Forests

24 pages, 956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Georgetown ain’t got a tree. We got the trees”—Amerindian Power & Participation in Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy

by Sam Airey^1,* and Torsten Krause²

¹ Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden

² Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies, Lund University, Lund, SE-221 00, Sweden

Forests 2017, 8(3), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030051 - 23 Feb 2017

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8549

Abstract

International bi-lateral agreements to support the conservation of rainforests to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are growing in prevalence. In 2009, the governments of Guyana and Norway established Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). We examine the extent to which the participation and inclusion [...] Read more.

International bi-lateral agreements to support the conservation of rainforests to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are growing in prevalence. In 2009, the governments of Guyana and Norway established Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). We examine the extent to which the participation and inclusion of Guyana’s indigenous population within the LCDS is being achieved. We conducted a single site case study, focussing on the experiences and perceptions from the Amerindian community of Chenapou. Based on 30 interviews, we find that a deficit of adequate dialogue and consultation has occurred in the six years since the LCDS was established. Moreover, key indigenous rights, inscribed at both a national and international level, have not been upheld with respect to the community of Chenapou. Our findings identify consistent shortcomings to achieve genuine participation and the distinct and reinforced marginalisation of Amerindian communities within the LCDS. A further critique is the failure of the government to act on previous research, indicating a weakness of not including indigenous groups in the Guyana-Norway bi-lateral agreement. We conclude that, if the government is to uphold the rights of Amerindian communities in Guyana, significant adjustments are needed. A more contextualised governance, decentralising power and offering genuine participation and inclusion, is required to support the engagement of marginal forest-dependent communities in the management of their natural resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue REDD+ Crossroads Post Paris: Politics, Lessons and Interplays)

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17 pages, 1933 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Revitalizing REDD+ Policy Processes in Vietnam: The Roles of State and Non-State Actors

by Thu Ba Huynh^* and Rodney J. Keenan

School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010 VIC, Australia

Forests 2017, 8(3), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030053 - 24 Feb 2017

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 7664

Abstract

Vietnam was one of the first countries to introduce the National REDD+ (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) Action Program in 2012. The country has recently revised the Program to aim for a more inclusive 2016–2020 strategy and a vision to 2030. [...] Read more.

Vietnam was one of the first countries to introduce the National REDD+ (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) Action Program in 2012. The country has recently revised the Program to aim for a more inclusive 2016–2020 strategy and a vision to 2030. This study explores how Vietnam policy actors view REDD+ policy development and their influence in these processes. The results can contribute to the discussion on how policy actors can effectively influence policy processes in the evolving context of REDD+ and in the types of political arrangements represented in Vietnam. We examined the influence of state and non-state actors on the 2012 National REDD+ Action Program (NRAP) processes, and explored factors that may have shaped this influence, using a combination of document analysis and semi-structured interviews with 81 policy actors. It was found that non-state actors in REDD+ are still on the periphery of decision making, occupying “safe” positions, and have not taken either full advantage of their capacities, or of recent significant changes in the contemporary policy environment, to exert stronger influence on policy. We suggest that REDD+ policy processes in Vietnam need to be revitalized with key actors engaging collectively to promote the possibilities of REDD+ within a broader view of social change that reaches beyond the forestry sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue REDD+ Crossroads Post Paris: Politics, Lessons and Interplays)

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20 pages, 9113 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Textural Differentiations in Forest Resources in Romania Using Fractal Analysis

by Ion Andronache^1,2

, Rasmus Fensholt³

, Helmut Ahammer⁴, Ana-Maria Ciobotaru^1,2,5,*, Radu-Daniel Pintilii^1,2,5, Daniel Peptenatu^1,2,5, Cristian-Constantin Drăghici^1,2,5, Daniel Constantin Diaconu^1,2,5

, Marko Radulović⁶

, Giuseppe Pulighe⁷

, Akomian Fortuné Azihou⁸

, Mireille Scholastique Toyi⁸ and Brice Sinsin⁸

¹ Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management, University of Bucharest, 4-12 Regina Elisabeta Avenue, 030018 Bucharest, Romania

² Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, 36-46 Mihail Kogălniceanu Blvd, 050107 Bucharest, Romania

³ Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Oster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen, Denmark

⁴ Centre for Physiological Medicine, Institute of Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria

⁵ Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, 1, Nicolae Bălcescu Blvd, 010041 Bucharest, Romania

⁶ Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology, Pasterova 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

⁷ Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA)-Research Center for Politics and Bioeconomy, Street Po 14, 00198 Rome, Italy

⁸ Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin

Forests 2017, 8(3), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030054 - 24 Feb 2017

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 9404

Abstract

Deforestation and forest degradation have several negative effects on the environment including a loss of species habitats, disturbance of the water cycle and reduced ability to retain CO₂, with consequences for global warming. We investigated the evolution of forest resources from [...] Read more.

Deforestation and forest degradation have several negative effects on the environment including a loss of species habitats, disturbance of the water cycle and reduced ability to retain CO₂, with consequences for global warming. We investigated the evolution of forest resources from development regions in Romania affected by both deforestation and reforestation using a non-Euclidean method based on fractal analysis. We calculated four fractal dimensions of forest areas: the fractal box-counting dimension of the forest areas, the fractal box-counting dimension of the dilated forest areas, the fractal dilation dimension and the box-counting dimension of the border of the dilated forest areas. Fractal analysis revealed morpho-structural and textural differentiations of forested, deforested and reforested areas in development regions with dominant mountain relief and high hills (more forested and compact organization) in comparison to the development regions dominated by plains or low hills (less forested, more fragmented with small and isolated clusters). Our analysis used the fractal analysis that has the advantage of analyzing the entire image, rather than studying local information, thereby enabling quantification of the uniformity, fragmentation, heterogeneity and homogeneity of forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Climate Sensitivity of Forest Growth, Health, and Disturbance: Vulnerability, Resilience, and Change)

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13 pages, 3691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contrasting Effects of Fire Severity on the Regeneration of Pinus halepensis Mill. and Resprouter Species in Recently Thinned Thickets

by Ruth García‐Jiménez, Marina Palmero‐Iniesta and Josep Maria Espelta^*

CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain

Forests 2017, 8(3), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030055 - 24 Feb 2017

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5960

Abstract

Many studies have outlined the benefits for growth and reproduction resulting from thinning extremely crowded young forests regenerating after stand replacing wildfires (“thickets”). However, scarce information is available on how thinning may influence fire severity and vegetation regeneration in case a new fire [...] Read more.

Many studies have outlined the benefits for growth and reproduction resulting from thinning extremely crowded young forests regenerating after stand replacing wildfires (“thickets”). However, scarce information is available on how thinning may influence fire severity and vegetation regeneration in case a new fire occurs. We investigated the relationship between thinning and fire severity in P. halepensis thickets, and the effects on the establishment of pine seedlings and resprouting vigour in resprouter species the year after the fire. Our results show a positive relationship between forest basal area and fire severity, and thus reserved pines in thinned stands suffered less fire damage than those in un‐thinned sites (respectively, 2.02 ± 0.13 vs. 2.93 ± 0.15 in a scale from 0 to 4). Ultimately, differences in fire severity influenced post‐fire regeneration. Resprouting vigour varied depending on the species and the size of individuals but it was consistently higher in thinned stands. Concerning P. halepensis, the proportion of cones surviving the fire decreased with fire severity. However, this could not compensate the much lower pine density in thinned stands and thus the overall seed crop was higher in un‐thinned areas. Establishment of pine seedlings was negatively affected by the slope and positively driven by the number of cones and thus it was higher in un‐thinned than in thinned stands (respectively, 2581 ± 649 vs. 898 ± 325 seedlings∙ha-1). Thinning decreases fire intensity, and thus it may facilitate fire suppression tasks, but retaining a higher density of pines would be necessary to ensure P. halepensis regeneration after a new fire event. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Post-Fire Management Activities on Forests)

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10 pages, 1618 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Effect of Soil Moisture on the Response of Soil Respiration to Open-Field Experimental Warming and Precipitation Manipulation

by Guanlin Li¹, Seongjun Kim¹, Seung Hyun Han¹

, Hanna Chang¹ and Yowhan Son^1,2,*

¹ Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea

² Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar

Forests 2017, 8(3), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030056 - 25 Feb 2017

Cited by 62 | Viewed by 6264

Abstract

Soil respiration (R_S, Soil CO₂ efflux) is the second largest carbon (C) flux in global terrestrial ecosystems, and thus, plays an important role in global and regional C cycling; moreover, it acts as a feedback mechanism between C cycling [...] Read more.

Soil respiration (R_S, Soil CO₂ efflux) is the second largest carbon (C) flux in global terrestrial ecosystems, and thus, plays an important role in global and regional C cycling; moreover, it acts as a feedback mechanism between C cycling and global climate change. R_S is highly responsive to temperature and moisture, factors that are closely related to climate warming and changes in precipitation regimes. Here, we examined the direct and interactive effects of climate change drivers on R_S of Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. seedlings in a multifactor climate change experiment involving atmospheric temperature warming (+3 °C) and precipitation manipulations (−30% and +30%). Our results indicated that atmospheric temperature warming induced significant changes in R_S (p < 0.05), enhancing R_S by an average of 54.6% and 59.7% in the control and elevated precipitation plots, respectively, whereas atmospheric temperature warming reduced R_S by 19.4% in plots subjected to lower rates of precipitation. However, the warming effect on R_S was influenced by soil moisture. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that atmospheric temperature warming significantly influenced R_S, but the warming effect on R_S may be weakened by warming-induced soil drying in water-limited environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil Respiration under Climate Changing)

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23 pages, 1591 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Framing REDD+ at National Level: Actors and Discourse around Nepal’s Policy Debate

by Rishi R. Bastakoti^* and Conny Davidsen

Department of Geography, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

Forests 2017, 8(3), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030057 - 25 Feb 2017

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 9186

Abstract

Forests and carbon sequestration have become fundamental themes in climate change mitigation. The idea of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) has generated significant interest in forest governance from United Nations (UN) climate strategies over the past decade. REDD+ was initially [...] Read more.

Forests and carbon sequestration have become fundamental themes in climate change mitigation. The idea of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) has generated significant interest in forest governance from United Nations (UN) climate strategies over the past decade. REDD+ was initially hailed as a smart and cost-effective way to mitigate climate change. As it is rolling out, ambiguities and controversies are increasingly surfacing to the stakeholders at different levels. Examining the forest governance of Nepal in detail, this research examines how relationships between national and local forest actors have changed, and how REDD+ discourses have evolved among them at the interface between global interests in carbon commodification on one hand, and local realities of community forestry on the other hand. To better understand these competing positions, the study uses a post-structural political ecology perspective with elements of discourse analysis. Using data from interviews with policy actors and members of three local community forest user groups, focus group discussions, policy event observations, and document reviews, this paper highlights how global forest carbon commodification has been affecting community forestry governance. It also illustrates different storylines that actors employ to influence policy discourse and REDD+ debates, indicating a considerable range of problem definitions and policy solutions of climate change among the actors. The analysis highlights the connection between power relationships and the evolution of discourses surrounding REDD+, and how an external discourse can reinforce or challenge local governance and the centralization of forest authority. As such, the research also offers a new application of discursive storylines to climate change discourse analysis across national and local scales. The findings emphasize the importance of a more open and transparent dialogue across Nepal’s forest governance and management levels to ensure actual benefits for healthy forests, strong communities, and effective climate change mitigation. Nepal's findings also suggest highly relevant lessons to other developing countries with significant community forest governance, and a strong planned focus on REDD+. Full article

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14 pages, 705 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forest Carbon Sequestration Subsidy and Carbon Tax as Part of China’s Forestry Policies

by Jinhua Liu^1,2,* and Fengping Wu^1,2

¹ Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China

² Planning and Decision Institute, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China

Forests 2017, 8(3), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030058 - 27 Feb 2017

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5387

Abstract

Forestry is an effective strategy for climate change mitigation. However, forestry activities not only sequester carbon but also release CO₂. It is therefore important to formulate carbon subsidy and carbon taxation policies on the basis of the price of carbon. In [...] Read more.

Forestry is an effective strategy for climate change mitigation. However, forestry activities not only sequester carbon but also release CO₂. It is therefore important to formulate carbon subsidy and carbon taxation policies on the basis of the price of carbon. In this study, a forestry-based Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model was built by using input-output data of China in 2014 to construct a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM). The model simulates different carbon price scenarios and was used to explore the effects of carbon subsidy and carbon taxation policies on the forestry economy. The main results can be summarized as follows: When the carbon price is low, the implementation of the policy increases forestry output and causes forest product prices to rise. When the carbon price is high, the carbon tax will produce an inhibitory effect, and output and prices will decline. With the constant rise of the carbon price, value addition will decrease, with flow to other industries. For the carbon sequestration policy, there is a reasonable carbon price range bound. In light of these results, relevant policies are proposed. Full article

14 pages, 1410 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Generalized Models: An Application to Identify Environmental Variables That Significantly Affect the Abundance of Three Tree Species

by Pablo Antúnez^1,*, José Ciro Hernández-Díaz², Christian Wehenkel²

and Ricardo Clark-Tapia¹

¹ División de Estudios de Posgrado-Instituto de Estudios Ambientales, Universidad de la Sierra Juárez, Avenida Universidad S/N, Ixtlán de Juárez, 68725 Oaxaca, Mexico

² Instituto de Silvicultura e Industria de la Madera, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Km 5.5 Carretera Mazatlán, 34120 Durango, Mexico

Forests 2017, 8(3), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030059 - 27 Feb 2017

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5978

Abstract

In defining the environmental preferences of plant species, statistical models are part of the essential tools in the field of modern ecology. However, conventional linear models require compliance with some parametric assumptions and if these requirements are not met, imply a serious limitation [...] Read more.

In defining the environmental preferences of plant species, statistical models are part of the essential tools in the field of modern ecology. However, conventional linear models require compliance with some parametric assumptions and if these requirements are not met, imply a serious limitation of the applied model. In this study, the effectiveness of linear and nonlinear generalized models was examined to identify the unitary effect of the principal environmental variables on the abundance of three tree species growing in the natural temperate forests of Oaxaca, Mexico. The covariates that showed a significant effect on the distribution of tree species were the maximum and minimum temperatures and the precipitation during specific periods. Results suggest that the generalized models, particularly smoothed models, were able to detect the increase or decrease of the abundance against changes in an environmental variable; they also revealed the inflection of the regression. In addition, these models allow partial characterization of the realized niche of a given species according to some specific variables, regardless of the type of relationship. Full article

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19 pages, 2891 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Isolating and Quantifying the Effects of Climate and CO₂ Changes (1980–2014) on the Net Primary Productivity in Arid and Semiarid China

by Xia Fang^1,2,3,4

, Chi Zhang^1,*

, Quan Wang⁵, Xi Chen¹, Jianli Ding² and Fidele Karamage^1,3

¹ State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China

² School of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang University, Xinjiang 830046, China

³ University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049,China

⁴ Xinjiang Polytechnical College, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830091, China

⁵ Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan

Forests 2017, 8(3), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030060 - 28 Feb 2017

Cited by 65 | Viewed by 6705

Abstract

Although the net primary productivity (NPP) of arid/semiarid ecosystem is generally thought to be controlled by precipitation, other factors like CO₂ fertilization effect and temperature change may also have important impacts, especially in the cold temperate areas of the northern China, where [...] Read more.

Although the net primary productivity (NPP) of arid/semiarid ecosystem is generally thought to be controlled by precipitation, other factors like CO₂ fertilization effect and temperature change may also have important impacts, especially in the cold temperate areas of the northern China, where significant warming was reported in the recent decades. However, the impacts of climate and atmospheric CO₂ changes to the NPP dynamics in the arid and semiarid areas of China (ASA-China) is still unclear, hindering the development of climate adaptation strategy. Based on numeric experiments and factorial analysis, this study isolated and quantified the effects of climate and CO₂ changes between 1980–2014 on ASA-China’s NPP, using the Arid Ecosystem Model (AEM) that performed well in predicting ecosystems’ responses to climate/CO₂ change according to our evaluation based on 21 field experiments. Our results showed that the annual variation in NPP was dominated by changes in precipitation, which reduced the regional NPP by 10.9 g·C/(m²·year). The precipitation-induced loss, however, has been compensated by the CO₂ fertilization effect that increased the regional NPP by 14.9 g·C/(m²·year). The CO₂ fertilization effect particularly benefited the extensive croplands in the Northern China Plain, but was weakened in the dry grassland of the central Tibetan Plateau due to suppressed plant activity as induced by a drier climate. Our study showed that the climate change in ASA-China and the ecosystem’s responses were highly heterogeneous in space and time. There were complex interactive effects among the climate factors, and different plant functional types (e.g., phreatophyte vs. non-phreatophyte) could have distinct responses to similar climate change. Therefore, effective climate-adaptive strategies should be based on careful analysis of local climate pattern and understanding of the characteristic responses of the dominant species. Particularly, China’s policy makers should pay close attention to climate change and ecosystem health in northeastern China, where significant loss in forest NPP has been triggered by drought, and carefully balance the ecological and agricultural water usage. For wildlife conservation, the drought-stressed grassland in the central Tibetan Plateau should be protected from overgrazing in the face of dramatic warming in the 21st century. Full article

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19 pages, 5354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementing Forest Landscape Restoration in Ethiopia

by Till Pistorius^*, Sophia Carodenuto and Gilbert Wathum

UNIQUE forestry and land use GmbH; Schnewlinstraße 10, 79098 Freiburg, Germany

Forests 2017, 8(3), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030061 - 27 Feb 2017

Cited by 64 | Viewed by 12235

Abstract

Driven by various initiatives and international policy processes, the concept of Forest Landscape Restoration, is globally receiving renewed attention. It is seen internationally and in national contexts as a means for improving resilience of land and communities in the face of increasing environmental [...] Read more.

Driven by various initiatives and international policy processes, the concept of Forest Landscape Restoration, is globally receiving renewed attention. It is seen internationally and in national contexts as a means for improving resilience of land and communities in the face of increasing environmental degradation through different forest activities. Ethiopia has made a strong voluntary commitment in the context of the Bonn Challenge—it seeks to implement Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) on 15 million ha. In the context of rural Ethiopia, forest establishment and restoration provide a promising approach to reverse the widespread land degradation, which is exacerbated by climate change and food insecurity. This paper presents an empirical case study of FLR opportunities in the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia’s largest spans of degraded and barren lands. Following the Restoration Opportunity Assessment Methodology, the study categorizes the main types of landscapes requiring restoration, identifies and prioritizes respective FLR options, and details the costs and benefits associated with each of the five most significant opportunities: medium to large‐scale afforestation and reforestation activities on deforested or degraded marginal land not suitable for agriculture, the introduction of participatory forest management, sustainable woodland management combined with value chain investments, restoration of afro‐alpine and sub‐afro‐alpine areas and the establishment of woodlots. Full article

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15 pages, 3491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrology of a Water‐Limited Forest under Climate Change Scenarios: The Case of the Caatinga Biome, Brazil

by Everton Alves Rodrigues Pinheiro^*, Quirijn De Jong Van Lier and Andre Herman Freire Bezerra

Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP 13416‐000, Brazil

Forests 2017, 8(3), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030062 - 27 Feb 2017

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6201

Abstract

Given the strong interactions between climate and vegetation, climate change effects on natural and agricultural ecosystems are common objects of research. Reduced water availability is predicted to take place across large regions of the globe, including Northeastern Brazil. The Caatinga, a complex tropical [...] Read more.

Given the strong interactions between climate and vegetation, climate change effects on natural and agricultural ecosystems are common objects of research. Reduced water availability is predicted to take place across large regions of the globe, including Northeastern Brazil. The Caatinga, a complex tropical water‐limited ecosystem and the only exclusively Brazilian biome, prevails as the main natural forest of this region. The aim of this study was to examine the soil‐water balance for this biome under a climate‐warming scenario and with reduced rainfall. Climate change projections were assessed from regional circulation models earlier applied to the Brazilian territory. A statistical climate data generator was used to compose a synthetic weather dataset, which was later integrated into a hydrological model. Compared to simulations with current climate for the same site, under the scenario with climate change, transpiration was enhanced by 36%, and soilwater evaporation and interception were reduced by 16% and 34%, respectively. The greatest change in soil‐water components was observed for deep drainage, accounting only for 2% of the annual rainfall. Soil‐plant‐atmosphere fluxes seem to be controlled by the top layer (0.0-0.2 m), which provides 80% of the total transpiration, suggesting that the Caatinga forest may become completely soil‐water pulse dominated under scenarios of reduced water availability. Full article

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19 pages, 3406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between Forest Color Characteristics and Scenic Beauty: Case Study Analyzing Pictures of Mountainous Forests at Sloped Positions in Jiuzhai Valley, China

by Zhe Zhang^1,2

, Guangfa Qie^1,2,*, Cheng Wang^1,2, Shasha Jiang^1,2, Xi Li^1,2 and Mingxia Li^1,2

¹ Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China

² Research Center of Urban Forest of State Forestry Administration, Beijing 100091, China

Forests 2017, 8(3), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030063 - 28 Feb 2017

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 7662

Abstract

Forests are important place for outdoor recreation and scenery appreciation. So in order to better meet the needs of the public, forest appreciation has received increasing attention from foresters in recent years. However, related research is still limited. Therefore, this paper seeks to [...] Read more.

Forests are important place for outdoor recreation and scenery appreciation. So in order to better meet the needs of the public, forest appreciation has received increasing attention from foresters in recent years. However, related research is still limited. Therefore, this paper seeks to examine the relationship between forest colors (measured by specific elements and spatial indices of color) and Scenic Beauty Estimation values. We researched Jiuzhai Valley in China by selecting 104 pictures to determine the scenic beauty estimation values of forests in a mountainous region. Quantitative color elements were extracted by programming on Matlab, and spatial indices of color patches were extracted by ArcGIS and FRAGSTATS. A total of 23 indices were obtained to explain the color characteristics of each forest picture. The results showed that the yellow and red colors were the main mutable colors of Jiuzhai Valley in autumn, but the color patches index had no significant change over time in that season. After partial correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis, we found that 14 color elements, eight color patch factors and six particular indices had an effect on the SBE values, which can then be used to efficiently measure and enhance the forest color beauty of Jiuzhai Valley. Full article

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27 pages, 972 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co-Operation or Co-Optation? NGOs’ Roles in Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative

by Erlend A. T. Hermansen^1,*, Desmond McNeill², Sjur Kasa³ and Raoni Rajão⁴

¹ CICERO Center for International Climate Research, P.O. Box 1129 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway

² Centre for Development and Environment, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1116 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway

³ Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Postbox 400, 2418 Elverum, Norway

⁴ Department of Production Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Forests 2017, 8(3), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030064 - 28 Feb 2017

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 12349

Abstract

This paper investigates non-governmental organisation (NGO) involvement in policy processes related to Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) comparing four countries: Norway, Brazil, Indonesia, and Tanzania. Based on documents and interviews, NGO involvement is mapped using a conceptual framework to categorise and [...] Read more.

This paper investigates non-governmental organisation (NGO) involvement in policy processes related to Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) comparing four countries: Norway, Brazil, Indonesia, and Tanzania. Based on documents and interviews, NGO involvement is mapped using a conceptual framework to categorise and compare different roles and modes of engagement. NGOs have co-operated with government in policy design and implementation, albeit to varying degrees, in all four countries, but expressed relatively little public criticism. Funding seems to have an influence on NGOs’ choices regarding whether, what, when, and how to criticise. However, limited public criticism does not necessarily mean that the NGOs are co-opted. They are reflexive regarding their possible operating space, and act strategically and pragmatically to pursue their goals in an entrepreneurial manner. The interests of NGOs and NICFI are to a large extent congruent. Instead of publicly criticising a global initiative that they largely support, and thus put the initiative as a whole at risk, NGOs may use other, more informal, channels to voice points of disagreement. While NGOs do indeed run the risk of being co-opted, their opportunity to resist this fate is probably greater in this instance than is usually the case because NICFI are so reliant on their services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue REDD+ Crossroads Post Paris: Politics, Lessons and Interplays)

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24 pages, 1968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards a Role-Oriented Governance Approach: Insights from Eight Forest Climate Initiatives

by Mareike Blum^* and Sabine Reinecke

Chair Group of Forest and Environmental Policy, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany

Forests 2017, 8(3), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030065 - 28 Feb 2017

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5803

Abstract

In forest climate governance processes such as REDD+, non-state actors take on various, more or less formal, but in fact potentially authoritative governance tasks when informing, financing, (co)deciding or implementing forest climate action. Drawing on the concept of social roles, we investigate eight [...] Read more.

In forest climate governance processes such as REDD+, non-state actors take on various, more or less formal, but in fact potentially authoritative governance tasks when informing, financing, (co)deciding or implementing forest climate action. Drawing on the concept of social roles, we investigate eight different REDD+ governance processes and how a variety of practical authoritative roles are enacted in administration, finance, decision-making and knowledge production. By systematically revealing the distinct ways of how different roles were filled, we developed a first (potentially still incomplete) typology of role practices and underlying rationales within different governance settings. In this endeavor, the role concept offered a valuable and handy analytical tool for empirically operationalizing governance performance, which is principally compatible with both institutional and social constructivist approaches to legitimacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue REDD+ Crossroads Post Paris: Politics, Lessons and Interplays)

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27 pages, 2352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beyond Rewards and Punishments in the Brazilian Amazon: Practical Implications of the REDD+ Discourse

by Maria Fernanda Gebara^1,*

and Arun Agrawal²

¹ Development, Agriculture and Society Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20.071‐003, Brazil

² School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Forests 2017, 8(3), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030066 - 2 Mar 2017

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 10348

Abstract

Through different policies and measures reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation and enhancing conservation (REDD+) has grown into a way to induce behavior change of forest managers and landowners in tropical countries. We argue that debates around REDD+ in Brazil have typically highlighted [...] Read more.

Through different policies and measures reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation and enhancing conservation (REDD+) has grown into a way to induce behavior change of forest managers and landowners in tropical countries. We argue that debates around REDD+ in Brazil have typically highlighted rewards and punishments, obscuring other core interventions and strategies that are also critically important to reach the goal of reducing deforestation, supporting livelihoods, and promoting conservation (i.e., technology transfer and capacity building). We adopt Foucault’s concepts of governmentality and technologies of governance to provide a reading of the REDD+ discourse in Brazil and to offer an historical genealogy of the rewards and punishments approach. By analyzing practical elements from REDD+ implementation in the Brazilian Amazon, our research provides insights on the different dimensions in which smallholders react to rewards and punishments. In doing so, we add to the debate on governmentality, supplementing its focus on rationalities of governance with attention to the social practices in which such rationalities are embedded. Our research also suggests that the techniques of remuneration and coercion on which a rewards and punishments approach relies are only supporting limited behavioral changes on the ground, generating negative adaptations of deforestation practices, reducing positive feedbacks and, perhaps as importantly, producing only short‐term outcomes at the expense of positive longterm land use changes. Furthermore, the approach ignores local heterogeneities and the differences between the agents engaging in forest clearing in the Amazon. The practical elements of the REDD+ discourse in Brazil suggest the rewards and punishments approach profoundly limits our understanding of human behavior by reducing the complex and multi‐dimensional to a linear and rational simplicity. Such simplification leads to an underestimation of smallholders’ capacity to play a key role in climate mitigation and adaptation. We conclude by highlighting the importance of looking at local heterogeneities and capacities and the need to promote trust, altruism and responsibility towards others and future generations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue REDD+ Crossroads Post Paris: Politics, Lessons and Interplays)

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18 pages, 1283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Early REDD+ Implementation: The Journey of an Indigenous Community in Eastern Panama

by Ignacia Holmes^1,*

, Catherine Potvin^1,2,* and Oliver T. Coomes³

¹ Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr Penfield, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada

² Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama 0843-03092, Panama

³ Department of Geography, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B9, Canada

Forests 2017, 8(3), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030067 - 3 Mar 2017

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 8586

Abstract

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) offers developing countries an opportunity to engage in global climate change mitigation through the sale of carbon credits for reforestation, avoided deforestation and forest conservation projects. Funding for REDD+ projects has increased in recent years [...] Read more.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) offers developing countries an opportunity to engage in global climate change mitigation through the sale of carbon credits for reforestation, avoided deforestation and forest conservation projects. Funding for REDD+ projects has increased in recent years and REDD+ projects have proliferated, but relatively few studies have, as yet, examined their implementation. Here, we present a synthesis of the challenges and lessons learned while implementing a REDD+ project in an Emberá community in Panama. Our case study, documented in four cycles of collaborative action research over 11 years, examines how local communities sought to reduce emissions from deforestation and benefit from carbon offset trading while improving local livelihoods. Through semi-structured interviews and participatory methods, we found that success with REDD+ hinges on broader issues than those widely discussed in the literature and in policy circles. Though economic incentives for participants and the equitable distribution of benefits remain important to project participants, our study finds that, in adapting REDD+ strategies to best suit community needs, the role of a support system for implementation (“bridging institutions”) and REDD+’s potential as a conflict resolution mechanism for tenure issues deserve more attention as key factors that contribute to meaningful participation in REDD+. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue REDD+ Crossroads Post Paris: Politics, Lessons and Interplays)

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20 pages, 7629 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structure from Motion (SfM) Photogrammetry with Drone Data: A Low Cost Method for Monitoring Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Forests in Developing Countries

by Reason Mlambo^1,2,*, Iain H. Woodhouse², France Gerard³ and Karen Anderson⁴

¹ Department of Geoinformatics and Surveying, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167 Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

² School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK

³ Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK

⁴ Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK

Forests 2017, 8(3), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030068 - 3 Mar 2017

Cited by 158 | Viewed by 26307

Abstract

Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry applied to photographs captured from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms is increasingly being utilised for a wide range of applications including structural characterisation of forests. The aim of this study was to undertake a first evaluation of whether [...] Read more.

Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry applied to photographs captured from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms is increasingly being utilised for a wide range of applications including structural characterisation of forests. The aim of this study was to undertake a first evaluation of whether SfM from UAVs has potential as a low cost method for forest monitoring within developing countries in the context of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+). The project evaluated SfM horizontal and vertical accuracy for measuring the height of individual trees. Aerial image data were collected for two test sites; Meshaw (Devon, UK) and Dryden (Scotland, UK) using a Quest QPOD fixed wing UAV and DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter UAV, respectively. Comparisons were made between SfM and airborne LiDAR point clouds and surface models at the Meshaw site, while at Dryden, SfM tree heights were compared to ground measured tree heights. Results obtained showed a strong correlation between SfM and LiDAR digital surface models (R² = 0.89) and canopy height models (R² = 0.75). However, at Dryden, a poor correlation was observed between SfM tree heights and ground measured heights (R² = 0.19). The poor results at Dryden were explained by the fact that the forest plot had a closed canopy structure such that SfM failed to generate enough below-canopy ground points. Finally, an evaluation of UAV surveying methods was also undertaken to determine their usefulness and cost-effectiveness for plot-level forest monitoring. The study concluded that although SfM from UAVs performs poorly in closed canopies, it can still provide a low cost solution in those developing countries where forests have sparse canopy cover (<50%) with individual tree crowns and ground surfaces well-captured by SfM photogrammetry. Since more than half of the forest covered areas of the world have canopy cover <50%, we can conclude that SfM has enormous potential for forest mapping in developing countries. Full article

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15 pages, 1386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Costs of Lost opportunities: Applying Non-Market Valuation Techniques to Potential REDD+ Participants in Cameroon

by Dara Y. Thompson, Brent M. Swallow^* and Martin K. Luckert

Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G-2H1, Canada

Forests 2017, 8(3), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030069 - 3 Mar 2017

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6191

Abstract

Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) has been systematically advanced within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). However, implementing REDD+ in a populated landscape requires information on local costs and acceptability of changed practices. To supply such information, many [...] Read more.

Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) has been systematically advanced within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). However, implementing REDD+ in a populated landscape requires information on local costs and acceptability of changed practices. To supply such information, many studies have adopted approaches that explore the opportunity cost of maintaining land as forest rather than converting it to agricultural uses. These approaches typically assume that the costs to the smallholder are borne exclusively through the loss or gain of the production values associated with specific categories of land use. However, evaluating the value of land to smallholders in incomplete and messy institutional and economic contexts entails other considerations, such as varying portfolios of land holdings, tenure arrangements, restricted access to capital, and unreliable food markets. We suggest that contingent valuation (CV) methods may provide a more complete reflection of the viability of REDD+ in multiple-use landscapes than do opportunity cost approaches. The CV approach eliminates the need to assume a homogenous smallholder, and instead assumes heterogeneity around social, economic and institutional contexts. We apply this approach in a southern rural Cameroonian context, through the lens of a hypothetical REDD+ contract. Our findings suggest local costs of REDD+ contracts to be higher and much more variable than opportunity cost estimates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue REDD+ Crossroads Post Paris: Politics, Lessons and Interplays)

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13 pages, 1168 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Elevated CO2 and Tree Species Affect Microbial Activity and Associated Aggregate Stability in Soil Amended with Litter

by Salwan M. J. Al‐Maliki^1,4, David L. Jones², Douglas L. Godbold³, Dylan Gwynn‐Jones¹ and John Scullion^1,*

¹ Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK

² School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK

³ Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna 1190, Austria

⁴ Soil and Water Science Department, College of Agriculture, AlQasim Green University, Al Qasim 13239 Iraq

Forests 2017, 8(3), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030070 - 3 Mar 2017

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5745

Abstract

(1) Elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) may affect organic inputs to woodland soils with potential consequences for C dynamics and associated aggregation; (2) The Bangor Free Air Concentration Enrichment experiment compared ambient (330 ppmv) and elevated (550 ppmv) CO2 regimes over four growing seasons [...] Read more.

(1) Elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) may affect organic inputs to woodland soils with potential consequences for C dynamics and associated aggregation; (2) The Bangor Free Air Concentration Enrichment experiment compared ambient (330 ppmv) and elevated (550 ppmv) CO2 regimes over four growing seasons (2005–2008) under Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula and Fagus sylvatica. Litter from the experiment (autumn 2008) and Lumbricus terrestris were added to mesocosm soils. Microbial properties and aggregate stability were investigated in soil and earthworm casts. Soils taken from the field experiment in spring 2009 were also investigated; (3) eCO2 litter had lower N and higher C:N ratios. F. sylvatica and B. pendula litter had lower N and P than A. glutinosa; F. sylvatica had higher cellulose. In mesocosms, eCO2 litter decreased respiration, mineralization constant (respired C:total organic C) and soluble carbon in soil but not earthworm casts; microbial‐C and fungal hyphal length differed by species (A. glutinosa = B. pendula > F. sylvatica) not CO2 regime. eCO2 increased respiration in field aggregates but increased stability only under F. sylvatica; (4) Lower litter quality under eCO2 may restrict its initial decomposition, affecting C stabilization in aggregates. Later resistant materials may support microbial activity and increase aggregate stability. In woodland, C and soil aggregation dynamics may alter under eCO2, but outcomes may be influenced by tree species and earthworm activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil Respiration under Climate Changing)

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1 pages, 592 KiB

Open AccessErratum

Erratum: Spatial Upscaling of Soil Respiration under a Complex Canopy Structure in an Old-Growth Deciduous Forest, Central Japan; Forests 2017, 8, 36

by Forests Editorial Office

MDPI AG, St. Alban-Anlage 66, 4052 Basel, Switzerland

Forests 2017, 8(3), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030071 - 6 Mar 2017

Viewed by 3325

Abstract

Due to a mistake during the production process, there was a spelling error in the Academic Editors’ names in the original published version [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil Respiration under Climate Changing)

20 pages, 1132 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Airborne Laser Scanning Based Forest Inventory: Comparison of Experimental Results for the Perm Region, Russia and Prior Results from Finland

by Tuomo Kauranne^1,2, Sergey Pyankov³, Virpi Junttila^1,*, Alexander Kedrov³, Andrey Tarasov³, Anton Kuzmin⁴, Jussi Peuhkurinen², Maria Villikka², Ville-Matti Vartio² and Sanna Sirparanta²

¹ LUT School of Engineering Science, Lappeenranta University of Technology, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

² Arbonaut Ltd., Kaislakatu 2, FI-80130 Joensuu, Finland

³ Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics, Perm State University, RU-614990 Perm, Russia

⁴ Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland

Forests 2017, 8(3), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030072 - 7 Mar 2017

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6900

Abstract

Airborne laser scanning (ALS) based stand level forest inventory has been used in Finland and other Nordic countries for several years. In the Russian Federation, ALS is not extensively used for forest inventory purposes, despite a long history of research into the use [...] Read more.

Airborne laser scanning (ALS) based stand level forest inventory has been used in Finland and other Nordic countries for several years. In the Russian Federation, ALS is not extensively used for forest inventory purposes, despite a long history of research into the use of lasers for forest measurement that dates back to the 1970s. Furthermore, there is also no generally accepted ALS-based methodology that meets the official inventory requirements of the Russian Federation. In this paper, a method developed for Finnish forest conditions is applied to ALS-based forest inventory in the Perm region of Russia. Sparse Bayesian regression is used with ALS data, SPOT satellite images and field reference data to estimate five forest parameters for three species groups (pine, spruce, deciduous): total mean volume, basal area, mean tree diameter, mean tree height, and number of stems per hectare. Parameter estimates are validated at both the plot level and stand level, and the validation results are compared to results published for three Finnish test areas. Overall, relative root mean square errors (RMSE) were higher for forest parameters in the Perm region than for the Finnish sites at both the plot and stand level. At the stand level, relative RMSE generally decreased with increasing stand size and was lower when considered overall than for individual species groups. Full article

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11 pages, 2140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Elevated Atmospheric CO₂ and Warming Stimulates Growth and Nitrogen Fixation in a Common Forest Floor Cyanobacterium under Axenic Conditions

by Zoë Lindo^*

and Danielle A. Griffith

Department of Biology, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada

Forests 2017, 8(3), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030073 - 8 Mar 2017

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6452

Abstract

The predominant input of available nitrogen (N) in boreal forest ecosystems originates from moss-associated cyanobacteria, which fix unavailable atmospheric N₂, contribute to the soil N pool, and thereby support forest productivity. Alongside climate warming, increases in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are [...] Read more.

The predominant input of available nitrogen (N) in boreal forest ecosystems originates from moss-associated cyanobacteria, which fix unavailable atmospheric N₂, contribute to the soil N pool, and thereby support forest productivity. Alongside climate warming, increases in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are expected in Canada’s boreal region over the next century, yet little is known about the combined effects of these factors on N fixation by forest floor cyanobacteria. Here we assess changes in N fixation in a common forest floor, moss-associated cyanobacterium, Nostoc punctiforme Hariot, under elevated CO₂ conditions over 30 days and warming combined with elevated CO₂ over 90 days. We measured rates of growth and changes in the number of specialized N₂ fixing heterocyst cells, as well as the overall N fixing activity of the cultures. Elevated CO₂ stimulated growth and N fixation overall, but this result was influenced by the growth stage of the cyanobacteria, which in turn was influenced by our temperature treatments. Taken together, climate change factors of warming and elevated CO₂ are expected to stimulate N₂ fixation by moss-associated cyanobacteria in boreal forest systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Feedbacks and Nitrogen Fixation in Forests)

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17 pages, 3268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Sap Flow Density and Environmental Factors in the Yangtze River Delta Region of China

by Xin Liu¹, Bo Zhang², Jia‐Yao Zhuang¹, Cheng Han¹, Lu Zhai², Wen‐Rui Zhao¹ and Jin‐Chi Zhang^1,*

¹ Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Restoration, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China

² Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA

Forests 2017, 8(3), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030074 - 10 Mar 2017

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6990

Abstract

Canopy transpiration is an important component of evapotranspiration, integrating physical and biological processes within the water and energy cycles of forests. Quercus acutissima and Cunninghamia lanceolata are two important, fast‐growing and commercial tree species that have been extensively used for vegetation restoration, water [...] Read more.

Canopy transpiration is an important component of evapotranspiration, integrating physical and biological processes within the water and energy cycles of forests. Quercus acutissima and Cunninghamia lanceolata are two important, fast‐growing and commercial tree species that have been extensively used for vegetation restoration, water conservation and building artificial forests in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. The primary objective of this study was to characterize sap ﬂow densities of the two species by comparing daytime and nocturnal sap ﬂow patterns and their relationships with environmental factors. Sap ﬂow densities (Sd) were measured between September 2012 and August 2013 using the commercially‐available thermal dissipation probes. Hourly meteorological data were measured in an open ﬁeld, located 200 m away from the study site, including photosynthetically‐active radiation (Par), air temperature (Ta), relative air humidity (Rh), vapor pressure deficit (Vpd) and precipitation (P). Soil water content (Swc) data were logged hourly in different layers at Q. acutissima and C. lanceolata forests. Results indicated that the mean Sd in summer was higher than that in spring and autumn. Both the Sd of Q. acutissima and C. lanceolata showed distinct diurnal patterns. Nocturnal sap flow densities (Sdn) were noticeable, and both species followed similar declining patterns during our study period. The daytime sap flow density (Sdd) was more sensitive to environmental factors than Sdn. Sap flow density was significant linearly correlated with Par, Vpd and Ta, and Par and Vpd explained the greatest amount of variation in daytime sap flow of Q. acutissima and C. lanceolata, respectively. Our study will enrich knowledge of plantation forest physical and biological processes and provide valuable information for plantation forest management in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. Full article

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17 pages, 4371 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Partitioning Forest‐Floor Respiration into Source Based Emissions in a Boreal Forested Bog: Responses to Experimental Drought

by Tariq Muhammad Munir^1,*

, Bhupesh Khadka¹, Bin Xu¹ and Maria Strack²

¹ Department of Geography, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

² Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

Forests 2017, 8(3), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030075 - 10 Mar 2017

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6806

Abstract

Northern peatlands store globally significant amounts of soil carbon that could be released to the atmosphere under drier conditions induced by climate change. We measured forest floor respiration (RFF) at hummocks and hollows in a treed boreal bog in Alberta, Canada and partitioned [...] Read more.

Northern peatlands store globally significant amounts of soil carbon that could be released to the atmosphere under drier conditions induced by climate change. We measured forest floor respiration (RFF) at hummocks and hollows in a treed boreal bog in Alberta, Canada and partitioned the flux into aboveground forest floor autotrophic, belowground forest floor autotrophic, belowground tree respiration, and heterotrophic respiration using a series of clipping and trenching experiments. These fluxes were compared to those measured at sites within the same bog where water‐table (WT) was drawn down for 2 and 12 years. Experimental WT drawdown significantly increased RFF with greater increases at hummocks than hollows. Greater RFF was largely driven by increased autotrophic respiration driven by increased growth of trees and shrubs in response to drier conditions; heterotrophic respiration accounted for a declining proportion of RFF with time since drainage. Heterotrophic respiration was increased at hollows, suggesting that soil carbon may be lost from these sites in response to climate change induced drying. Overall, although WT drawdown increased RFF, the substantial contribution of autotrophic respiration to RFF suggests that peat carbon stocks are unlikely to be rapidly destabilized by drying conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil Respiration under Climate Changing)

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27 pages, 13240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Burn Severity and Environmental Conditions on Post-Fire Regeneration in Siberian Larch Forest

by Thuan Chu^1,2,*, Xulin Guo¹ and Kazuo Takeda³

¹ Department of Geography and Planning, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N5C8, Canada

² Department of Forest Inventory and Planning, Vietnam Forestry University, Chuong My, Ha Noi 100000, Vietnam

³ Department of Agro-Environmental Science, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-0834, Japan

Forests 2017, 8(3), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030076 - 11 Mar 2017

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 9813

Abstract

Post-fire forest regeneration is strongly influenced by abiotic and biotic heterogeneity in the pre- and post-fire environments, including fire regimes, species characteristics, landforms, hydrology, regional climate, and soil properties. Assessing these drivers is key to understanding the long-term effects of fire disturbances on [...] Read more.

Post-fire forest regeneration is strongly influenced by abiotic and biotic heterogeneity in the pre- and post-fire environments, including fire regimes, species characteristics, landforms, hydrology, regional climate, and soil properties. Assessing these drivers is key to understanding the long-term effects of fire disturbances on forest succession. We evaluated multiple factors influencing patterns of variability in a post-fire boreal Larch (Larix sibirica) forest in Siberia. A time-series of remote sensing images was analyzed to estimate post-fire recovery as a response variable across the burned area in 1996. Our results suggested that burn severity and water content were primary controllers of both Larch forest recruitment and green vegetation cover as defined by the forest recovery index (FRI) and the fractional vegetation cover (FVC), respectively. We found a high rate of Larch forest recruitment in sites of moderate burn severity, while a more severe burn was the preferable condition for quick occupation by vegetation that included early seral communities of shrubs, grasses, conifers and broadleaf trees. Sites close to water and that received higher solar energy during the summer months showed a higher rate of both recovery types, defined by the FRI and FVC, dependent on burn severity. In addition to these factors, topographic variables and pre-fire condition were important predictors of post-fire forest patterns. These results have direct implications for the post-fire forest management in the Siberian boreal Larch region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Forest Disturbance)

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12 pages, 6057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determining Ideal Timing of Row Thinning for a Cryptomeria japonica Plantation Using Event History Analysis

by Chih-Hsin Chung^1,2, Cheng-Jung Lin², Shu-Tzong Lin³ and Cho-ying Huang^1,*

¹ Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan

² Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei 10066, Taiwan

³ Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Ilan University, Ilan 26047, Taiwan

Forests 2017, 8(3), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030077 - 11 Mar 2017

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6592

Abstract

Effective time of thinning is essential for determining a silvicultural operation schedule. One of the most commonly used methods is the percentage of radial increase to assess the effect of thinning. However, it is difficult to determine the ideal time point due to [...] Read more.

Effective time of thinning is essential for determining a silvicultural operation schedule. One of the most commonly used methods is the percentage of radial increase to assess the effect of thinning. However, it is difficult to determine the ideal time point due to variation in tree growth rates. Event history analysis was used to quantify the optimal timings for different row thinning types for a 45-year-old Cryptomeria japonica plantation in the mountainous region of Taiwan. The increase in tree-ring size was measured and converted to the basal area increment (BAI) to estimate annual tree growth; derived time-series data were entered into event history analysis to calculate the time to 50% probability of survival. Additionally, an accelerated failure time regression was applied to test the effects of thinning and its timing; model validation was carried out to examine the influence of thinning time variation on plant growth through time. Results showed that thinning modified the temporal dynamics of the BAI, and, in general, a positive trend was observed between strip-width and time of thinning. Simulated tree growth in the model validation corroborated that accurate timing may optimize thinning effects. Combining tree-ring measurement and event history analysis may facilitate determining the timing of row thinning, which can improve carbon sequestration of forest stands. Full article

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24 pages, 4337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

REDD+ in West Africa: Politics of Design and Implementation in Ghana and Nigeria

by Adeniyi P. Asiyanbi¹, Albert A. Arhin^2,* and Usman Isyaku^3,4

¹ Department of Development Studies, The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, London WC1H 0XG, UK

² Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UK

³ Department of Geography, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK

⁴ Department of Geography, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria P.M.B 1045 Kaduna State, Nigeria

Forests 2017, 8(3), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030078 - 11 Mar 2017

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 11894

Abstract

This paper analyses the design and implementation of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, conserving and enhancing forest carbon stocks, and sustainably managing forests (REDD+) in the West African region, an important global biodiversity area. Drawing on in-depth interviews, analysis of policy documents [...] Read more.

This paper analyses the design and implementation of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, conserving and enhancing forest carbon stocks, and sustainably managing forests (REDD+) in the West African region, an important global biodiversity area. Drawing on in-depth interviews, analysis of policy documents and observation of everyday activities, we sought to understand how REDD+ has been designed and implemented in Nigeria and Ghana. We draw on political ecology to examine how, and why REDD+ takes the form it does in these countries. We structure our discussion around three key dimensions that emerged as strong areas of common emphasis in our case studies—capacity building, carbon visibility, and property rights. First, we show that while REDD+ design generally foregrounds an ostensible inclusionary politics, its implementation is driven through various forms of exclusion. This contradictory inclusion–exclusion politics, which is partly emblematic of the neoliberal provenance of the REDD+ policy, is also a contingent reality and a strategy for navigating complexities and pursuing certain interests. Second, we show that though the emergent foci of REDD+ implementation in our case studies align with global REDD+ expectations, they still manifest as historically and geographically contingent processes that reflect negotiated and contested relations among actors that constitute the specific national circumstance of each country. We conclude by reflecting on the importance of our findings for understanding REDD+ projects in other tropical countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue REDD+ Crossroads Post Paris: Politics, Lessons and Interplays)

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16 pages, 3222 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Bent Trees in Juvenile Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) Plantations in Costa Rica: Effects on Tree Morphology and Wood Properties

by Nancy Guzmán¹, Roger Moya^2,*

and Olmán Murillo²

¹ Brinkman & Asociados Reforestadores de Centroamérica, Parrita Apartado 6009, Costa Rica

² Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Ingeniería Forestal, Apartado 159-7050, Cartago, Costa Rica

Forests 2017, 8(3), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030079 - 14 Mar 2017

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6476

Abstract

Bent trees have been observed during the early years in juvenile plantations (less than 5 years-old) of Tectona grandis in Costa Rica. The relationship between bending and the morphological characteristics of the trees was explored. An evaluation of bent trees was conducted in [...] Read more.

Bent trees have been observed during the early years in juvenile plantations (less than 5 years-old) of Tectona grandis in Costa Rica. The relationship between bending and the morphological characteristics of the trees was explored. An evaluation of bent trees was conducted in six juvenile plantations (8, 17, 27, 28, 31, and 54 months old) of Tectona grandis. Site 1 with 8-month-old plantations did not display any relationship with any tree morphological variable (diameter, height, and crown weight of tree), whereas for the sites 2, 3, and 4 with 17-, 27-, and 28-month-old plantations, respectively, all the tree morphological variables were statistically correlated with the bent trees. A multiple regression analysis showed that the most influential variables were height to crown base, crown weight, diameter, and total height of the tree. An evaluation of the bending risk factor (RF) was correlated with the height to crown base, crown weight, and form factor. The modulus of elasticity and chemical compositions of bent trees differed from those of straight trees. The causes of tree bending are complex, involving, among other factors, the morphology of the trees, plantation conditions, and other factors specific to the xylem, such as the specific gravity, modulus of elasticity, and presence of calcium and magnesium in the wood. Full article

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21 pages, 1191 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of Host Variability on the Spread of Invasive Forest Diseases

by Simone Prospero¹

and Michelle Cleary^2,*

¹ Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland

² Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Sundsvägen 3, SE-23053 Alnarp, Sweden

Forests 2017, 8(3), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030080 - 15 Mar 2017

Cited by 63 | Viewed by 12690

Abstract

Biological invasions, resulting from deliberate and unintentional species transfers of insects, fungal and oomycete organisms, are a major consequence of globalization and pose a significant threat to biodiversity. Limiting damage by non-indigenous forest pathogens requires an understanding of their current and potential distributions, [...] Read more.

Biological invasions, resulting from deliberate and unintentional species transfers of insects, fungal and oomycete organisms, are a major consequence of globalization and pose a significant threat to biodiversity. Limiting damage by non-indigenous forest pathogens requires an understanding of their current and potential distributions, factors affecting disease spread, and development of appropriate management measures. In this review, we synthesize innate characteristics of invading organisms (notably mating system, reproduction type, and dispersal mechanisms) and key factors of the host population (namely host diversity, host connectivity, and host susceptibility) that govern spread and impact of invasive forest pathogens at various scales post-introduction and establishment. We examine spread dynamics for well-known invasive forest pathogens, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (T. Kowalski) Baral, Queloz, Hosoya, comb. nov., causing ash dieback in Europe, and Cryphonectria parasitica, (Murr.) Barr, causing chestnut blight in both North America and Europe, illustrating the importance of host variability (diversity, connectivity, susceptibility) in their invasion success. While alien pathogen entry has proven difficult to control, and new biological introductions are indeed inevitable, elucidating the key processes underlying host variability is crucial for scientists and managers aimed at developing effective strategies to prevent future movement of organisms and preserve intact ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Pathology and Plant Health)

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14 pages, 5892 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Diversity of Walnut (Juglans Regia L.) in the Eastern Italian Alps

by Massimo Vischi^1,*

, Cristina Chiabà¹, Steluta Raranciuc¹, Luca Poggetti^1,2, Rachele Messina¹, Paolo Ermacora¹, Guido Cipriani¹

, Donatella Paffetti^3,4, Cristina Vettori⁴

and Raffaele Testolin¹

¹ Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 208, 33100 Udine, Italy

² Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy

³ Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Science, University of Florence, P. le delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy

⁴ Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Division of Florence, National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze), Italy

Forests 2017, 8(3), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030081 - 16 Mar 2017

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6458

Abstract

Juglans regia L. is distributed primarily across temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. During the last glaciation, the species survived in refugial areas that in Europe included the Balkans and the Italian peninsula, two areas joined by a corridor represented by [...] Read more.

Juglans regia L. is distributed primarily across temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. During the last glaciation, the species survived in refugial areas that in Europe included the Balkans and the Italian peninsula, two areas joined by a corridor represented by the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, where two germplasm reservoirs met and likely intercrossed during re-colonization after the last glaciation. In this work, two hundred and fifteen wild accessions native to the area were sampled, georeferenced, and genotyped with 20 microsatellite loci selected from the literature. The local accessions of this study displayed moderate genetic diversity with 80 alleles identified. The number of alleles/loci was 4.0 (4.7 alleles for the genomic SSRs (Simple Sequence Repeats) and 2.7 alleles per EST (Expressed Sequence Tag)-derived SSR, on average). An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that most of the molecular diversity was between individuals (nearly 98% of variation explained). The model-based clustering algorithms implemented either in STRUCTURE and GENELAND software revealed two clusters: The first one encompassed most of the samples and showed a great genetic admixture throughout the five sampling areas defined on the base of orographic characteristics of the region. The second cluster represented a small island with three samples traced back to an introduction from Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. Full article

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17 pages, 4012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling of Climate Conditions in Forest Vegetation Zones as a Support Tool for Forest Management Strategy in European Beech Dominated Forests

by Ivo Machar^1,*

, Veronika Vlckova², Antonin Bucek³, Vit Vozenilek⁴, Lubomir Salek⁵ and Lucie Jerabkova⁶

¹ Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17 listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic

² Department of Transport Telematics, Faculty of Transportation Sciences, Czech Technical University, Konviktska 20, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic

³ Department of Forest Botany, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University, Geobiocoenology and Dendrobiology, Zemedelska 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic

⁴ Department of Geoinformatics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17 listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic

⁵ Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamycka 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic

⁶ Department of Geography, King’s College London, King’s Building, Strand London, London WC2R 2LS, UK

Forests 2017, 8(3), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030082 - 16 Mar 2017

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 8267

Abstract

The regional effects of climate change on forest ecosystems in the temperate climate zone of Europe can be modelled as shifts of forest vegetation zones in the landscape, northward and to higher elevations. This study applies a biogeographical model of climate conditions in [...] Read more.

The regional effects of climate change on forest ecosystems in the temperate climate zone of Europe can be modelled as shifts of forest vegetation zones in the landscape, northward and to higher elevations. This study applies a biogeographical model of climate conditions in the forest vegetation zones of the Central European landscape, in order to predict the impact of future climate change on the most widespread tree species in European deciduous forests—the European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). The biogeographical model is supported by a suite of software applications in the GIS environment. The model outputs are defined as a set of conditions - climate scenario A1B by the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) for a forecast period, for a specified geographical area and with ecological conditions appropriate for the European beech, which provide regional scenarios for predicted future climatic conditions in the context of the European beech’s environmental requirements. These predicted changes can be graphically visualized. The results of the model scenarios for regional climate change show that in the Czech Republic from 2070 onwards, optimal growing conditions for the European beech will only exist in some parts of those areas where it currently occurs naturally. Based on these results, it is highly recommended that the national strategy for sustainable forest management in the Czech Republic be partly re-evaluated. Thus, the presented biogeographical model of climate conditions in forest vegetation zones can be applied, not only to generate regional scenarios of climate change in the landscape, but also as a support tool for the development of a sustainable forest management strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Climate Change—Selected Papers from FowiTa German Forest Sciences Conference (Sessions 1–5))

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15 pages, 1467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Feasibility of Managing Loblolly Pine Forests for Water Production under Climate Change in the Southeastern United States

by Andres Susaeta^1,*, Damian C. Adams¹, Carlos Gonzalez-Benecke² and José R. Soto¹

¹ School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110410, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

² Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA

Forests 2017, 8(3), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030083 - 16 Mar 2017

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5839

Abstract

In this study, we assessed the impacts of climate change, forest management, and different forest productivity conditions on the water yield and profitability of loblolly pine stands in the southeastern United States. Using the 3-PG (Physiological Processes Predicting Growth) model, we determined different [...] Read more.

In this study, we assessed the impacts of climate change, forest management, and different forest productivity conditions on the water yield and profitability of loblolly pine stands in the southeastern United States. Using the 3-PG (Physiological Processes Predicting Growth) model, we determined different climatic projections and then employed a stand level economic model that incorporates, for example, prices for timber and increased water yield. We found that, under changing climatic conditions, water yield increases with thinnings and low levels of tree planting density. On average, under moderate climatic conditions, water yield increases by 584 kL·ha⁻¹ and 97 kL·ha⁻¹ for low and high productivity conditions, respectively. Under extreme climatic conditions, water yield increases by 100 kL·ha⁻¹ for low productivity conditions. Land expectation values increase by 96% ($6653.7 ha⁻¹) and 95% ($6424.1 ha⁻¹) for each climatic scenario compared to those obtained for unthinned loblolly pine plantations managed only for timber production and under current climatic conditions. The contributions of payments for increased water yield to the land values were 38% ($2530.1 ha⁻¹) and 30% ($1894.8 ha⁻¹). Results suggest that payments for water yield may be a “win-win” strategy to sustainably improve water supply and the economic conditions of forest ownership in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Climate Change—Selected Papers from FowiTa German Forest Sciences Conference (Sessions 1–5))

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14 pages, 3718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of Inter-Tree Competition and Its Role in Shaping the Community Structure of a Natural Mongolian Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) Forest

by Hongxiang Wang¹

, Pan Wan¹, Qianxue Wang², Ling Liu², Gongqiao Zhang¹ and Gangying Hui^1,3,*

¹ Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China

² Research Center of Cold Temperate Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Harbin 150086, China

³ Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation, State Forestry Administration, Beijing 100091, China

Forests 2017, 8(3), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030084 - 16 Mar 2017

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6119

Abstract

Inter-tree competition is considered one of the most important ecological processes of forest development. However, its importance in structuring the spatial patterns of plant communities remains controversial. We collected observational data from two plots in a natural Mongolian Scots pine forest to study [...] Read more.

Inter-tree competition is considered one of the most important ecological processes of forest development. However, its importance in structuring the spatial patterns of plant communities remains controversial. We collected observational data from two plots in a natural Mongolian Scots pine forest to study the contribution of competition to tree growth, mortality, and size inequality. We used the nearest neighbour method to determine the presence of competition, and unmarked and marked spatial point pattern analyses to test the density-dependent mortality effects and the spatial autocorrelation of tree size. We identified significant positive correlations between tree canopy diameter and nearest neighbour distance in both plots, which were more evident in the denser plot. The pair correlation functions of both plots indicated regular distribution patterns of living trees, and trees living in more crowded environments were more likely to die. However, the mark differentiation characteristics showed weak evidence of a negative spatial autocorrelation in tree size, particularly in the high-density plot. The high mortality rate of suppressed trees and weak asymmetric competition may have accounted for the lack of dissimilarity in tree size. This study showed that inter-tree competition is an important determinant of the development of Mongolian Scots pine forests.
Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Successional Dynamics of Forest Structure and Function)

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20 pages, 2985 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tree Species Identity Shapes Earthworm Communities

by Stephanie Schelfhout^1,2,*

, Jan Mertens¹, Kris Verheyen², Lars Vesterdal³, Lander Baeten²

, Bart Muys⁴ and An De Schrijver^2,5

¹ Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium

² Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Forest and Water Management, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090 Gontrode, Belgium

³ Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark

⁴ Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 E, Box 2411, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

⁵ Faculty of Science and Technology, University College Ghent, Brusselsesteenweg 161, 9090 Melle, Belgium

Forests 2017, 8(3), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030085 - 17 Mar 2017

Cited by 73 | Viewed by 8802 | Correction

Abstract

Earthworms are key organisms in forest ecosystems because they incorporate organic material into the soil and affect the activity of other soil organisms. Here, we investigated how tree species affect earthworm communities via litter and soil characteristics. In a 36-year old common garden [...] Read more.

Earthworms are key organisms in forest ecosystems because they incorporate organic material into the soil and affect the activity of other soil organisms. Here, we investigated how tree species affect earthworm communities via litter and soil characteristics. In a 36-year old common garden experiment, replicated six times over Denmark, six tree species were planted in blocks: sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), beech (Fagus sylvatica), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Norway spruce (Picea abies), pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and lime (Tilia cordata). We studied the chemical characteristics of soil and foliar litter, and determined the forest floor turnover rate and the density and biomass of the earthworm species occurring in the stands. Tree species significantly affected earthworm communities via leaf litter and/or soil characteristics. Anecic earthworms were abundant under Fraxinus, Acer and Tilia, which is related to calcium-rich litter and low soil acidification. Epigeic earthworms were indifferent to calcium content in leaf litter and were shown to be mainly related to soil moisture content and litter C:P ratios. Almost no earthworms were found in Picea stands, likely because of the combined effects of recalcitrant litter, low pH and low soil moisture content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Species, as Major Drivers of Forest Ecosystems Functioning)

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22 pages, 5285 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Destructive, Laser-Based Individual Tree Aboveground Biomass Estimation in a Tropical Rainforest

by Muhammad Zulkarnain Abd Rahman^1,*, Md Afif Abu Bakar¹, Khamarrul Azahari Razak², Abd Wahid Rasib¹, Kasturi Devi Kanniah¹, Wan Hazli Wan Kadir¹, Hamdan Omar³, Azahari Faidi³, Abd Rahman Kassim³ and Zulkiflee Abd Latif⁴

¹ TropicalMap Research Group, Faculty of Geoinformation and Real Estate, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), UTM Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia

² UTM Razak School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur 54100, Malaysia

³ Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong, Selangor 52109, Malaysia

⁴ Centre of Studies Surveying Science and Geomatics Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor 40450, Malaysia

Forests 2017, 8(3), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030086 - 17 Mar 2017

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 8894

Abstract

Recent methods for detailed and accurate biomass and carbon stock estimation of forests have been driven by advances in remote sensing technology. The conventional approach to biomass estimation heavily relies on the tree species and site-specific allometric equations, which are based on destructive [...] Read more.

Recent methods for detailed and accurate biomass and carbon stock estimation of forests have been driven by advances in remote sensing technology. The conventional approach to biomass estimation heavily relies on the tree species and site-specific allometric equations, which are based on destructive methods. This paper introduces a non-destructive, laser-based approach (terrestrial laser scanner) for individual tree aboveground biomass estimation in the Royal Belum forest reserve, Perak, Malaysia. The study area is in the state park, and it is believed to be one of the oldest rainforests in the world. The point clouds generated for 35 forest plots, using the terrestrial laser scanner, were geo-rectified and cleaned to produce separate point clouds for individual trees. The volumes of tree trunks were estimated based on a cylinder model fitted to the point clouds. The biomasses of tree trunks were calculated by multiplying the volume and the species wood density. The biomasses of branches and leaves were also estimated based on the estimated volume and density values. Branch and leaf volumes were estimated based on the fitted point clouds using an alpha-shape approach. The estimated individual biomass and the total above ground biomass were compared with the aboveground biomass (AGB) value estimated using existing allometric equations and individual tree census data collected in the field. The results show that the combination of a simple single-tree stem reconstruction and wood density can be used to estimate stem biomass comparable to the results usually obtained through existing allometric equations. However, there are several issues associated with the data and method used for branch and leaf biomass estimations, which need further improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue LiDAR Remote Sensing of Forest Resources)

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17 pages, 1480 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acute Oak Decline and Agrilus biguttatus: The Co-Occurrence of Stem Bleeding and D-Shaped Emergence Holes in Great Britain

by Nathan Brown^1,2,3,*

, Mike Jeger^1,4, Susan Kirk², David Williams², Xiangming Xu⁵, Marco Pautasso⁶ and Sandra Denman²

¹ Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK

² Centre for Ecosystems, Society and Biosecurity, Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham GU 4LH, UK

³ Department of Computational and Systems Biology, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, UK

⁴ Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, Silwood Park campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK

⁵ NIAB East Malling Research (EMR), New Road, East Malling ME19 6BJ, UK

⁶ Animal and Plant Health Unit, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 43126 Parma, Italy

Forests 2017, 8(3), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030087 - 17 Mar 2017

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 8406

Abstract

Acute Oak Decline (AOD) is a new condition affecting both species of native oak, Quercus robur and Quercus petraea, in Great Britain. The decline is characterised by a distinctive set of externally visible stem symptoms; bark cracks that “weep” dark exudate are [...] Read more.

Acute Oak Decline (AOD) is a new condition affecting both species of native oak, Quercus robur and Quercus petraea, in Great Britain. The decline is characterised by a distinctive set of externally visible stem symptoms; bark cracks that “weep” dark exudate are found above necrotic lesions in the inner bark. Emergence holes of the buprestid beetle, Agrilus biguttatus are often also seen on the stems of oak within affected woodlands. This investigation assesses the extent to which the external symptoms of these two agents co-occur and reveals the spatial and temporal patterns present in affected woodland. Annual monitoring in eight affected woodlands showed that stem bleeding and emergence holes frequently occur on the same trees, with new emergence holes significantly more likely to occur when trees already have stem bleeds. Trials with coloured prism traps confirm A. biguttatus was present at all experimental sites. Beetle emergence is linked primarily to a few heavily declining trees, indicating that susceptibility may vary between hosts and that those with reduced health may be predisposed to AOD. Stem bleeds occur on trees in close proximity to the locations of trees with exit holes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Effects on Forest Tree/Stand Predisposition to Biotic Disturbance)

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15 pages, 2923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Salvage-Logging after Windstorm Leads to Structural and Functional Homogenization of Understory Layer and Delayed Spruce Tree Recovery in Tatra Mts., Slovakia

by Zuzana Michalová¹, Robert C. Morrissey¹, Thomas Wohlgemuth², Radek Bače^1,*, Peter Fleischer³ and Miroslav Svoboda¹

¹ Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood science, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 1176, CZ 16521 Praha, Czech Republic

² Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland

³ Research Station, State Forests of Tatra National Park, SK 05960 Tatranská Lomnica, Slovakia

Forests 2017, 8(3), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030088 - 17 Mar 2017

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 8196

Abstract

Stand-replacing disturbance and post-disturbance salvage-logging influence forest succession in different ways; however, limited knowledge regarding how salvage-logging affects vegetation patterns compared to natural development of forest ecosystems is still lacking. In this study, we described the diversity pattern of understory vegetation and tree [...] Read more.

Stand-replacing disturbance and post-disturbance salvage-logging influence forest succession in different ways; however, limited knowledge regarding how salvage-logging affects vegetation patterns compared to natural development of forest ecosystems is still lacking. In this study, we described the diversity pattern of understory vegetation and tree regeneration in mountain spruce forest of Tatra Mountains, northern Slovakia, where a high severity windstorm affecting over 10,000 ha occurred in 2004. The area was consequently subjected to salvage-logging. We asked how the species composition, vegetation diversity, and its spatial heterogeneity were modified by severe salvage-logging. Vascular plants, deadwood coverage, and tree species densities were monitored on non-intervention (NI; n = 108) and salvage-logged (SL; n = 95) experimental plots (spatially nested design, sample plot area 3.14 m²) six and seven years after disturbance, respectively. The NI sites were structurally more diverse with post-windstorms legacies such as deadwood and pit and mound topography being recorded. The NI plots contained more late-successional plant and moss species that are commonly found in the pre-disturbance forest. The NI plots were also more diverse in terms of alpha- and beta-diversity with abundant natural regeneration of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst). The structure of SL site was more homogeneous and its species composition shifted towards being dominated by grasses, although the site accommodated a higher number of plant species due to newly established pioneer plant- and tree species. The retreat of late-successional species in favour of grasses can lead to structural and functional homogenization of habitat and to delayed succession towards establishment of spruce forest. We conclude that the removal of wind-disturbance legacies significantly diverts natural successional pathways. We recommend avoiding salvage-logging in protected areas since large-scale application of salvage-logging reduces beta-diversity of the landscape. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-Disturbance Forest Management and Regeneration Dynamics)

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22 pages, 4035 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Landscape Structure and Mature Forest Biodiversity in Wet Eucalypt Forests: A Spatial Analysis of Timber Production Areas in South-Eastern Australia

by Sam W. Wood^1,*, Timothy J. Wardlaw^2,3, Elizabeth C. Pryde⁴ and Susan C. Baker^1,3

¹ School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55 Hobart, 7001 Tasmania, Australia

² Forestry Tasmania, GPO Box 207 Hobart, 7001 Tasmania, Australia

³ ARC Centre for Forest Value, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55 Hobart, 7001 Tasmania, Australia

⁴ Vicforests, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia

Forests 2017, 8(3), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030089 - 17 Mar 2017

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 8085

Abstract

Fire and timber harvesting can diminish the extent of older forests in the near term. The amount and configuration of mature and regenerating forest in the landscape (landscape structure) influences habitat suitability for mature-forest-associated species. We applied spatial analysis to describe the landscape [...] Read more.

Fire and timber harvesting can diminish the extent of older forests in the near term. The amount and configuration of mature and regenerating forest in the landscape (landscape structure) influences habitat suitability for mature-forest-associated species. We applied spatial analysis to describe the landscape structure of three wet eucalypt forest landscapes in south–eastern Australia and used the results from empirical biodiversity studies to frame interpretation of possible impacts on habitat suitability. We determined the extent of structurally mature forest, its reservation status, and the extent to which it may be edge affected. We also assessed how landscape structure potentially impacts the re-establishment of mature-forest-associated species into previously harvested areas through the proximity to (mature forest influence)—and extent of (landscape context)—mature forest in the surrounding landscape. Our analyses were designed to inform forest management initiatives that draw on these landscape-scale concepts. Central Highlands Victoria had less structurally mature eucalypt forest (4%) compared to North West Tasmania (14%) and Southern Forests Tasmania (21%). Detrimental effects of edge influence on structurally mature forest appeared relatively minor. Low levels of mature forest influence combined with low-medium surrounding mature forest cover (landscape context) indicate potential limitations on recolonisation of coupes by mature-forest-associated species. Our results vindicate the recent shift toward variable retention silviculture and landscape context planning. Our approach to landscape analysis provides a useful framework for other managed forest landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interplay of Human and Natural Disturbances on Pattern and Process in Forest Ecosystems)

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12 pages, 1856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Impacts on Soil Carbon Processes along an Elevation Gradient in the Tropical Luquillo Experimental Forest

by Dingfang Chen¹, Mei Yu^2,*, Grizelle González³

, Xiaoming Zou² and Qiong Gao²

¹ Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras, San Juan, PR 00936, USA

² Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras, San Juan, PR 00936, USA

³ USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, 1201 Ceiba Street, Río Piedras, PR 00926, USA

Forests 2017, 8(3), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030090 - 19 Mar 2017

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7230

Abstract

Tropical forests play an important role in regulating the global climate and the carbon cycle. With the changing temperature and moisture along the elevation gradient, the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Northeastern Puerto Rico provides a natural approach to understand tropical forest ecosystems under [...] Read more.

Tropical forests play an important role in regulating the global climate and the carbon cycle. With the changing temperature and moisture along the elevation gradient, the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Northeastern Puerto Rico provides a natural approach to understand tropical forest ecosystems under climate change. In this study, we conducted a soil translocation experiment along an elevation gradient with decreasing temperature but increasing moisture to study the impacts of climate change on soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil respiration. As the results showed, both soil carbon and the respiration rate were impacted by microclimate changes. The soils translocated from low elevation to high elevation showed an increased respiration rate with decreased SOC content at the end of the experiment, which indicated that the increased soil moisture and altered soil microbes might affect respiration rates. The soils translocated from high elevation to low elevation also showed an increased respiration rate with reduced SOC at the end of the experiment, indicating that increased temperature at low elevation enhanced decomposition rates. Temperature and initial soil source quality impacted soil respiration significantly. With the predicted warming climate in the Caribbean, these tropical soils at high elevations are at risk of releasing sequestered carbon into the atmosphere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil Respiration under Climate Changing)

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11 pages, 1511 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic Plasticity Explains Response Patterns of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Saplings to Nitrogen Fertilization and Drought Events

by Christoph Dziedek¹, Andreas Fichtner^1,*, Leonor Calvo²

, Elena Marcos²

, Kirstin Jansen¹, Matthias Kunz³, David Walmsley¹

, Goddert Von Oheimb³ and Werner Härdtle¹

¹ Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany

² Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecology, University of León, 24071 León, Spain

³ Institute of General Ecology and Environmental Protection, Technische Universität Dresden, 01735 Tharandt, Germany

Forests 2017, 8(3), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030091 - 20 Mar 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6416

Abstract

Abstract: Climate and atmospheric changes affect forest ecosystems worldwide, but little is known about the interactive effects of global change drivers on tree growth. In the present study, we analyzed single and combined effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization and drought events (D) on [...] Read more.

Abstract: Climate and atmospheric changes affect forest ecosystems worldwide, but little is known about the interactive effects of global change drivers on tree growth. In the present study, we analyzed single and combined effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization and drought events (D) on the growth of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) saplings in a greenhouse experiment. We quantified morphological and physiological responses to treatments for one‐ and two‐year‐old plants. N fertilization increased the saplings’ aboveground biomass investments, making them more susceptible to D treatments. This was reflected by the highest tissue dieback in combined N and D treatments and a significant N × D interaction for leaf δ13C signatures. Thus, atmospheric N deposition can strengthen the drought sensitivity of beech saplings. One‐year‐old plants reacted more sensitively to D treatments than two‐year‐old plants (indicated by D‐induced shifts in leaf δ13C signatures of one‐year‐old and two‐year‐old plants by +0.5‰ and −0.2‰, respectively), attributable to their higher shoot:root‐ratios (1.8 and 1.2, respectively). In summary, the saplings’ treatment responses were determined by their phenotypic plasticity (shifts in shoot:root‐ratios), which in turn was a function of both the saplings’ age (effects of allometric growth trajectories = apparent plasticity) and environmental impacts (effects of N fertilization = plastic allometry). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Response of Tree Species to Abiotic Stresses in a Changing Environment)

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12 pages, 5138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between Leaf Surface Characteristics and Particle Capturing Capacities of Different Tree Species in Beijing

by Weikang Zhang^1,2, Bing Wang^2,3 and Xiang Niu^2,3,*

¹ College of Forestry, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang 110866, China

² Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China

³ Beijing Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco‐Environmental Improvement with Forestry and Fruit Trees, Beijing 102206, China

Forests 2017, 8(3), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030092 - 20 Mar 2017

Cited by 88 | Viewed by 8121

Abstract

Leaf surface is a multifunctional interface between a plant and its environment, which affects both ecological and biological processes. Leaf surface topography directly affects microhabitat availability and ability for deposition. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the resuspended particulate matter method [...] Read more.

Leaf surface is a multifunctional interface between a plant and its environment, which affects both ecological and biological processes. Leaf surface topography directly affects microhabitat availability and ability for deposition. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the resuspended particulate matter method were applied to evaluate the adsorptive capacity of the leaf surface. Patterns of particulate‐capturing capacities in different tree species and the effect of leaf surface features on these capacities were explored. Results indicated the following: (1) more total suspended particles (TSP) per unit leaf area were captured by coniferous tree species than by broad‐leaved tree species in a particular order—i.e., Pinus tabuliformis > Pinus bungeana > Salix matsudana > Acer truncatum > Ginkgo biloba > Populus tomentosa; (2) Significant seasonal variation in particulate‐capturing capacities were determined. During the observation period, the broad‐leaved tree species capturing TSP and coarse particulate matter (PM10) clearly exhibited a ∩‐shape pattern— that is, increasing initially and later on decreasing; meanwhile, the ∩‐shape pattern was not clearly shown in P. tabuliformis and P. bungeana. However, no obvious patterns in the absorption of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were found in the tested tree species; (3) The leaf surface topography, as observed by AFM and scanning electron microscopy, revealed that the broad‐leaved tree exhibits a good correlation between micro‐roughness of leaf surfaces and density of particles settling on leaf surfaces over time. However, the main factors affecting the adsorptive capacities of the leaves in coniferous trees are the number of stomata as well as the amount of epicuticular wax and the properties of the cuticle in different seasons. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Growth Response to Environmental Stress)

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20 pages, 2772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Patterns of Canopy Disturbance, Structure, and Species Composition in a Multi-Cohort Hardwood Stand

by Scott Ford^*, Jonathan Kleinman and Justin Hart

Department of Geography, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA

Forests 2017, 8(3), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030093 - 21 Mar 2017

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6948

Abstract

Multi-cohort stands are increasingly recognized and valued because of their biological functioning, biological diversity, and resistance and resiliency to perturbations. These forest ecosystems are epitomized by multiple age classes, and often contain multiple canopy layers, a range of tree size classes, and large [...] Read more.

Multi-cohort stands are increasingly recognized and valued because of their biological functioning, biological diversity, and resistance and resiliency to perturbations. These forest ecosystems are epitomized by multiple age classes, and often contain multiple canopy layers, a range of tree size classes, and large amounts of woody debris. Disturbance history reconstructions in multi-cohort stands provide an understanding of the processes that create these systems. In this study, we documented structure and composition, and used dendroecological techniques to reconstruct disturbance history on a 1 ha plot in a multi-cohort hardwood stand in the Fall Line Hills of Alabama. The stand was dominated by Quercus alba L. and Liriodendron tulipifera L. Mingling index and stem maps indicated that most species were well dispersed throughout the stand, with the exception of L. tulipifera and Carya tomentosa (Poiret) Nuttal, which were relatively clustered. The oldest trees in the stand established in the 1770s, however, the largest recruitment event occurred ca. 1945 in conjunction with a stand-wide canopy disturbance. We posit that spatial heterogeneity of canopy removal during this event was largely responsible for the observed compositional and spatial complexity documented in the stand. In addition to the 1945 event, we recorded another stand-wide canopy disturbance in 1906 and 84 gap-scale disturbance events from 1802 to 2003. The conditions documented in the stand can be used as a benchmark to guide the creation and maintenance of complex multi-cohort stand characteristics, an increasingly popular management goal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Successional Dynamics of Forest Structure and Function)

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Forests, Volume 8, Issue 3 (March 2017) – 43 articles

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