition (0 t hm−2, 2.63 t hm−2, 5.26 t hm−2, and 7.89 t hm−2). The results showed that applying biochar significantly increased the soil’s accessible phosphorus content and the phosphorus content in both the aboveground and subsurface parts of P. euphratica seedlings. This is mainly attributable to biochar’s direct and indirect effects on soil properties. Because biochar is naturally alkaline, it raises soil pH and reduces acid phosphatase activity in the soil around P. euphratica seedlings in the rhizosphere. Perhaps the alkaline phosphatase level first showed an upward trend due to the combined impacts of water and biochar, and then it started to decline when the biochar addition was increased. Soil phosphorus functional genes phoC, phoD, gcd, and pqqc had an increase in copy number with biochar addition but not without treatment. Indirectly, the biochar treatment increased the soil’s phosphorus availability by increasing the population of the phosphate-solubilizing bacteria Fusarium and Sphingomonas. Soil phosphorus availability is positively affected by biochar under various water conditions. This impact is due to chemical and microbiological mechanisms.
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(This article belongs to the Topic New Advances in Vegetation Dynamics and Soil Systems Related to Biogeochemical Cycles)
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Effects of Environment Change Scenarios on the Potential Geographical Distribution of Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. in China
by
Jiajie Feng, Yiwei Cao, Teja Manda, Delight Hwarari, Jinhui Chen and Liming Yang
Forests 2024, 15(5), 830; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050830 - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Changes in climate and environmental conditions have aggravated the severity and unpredictability of plant survival and growth. Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. is an economically important timber tree. Exploring its potential distribution and dynamic changes and identifying the leading environmental variables affecting it will
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Changes in climate and environmental conditions have aggravated the severity and unpredictability of plant survival and growth. Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. is an economically important timber tree. Exploring its potential distribution and dynamic changes and identifying the leading environmental variables affecting it will help to adjust the planting range reasonably according to the habits and climate change, thus contributing to its survival and growth. Based on the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS tool, climate, soil, terrain, human activities, variable environment layers, and 395 C. lanceolata distribution points were used to simulate and analyze the geographical distribution characteristics of C. lanceolata in the current and future periods (the 2050s and 2070s) under RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5. The results showed that C. lanceolata was suitable to grow in a subtropical monsoon climate with warm, humid, abundant rainfall and a relatively gentle topography. Additionally, using percent contribution, permutation importance, and the knife-cutting test, we noted that the annual precipitation (Bio12), human activities (Hfp), minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6), mean temperature of the coldest quarter (Bio11), precipitation of coldest quarter (Bio19), annual temperature range (Bio7), and elevation were the leading environmental factors affecting the geographical distribution of C. lanceolata. Among them, it should be noted that the impact of human activities was negatively correlated with suitable habitat areas of C. lanceolata and led to the degeneration of suitable habitats and fragmentized distribution. In addition, predictions have shown that the areas of habitats under other scenarios will be characterized by an increasing and then decreasing trend by the 2050s and 2070s, except for the RCP2.6 scenario, under which the suitable habitats area of C. lanceolata will increase continuously. The core distributional shifts showed that the suitable habitats of C. lanceolata will gradually shift and migrate to high-latitude areas due to global warming. This study focused on the characteristics of suitable habitats of C. lanceolata under different climatic scenarios using more environmental factors and scenarios than before, aiming to provide a theoretical basis and guidance for the management and utilization of forest resources, the planning of suitable planting areas, and germplasm protection.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling Forest Response to Climate Change)
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Use of Phosphite Preparations to Protect Ash Seedlings Fraxinus excelsior L. against Phytophthora spp. and Hymenoscyphus fraxineus Pathogens
by
Artur Pacia, Stanisław Drozdowski, Tadeusz Malewski, Piotr Borowik, Konrad Wilamowski, Sławomir Bakier and Tomasz Oszako
Forests 2024, 15(5), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050829 - 9 May 2024
Abstract
In this study, greenhouse tests were conducted on 240 Fraxinus excelsior seedlings to investigate the simultaneous damage caused by thea pathogenic fungus and oomycetes. The experiment was performed under controlled conditions in the greenhouse of the Institute of Forest Research in Sękocin Stary
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In this study, greenhouse tests were conducted on 240 Fraxinus excelsior seedlings to investigate the simultaneous damage caused by thea pathogenic fungus and oomycetes. The experiment was performed under controlled conditions in the greenhouse of the Institute of Forest Research in Sękocin Stary (Poland). Three species of oomycetes were used for the experiment: Phytophthora plurivora, Phytophthora taxon hungarica, Phytophthora megasperma, and the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Inoculations using the fungus were carried out on shoots and in plant pots in which the soil was mixed with the three Phytophthora species mentioned above, both simultaneously and separately, which made it possible to recognize the cumulative effect of the related plant infection. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of phosphite-containing preparations on the health of common ash under conditions of threat to the roots by Phytophthora spp. and damage to the aerial parts of the plant by the fungus, as well as the possible occurrence of synergistic effects. Two types of protective preparations (Actifos and Phos60 of the nitrogen and potassium forms, respectively) were used. It was found that the inoculation of ash seedlings with the fungus H. fraxineus resulted in plant mortality, while the mixture of Phytophthora did not cause significant damage. It was confirmed that when pathogens coexist, a phenomenon occurs that leads to an acceleration in the development of disease symptoms and, thus, to plant mortality. In vitro tests confirmed the usefulness of phosphite preparations for the protection of ash seedlings.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Health)
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Prediction of the Potential Distribution of Teinopalpus aureus Mell, 1923 (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) in China Using Habitat Suitability Models
by
Yinghan Liu, Xuemei Zhang and Shixiang Zong
Forests 2024, 15(5), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050828 - 8 May 2024
Abstract
The Golden Kaiser-I-Hind (Teinopalpus aureus Mell, 1923) is the only butterfly among Class I national protected animals in China and is known as the national butterfly. In this study, by accurately predicting the suitable habitat in China under current and future climate
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The Golden Kaiser-I-Hind (Teinopalpus aureus Mell, 1923) is the only butterfly among Class I national protected animals in China and is known as the national butterfly. In this study, by accurately predicting the suitable habitat in China under current and future climate scenarios, the potential distribution area of T. aureus was defined, providing a theoretical basis for conservation and management. Based on species distribution records, we utilized the Biomod2 platform to combine climate data from the BCC-CSM2-MR climate model, future shared socio-economic pathways, and altitude data. The potential distribution areas of T. aureus in the current (1970–2000s) and future SSP1_2.6 and SSP5_8.5 climate scenarios in China in 2041–2060 (2050s), 2061–2080 (2070s), and 2081–2100 (2090s) were predicted. The AUC and TSS values of the combined model based on five algorithms were greater than those of the single models, and the AUC value of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.990, indicating that the model had high reliability and accuracy. The screening of environmental variables showed that the habitat area of T. aureus in China was mainly affected by annual precipitation, precipitation in the driest month, the lowest temperature in the coldest month, temperature seasonality, elevation, and other factors. Under the current circumstances, the habitat area of T. aureus was mainly located in southern China, including Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Zhejiang, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Taiwan, and other provinces. The suitable area is approximately 138.95 × 104 km2; among them, the highly suitable area of 34.43 × 104 km2 is a priority area in urgent need of protection. Under both SSP1_2.6 and SSP5_8.5, the population centroid tended to shift southward in the 2050s and 2070s, and began to migrate northeast in the 2090s. Temperature, rainfall, and altitude influenced the distribution of T. aureus. In the two climate scenarios, the habitat area of T. aureus declined to different degrees, and the reduction was most obvious in the SSP5_8.5 scenario; climate was the most likely environmental variable to cause a change in the geographical distribution. Climate change will significantly affect the evolution and potential distribution of T. aureus in China and will increase the risk of extinction. Accordingly, it is necessary to strengthen protection and to implement active and effective measures to reduce the negative impact of climate change on T. aureus.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest/Urban Forest Systems under Climate Change: Carbon Dynamics, Ecological Functions, and Sustainable Management)
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Open AccessArticle
Dynamic Height Growth Equations and Site Index-Based Biomass Models for Young Native Species Afforestations in Spain
by
Rafael Calama, Guillermo Madrigal, Miren del Río, Eduardo López-Senespleda, Marta Pardos, Ricardo Ruiz-Peinado and María Menéndez-Miguélez
Forests 2024, 15(5), 827; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050827 - 8 May 2024
Abstract
The expansion of forested areas through afforestation and reforestation is widely recognized as a highly effective natural solution for mitigating climate change. Accurately assessing the potential carbon uptake capacity of newly afforested areas requires modelling tools to estimate biomass stocks, including site index
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The expansion of forested areas through afforestation and reforestation is widely recognized as a highly effective natural solution for mitigating climate change. Accurately assessing the potential carbon uptake capacity of newly afforested areas requires modelling tools to estimate biomass stocks, including site index curves and biomass models. Given the unique conditions in terms of tree size, uniform spacing, and tree allometries observed in young afforestations compared to natural stands, specific tools are necessary. In Spain, over 800,000 ha has been afforested with native forest species since 1992, but specific modelling tools for these plantations are lacking. Using data from 370 stem analyses collected across an extensive network of plots in young afforestations, we developed dynamic height growth and site index models for the main native species (five pines and five oaks) commonly used in afforestation in Spain. We compared various nonlinear models, such as ADA (algebraic difference approach) and GADA (generalized algebraic difference approach) expansions. The developed site index models were then used to predict the total biomass stored in the afforestation. Our results underscore the necessity for specific site index models tailored to afforestations, as well as the potential of the established site index in predicting biomass and carbon fixation capacity in these young forests.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Growth Modeling in Different Ecological Conditions)
Open AccessArticle
Hydrological Variability in the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, Mexico: A Watershed-Scale Analysis Using Tree-Ring Records
by
José Villanueva-Díaz, Arian Correa-Díaz, Jesús Valentín Gutiérrez-García, Claudia C. Astudillo-Sánchez and Aldo R. Martínez-Sifuentes
Forests 2024, 15(5), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050826 - 8 May 2024
Abstract
The El Cielo Biosphere Reserve (CBR) stands as a vital forested region in eastern Mexico due to its high biodiversity in flora and fauna and provision of environmental services. This study established a network of 10 ring-width chronologies of different species within the
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The El Cielo Biosphere Reserve (CBR) stands as a vital forested region in eastern Mexico due to its high biodiversity in flora and fauna and provision of environmental services. This study established a network of 10 ring-width chronologies of different species within the CBR and adjacent watersheds. The objective was to analyze their climatic response and reconstruct the seasonal streamflow contribution of each sub-basin to the main stream, utilizing data from a gauge network of eight hydrological stations located at strategic locations of the CBR. With chronologies ranging from 116 to 564 years, most exhibited association with the accumulated streamflow between January and June. Based on the adjusted R2, Akaike Information Criteria, and Variance Inflation Factor, the stepwise regression procedure was selected among different statistical methods for developing the reconstruction model. In spite of differences in the seasonal reconstructed periods, all the species showed potential to develop hydrological reconstructions as indicated by their common response to streamflow variability, as occurred in the wet years of 1976, 1993, 2000, and 2008, and dry years of 1980, 1982, 1996, and 2011. It was found that the response of the chronologies to gauge records increased as a function of the chronologies’ interseries correlation, average mean sensitivity, and distance of the tree-ring series to the gauge station. Streamflow reconstructions at the sub-basin level allowed a better understanding of the hydroclimatic variability characterizing the CBR, but also suggested the need to increase the network of chronologies for some particular sub-basins lacking tree-ring series to improve the reconstructed models.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Response of Tree Rings to Climate Change and Climate Extremes)
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Open AccessCorrection
Correction: Zhang et al. A Forest Fire Prediction Method for Lightning Stroke Based on Remote Sensing Data. Forests 2024, 15, 647
by
Zhejia Zhang, Ye Tian, Guangyu Wang, Change Zheng and Fengjun Zhao
Forests 2024, 15(5), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050825 - 8 May 2024
Abstract
There was an error in the original publication [...]
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Fires Prediction and Detection—Volume II)
Open AccessArticle
MART3D: A Multilayer Heterogeneous 3D Radiative Transfer Framework for Characterizing Forest Disturbances
by
Lingjing Ouyang, Jianbo Qi, Qiao Wang, Kun Jia, Biao Cao and Wenzhi Zhao
Forests 2024, 15(5), 824; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050824 - 8 May 2024
Abstract
The utilization of radiative transfer models for interpreting remotely sensed data to evaluate forest disturbances is a cost-effective approach. However, the current radiative transfer modeling approaches are either too abstract (e.g., 1D models) or too complex (detailed 3D models). This study introduces a
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The utilization of radiative transfer models for interpreting remotely sensed data to evaluate forest disturbances is a cost-effective approach. However, the current radiative transfer modeling approaches are either too abstract (e.g., 1D models) or too complex (detailed 3D models). This study introduces a novel multilayer heterogeneous 3D radiative transfer framework with medium complexity, termed MART3D, for characterizing forest disturbances. MART3D generates 3D canopy structures accounting for the within-crown clumping by clustering leaves, which is modeled as a turbid medium, around branches, applicable for forests of medium complexity, such as temperate forests. It then automatically generates a multilayer forest with grass, shrub and several layers of trees using statistical parameters, such as the leaf area index and fraction of canopy cover. By employing the ray-tracing module within the well-established LargE-Scale remote sensing data and image Simulation model (LESS) as the computation backend, MART3D achieves a high accuracy (RMSE = 0.0022 and 0.018 for red and Near-Infrared bands) in terms of the bidirectional reflectance factor (BRF) over two RAMI forest scenes, even though the individual structures of MART3D are generated solely from statistical parameters. Furthermore, we demonstrated the versatility and user-friendliness of MART3D by evaluating the band selection strategy for computing the normalized burn ratio (NBR) to assess the composite burn index over a forest fire scene. The proposed MART3D is a flexible and easy-to-use tool for studying the remote sensing response under varying vegetation conditions.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Satellite Time Series Analysis for Forest Mapping and Change Detection)
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Open AccessArticle
Influence of Leaf Area Index Inversion and the Light Transmittance Mechanism in the Apple Tree Canopy
by
Linghui Zhou, Yaxiong Wang, Chongchong Chen, Siyuan Tong and Feng Kang
Forests 2024, 15(5), 823; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050823 - 8 May 2024
Abstract
Light plays a crucial role in the growth of fruit trees, influencing not only nutrient absorption but also fruit appearance. Therefore, understanding fruit tree canopy light transmittance is essential for agricultural and forestry practices. However, traditional measurement methods, such as using a canopy
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Light plays a crucial role in the growth of fruit trees, influencing not only nutrient absorption but also fruit appearance. Therefore, understanding fruit tree canopy light transmittance is essential for agricultural and forestry practices. However, traditional measurement methods, such as using a canopy analyzer, are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and susceptible to external influences, lacking convenience and automation. To address this issue, we propose a novel method based on point clouds to estimate light transmittance, with the Leaf Area Index (LAI) serving as the central link. Focusing on apple trees, we utilized handheld LiDAR for three-dimensional scanning of the canopy, acquiring point cloud data. Determining the optimal voxel size at 0.015 m via standardized point cloud mean spacing, we applied the Voxel-based Canopy Profile method (VCP) to estimate LAI. Subsequently, we established a function model between LAI and canopy light transmittance using a deep neural network (DNN), achieving an overall correlation coefficient R2 of 0.94. This model was then employed to estimate canopy light transmittance in dwarfed and densely planted apple trees. This approach not only provides an evaluation standard for pruning effects in apple trees but also represents a critical step towards visualizing and intelligentizing light transmittance.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Inventory, Modeling and Remote Sensing)
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Open AccessArticle
Encouraging Invasive Acacia Control Strategies by Repurposing Their Wood Biomass Waste for Pulp and Paper Production
by
Duarte M. Neiva, Maria C. Godinho, Rogério M. S. Simões and Jorge Gominho
Forests 2024, 15(5), 822; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050822 - 7 May 2024
Abstract
Concerns on the expanding infestation of several Acacia species in the southern Mediterranean European countries have triggered an ever-growing requirement for costly targeted control actions. Valorizing biomass waste produced could help promote and better finance these actions. For that purpose, wood wastes from
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Concerns on the expanding infestation of several Acacia species in the southern Mediterranean European countries have triggered an ever-growing requirement for costly targeted control actions. Valorizing biomass waste produced could help promote and better finance these actions. For that purpose, wood wastes from invasive control actions were tested regarding their pulp and paper potential, aiming to entice cellulose industries to partake in future conservation actions. Wood waste from the five most pervasive Acacia species was studied (Acacia dealbata Link, Acacia longifolia Willd, Acacia mearnsii De Wild, Acacia melanoxylon R.Br, and Acacia saligna Labill) regarding physical and chemical characteristics, and a central composite design was used to optimize alkali charge and reaction temperature on pulping yield and delignification. Bleached kraft pulps were produced with each species’ optimized conditions and for an equitable mixture of all species. Optimized pulp yields (52.6%–53.5%) and pulp polymerization degree (2867–3690) of Acacia species were higher than those of Eucalyptus globulus Labill (used as reference). Optimized bleached pulps were refined and fiber, pulp, and handsheet properties determined. Acacia dealbata and A. longifolia presented high specific wood consumption and lower handsheet strength properties, pointing to overall lower pulping potential, while A. melanoxylon and A. mearnsii characteristics were equal to or higher than those of E. globulus. A. saligna pulp and handsheet characteristics appear more suited for tissue paper. The Acacia mixture achieved acceptable characteristics, enabling the indiscriminate use of Acacia wood regardless of the species. As a shortcoming, the Acacia pulps showed the worst optical characteristics, with brightness dropping substantially with beating (64%–76%) when compared to E. globulus (81%).
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Wood Science and Forest Products)
Open AccessArticle
What Affects the Willingness of Farmers to Participate in Forest Ticket Trading? Empirical Analysis Based on Incomplete Information Theory
by
Boyao Song, Xiao Han, Siyao Lv, Qiushuang Fang, Zhongping Wang and Hongxun Li
Forests 2024, 15(5), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050821 - 7 May 2024
Abstract
Forest tickets refer to a type of forest resource usufruct certificate characterized by “cooperative operation, quantification of rights and interests, free circulation, and guaranteed dividends”. It is an important means to build a market-oriented mechanism for realizing the value of ecological resources. Incomplete
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Forest tickets refer to a type of forest resource usufruct certificate characterized by “cooperative operation, quantification of rights and interests, free circulation, and guaranteed dividends”. It is an important means to build a market-oriented mechanism for realizing the value of ecological resources. Incomplete information, based on field survey data from thirteen villages in eight townships (towns) in Sanming City, Fujian Province, China, and a binary logit model were used to explore the moderating effects of factors affecting farmers’ willingness to participate in forest ticket trading, the heterogeneity of farmers, and social capital. We found the following: In an environment with incomplete information, farmers’ willingness to participate in forest ticket trading is influenced by heterogeneity expectations, social capital, government propaganda, and individual family characteristics. There are certain differences in the influencing factors and degree of farmers’ willingness to participate in forest ticket trading among different groups of farmers with different levels of education and part-time employment. Social capital can strengthen the positive impact of income expectations and policy sustainability expectations, and alleviate the negative impact of risk expectations.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
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