Forests

21 pages, 5988 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Use of a Consumer-Grade UAV Laser Scanner to Identify Trees and Estimate Key Tree Attributes across a Point Density Range

by Michael S. Watt, Sadeepa Jayathunga, Robin J. L. Hartley, Grant D. Pearse, Peter D. Massam, David Cajes, Benjamin S. C. Steer and Honey Jane C. Estarija

Forests 2024, 15(6), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060899 - 22 May 2024

Viewed by 919

Abstract

The management of plantation forests using precision forestry requires advanced inventory methods. Unmanned aerial vehicle laser scanning (ULS) offers a cost-effective approach to accurately estimate forest structural attributes at both plot and individual tree levels. We examined the utility of ULS data collected [...] Read more.

The management of plantation forests using precision forestry requires advanced inventory methods. Unmanned aerial vehicle laser scanning (ULS) offers a cost-effective approach to accurately estimate forest structural attributes at both plot and individual tree levels. We examined the utility of ULS data collected from a radiata pine stand for tree detection and prediction of diameter at breast height (DBH) and stem volume, using data thinned to 13-point densities (ranging from 10–12,200 points/m²). These datasets were created using a DTM with the highest pulse density and DTMs that used the native decimated point clouds. Models of DBH were constructed using partial least squares (PLS) and random forest (RF) from seven classes of metrics that characterized the horizontal and vertical structure of the canopy. Individual tree segmentation was consistently accurate across the 13-point densities and was insensitive to DTM type (F1 scores > 0.96). Predictions of DBH using PLS models were consistently more accurate than RF models and accuracy was insensitive to the DTM type. Using data from the native DTMs, DBH estimation using PLS had the lowest RMSE of 1.624 cm (R² of 0.756) at a point density of 12,200 points/m². Stem volume predictions made using PLS predictions of DBH and height from the ULS had the lowest RMSE of 0.0418 m³ (R² of 0.792) at 12,200 points/m². The RMSE values for DBH and volume remained relatively stable from 12,200 to between 750 and 400 points/m², with reductions in accuracy occurring as point density declined below this threshold. Overall, these findings have significant implications, particularly for the precise estimation of DBH and stem volume at the individual tree level. They demonstrate the potential of cost-effective ULS sensors for rapid and frequent plantation forest assessment, thereby enhancing the application of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology in plantation forest management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Inventory, Modeling and Remote Sensing)

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31 pages, 3007 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Estimating Economic and Livelihood Values of the World’s Largest Mangrove Forest (Sundarbans): A Meta-Analysis

by Akbar Hossain Kanan, Mauro Masiero and Francesco Pirotti

Forests 2024, 15(5), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050837 - 10 May 2024

Viewed by 1005

Abstract

We explored the state of the art economic and livelihood valuation of ecosystem services (ES) in the Sundarbans mangroves, including a comparative analysis between the Bangladesh and Indian parts of the region. We identified 145 values from 26 studies to estimate the Sundarbans’ [...] Read more.

We explored the state of the art economic and livelihood valuation of ecosystem services (ES) in the Sundarbans mangroves, including a comparative analysis between the Bangladesh and Indian parts of the region. We identified 145 values from 26 studies to estimate the Sundarbans’ economic and livelihood values. The number of ES valuation studies of the Sundarbans is scant, and it has gradually increased over time, focusing mainly on the estimation of provisioning ES (66.2%), followed by regulating and maintenance (25.5%), and cultural (8.3%) ES. However, recently, attention has been paid to estimation, regulating and maintenance, and cultural ES. The number of studies on ES was higher for the Bangladesh (73%) part of the Sundarbans than the Indian (27%) one. The estimated economic values of the Sundarbans’ provisioning, regulating and maintenance, and cultural ES were US $ 713.30 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, US $ 2584.46 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and US $ 151.88 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively. Except for cultural ES, the identified values for the other two ES categories were about 1.5 to 2.5 times higher for the Bangladesh Sundarbans compared to the Indian ones. The results of the meta-regression model showed that the estimated economic and livelihood values of ES are affected by the associated variables (e.g., type of ES, valuation methods, study area, population, and GDP). Our study also identified some remarkable gaps and limitations in the economic and livelihood valuation of the ES of the Sundarbans, highlighting the need for further research to find out the values of all ES to help with policy decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Valuation of Forest Resources)

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16 pages, 3633 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Dynamic Height Growth Equations and Site Index-Based Biomass Models for Young Native Species Afforestations in Spain

by Rafael Calama, Guillermo Madrigal, Miren del Río, Eduardo López-Senespleda, Marta Pardos, Ricardo Ruiz-Peinado and María Menéndez-Miguélez

Forests 2024, 15(5), 827; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050827 - 8 May 2024

Viewed by 1021

Abstract

The expansion of forested areas through afforestation and reforestation is widely recognized as a highly effective natural solution for mitigating climate change. Accurately assessing the potential carbon uptake capacity of newly afforested areas requires modelling tools to estimate biomass stocks, including site index [...] Read more.

The expansion of forested areas through afforestation and reforestation is widely recognized as a highly effective natural solution for mitigating climate change. Accurately assessing the potential carbon uptake capacity of newly afforested areas requires modelling tools to estimate biomass stocks, including site index curves and biomass models. Given the unique conditions in terms of tree size, uniform spacing, and tree allometries observed in young afforestations compared to natural stands, specific tools are necessary. In Spain, over 800,000 ha has been afforested with native forest species since 1992, but specific modelling tools for these plantations are lacking. Using data from 370 stem analyses collected across an extensive network of plots in young afforestations, we developed dynamic height growth and site index models for the main native species (five pines and five oaks) commonly used in afforestation in Spain. We compared various nonlinear models, such as ADA (algebraic difference approach) and GADA (generalized algebraic difference approach) expansions. The developed site index models were then used to predict the total biomass stored in the afforestation. Our results underscore the necessity for specific site index models tailored to afforestations, as well as the potential of the established site index in predicting biomass and carbon fixation capacity in these young forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Growth Modeling in Different Ecological Conditions)

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16 pages, 4343 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Fiberboard Made of MDF Residues and Phase Change Materials

by Gustavo E. Rodríguez, Cecilia Bustos Ávila and Alain Cloutier

Forests 2024, 15(5), 802; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050802 - 30 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1151

Abstract

The wood-based panel industry is experiencing an excessive accumulation of solid residues from the production of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels and moldings. It is possible to create new MDF products with acceptable physical and mechanical properties by revaluing MDF residues. Additionally, those products’ [...] Read more.

The wood-based panel industry is experiencing an excessive accumulation of solid residues from the production of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels and moldings. It is possible to create new MDF products with acceptable physical and mechanical properties by revaluing MDF residues. Additionally, those products’ thermal properties can be improved by incorporating phase change materials (PCMs). This study aims to develop a wood-based fiberboard made of MDF residues, capable of storing thermal energy. Two types of PCMs (liquid and microencapsulated), two PCM ratios (2% and 6%), and two types of adhesives (urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde) were used to produce eight different types of panels. The vertical density profile, thickness swelling, water absorption, internal bond (IB), and static bending properties—modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR)—were determined for each panel type. The specific heat of the panels was also determined. The results show the panels’ densities were greater than 700 kg/m³. Thickness swelling in water improved by 23% compared to the reference value of the control panel PCMs after PCM incorporation. The highest IB value was 1.30 MPa, which is almost three times the minimum required by regulation standards. The incorporation of PCMs reduced the panels’ bending properties compared to the properties of the control panels. Even though the values obtained are sufficient to comply with the minimum values set out in ANSI standard A208.2 with an MOE value of 2072.4 MPa and the values obtained are sufficient to comply with the minimum standards with an MOE value of 2072.4 MPa and an MOR value of 16.4 MPa, when microencapsulated PCM is used, the specific heat of the panels is increased by more than 100% over that of the control panels. This study developed fiberboards with adequate physical and mechanical properties and capable of storing thermal energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials in the Forest Products Industry)

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23 pages, 4793 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Temporal Dynamics of Canopy Properties and Carbon and Water Fluxes in a Temperate Evergreen Angiosperm Forest

by Alexandre A. Renchon, Vanessa Haverd, Cathy M. Trudinger, Belinda E. Medlyn, Anne Griebel, Daniel Metzen, Jürgen Knauer, Matthias M. Boer and Elise Pendall

Forests 2024, 15(5), 801; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050801 - 30 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1031

Abstract

The forest–atmosphere exchange of carbon and water is regulated by meteorological conditions as well as canopy properties such as leaf area index (LAI, m² m⁻²), photosynthetic capacity (PC μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), or surface conductance in optimal conditions [...] Read more.

The forest–atmosphere exchange of carbon and water is regulated by meteorological conditions as well as canopy properties such as leaf area index (LAI, m² m⁻²), photosynthetic capacity (PC μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), or surface conductance in optimal conditions (G_s,opt, mmol m⁻² s⁻¹), which can vary seasonally and inter-annually. This variability is well understood for deciduous species but is poorly characterized in evergreen forests. Here, we quantify the seasonal dynamics of a temperate evergreen eucalypt forest with estimates of LAI, litterfall, carbon and water fluxes, and meteorological conditions from measurements and model simulations. We merged MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) values with site-based LAI measurements to establish a 17-year sequence of monthly LAI. We ran the Community Atmosphere Biosphere Land Exchange model (CABLE-POP (version r5046)) with constant and varying LAI for our site to quantify the influence of seasonal canopy dynamics on carbon and water fluxes. We observed that the peak of LAI occurred in late summer–early autumn, with a higher and earlier peak occurring in years when summer rainfall was greater. Seasonality in litterfall and allocation of net primary productivity (F_NPP) to leaf growth (a_f, 0–1) drove this pattern, suggesting a complete renewal of the canopy before the timing of peak LAI. Litterfall peaked in spring, followed by a high a_f in summer, at the end of which LAI peaked, and PC and G_s,opt reached their maximum values in autumn, resulting from a combination of high LAI and efficient mature leaves. These canopy dynamics helped explain observations of maximum gross ecosystem production (F_GEP) in spring and autumn and net ecosystem carbon loss in summer at our site. Inter-annual variability in LAI was positively correlated with Net Ecosystem Production (F_NEP). It would be valuable to apply a similar approach to other temperate evergreen forests to identify broad patterns of seasonality in leaf growth and turnover. Because incorporating dynamic LAI was insufficient to fully capture the dynamics of F_GEP, observations of seasonal variation in photosynthetic capacity, such as from solar-induced fluorescence, should be incorporated in land surface models to improve ecosystem flux estimates in evergreen forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Meteorology and Climate Change)

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20 pages, 3216 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Riparian Forests as Nature-Based Solutions within the Mediterranean Context: A Biophysical and Economic Assessment for the Koiliaris River Watershed (Crete, Greece)

by Mauro Masiero, Giorgia Bottaro, Caterina Righetti, Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis, Maria A. Lilli and Davide Pettenella

Forests 2024, 15(5), 760; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050760 - 26 Apr 2024

Viewed by 978

Abstract

The Mediterranean Basin is severely impacted by anthropogenic changes affecting both natural ecosystems and human livelihoods. The region is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, with floods being considered the most important, due both to their frequency and impacts. Koiliaris watershed (northwest of Crete [...] Read more.

The Mediterranean Basin is severely impacted by anthropogenic changes affecting both natural ecosystems and human livelihoods. The region is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, with floods being considered the most important, due both to their frequency and impacts. Koiliaris watershed (northwest of Crete Island, Greece) represents a relevant case study as past land-use changes via deforestation and intense cultivation practices induce soil organic matter losses, making soils susceptible to water erosion and desertification. The restoration of native riparian forests has been identified as the most effective nature-based solution (NBS) for the area. Through modeling, our study assessed the effectiveness of this NBS in addressing flood risk and erosion while providing additional ecosystem services (carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation). A cost–benefit analysis has been then implemented to also investigate the sustainability of the investment from an economic point of view. Our results show the NBS would be successful in ensuring a better flow of targeted ecosystem services compared to the business-as-usual conditions. The associated investment would result in economic sustainability and associated costs would be paid back in five years. Though site-specific, our study provides lessons learned for dealing with future land-restoration challenges in the Mediterranean to cope with climate change-related challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)

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21 pages, 5117 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Monitoring Forest Dynamics and Conducting Restoration Assessment Using Multi-Source Earth Observation Data in Northern Andes, Colombia

by Carlos Pedraza, Nicola Clerici, Marcelo Villa, Milton Romero, Adriana Sarmiento Dueñas, Dallan Beltrán Rojas, Paola Quintero, Mauricio Martínez and Josef Kellndorfer

Forests 2024, 15(5), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050754 - 25 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1930

Abstract

Examining the efficacy of current assessment methodologies for forest conservation and restoration initiatives to align with global and national agendas to combat deforestation and facilitate restoration efforts is necessary to identify efficient and robust approaches. The objective of this study is to understand [...] Read more.

Examining the efficacy of current assessment methodologies for forest conservation and restoration initiatives to align with global and national agendas to combat deforestation and facilitate restoration efforts is necessary to identify efficient and robust approaches. The objective of this study is to understand forest dynamics (1996–2021) and assess restoration implementations at the Urra’s supplying basin hydroelectric reservoir in Colombia. The processing approach integrates optical and radar Earth Observation (EO) data from Sentinel-2 and Landsat for forest mapping and multi-temporal forest change assessment (1996–2021), and a Sentinel-1 backscatter time-series analysis is conducted to assess the state of forest restoration implementations. The processing chain was scaled in a cloud-based environment using the Nebari and SEPPO software and the Python language. The results demonstrate an overall substantial decrease in forested areas in the 1996–2000 period (37,763 ha). An accuracy assessment of multi-temporal forest change maps showed a high precision in detecting deforestation events, while improvements are necessary for accurately representing non-forested areas. The forest restoration assessment suggests that the majority of the 270 evaluated plots are in the intermediate growth state (82.96%) compared to the reference data. This study underscores the need for robust and continuous monitoring systems that integrate ground truth data with EO techniques for enhanced accuracy and effectiveness in forest restoration and conservation endeavors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Remote Sensing for Forestry: Theory, Methods, Applications, and Validation)

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16 pages, 2230 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Drought Impact on Eco-Physiological Responses and Growth Performance of Healthy and Declining Pinus sylvestris L. Trees Growing in a Dry Area of Southern Poland

by Barbara Benisiewicz, Sławomira Pawełczyk, Francesco Niccoli, Jerzy Piotr Kabala and Giovanna Battipaglia

Forests 2024, 15(5), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050741 - 24 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1297

Abstract

In recent years, several drought events hit Poland, affecting its forests. In Opole, Poland, tons of Pinus sylvestris L. deadwood is removed every year due to drought. Understanding the physiological mechanisms underlying tree vulnerability to drought, and tree responses, is important to develop [...] Read more.

In recent years, several drought events hit Poland, affecting its forests. In Opole, Poland, tons of Pinus sylvestris L. deadwood is removed every year due to drought. Understanding the physiological mechanisms underlying tree vulnerability to drought, and tree responses, is important to develop forest management strategies to face the ongoing climate change. This research provides comprehensive local-scale analyses of the sensitivity of healthy and declining trees to drought. We used dendrochronology and stable isotope analysis to compare five healthy and five declining trees. The analysis focused particularly on comparisons of basal area increment (BAI), δ¹³C, and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE), as well as tree resistance, resilience, and recovery in response to drought events and sensitivity to selected meteorological parameters. We observed a significant reduction in BAI values in declining trees after 2000. Fifteen years later, the reduction was also visible in the iWUE values of these trees. Despite similar δ¹³C chronology patterns, declining trees showed higher δ¹³C correlations with meteorological parameters. We have shown that dendrochronology enables early detection of poor forest health conditions. Differences in iWUE chronologies occurring in recent years suggest that trees of both groups have chosen different adaptive strategies to cope with drought stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecophysiology and Biology)

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18 pages, 6380 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Wood Basic Density in Large Trees: Impacts on Biomass Estimates in the Southwestern Brazilian Amazon

by Flora Magdaline Benitez Romero, Thais de Nazaré Oliveira Novais, Laércio Antônio Gonçalves Jacovine, Eronildo Braga Bezerra, Rosana Barbosa de Castro Lopes, Juliana Sousa de Holanda, Edi Flores Reyna and Philip Martin Fearnside

Forests 2024, 15(5), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050734 - 23 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1801

Abstract

Wood basic density (WD) plays a crucial role in estimating forest biomass; moreover, improving wood-density estimates is needed to reduce uncertainties in the estimates of tropical forest biomass and carbon stocks. Understanding variations in this density along the tree trunk and its impact [...] Read more.

Wood basic density (WD) plays a crucial role in estimating forest biomass; moreover, improving wood-density estimates is needed to reduce uncertainties in the estimates of tropical forest biomass and carbon stocks. Understanding variations in this density along the tree trunk and its impact on biomass estimates is underexplored in the literature. In this study, the vertical variability of WD was assessed along the stems of large trees that had a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 50 cm from a dense ombrophilous forest on terra firme (unflooded uplands) in Acre, Brazil. A total of 224 trees were sampled, including 20 species, classified by wood type. The average WD along the stem was determined by the ratio of oven-dry mass to saturated volume. Five models were tested, including linear and nonlinear ones, to fit equations for WD, selecting the best model. The variation among species was notable, ranging from 0.288 g cm⁻³ (Ceiba pentandra, L., Gaertn) to 0.825 g cm⁻³ (Handroanthus serratifolius, Vahl., S. Grose), with an average of 0.560 g cm⁻³ (±0.164, standard deviation). Significant variation was observed among individuals, such as in Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (H. ex D.), which ranged from 0.305 to 0.655 g cm⁻³. WD was classified as low (≤0.40 g cm⁻³), medium (0.41–0.60 g cm⁻³), and high (≥0.61 g cm⁻³). The variability in WD along the stem differs by wood type. In trees with low-density wood, density shows irregular variation but tends to increase along the stem, whereas it decreases in species with medium- and high-density wood. The variation in WD along the stem can lead to underestimations or overestimations, not only in individual trees and species but also in total stocks when estimating forest biomass. Not considering this systematic bias results in significant errors, especially in extrapolations to vast areas, such as the Amazon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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12 pages, 1963 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Nitrogen Cycle of a Cool-Temperate Deciduous Broad-Leaved Forest

by Ruoming Cao, Siyu Chen, Shinpei Yoshitake, Takeo Onishi, Yasuo Iimura and Toshiyuki Ohtsuka

Forests 2024, 15(4), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040725 - 21 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 830

Abstract

The nitrogen (N) cycle, a major biogeochemical cycle in forest ecosystems, notably affects ecosystem multifunctionality. However, the magnitude and role of organic N and the snow season remain uncertain in this cycle. We assessed the N flux and pool data of a temperate [...] Read more.

The nitrogen (N) cycle, a major biogeochemical cycle in forest ecosystems, notably affects ecosystem multifunctionality. However, the magnitude and role of organic N and the snow season remain uncertain in this cycle. We assessed the N flux and pool data of a temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest to clarify N cycle processes. The results showed that the most important component of the N pool was the soil N pool. The N demand of the site amounted to 139.4 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and was divided into tree production (83.8%) and bamboo production (16.2%). We clarified that retranslocation (37.4%), mineralization at a soil depth of 0–5 cm (15.3%), litter leachate (4.6%), throughfall (2.3%), and canopy uptake (0.5%) provided 60.1% of the N demand. In terms of soil at 0–5 cm in depth, the net mineralization rate during the snow season contributed to 30% of the annual mineralization. We concluded that the study site was not N-saturated as a result of a positive N input–output flux budget. More than half of the total N was accounted for by dissolved organic N flowing through several pathways, indicating that organic N plays a vital role in the cycle. The mineralization rate in the soil layer during the snow season is an important link in the N cycle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecophysiology and Biology)

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21 pages, 10278 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Due Diligence for Deforestation-Free Supply Chains with Copernicus Sentinel-2 Imagery and Machine Learning

by Ivan Reading, Konstantina Bika, Toby Drakesmith, Chris McNeill, Sarah Cheesbrough, Justin Byrne and Heiko Balzter

Forests 2024, 15(4), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040617 - 28 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1523

Abstract

At COP26, the Glasgow Leaders Declaration committed to ending deforestation by 2030. Implementing deforestation-free supply chains is of growing importance to importers and exporters but challenging due to the complexity of supply chains for agricultural commodities which are driving tropical deforestation. Monitoring tools [...] Read more.

At COP26, the Glasgow Leaders Declaration committed to ending deforestation by 2030. Implementing deforestation-free supply chains is of growing importance to importers and exporters but challenging due to the complexity of supply chains for agricultural commodities which are driving tropical deforestation. Monitoring tools are needed that alert companies of forest losses around their source farms. ForestMind has developed compliance monitoring tools for deforestation-free supply chains. The system delivers reports to companies based on automated satellite image analysis of forest loss around farms. We describe an algorithm based on the Python for Earth Observation (PyEO) package to deliver near-real-time forest alerts from Sentinel-2 imagery and machine learning. A Forest Analyst interprets the multi-layer raster analyst report and creates company reports for monitoring supply chains. We conclude that the ForestMind extension of PyEO with its hybrid change detection from a random forest model and NDVI differencing produces actionable farm-scale reports in support of the EU Deforestation Regulation. The user accuracy of the random forest model was 96.5% in Guatemala and 93.5% in Brazil. The system provides operational insights into forest loss around source farms in countries from which commodities are imported. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Remote Sensing in Vegetation Dynamic and Ecology)

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46 pages, 5413 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceSystematic Review

Nature-Based Tourism in National and Natural Parks in Europe: A Systematic Review

by Delia S. Donici and Diana E. Dumitras

Forests 2024, 15(4), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040588 - 24 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1691

Abstract

Considered among the fastest-growing industries in the world, tourism brings immense benefits but also creates certain challenges. Conservation of natural resources is a stringent necessity, without which the extraordinary ecosystems’ attributes that create the premises for nature-based tourism would reduce, alter, and subsequently [...] Read more.

Considered among the fastest-growing industries in the world, tourism brings immense benefits but also creates certain challenges. Conservation of natural resources is a stringent necessity, without which the extraordinary ecosystems’ attributes that create the premises for nature-based tourism would reduce, alter, and subsequently disappear. The aim of the present review is twofold: gaining a general understanding of what nature-based tourism is and providing a systematic literature review of articles on nature-based tourism in European national and natural parks, with emphasis on their applicability. The articles included in the present review were selected based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The review accounts for research conducted between 2000 and 2021 and is divided into two sections: articles aimed at understanding tourists’ behaviour and articles that are focused on other stakeholders or have the local communities in the foreground. While many studies are aimed at understanding tourists’ behaviour as a means of improving parks’ management, participatory strategies including local communities are often indicated as beneficial. The results of this paper can facilitate future research in the field and provide valuable knowledge to policymakers and any interested parties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Changes in the Value of Forest Resources: Impacts of Human Activities)

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27 pages, 4660 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Unearthing Current Knowledge Gaps in Our Understanding of Tree Stability: Review and Bibliometric Analysis

by Emmanuel Chukwudi Ekeoma, Mark Sterling, Nicole Metje, John Spink, Niall Farrelly and Owen Fenton

Forests 2024, 15(3), 513; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030513 - 9 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1615

Abstract

Forest preservation and management are paramount for sustainable mitigation of climate change, timber production, and the economy. However, the potential of trees and forests to provide these benefits to the ecosystem is hampered by natural phenomena such as windthrow and anthropogenic activities. The [...] Read more.

Forest preservation and management are paramount for sustainable mitigation of climate change, timber production, and the economy. However, the potential of trees and forests to provide these benefits to the ecosystem is hampered by natural phenomena such as windthrow and anthropogenic activities. The aim of the current research was to undertake a critical thematic review (from 1983 to 2023) informed by a bibliometric analysis of existing literature on tree stability. The results revealed an increase in tree stability research between 2019 and 2022, with the USA, France, and Italy leading in research output, while Scotland and England notably demonstrated high research influence despite fewer publications. A keyword analysis showed that tree stability can be divided into four themes: tree species, architecture, anchorage, and environmental factors. Prominent studies on tree stability have focused on root anchorage. However, more recently, there has been a growing emphasis on urban forestry and disease-induced tree damage, underscoring a shift towards climate change and diversity research. It was concluded that considerable knowledge gaps still exist; that greater geographic diversification of research is needed and should include tropical and sub-tropical regions; that research relating to a wider range of soil types (and textures) should be conducted; and that a greater emphasis on large-scale physical modelling is required. Data and knowledge produced from these areas will improve our collective understanding of tree stability and therefore help decision makers and practitioners manage forestry resources in a more sustainable way into the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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17 pages, 1106 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Economic Profitability of Carbon Sequestration of Fine-Aroma Cacao Agroforestry Systems in Amazonas, Peru

by Malluri Goñas, Nilton B. Rojas-Briceño, Darwin Gómez Fernández, Daniel Iliquín Trigoso, Nilton Atalaya Marin, Verónica Cajas Bravo, Jorge R. Díaz-Valderrama, Jorge L. Maicelo-Quintana and Manuel Oliva-Cruz

Forests 2024, 15(3), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030500 - 8 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1809

Abstract

Currently, the economic profitability of cocoa is being affected by the increasing incidence of pests, low selling prices, high production costs, and the presence of cadmium in cocoa farms, posing a potential risk of crop abandonment. Therefore, the objective of the present research [...] Read more.

Currently, the economic profitability of cocoa is being affected by the increasing incidence of pests, low selling prices, high production costs, and the presence of cadmium in cocoa farms, posing a potential risk of crop abandonment. Therefore, the objective of the present research was to evaluate the economic profitability of carbon sequestration of fine-aroma cacao agroforestry systems in Amazonas, Peru, using the economic indicators of NPV, EIRR, and the benefit–cost ratio. For this purpose, 53 small cocoa producers of the APROCAM cooperative were involved, from which data were obtained on the general characteristics of the production system, production and maintenance costs, indirect costs, and administrative costs; in addition, the costs of implementation and maintenance of an environmental services project were calculated to finally make a cash flow projected over 5 years. As part of the results, the economic analysis was carried out on 104.25 hectares of cocoa belonging to the total number of farmers evaluated, who reported an average yield of 957.32 kg of dry cocoa per he. In addition, it was found that the production cost is PEN 3.91/kg of dry cocoa, and the average selling price is PEN 7.38/kg of dry cocoa. After the economic analysis, it was found that the implementation of an environmental services project is profitable (NPV = PEN 1,454,547.8; EIRR = 44% and B/C = 1.86). These results open up an opportunity for cocoa farmers to diversify and increase their income by contributing to climate change mitigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Forest Management Practices on Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Exchange)

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15 pages, 5015 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Characterization of Change in Tree Cover State and Condition over the Conterminous United States

by Francis K. Dwomoh and Roger F. Auch

Forests 2024, 15(3), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030470 - 2 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1326

Abstract

Variability in the effects of disturbances and extreme climate events can lead to changes in tree cover over time, including partial or complete loss, with diverse ecological consequences. It is therefore critical to identify in space and time the change processes that lead [...] Read more.

Variability in the effects of disturbances and extreme climate events can lead to changes in tree cover over time, including partial or complete loss, with diverse ecological consequences. It is therefore critical to identify in space and time the change processes that lead to tree cover change. Studies of change are often hampered by the lack of data capable of consistently detecting different types of change. Using the Landsat satellite record to create a long time-series of land cover and land cover change, the U.S. Geological Survey Land Change Monitoring Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) project has made an annual time series of land cover across the conterminous United States for the period 1985 to 2018. Multiple LCMAP products analyzed together with map validation reference plots provide a robust basis for understanding tree cover change. In LCMAP (Collection 1.2), annual change detection is based on harmonic model breaks calculated at each Landsat pixel from the Continuous Change Detection and Classification (CCDC) algorithm. The results showed that the majority of CCDC harmonic model breaks (signifying change) indicated partial tree cover loss (associated with management practices such as tree cover thinning) as compared to complete tree cover loss (associated with practices like clearcut harvest or fire disturbance). Substantially fewer occurrences of complete tree cover loss were associated with change in land cover state. The area of annual tree cover change increased after the late 1990s and stayed high for the rest of the study period. The reference data showed that tree harvest dominated across the conterminous United States. The majority of tree cover change occurred in evergreen forests. Large estimates of disturbance-related tree cover change indicated that tree cover loss may have previously been underreported due to omission of partial tree cover loss in prior studies. This has considerable implications for forest carbon accounting along with tracking ecosystem goods and services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Disturbances and Climate Change on Woody Plants)

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16 pages, 4162 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Potential Distribution Projections for Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton under Climate Change Scenarios

by Jiaqi Fang, Jianfei Shi, Ping Zhang, Minghao Shao, Na Zhou, Yongdong Wang and Xinwen Xu

Forests 2024, 15(2), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020379 - 18 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1225

Abstract

The gum acacia Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton (Fabales: Fabaceae) is a drought-tolerant plant belonging to the genus Acacia of the Leguminosae family, possessing significant economic and ecological value. Despite its importance, there is a knowledge gap regarding the potential impact of climate change [...] Read more.

The gum acacia Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton (Fabales: Fabaceae) is a drought-tolerant plant belonging to the genus Acacia of the Leguminosae family, possessing significant economic and ecological value. Despite its importance, there is a knowledge gap regarding the potential impact of climate change on the distribution of S. senegal, crucial for the conservation of plant resources and optimizing its use in introductory silviculture. In this study, we selected 23 environmental variables and utilized the optimized maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model to analyze the key environmental factors affecting the distribution of S. senegal worldwide and simulate the current and future distribution range of S. senegal in Pakistan under the SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 climate change scenarios. The results highlight key environmental factors influencing the distribution of S. senegal, including BIO3 (isothermally), BIO4 (coefficient of seasonal variation of temperature), BIO11 (mean temperature of the coldest season), and BIO12 (annual precipitation). Regions with higher and less fluctuating temperatures exhibit a higher potential for S. senegal distribution. Currently, suitable habitats of S. senegal are concentrated in the southern region of Pakistan, covering provinces such as Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan, with highly suitable habitats accounting for 6.06% of the total area. Under the current climatic conditions, this study identifies the spatial patterns of suitable habitats and their concentration in specific regions. With climate change, a notable expansion of suitable habitats towards higher latitudes is observed, with the most significant expansion under the extremely severe climate change scenario (SSP5-8.5), reaching 223.45% of the current level. The results of this study enhance our understanding of the dynamics of S. senegal distribution under climate change and offer valuable insights into the long-term introduction of S. senegal for afforestation and soil conservation in Pakistan. This study provides theoretical support for the sustainable development of the local ecosystem and socio-economy, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to adapt to changing climatic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Meteorology and Climate Change)

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18 pages, 25908 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spruce Protection against Ips typographus with Anti-Attractant Blend of Tree-Based Semiochemicals: From Small Experimental Plots to Stand Scales

by Rastislav Jakuš, Aleksei Trubin, Vivek Vikram Singh, Khodabakhsh Zabihi, Anna Jirošová, Roman Modlinger, Andrej Majdák, Nataliya Korolyova, Antonioni Acacio Campos Moliterno, Jaroslav Kašpar, Martin Slavík, Peter Surový, Marek Turčáni and Fredrik Schlyter

Forests 2024, 15(2), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020356 - 12 Feb 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1254

Abstract

Tree-killing bark beetles require rapid management, such as anti-attractants, to stop the enlargement of attack hot-spots. We tested two newer anti-attractant blends, both without verbenone and one with the addition of trans-4-thujanol, in traps against standard pheromone baits for inhibition of catch. [...] Read more.

Tree-killing bark beetles require rapid management, such as anti-attractants, to stop the enlargement of attack hot-spots. We tested two newer anti-attractant blends, both without verbenone and one with the addition of trans-4-thujanol, in traps against standard pheromone baits for inhibition of catch. Both blends provided effective catch reduction (>95%). We also tested these anti-attractant blends in tree protection experiments for two years. We had experimental plots with a center of an anti-attractant protected tree zone, with no traditional control area, but we followed tree kills in 10 m wide concentric rings to 100 m. In 2020, we had 12 plots, and 9 plots in 2021. Monitoring by low-strength pheromone traps followed beetle flight averaging 300/trap during the shorter period, August 2020, and 5000/trap during the longer period, May to August 2021. The blends of anti-attractants were 100% effective in avoiding tree mortality in both treated trees and their surroundings. There were no bark beetle attacks on any treated trees, and there was zero tree mortality up to 19 m in 2020, and up to 30 m in 2021, thus full protection to circa 20 m. The density of killed trees then increased from close to zero, over 20 to 50 m, reaching a level of ca 30 (trees/ha) then declined. The spatial pattern of tree mortality on our experimental plots was highly heterogeneous and individual 10m-ring data points on tree kill density could not be statistically separated. In contrast, a non-linear regression model showed a continuous increase of attacks over the distance from the center to a peak ca 60m, followed by a decline. This model agrees partly with the only similar study in the literature, but importantly, it does not give a peak of kill density at distances between the first and second rings close to treatment zones. Such patterns of close-quarter kills have been observed as a “switching” of attack in this and other scolytid systems manipulated by anti-attractants, but not in the present study, likely due to the elimination of verbenone from our blends. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment and Management of Forest Pest Outbreaks)

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21 pages, 836 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Driving Efficiency and Competitiveness: Trends and Innovations in ERP Systems for the Wood Industry

by Karla Vukman, Kristina Klarić, Krešimir Greger and Ivana Perić

Forests 2024, 15(2), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020230 - 25 Jan 2024

Viewed by 2383

Abstract

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems offer various functionalities to support an organization’s core functions. However, many anticipated benefits often need to materialize due to business context changes and users’ high expectations. Continuous adaptation and improvement are necessary to address user disappointments. This research [...] Read more.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems offer various functionalities to support an organization’s core functions. However, many anticipated benefits often need to materialize due to business context changes and users’ high expectations. Continuous adaptation and improvement are necessary to address user disappointments. This research focuses on ERP systems, exploring key factors influencing the success of their implementation. Recognizing challenges in ERP system implementation, this study provides a comprehensive literature review, identifying essential and contemporary Critical Success Factors (CSFs) influenced by technological advancements. Addressing challenges specific to the wood industry, this research introduces additional industry-adapted CSFs, including industry adaptability, integration with production machinery, effective warehouse management, and supply chain tracking. Furthermore, this paper emphasizes the need for continuous adaptation and improvement of ERP systems, especially in light of current trends and technological achievements. This study recommends a holistic approach, considering traditional or essential CSFs while adapting to new trends. Critical success factors in ERP implementation in the next decade involve considering cloud technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data security, mobile access, IoT integration, user experience, and training. The main objective of this paper is to identify the latest CSFs in ERP implementation. This research highlights essential success factors in ERP implementation, and contemporary trends in ERP implementation with a particular focus on the specifics of wood industry. While organizations should aim to maximize the potential of ERP systems, they should also acknowledge the crucial role played by human intervention in the effective and responsible implementation of artificial intelligence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Global Economic Changes on the Wood-Based Industry)

57 pages, 18765 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Three Censuses of a Mapped Plot in Coastal California Mixed-Evergreen and Redwood Forest

by Gregory S. Gilbert, Sarah G. Carvill, Alexander R. Krohn and Alexander S. Jones

Forests 2024, 15(1), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010164 - 12 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1464

Abstract

Large, mapped forest research plots are important sources of data to understand spatial and temporal changes in forest communities in the context of global change. Here, we describe the data from the first three censuses of the 16-ha UC Santa Cruz Forest Ecology [...] Read more.

Large, mapped forest research plots are important sources of data to understand spatial and temporal changes in forest communities in the context of global change. Here, we describe the data from the first three censuses of the 16-ha UC Santa Cruz Forest Ecology Research Plot, located in the Mediterranean-climate forest on the central coast of California, USA. The forest includes both mixed-evergreen forest and redwood-dominated forest and is recovering from significant logging disturbances in the early 20th century. Each woody stem with a diameter ≥ 1 cm at 1.3 m was mapped, tagged, identified, and measured, with censuses performed at ~5-year intervals. The first census included just 6 ha (previously described), and the area was then expanded to 16 ha in the second census. We describe the temporal dynamics of the forest in the original 6 ha, as well as the structure and temporal dynamics of the full 16 ha. The community includes 34 woody species, including 4 gymnosperm and 9 angiosperm tree species, 18 species of shrubs, and 3 species of lianas. The community includes eight non-native species, representing less than 0.5% of the stems. More than half the species show greater rates of mortality than recruitments, reflective of a dynamic forest community. Over a decade, the number of living woody stems has declined, but the basal area has increased, reflecting a self-thinning process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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22 pages, 4704 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Climate Change on Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Growth across Europe: Decrease of Tree-Ring Fluctuation and Amplification of Climate Stress

by Jakub Brichta, Václav Šimůnek, Lukáš Bílek, Zdeněk Vacek, Josef Gallo, Stanisław Drozdowski, José Alfredo Bravo-Fernández, Bill Mason, Sonia Roig Gomez, Vojtěch Hájek, Stanislav Vacek, Václav Štícha, Pavel Brabec and Zdeněk Fuchs

Forests 2024, 15(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010091 - 3 Jan 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1640

Abstract

From an economic perspective, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of Europe’s most important tree species. It is characterized by its wide ecological adaptability across its natural range. This research aimed to evaluate the forest structure, productivity and especially radial growth [...] Read more.

From an economic perspective, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of Europe’s most important tree species. It is characterized by its wide ecological adaptability across its natural range. This research aimed to evaluate the forest structure, productivity and especially radial growth of heterogenous pine stands in 16 research plots in the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain and Great Britain. The study assessed the tree-ring formation and its relationship to climate change for each country, using 163 dendrochronological samples. The stand volume of mature pine forest ranged between 91 and 510 m³ ha⁻¹, and the carbon sequestration in the tree biomass was 40–210 t ha⁻¹. The stands had a prevailing random distribution of trees, with a high vertical structure close to selection forests (forest stands with typical very diverse height, diameter and age structure). Spectral analyses showed a substantial decrease in fluctuations in the tree-ring index and a loss in natural growth cyclicity in the last thirty years. The results also evinced that mean air temperature was the most important factor influencing the radial growth compared to precipitation totals. Pine thrives in precipitation-stable locations, as shown by the results from Great Britain. The conclusions of this study confirm the fundamental effect of ongoing global climate change on the dynamics and growth of pine forests in Europe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Growth and Physiological Properties under Ongoing Global Climate Change)

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15 pages, 4497 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Botryosphaeriaceae Species Associated with Stem Canker, Shoot Blight and Dieback of Fraxinus ornus in Italy

by Alessandra Benigno, Chiara Aglietti, Giovanni Rossetto, Carlo Bregant, Benedetto Teodoro Linaldeddu and Salvatore Moricca

Forests 2024, 15(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010051 - 26 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1446

Abstract

A severe dieback of flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus L.) has been observed in north-central Italy in the last decades. Symptoms include typical sunken, light-brown cankers on the stem and branches; vascular discoloration; tip and shoot dieback; and foliage necroses. The disease was [...] Read more.

A severe dieback of flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus L.) has been observed in north-central Italy in the last decades. Symptoms include typical sunken, light-brown cankers on the stem and branches; vascular discoloration; tip and shoot dieback; and foliage necroses. The disease was more evident at the beginning of the growing season, and more severe on young regeneration. Six Botryosphaeriaceae species were consistently isolated from symptomatic plant tissues: Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia fraxini, Diplodia subglobosa, Dothiorella iberica, Dothiorella omnivora and Neofusicoccum parvum. B. dothidea and D. fraxini expressed higher aggressiveness and showed a widespread incidence, being the species most frequently associated with cankers; the other four species were less virulent and more erratic, occurring mainly on succulent branch tips and foliage. Isolates were characterized using morphological and molecular approaches (colony/conidial phenotyping and rDNA-ITS genotyping). Phylogenetic analysis provided congruent phylogenies depicting the relationships of the six taxa with the most closely related conspecifics. Pathogenicity tests on 2-year-old seedlings confirmed the higher virulence of B. dothidea and D. fraxini. Extensive, multi-year field surveys at different sites supported the hypothesis that climatic vagaries, mainly heat, water and drought stresses, impaired tree health and vigor, facilitating infection and pervasive colonization by these Botryosphaeriaceae species. Environmental stressors are thus the key factor bringing the six fungal pathogens together in a multitrophic interaction with F. ornus in a novel, lethal fashion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Pathology and Entomology—Series II)

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13 pages, 2099 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Temporal Variability in Soil Greenhouse Gas Fluxes and Influencing Factors of a Primary Forest on the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

by Shun Liu, Da Luo, Gexi Xu, Jiamei Wu, Qiuhong Feng and Zuomin Shi

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2255; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112255 - 16 Nov 2023

Viewed by 983

Abstract

Soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes relate to soil carbon and nitrogen budgets and have a significant impact on climate change. Nevertheless, the temporal variation and magnitude of the fluxes of all three major GHGs (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) [...] Read more.

Soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes relate to soil carbon and nitrogen budgets and have a significant impact on climate change. Nevertheless, the temporal variation and magnitude of the fluxes of all three major GHGs (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) and their influencing factors have not been elucidated clearly in primary forests on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Herein, field chamber GHG fluxes from May to November, soil microbial community and enzyme activity were analyzed in a fir-dominated (Abies fargesii var. faxoniana) primary forest. The emission rates of CO₂ and N₂O ranged between 64.69–243.22 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹ and 1.69–5.46 ug N₂O m⁻² h⁻¹, exhibiting a temporally unimodal pattern with a peak in July. The soil acted as a CH₄ sink, and the uptake rate varied between 52.96 and 84.67 μg CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ with the higher uptake rates in June and November. The temporal variation in the CO₂ flux was significantly correlated with the geometric mean of enzyme activities, suggesting that the soil CO₂ flux was determined by microbial activity rather than soil microbial biomass. The soil N₂O flux was positively related to nitrate concentration with marginal significance, probably because N₂O was a byproduct of nitrification and denitrification processes. The soil CH₄ uptake was closely associated with methanotrophic biomass (18:1ω7c). The results highlight divergent temporal dynamics of GHG fluxes owing to different driving mechanisms and an important CH₄ sink in the primary forest soil, helping to evaluate the carbon and nitrogen budgets of primary forests on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)

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12 pages, 1891 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Impact of Chemical Composition on Eucalyptus Wood Clones for Sustainable Energy Production

by Túlio A. S. Vieira, Paulo F. Trugilho, Sónia A. C. Carabineiro, Antônio José Vinha Zanuncio, Amélia Guimarães Carvalho and Monique Branco-Vieira

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2240; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112240 - 14 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2333

Abstract

The energy potential of wood biomass is significantly shaped by its chemical composition. Analyzing the chemical composition of wood biomass and understanding the correlations between these parameters and wood combustibility are essential stages in the selection process of Eucalyptus clones tailored for firewood [...] Read more.

The energy potential of wood biomass is significantly shaped by its chemical composition. Analyzing the chemical composition of wood biomass and understanding the correlations between these parameters and wood combustibility are essential stages in the selection process of Eucalyptus clones tailored for firewood production and energy generation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of chemical composition on the direct combustibility of Eucalyptus clones. We examined the structural chemical composition and conducted proximate analysis, including fixed carbon, volatile material, and ash, to investigate the relationship between proximate composition and wood combustibility parameters. Our findings revealed significant correlations between wood chemical composition and combustibility parameters. In particular, lignin content, ethanol-soluble extractives, and xylose demonstrated inverse relationships with the parameters of maximum combustion rate, combustion characteristic index, and ignition index. Conversely, holocellulose content, cold-water-soluble extractives, and glucose exhibited direct correlations with the same combustibility parameters. Furthermore, fixed carbon and volatile matter contents demonstrated direct and inverse correlations, respectively, with ignition temperature. These findings have significant implications for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of biomass energy production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Wood Science and Forest Products)

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14 pages, 3360 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Utilizing SIFT-MS and GC-MS for Phytoncide Assessment in Phytotron: Implications for Indoor Forest Healing Programs

by Yeji Choi, Geonwoo Kim, Soojin Kim, Jae Hyoung Cho and Sujin Park

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2235; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112235 - 13 Nov 2023

Viewed by 5082

Abstract

This study addresses the growing need for phytoncide studies, driven by the demand to design indoor forest healing programs, including virtual reality experiences, for patients unable to visit actual forests. Previous studies have struggled to establish consistent phytoncide emission patterns in outdoor forest [...] Read more.

This study addresses the growing need for phytoncide studies, driven by the demand to design indoor forest healing programs, including virtual reality experiences, for patients unable to visit actual forests. Previous studies have struggled to establish consistent phytoncide emission patterns in outdoor forest environments owing to varying microclimates and abiotic factors. In addition, the traditional gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) method presents field measurement challenges, whereas the selected ion flow tube (SIFT)-MS method offers improved efficiency. This study concentrated on a controlled phytotron environment and compared the GC-MS and SIFT-MS findings, revealing similar emission trends with slightly higher SIFT-MS concentrations. Daily phytoncide emissions fluctuated with light intensity and abiotic stressors. Both methods consistently detected pinenes, primarily emitted by Pinus strobus L. seedlings, in the phytotron. Statistical analysis confirmed the compatibility between GC-MS and SIFT-MS results, supporting the use of SIFT-MS for forest phytoncide assessment. In the second phase, the phytoncide emissions were assessed indoors, outdoors, and in the phytotron, highlighting the superiority of the phytotron under controlled conditions. Despite certain limitations, this study underscores the value of phytotron-based measurements for indoor forest healing programs and the potential adoption of SIFT-MS in future field-based phytoncide research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest, Trees, Human Health and Wellbeing)

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14 pages, 4437 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Assessing the Potential of Urban Trees to Accumulate Potentially Toxic Elements: A Network Approach

by Marija Matić, Dragana Pavlović, Veljko Perović, Dragan Čakmak, Olga Kostić, Miroslava Mitrović and Pavle Pavlović

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2116; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112116 - 24 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1264

Abstract

In urbanized areas, mitigating the negative effects of pollutants from various anthropogenic sources is one of the most important issues in planning urban functioning and development. In this sense, urban vegetation plays one of the most important roles. The aim of this study [...] Read more.

In urbanized areas, mitigating the negative effects of pollutants from various anthropogenic sources is one of the most important issues in planning urban functioning and development. In this sense, urban vegetation plays one of the most important roles. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of network analysis (NA) as a novel and potential method for determining different associations between potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in leaves of urban trees, their accumulation capacity and ecophysiological response to different types of pollution in urban environments. The results of NA showed that there is no association between elements in species that have lower or higher efficiency in uptake of PTEs, leading to the conclusion that the elements do not depend on mutual association but on accumulation itself. It was also found that there are differences in the content of photosynthetic pigments and carotenoids among the studied species, but these differences are not reflected in the values of the photosynthetic efficiency parameters. Overall, the studied species have good ecophysiological potential for growth and existence in the urban environment, despite the varying ability to accumulate elements and the different associations between them. This is the first study to investigate the interactions between PTEs in leaves of urban tree species using NA and provides a good basis for future research under different environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Response of Trees to Air Pollution in Urban Forests)

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13 pages, 10700 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluation of Forestry Component Survival in Plots of the Program “Sembrando Vida” (Sowing Life) Using Drones

by José Luis Gallardo-Salazar, Cuauhtémoc Sáenz-Romero, Roberto A. Lindig-Cisneros, Arnulfo Blanco-García and Verónica Osuna-Vallejo

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2117; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112117 - 24 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1431

Abstract

Reforestation is one of the main actions undertaken to mitigate the effects of climate change. In Mexico, the Federal Government program “Sembrando Vida” (Sowing Life) is currently the most important reforestation effort. It aims to recoup forest cover and achieve food [...] Read more.

Reforestation is one of the main actions undertaken to mitigate the effects of climate change. In Mexico, the Federal Government program “Sembrando Vida” (Sowing Life) is currently the most important reforestation effort. It aims to recoup forest cover and achieve food self-sufficiency through the establishment of agroforestry systems. The evaluation of tree survival in reforested areas helps to identify achievements and failures, as well as aspects of the program that require improvement. However, given the magnitude of this program, evaluation using traditional methodologies is labor-intensive and costly. In this context, drones equipped with high-resolution cameras are a promising tool. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using drones to monitor tree survival in reforested areas. This study was conducted in 12 randomly chosen plots, benefited by the “Sembrando Vida” program, located on the Purépecha Plateau in the state of Michoacán, in central–western Mexico. Field surveys with GPS were conducted to record the total number of live and dead forest-tree seedlings. Simultaneously, high-resolution images were captured using a DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone equipped with an RGB camera for subsequent visual interpretation in a geographic information system to determine the status of each seedling and calculate the rates of survival. ANOVA was performed to compare the survival calculated using the drone images compared to that recorded in the field. No significant difference was found between survival estimated using the drone and that recorded directly in the field in any of the study plots, although the drone overestimated survival by an average of 6%, mostly due to the presence of dead seedlings that had already lost their foliage and were thus missed when scoring the RGB image. It is therefore concluded that the estimation of survival using drones is a reliable method. For future research, it is recommended to evaluate machine-learning algorithms in terms of detecting both living and dead trees in reforested sites. It is also recommended to use multispectral thermal cameras and LiDAR technology to broaden the knowledge of the different levels of vigor/stress present in the vegetation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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16 pages, 3931 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Responses of Stream Water Temperature to Water Levels in Forested Catchments of South Korea

by Sooyoun Nam, Honggeun Lim, Byoungki Choi, Qiwen Li, Haewon Moon and Hyung Tae Choi

Forests 2023, 14(10), 2085; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14102085 - 18 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1080

Abstract

Event flow characteristics were evaluated based on temperature and level of stream water in 22 forested catchments (area: 13.2–281.4 ha) to investigate sustainable flood management measures. Temperature and stream water levels were during 346 rainfall events in the summer season (July–September) from 2020 [...] Read more.

Event flow characteristics were evaluated based on temperature and level of stream water in 22 forested catchments (area: 13.2–281.4 ha) to investigate sustainable flood management measures. Temperature and stream water levels were during 346 rainfall events in the summer season (July–September) from 2020 to 2022. Rising stream water levels responded to falling stream water temperature between ≤100 and >100 ha forested catchments in two types of time of concentration. Stream water temperature decreased by 3.0 °C when the stream water level increased by up to 0.9 m during rainfall events. Falling stream water temperature at two types of time of concentration was negatively correlated with total precipitation and rising stream water level. Based on the relatively high value of regression and cumulative frequency distribution, the estimated rising stream water level was appropriate in small catchments (≤100 ha) when the stream water temperature decreased, and the stream water level increased during rainfall events. Rising stream water levels and falling stream water temperatures are responses to catchment-scale effects, which are influenced by the nature and rapidity of the hydrological responses. Therefore, the results of the present study indicate that spatial and temporal differences in thermal responses of stream water temperature to water levels were controlled by catchment-scale effects under rapidly changing rainfall. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology and Ecosystem Services in Forests)

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19 pages, 1911 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Modeling Above-Ground Carbon Dynamics under Different Silvicultural Treatments on the McDonald–Dunn Research Forest

by Catherine Carlisle, Stephen Fitzgerald and Hailemariam Temesgen

Forests 2023, 14(10), 2090; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14102090 - 18 Oct 2023

Viewed by 13734

Abstract

Forest management decisions affect carbon stock and rates of sequestration. One subject of debate is the rotation age that will optimize sequestration over extended periods. Some argue that shorter rotations facilitate greater sequestration rates due to the accelerated growth rates of younger trees [...] Read more.

Forest management decisions affect carbon stock and rates of sequestration. One subject of debate is the rotation age that will optimize sequestration over extended periods. Some argue that shorter rotations facilitate greater sequestration rates due to the accelerated growth rates of younger trees compared to mature or old-growth trees. Others maintain that frequent harvesting will not allow forest carbon to rebound after each subsequent rotation, and thus more extended periods between clearcutting is the superior choice. These contrasting viewpoints are mirrored regarding the impact of thinning treatments, in that either thinning will enhance forest carbon uptake by facilitating improved and sustained r growth of residual trees or removing any above-ground biomass will outweigh the yields. This study aims to compare the different suites of management decisions and identify practical combinations of rotation ages and thinning applications that will optimize carbon sequestration while meeting other objectives over a 240-year projection timeframe. Stand development under different harvest rotations and thinning specifications was modeled using a Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS). We found that site productivity was the primary determinant in stand-above-ground carbon dynamics under various management scenarios. Thus, the optimal rotation age/thinning treatment combinations differed between site classes. High productivity stands were estimated to sequester the most above-ground live carbon with 60-year rotations with a low-intensity thin at age 40. Moderately productive stands performed the best with 80-year rotations when two low-intensity thinning treatments were applied between harvests. For high and moderate productivity stands, estimates of gross carbon increased when two low or moderate-intensity thinning treatments were applied within 80- or 120-year rotations. High-intensity thinning treatments reduced total carbon sequestered over the 240-year projection timeframe for all productivity levels and rotation ages, except for low productivity stands under 120-year rotations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Inventory, Modeling and Remote Sensing)

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13 pages, 2053 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Ecophysiological Behavior of Fagus sylvatica L. Growing at Its Southern Distribution Limit: Insights for Understanding the Fate of the European Beech under Warmer and Dryer Growth Conditions

by Maria Prigoliti, Maria Teresa Chiofalo, Francesco Petruzzellis, Maria Assunta Lo Gullo and Patrizia Trifilò

Forests 2023, 14(10), 2058; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14102058 - 15 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1315

Abstract

In the last 20 years, a significant mortality of Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech) has been documented in central and northern European forests. Surprisingly, no beech die off occurred at the southern limit. This fact leads us to hypothesize that European beech populations [...] Read more.

In the last 20 years, a significant mortality of Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech) has been documented in central and northern European forests. Surprisingly, no beech die off occurred at the southern limit. This fact leads us to hypothesize that European beech populations growing at the southern limit of the distribution might have a significant phenotypic plasticity to better cope with low water availability and rising temperatures. To check this hypothesis, we evaluated the ecophysiological behavior of F. sylvatica growing along an altitudinal transect in Calabria (Italy). We selected three study sites (750 m a.s.l., 976 m a.sl. m a.s.l., 1450 m a.s.l.) showing narrow ranges of temperature, rainfall and air humidity. Trees growing at 976 m a.s.l. showed the highest stomatal conductance values during the entire experimental period. The lowest gas exchange and highest leaf mass area were recorded in plants growing at 750 m a.s.l. In the European beech growing at 1450 m a.s.l., higher vessel density, lower mean vessel diameter and higher vessel grouping index values were recorded. Overall, our results highlighted that the measured populations show a considerable phenotypic plasticity leading them to adjust anatomical and physiological traits in response to narrow ranges of environmental parameters. Despite that, the distribution of F. sylvatica seems to be limited to areas with a growing season rainfall of at least 400 mm and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) values < 3 kPa, which may represent the main environmental thresholds which strongly limit the beech growth and, therefore, influence the ability of this species to cope with future environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Sensitivity to the Cumulative Effects of Repeated Drought and Other Stresses)

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18 pages, 6358 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Barcoding Hymenoptera: 11 Malaise Traps in Three Thai Forests: The First 68 Trap Weeks and 15,338 Parasitoid Wasp Sequences

by Donald L. J. Quicke, Paul D. N. Hebert, Mikko Pentinsaari and Buntika A. Butcher

Forests 2023, 14(10), 1991; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101991 - 3 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2006

Abstract

We report the results of DNA barcoding week-long Malaise trap catches from 11 sites in three Thai conservation areas, concentrating on the parasitoid Hymenoptera, particularly the superfamily Ichneumonoidea. From a total of 15,338 parasitoid wasp sequences, 13,473 were barcode compliant and could be [...] Read more.

We report the results of DNA barcoding week-long Malaise trap catches from 11 sites in three Thai conservation areas, concentrating on the parasitoid Hymenoptera, particularly the superfamily Ichneumonoidea. From a total of 15,338 parasitoid wasp sequences, 13,473 were barcode compliant and could be assigned to a family based on morphology and sequence data. These collectively represented 4917 unique BINs (putative species) in 46 families, with the Scelionidae, Ichneumonidae, Eulophidae, Braconidae and Platygastridae being, by far, the most abundant. Spatial proximity had a strong positive effect on the numbers of BINs shared between traps. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DNA Barcoding for Species Identification of Forest Organisms)

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17 pages, 6706 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Land Suitability Analysis for Forests in Lebanon as a Tool for Informing Reforestation under Climate Change Conditions

by Noura Jezzini, Nadine Nassif, Valentina Mereu, Ghaleb Faour, Georges Hassoun and Maurizio Mulas

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1893; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091893 - 17 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2449

Abstract

Along with the concept of improving reforestation efforts in Lebanon, this study aimed to provide a land suitability analysis for forest species in Lebanon while considering the effect of climate change. Herein, the soil evaluation criteria developed by FAO (The Food and Agriculture [...] Read more.

Along with the concept of improving reforestation efforts in Lebanon, this study aimed to provide a land suitability analysis for forest species in Lebanon while considering the effect of climate change. Herein, the soil evaluation criteria developed by FAO (The Food and Agriculture Organization) for land suitability classification were implemented through the weighted overlay method to produce suitability maps based on natural variables (soil, climate, and topography) influencing the presence of the species on the land. Cedrus libani, Quercus calliprinos, Ceratonia siliqua, Eucalyptus globulus, and Pinus halepensis are the species considered in this study. The results of this study provide useful information to inform reforestation activities in Lebanon, considering the expected climate change projections for medium- (2050) and long-term (2070) periods, according to two different scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and three General Circulation Models: CCSM4, GFDL-CM3, and HadGEM2-ES. The suitability maps showed a generally critical situation for the spatial distribution of forest species under future climate change compared to the current situation (1970–2000). The distribution of thermophilic species, which tolerate high temperatures (over 20 °C), was projected to expand compared to the current situation. In contrast, the expansion of cold-adapted species may be limited by future climate change conditions. It is crucial to consider the expected effects of climate change to better select species for reforestation and, therefore, to maintain forest cover in Lebanon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Meteorology and Climate Change)

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14 pages, 3427 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Volatile Compound Chemistry and Insect Herbivory: Pinus edulis Engelm. (Pinaceae) Seed Cone Resin

by Tyler M. Wilson, Michael C. Rotter, Emma A. Ziebarth and Richard E. Carlson

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1862; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091862 - 13 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1529

Abstract

Pinus edulis Engelm. (pinyon pine) is a tree in the Pinaceae family with wide geographic distribution throughout dry forests of western North America. Pinyon pine seed cones, which mature over a 2-year period before shedding seed, are often resinous. Conifer resin, which is [...] Read more.

Pinus edulis Engelm. (pinyon pine) is a tree in the Pinaceae family with wide geographic distribution throughout dry forests of western North America. Pinyon pine seed cones, which mature over a 2-year period before shedding seed, are often resinous. Conifer resin, which is a liquid-soluble mixture of volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites, typically demonstrates significant ecological functions. In the current study, seed cones (n = 240) were collected monthly for a 1-year period from pinyon pine trees (n = 20) and separated equally into two groups, resinous and non-resinous cones, for research on the volatile compound chemistry and insect herbivory. Upon distillation, resinous cones yielded 41× more volatile oil and contained more viable seeds, compared to non-resinous cones. Chemical profiles of volatile oils were seemingly consistent between seasons but differed between cone groups. In resinous cone samples, volatile oils were largely composed of α-pinene (avg. 75.6%) and δ-3-carene (avg. 7.4%). In contrast, in non-resinous cone samples, the volatile oil profiles were not dominated by any single prominent compound. Cone inquiline insect communities varied with regard to the resinous status of the cones, the month of collection, and with overall volatile oil yield. Typically, with larger oil yields we saw more diverse and more abundant inquiline communities. Findings from this study suggest that the volatile oils, in addition to other components of cone resin and physical structures, play a significant ecological role in pinyon pine seed preservation from insect herbivory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecophysiology and Biology)

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12 pages, 1634 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Identification of Candidate Genes Involved in Bud Growth in Pinus pinaster through Knowledge Transfer from Arabidopsis thaliana Models

by José Manuel Alvarez, Sonia María Rodríguez, Francisco Fuente-Maqueda, Isabel Feito, Ricardo Javier Ordás and Candela Cuesta

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1765; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091765 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2135

Abstract

Pinus pinaster is a plant species of great ecological and economic importance. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern the growth and branching of P. pinaster is crucial for enhancing wood production and improving product quality. In this study, we describe a simple [...] Read more.

Pinus pinaster is a plant species of great ecological and economic importance. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern the growth and branching of P. pinaster is crucial for enhancing wood production and improving product quality. In this study, we describe a simple methodology that enables the discovery of candidate genes in Pinus pinaster by transferring existing knowledge from model species like Arabidopsis thaliana and focusing on factors involved in plant growth, including hormonal and non-hormonal pathways. Through comparative analysis, we investigated the main genes associated with these growth-related factors in A. thaliana. Subsequently, we identified putative homologous sequences in P. pinaster and assessed the conservation of their functional domains. In this manner, we can exclude sequences that, despite displaying high homology, lack functional domains. Finally, we took an initial approach to their validation by examining the expression levels of these genes in P. pinaster trees exhibiting contrasting growth patterns. This methodology allowed the identification of 26 candidate genes in P. pinaster. Our findings revealed differential expression patterns of key genes, such as NCED3, NRT1.2, PIN1, PP2A, ARF7, MAX1, MAX2, GID1, AHK4, AHP1, and STP1, in relation to the different growth patterns analyzed. This study provides a methodological foundation for further exploration of these genes involved in the growth and branching processes of P. pinaster. This will contribute to the understanding of this important tree species and open new avenues for enhancing its utilization in sustainable forestry practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Plant Biotechnology in Forestry)

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25 pages, 1477 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Wildfire Dataset: Enhancing Deep Learning-Based Forest Fire Detection with a Diverse Evolving Open-Source Dataset Focused on Data Representativeness and a Novel Multi-Task Learning Approach

by Ismail El-Madafri, Marta Peña and Noelia Olmedo-Torre

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1697; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091697 - 22 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5443

Abstract

This study explores the potential of RGB image data for forest fire detection using deep learning models, evaluating their advantages and limitations, and discussing potential integration within a multi-modal data context. The research introduces a uniquely comprehensive wildfire dataset, capturing a broad array [...] Read more.

This study explores the potential of RGB image data for forest fire detection using deep learning models, evaluating their advantages and limitations, and discussing potential integration within a multi-modal data context. The research introduces a uniquely comprehensive wildfire dataset, capturing a broad array of environmental conditions, forest types, geographical regions, and confounding elements, aiming to reduce high false alarm rates in fire detection systems. To ensure integrity, only public domain images were included, and a detailed description of the dataset’s attributes, URL sources, and image resolutions is provided. The study also introduces a novel multi-task learning approach, integrating multi-class confounding elements within the framework. A pioneering strategy in the field of forest fire detection, this method aims to enhance the model’s discriminatory ability and decrease false positives. When tested against the wildfire dataset, the multi-task learning approach demonstrated significantly superior performance in key metrics and lower false alarm rates compared to traditional binary classification methods. This emphasizes the effectiveness of the proposed methodology and the potential to address confounding elements. Recognizing the need for practical solutions, the study stresses the importance of future work to increase the representativeness of training and testing datasets. The evolving and publicly available wildfire dataset is anticipated to inspire innovative solutions, marking a substantial contribution to the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Forest Fire and Other Detection Systems)

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27 pages, 9410 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

New Technologies for Expedited Forest Inventory Using Smartphone Applications

by André Sandim, Mariana Amaro, Maria Emilia Silva, Jorge Cunha, Susana Morais, Alexandra Marques, André Ferreira, José Luis Lousada and Teresa Fonseca

Forests 2023, 14(8), 1553; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14081553 - 29 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2480

Abstract

The forest inventory plays a crucial role in forest management planning, and it is the first step in planning actions for forest production. However, conducting an inventory can be expensive and complex. Forest inventory applications on smartphones have emerged as an alternative to [...] Read more.

The forest inventory plays a crucial role in forest management planning, and it is the first step in planning actions for forest production. However, conducting an inventory can be expensive and complex. Forest inventory applications on smartphones have emerged as an alternative to traditional methods and they aim to make field data collection more accessible to non-professionals while ensuring accuracy in determining the volume of wood in a given area. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Katam, Arboreal, and Trestima applications compared to traditional data collection methods. The study focuses on assessing the stand density and diameter of sampled trees—two key variables that are assessed in forest inventories. Two species, maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) and Eucalyptus spp. (mainly Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens), were used to evaluate the performance of the methods, with assessments performed in the stands of diverse dendrometric characteristics, specifically those regarding the tree age, stand density, and topographic conditions (flat or sloping terrain). For the purpose of comparison, goodness-of-fit statistics (R², RMSE, and BIAS) were calculated, and an analysis of the diameter distribution and comparison of the mean diameter, number of trees per hectare, and basal area were performed. In general, the applications were accurate, and the average basal area did not differ significantly from the traditional method. The diameter measurements showed good accuracy. The accuracy of the applications varied depending on the terrain and forest characteristics, with the applications performing better in areas with flat terrain, as well as with older forests that were regular and had low under-cover density. In contrast, the applications performed worse in younger, irregular forests with sloping terrain, high tree density, and those with a great deal of understory vegetation. The applications still need to evolve in evaluating other important variables (such as tree height or volume) as they are currently estimated from auxiliary variables through mathematical equations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Inventory, Modeling and Remote Sensing)

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24 pages, 6892 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Diversity of Phytophthora Species Involved in New Diseases of Mountain Vegetation in Europe with the Description of Phytophthora pseudogregata sp. nov.

by Carlo Bregant, Giovanni Rossetto, Letizia Meli, Nicolò Sasso, Lucio Montecchio, Ana Brglez, Barbara Piškur, Nikica Ogris, Lucia Maddau and Benedetto Teodoro Linaldeddu

Forests 2023, 14(8), 1515; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14081515 - 25 Jul 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2261

Abstract

New and emerging Phytophthora-related diseases in small trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants typical of subalpine vegetation have recently been observed in Italy and Slovenia. Diseased plants showed a complex symptomatology including foliar necrosis, fruit rot, shoot blight and branch bleeding cankers. Since [...] Read more.

New and emerging Phytophthora-related diseases in small trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants typical of subalpine vegetation have recently been observed in Italy and Slovenia. Diseased plants showed a complex symptomatology including foliar necrosis, fruit rot, shoot blight and branch bleeding cankers. Since little information is available about the aetiology of these aerial Phytophthora diseases, from 2019 to 2022, field surveys were conducted in 54 sites to define the occurrence, distribution and impact of the Phytophthora species on mountain vegetation. A total of 360 Phytophthora isolates were obtained from 397 samples collected from 33 herbaceous and woody host species. Based on phylogenetic analysis and morphometric data, 17 Phytophthora species were identified: P. pseudosyringae (201 isolates), P. plurivora (54), P. gonapodyides (21), P. ilicis (20), P. alpina (17), P. acerina (11), P. cactorum (7), P. pseudocryptogea (6), P. cambivora (5), P. idaei (4), P. psychrophila (3), P. bilorbang (2), P. chlamydospora (2), P. hedraiandra (1), P. kelmanii (1), P. rosacearum (1) and P. syringae (1). In addition, three isolates of a new putative Phytophthora species obtained from Alnus viridis, Juniperus communis and Rhododendron ferrugineum are described here as Phytophthora pseudogregata sp. nov. Overall, the results highlighted an unexpectedly high diversity of Phytophthora species in mountain areas, with many species able to cause aerial infections due to the production of caducous sporangia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Pathology and Entomology—Series II)

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15 pages, 5781 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Recent Applications of Smart Technologies for Monitoring the Sustainability of Forest Operations

by Rachele Venanzi, Francesco Latterini, Vincenzo Civitarese and Rodolfo Picchio

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1503; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071503 - 23 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2409

Abstract

Precision forestry is a useful technique to help forest stakeholders with proper sustainable forest management. Modern sensors and technologies, with special reference to the sustainability of forest operations, can be applied on a variety of levels, including the monitoring of forest activities regarding [...] Read more.

Precision forestry is a useful technique to help forest stakeholders with proper sustainable forest management. Modern sensors and technologies, with special reference to the sustainability of forest operations, can be applied on a variety of levels, including the monitoring of forest activities regarding the three pillars (economy, environment, and society). In this review, we summarised the current level of knowledge regarding the use of precision forestry techniques for monitoring forest operations. We concentrated on recent data from the last five years (2019–2023). We demonstrated how an Industry 4.0 strategy for remote and proximal monitoring of working performance can be effective when using CAN-bus and StanForD data collected by modern forest machines. The same information can be effectively used to create maps of soil trafficability and to evaluate the patterns of skid tracks or strip roads built as a result of forest intervention. Similar information can be gathered in the case of small-scale forestry by using GNSS-RF (Global Navigation Satellite Systems—Radio Frequency) or even monitoring systems based on smartwatches or smartphones. LiDAR and Structure for Motion (SfM) photogrammetry are both useful tools for tracking soil rutting and disturbances caused by the passage of forest machinery. SfM offers denser point clouds and a more approachable method, whereas laser scanning can be considerably faster but needs a more experienced operator and better data-processing skills. Finally, in terms of the social component of sustainability, the use of location sharing technologies is strongly advised, based for instance on GNSS—RF to monitor the security of forest workers as they operate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Mechanization and Harvesting—Trends and Perspectives)

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13 pages, 3943 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Organic Matter Content in Mangrove Soils from a Karstic Environment: Comparison between Thermogravimetric and Loss-on-Ignition Analytical Techniques

by José Luis Cortés-Esquivel, Jorge Herrera-Silveira and Patricia Quintana-Owen

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1469; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071469 - 18 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1845

Abstract

Mangroves represent one of the most important carbon sinks on the planet due to their ability to store a high organic matter (OM) concentration in their soils. Therefore, OM analysis is important for generating inventories that do not underestimate or overestimate carbon stocks [...] Read more.

Mangroves represent one of the most important carbon sinks on the planet due to their ability to store a high organic matter (OM) concentration in their soils. Therefore, OM analysis is important for generating inventories that do not underestimate or overestimate carbon stocks and for reducing uncertainties. Accordingly, we propose the use of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) against the classical ignition method to determine the OM content in mangrove soils from a karstic region of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Therefore, fifty-five soil profiles from El Playón in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve were analyzed and divided according to the condition of the mangrove: conserved, under restoration, or degraded. TGA analysis of mangrove soils, which are in direct contact with water bodies, can be used to accurately identify the thermal decomposition of hydrated calcium sulfates, which cannot be detected using the loss-on-ignition (LOI) method. Using TGA, it was determined that the water content in the internal structure of hydrated calcium sulfates was between 8 and 16% in the preserved mangrove soils, between 2 and 5% in the mangrove soils under restoration, and between 0.5 and 1% in the degraded mangrove soils. The OM content obtained using both techniques was similar; however, using TGA, the amount of water evaporated from calcium sulfates could be measured, and this was not possible with the LOI method. Therefore, the TGA technique can be used as a proxy analysis to determine the OM content in soils, including the amount of water from hydrated calcium sulfates that are found naturally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Models for Soil Organic Matter Estimation on Natural Ecosystems, Agricultural Soils and Urban Soils)

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13 pages, 2642 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluation of Soundscape Perception in Urban Forests Using Acoustic Indices: A Case Study in Beijing

by Qi Bian, Chang Zhang, Cheng Wang, Luqin Yin, Wenjing Han and Shujing Zhang

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1435; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071435 - 12 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2282

Abstract

Soundscape is an essential component of urban forest landscapes, acoustic indices can be effectively used to monitor biodiversity, but whether they can be used for soundscape perception assessments needs to be further explored. In this study, soundscape recordings were collected in Beijing Eastern [...] Read more.

Soundscape is an essential component of urban forest landscapes, acoustic indices can be effectively used to monitor biodiversity, but whether they can be used for soundscape perception assessments needs to be further explored. In this study, soundscape recordings were collected in Beijing Eastern Suburban Forest Park, and acoustic indices were used to explore the relationship between the acoustic environment and soundscape perception, as well as the possible effects of temporal changes. To achieve this, audio recordings collected in spring and summer were divided, and a total of 90 audio segments were extracted from three time periods—morning, afternoon, and evening—to calculate the acoustic index and complete a questionnaire survey. The urban forest soundscape was evaluated according to the eight perceptual attribute quality indicators of ISO 12913, and generalized linear models were constructed to quantify the relationships between the acoustic indices and perception. The results showed that the temporal variation of the soundscape influenced the subjective evaluation, with the highest overall evaluation relating to the morning soundscape. The combination of acoustic indices explained the soundscape pleasantness (R² = 0.58) better than the soundscape eventfulness (R² = 0.54), demonstrating the utility of these indices in soundscape assessment. Linking acoustic indices to human perception generates innovative ideas and theoretical support for soundscape enhancement, contributing to a more pleasant acoustic environment and maximizing the social value of urban forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Forestry and Sustainable Cities)

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13 pages, 1698 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Utilization of European Beech Wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Europe

by Maximilian Pramreiter and Michael Grabner

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1419; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071419 - 11 Jul 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2229

Abstract

European beech is one of the dominating wood species in central Europe and the most abundant hardwood species in Austrian, German and Swiss forests. Today, it is predominantly used for the provision of energy and in the furniture industry. With the increasing demand [...] Read more.

European beech is one of the dominating wood species in central Europe and the most abundant hardwood species in Austrian, German and Swiss forests. Today, it is predominantly used for the provision of energy and in the furniture industry. With the increasing demand on forests to provide sustainable raw materials for energy as well as products, the importance of lesser-used wood species like European beech has continuously increased over the last decade. The application in load-bearing products has gained significant interest. In order to connect the current and historical state of knowledge about this wood species, this review provides an overview of the past and present utilization of European beech wood. On the basis of the historical literature, technical approvals and standards of established products, it aims to summarize the extensive state of the art of this wood species and provide an overview of recent scientific publications in the field of wood material science. Based on the reviewed literature, current research efforts deal with different engineered wood products like glued laminated timber, cross-laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber. Furthermore, strength grading, adhesive technology as well as improving dimensional stability is of particular interest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synergies and Trade-Offs between Nature Conservation and Climate Mitigation in European Beech Forests)

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23 pages, 811 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Alignment of National Forest Policy Frameworks with the EU Timber Regulation Requirements: Insights from Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

by Maja Radosavljevic, Mauro Masiero, Todora Rogelja and Dragan Comic

Forests 2023, 14(6), 1157; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061157 - 4 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1944

Abstract

The Western Balkans represent a priority area for improving forest legality monitoring systems in line with the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR). However, research on EUTR implementation in Western Balkan countries is still sporadic with a limited geographical scope; therefore, the preparedness of [...] Read more.

The Western Balkans represent a priority area for improving forest legality monitoring systems in line with the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR). However, research on EUTR implementation in Western Balkan countries is still sporadic with a limited geographical scope; therefore, the preparedness of forestry sector actors for the EUTR in the region is largely unknown. The main objective of this study is to determine to what extent the forest policy frameworks of Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) are aligned with the EUTR requirements. To achieve this aim, we applied a qualitative content analysis of policy documents identified via an expert-based approach. Our results show that both countries have well-developed policy frameworks addressing illegal logging and preventing illegal activities in forestry, especially through dedicated action plans. Key actors in both countries are public, including the ministries responsible for forestry, public forest enterprises, and forestry inspectorates. The forestry sector in Montenegro is facing significant changes due to the termination of forest concessions and the reorganization of the management of state forests, including forest certification. The Republic of Srpska has relatively well-established institutional bodies for EUTR implementation but, in some cases, insufficient exchange of information and cooperation among them. Our findings indicate that the forestry sectors in Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (as well as in Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, as per previous research) are dynamic, undergoing various changes, so there is room for improvement in terms of capacities (e.g., human, technological, infrastructural), legal responsibilities, and information access and availability. With an increasing focus on “deforestation-free” commodities within the EU and global policy arena, a new, more demanding, and broader regulation is expected at the EU level, replacing the EUTR. The incoming regulation will expand existing EUTR requirements, likely posing severe challenges to many EU member countries. This could be even more challenging for countries with less developed or advanced systems to enforce legality requirements, including Western Balkan countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)

20 pages, 3596 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Long-Term Simulated Nitrogen Deposition Has Moderate Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities across Three Bioclimatic Domains of the Eastern Canadian Forest

by Marie Renaudin, Rim Khlifa, Simon Legault, Steven W. Kembel, Daniel Kneeshaw, Jean-David Moore and Daniel Houle

Forests 2023, 14(6), 1124; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061124 - 30 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1945

Abstract

The soil microbiome plays major roles in the below-ground processes and productivity of forest ecosystems. Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is predicted to increase globally and might create disturbances in soil microbial communities, essentially by modifying soil chemistry. However, the impacts of higher N [...] Read more.

The soil microbiome plays major roles in the below-ground processes and productivity of forest ecosystems. Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is predicted to increase globally and might create disturbances in soil microbial communities, essentially by modifying soil chemistry. However, the impacts of higher N deposition on the soil microbiome in N-limited northern forests are still unclear. For 16 years, we simulated N deposition by adding ammonium nitrate at rates of 3 and 10 times the ambient N deposition directly into soils located in three bioclimatic domains of the eastern Canadian forest (i.e., sugar maple–yellow birch, balsam fir–white birch, and black spruce–feather moss). We identified changes in the microbial communities by isolating the DNA of the L, F, and H soil horizons, as well as by sequencing amplicons of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and the fungal ITS region. We found that long-term increased N deposition had no effect on soil microbial diversity, but had moderate impacts on the composition of the bacterial and fungal communities. The most noticeable change was the increase in ectomycorrhizal fungi ASV abundance, potentially due to increased tree root growth on fertilized plots. Our work suggests that, in N-limited northern forests, extra N is rapidly mobilized by vegetation, thus minimizing impacts on the soil microbiome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)

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32 pages, 5012 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Temperature and Tree Size Explain the Mean Time to Fall of Dead Standing Trees across Large Scales

by Antje Gärtner, Anna Maria Jönsson, Daniel B. Metcalfe, Thomas A. M. Pugh, Torbern Tagesson and Anders Ahlström

Forests 2023, 14(5), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14051017 - 15 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2522

Abstract

Dead standing trees (DSTs) generally decompose slower than wood in contact with the forest floor. In many regions, DSTs are being created at an increasing rate due to accelerating tree mortality caused by climate change. Therefore, factors determining DST fall are crucial for [...] Read more.

Dead standing trees (DSTs) generally decompose slower than wood in contact with the forest floor. In many regions, DSTs are being created at an increasing rate due to accelerating tree mortality caused by climate change. Therefore, factors determining DST fall are crucial for predicting dead wood turnover time but remain poorly constrained. Here, we conduct a re-analysis of published DST fall data to provide standardized information on the mean time to fall (MTF) of DSTs across biomes. We used multiple linear regression to test covariates considered important for DST fall, while controlling for mortality and management effects. DSTs of species killed by fire, insects and other causes stood on average for 48, 13 and 19 years, but MTF calculations were sensitive to how tree size was accounted for. Species’ MTFs differed significantly between DSTs killed by fire and other causes, between coniferous and broadleaved plant functional types (PFTs) and between managed and unmanaged sites, but management did not explain MTFs when we distinguished by mortality cause. Mean annual temperature (MAT) negatively affected MTFs, whereas larger tree size or being coniferous caused DSTs to stand longer. The most important explanatory variables were MAT and tree size, with minor contributions of management and plant functional type depending on mortality cause. Our results provide a basis to improve the representation of dead wood decomposition in carbon cycle assessments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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11 pages, 2093 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Defective or Just Different? Observed Storm Failure in Four Urban Tree Growth Patterns

by Andrew K. Koeser, Ryan W. Klein, Richard J. Hauer, Jason W. Miesbauer, Zachary Freeman, Christopher Harchick and Brian Kane

Forests 2023, 14(5), 988; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050988 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3069

Abstract

Practitioners who assess the risk associated with urban trees often factor in the presence or absence of visual tree defects when determining whether a tree may fail. Although these defects are a main fixture in many tree risk assessment systems and best-management practices, [...] Read more.

Practitioners who assess the risk associated with urban trees often factor in the presence or absence of visual tree defects when determining whether a tree may fail. Although these defects are a main fixture in many tree risk assessment systems and best-management practices, the research supporting their usefulness in predicting tree failure during storms is limited. When looking at past research involving populations of storm-damaged trees, several defects have never predicted failure (or have been associated with reduced rates of failure). In this study, we took a closer look at four such defects: codominant branches; branch unions with included bark; multiple stems originating from the same point; and overextended branches. After Hurricane Ian, we revisited 1518 risk-assessed trees where one of these four defects was identified as the primary condition of concern. Fourteen of these trees experienced branch failure during the storm (which hit the study area as a downgraded tropical storm). Upon closer inspection, none of these failures occurred at the defect of concern. Our findings indicate that none of the defects assessed appeared to increase the likelihood of tree failure in the species tested. Our results are in line with past research on these defects derived from post-storm assessments and analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prediction and Management of Urban Forest Storm Damage)

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11 pages, 2079 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Suitability of a Historical, Novel, and Occasional Host for Mountain Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

by Katherine P. Bleiker, Claire A. Ethier and Brian H. Van Hezewijk

Forests 2023, 14(5), 989; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050989 - 11 May 2023

Viewed by 1478

Abstract

The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), recently underwent a notable range-expansion event in western Canada, resulting in access to the novel host jack pine, Pinus banksiana Lamb. We assessed the suitability of jack pine for mountain pine beetle, as well [...] Read more.

The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), recently underwent a notable range-expansion event in western Canada, resulting in access to the novel host jack pine, Pinus banksiana Lamb. We assessed the suitability of jack pine for mountain pine beetle, as well as the historic host lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm., and the non-Pinus host white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, to help inform an assessment of the risk of future spread into Canada’s boreal forest and to further our understanding of host use in bark beetles. Several performance traits we measured were similar between lodgepole pine and jack pine, but gallery length and productivity indicated that lodgepole pine was the more suitable host. Development appeared to be faster in jack pine; however, in contrast to previous studies, we attribute it to oviposition arresting earlier in the novel host compared to the other hosts and not a difference in development rate. Initial productivity was surprisingly high in spruce, but we found evidence of a delayed negative effect that manifested as reduced cold tolerance, delayed development, and high mortality of late-instar larvae. Although jack pine is a suitable host for the mountain pine beetle, our results indicate that the beetle’s eruptive potential could be lower in jack pine compared to lodgepole pine, given all other factors are equal. Other factors that may also affect mountain pine beetle population dynamics require additional research and include the composition and structure of jack pine forests, environmental conditions, and biotic interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics)

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32 pages, 10275 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Tree Species Classification in a Complex Brazilian Tropical Forest Using Hyperspectral and LiDAR Data

by Rorai Pereira Martins-Neto, Antonio Maria Garcia Tommaselli, Nilton Nobuhiro Imai, Eija Honkavaara, Milto Miltiadou, Erika Akemi Saito Moriya and Hassan Camil David

Forests 2023, 14(5), 945; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050945 - 4 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4096

Abstract

This study experiments with different combinations of UAV hyperspectral data and LiDAR metrics for classifying eight tree species found in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest remnant, the most degraded Brazilian biome with high fragmentation but with huge structural complexity. The selection of the species [...] Read more.

This study experiments with different combinations of UAV hyperspectral data and LiDAR metrics for classifying eight tree species found in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest remnant, the most degraded Brazilian biome with high fragmentation but with huge structural complexity. The selection of the species was done based on the number of tree samples, which exist in the plot data and in the fact the UAV imagery does not acquire information below the forest canopy. Due to the complexity of the forest, only species that exist in the upper canopy of the remnant were included in the classification. A combination of hyperspectral UAV images and LiDAR point clouds were in the experiment. The hyperspectral images were photogrammetric and radiometric processed to obtain orthomosaics with reflectance factor values. Raw spectra were extracted from the trees, and vegetation indices (VIs) were calculated. Regarding the LiDAR data, both the point cloud—referred to as Peak Returns (PR)—and the full-waveform (FWF) LiDAR were included in this study. The point clouds were processed to normalize the intensities and heights, and different metrics for each data type (PR and FWF) were extracted. Segmentation was preformed semi-automatically using the superpixel algorithm, followed with manual correction to ensure precise tree crown delineation before tree species classification. Thirteen different classification scenarios were tested. The scenarios included spectral features and LiDAR metrics either combined or not. The best result was obtained with all features transformed with principal component analysis with an accuracy of 76%, which did not differ significantly from the scenarios using the raw spectra or VIs with PR or FWF LiDAR metrics. The combination of spectral data with geometric information from LiDAR improved the classification of tree species in a complex tropical forest, and these results can serve to inform management and conservation practices of these forest remnants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Approaches to Mapping and Monitoring Forest Vegetation Conditions)

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22 pages, 4279 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Microevolutionary Processes in a Foundation Tree Inform Macrosystem Patterns of Community Biodiversity and Structure

by Helen M. Bothwell, Arthur R. Keith, Hillary F. Cooper, Julia B. Hull, Lela V. Andrews, Christian Wehenkel, Kevin R. Hultine, Catherine A. Gehring, Samuel A. Cushman, Thomas G. Whitham and Gerard J. Allan

Forests 2023, 14(5), 943; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050943 - 3 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2703

Abstract

Despite an increased focus on multiscale relationships and interdisciplinary integration, few macroecological studies consider the contribution of genetic-based processes to landscape-scale patterns. We test the hypothesis that tree genetics, climate, and geography jointly drive continental-scale patterns of community structure, using genome-wide SNP data [...] Read more.

Despite an increased focus on multiscale relationships and interdisciplinary integration, few macroecological studies consider the contribution of genetic-based processes to landscape-scale patterns. We test the hypothesis that tree genetics, climate, and geography jointly drive continental-scale patterns of community structure, using genome-wide SNP data from a broadly distributed foundation tree species (Populus fremontii S. Watson) and two dependent communities (leaf-modifying arthropods and fungal endophytes) spanning southwestern North America. Four key findings emerged: (1) Tree genetic structure was a significant predictor for both communities; however, the strength of influence was both scale- and community-dependent. (2) Tree genetics was the primary driver for endophytes, explaining 17% of variation in continental-scale community structure, whereas (3) climate was the strongest predictor of arthropod structure (24%). (4) Power to detect tree genotype—community phenotype associations changed with scale of genetic organization, increasing from individuals to populations to ecotypes, emphasizing the need to consider nonstationarity (i.e., changes in the effects of factors on ecological processes across scales) when inferring macrosystem properties. Our findings highlight the role of foundation tree species as drivers of macroscale community structure and provide macrosystems ecology with a theoretical framework for linking fine- and intermediate-scale genetic processes to landscape-scale patterns. Management of the genetic diversity harbored within foundation species is a critical consideration for conserving and sustaining regional biodiversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Change and Forest Plant Community Dynamics)

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21 pages, 2046 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Multi-Country Study Assessing the Mechanisms of Natural Elements and Sociodemographics behind the Impact of Forest Bathing on Well-Being

by Montse Subirana-Malaret, Alexandre Miró, Aracely Camacho, Alex Gesse and Kirsten McEwan

Forests 2023, 14(5), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050904 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4516

Abstract

Interventions such as forest bathing (slow, mindful nature walks) have been shown to increase our connection to nature and be an effective intervention for improving health and well-being. However, there is variation in the activities delivered during forest bathing and the guidance given. [...] Read more.

Interventions such as forest bathing (slow, mindful nature walks) have been shown to increase our connection to nature and be an effective intervention for improving health and well-being. However, there is variation in the activities delivered during forest bathing and the guidance given. Few researchers have evaluated which activities, elements of nature, and senses are responsible for improvements in well-being. The current evaluation addresses this gap and also monitors the emotional state and nature connection following guided forest bathing walks. Participants (N = 1142) across 35 countries completed post-walk evaluation surveys online. Results suggest that well-being and nature connection were rated very highly following forest bathing activities. Experiencing happy feelings and trusting emotions were especially highly rated. The natural elements perceived as contributing the most to well-being were sound-related elements. In terms of sociodemographics, women had higher well-being and nature connection ratings than men; ratings were higher in specialised nature resort areas, with little difference between natural and urban park areas; higher scores were seen in the southern hemisphere and during hot or long-day seasons. This has implications for forest bathing, forest therapy, and nature-based training organisations and their guides who want to improve their method of intervention delivery, maximise well-being, and enhance nature connection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Bathing and Forests for Public Health)

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17 pages, 4996 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Exploring the Potential of Portable Spectroscopic Techniques for the Biochemical Characterization of Roots in Shallow Landslides

by Lorenzo Marzini, Daniele Ciofini, Juri Agresti, Leonardo Ciaccheri, Enrico D’Addario, Leonardo Disperati, Salvatore Siano and Iacopo Osticioli

Forests 2023, 14(4), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040825 - 18 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2503

Abstract

In the present work, Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and elemental Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) spectroscopic techniques were used for the assessment of the influence of plant root composition towards shallow landslide occurrence. For this purpose, analyses were directly carried out on root [...] Read more.

In the present work, Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and elemental Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) spectroscopic techniques were used for the assessment of the influence of plant root composition towards shallow landslide occurrence. For this purpose, analyses were directly carried out on root samples collected from chestnut forests of the Garfagnana basin (northern Apennines, Italy) in different areas devoid and affected by shallow landslides due to frequent heavy rain events. Results have highlighted a correlation between the biochemical constituents of wooden roots and the sampling areas. In particular, different content of lignin/cellulose, as well as minerals nutrients, have been detected in roots collected where shallow landslides occurred, with respect to more stable areas. The results achieved are in line with the scientific literature which has demonstrated the link between the chemical composition of roots with their mechanical properties and, in particular, tensile strength and cohesion. Finally, portable spectroscopic instrumentations were employed without the need for either any sample preparation for Raman and LIBS spectroscopy or minimal preparation for FTIR spectroscopy. This novel and fast approach has allowed achieving information on the content of the major constituents of the root cell, such as cellulose and lignin, as well as their mineral nutrients. This approach could be reasonably included among the vegetation protection actions towards instability, as well as for the evaluation of shallow landslide susceptibility, combining geological, vegetational and biochemical parameters with sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Natural Hazards and Risk Management)

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14 pages, 2227 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

An Overview of Oak Species in Pakistan: Past, Present, and Future Research Perspectives

by Noor Muhammad, María Ángeles Castillejo, Maria-Dolores Rey and Jesús V. Jorrín-Novo

Forests 2023, 14(4), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040777 - 10 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5970

Abstract

Quercus spp. have formed broad-leaved evergreen forests in the Hindu Kush and Himalayan regions of Pakistan. Seven species of the genus Quercus (Q. baloot Griff., Q. dilatata Royle., Q. glauca Thunb., Q. incana Roxb., Q. robur Linn., Q. semecarpifolia Smith., and Q. [...] Read more.

Quercus spp. have formed broad-leaved evergreen forests in the Hindu Kush and Himalayan regions of Pakistan. Seven species of the genus Quercus (Q. baloot Griff., Q. dilatata Royle., Q. glauca Thunb., Q. incana Roxb., Q. robur Linn., Q. semecarpifolia Smith., and Q. leucotrichophora A. Camus.) have been identified. These species have received little attention compared with other economically valuable plant species in Pakistan, which has been mainly linked to traditional medicine and the identification of phytonutrients to evaluate their bioactivities and toxicological effects. Quercus spp. are promising for commercial applications, so government policy should encourage their management and conservation. However, they are currently threatened by severe human activities and climate change. The goal of this review is to highlight the relevance of these forgotten species, describing overall aspects related to their distribution, morphology, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and threats. To date, no proper and comprehensive molecular studies on the populations of these species found in Pakistan have been conducted, which is a critical gap as molecular studies are essential for conservation and management strategies. Finally, we discuss future directions in molecular approaches for Quercus that follow the strategies that are being used for other species of the genus Quercus that are not found in Pakistan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quercus Research for Improvement and Protection: From Field and Greenhouse Experiments to Biotechnology and Molecular Analysis)

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