Search Results (240)

The ongoing decade of UN restoration matches with the European goal of bringing nature back into our lives, including in urban systems, and Nature Restoration Regulation. Within such a framework, this work is aimed at highlighting the ecological rationale and strategic value of an NRRP measure devoted to forest restoration in Italian Metropolitan Cities, and at assessing respective preliminary results. Therefore, the measure’s overarching goal (not to create urban parks or gardens, but activate forest recovery), geographic extent and scope (over 4000 ha and more than 4 million planted trees and shrubs across the country), plantation model (mandatory use of native species consistent with local potential vegetation, density of 1000 seedlings per ha, use of at least four tree and four shrub species in each project, with a minimum proportion of 70% for trees, certified provenance for reproductive material), and compulsory management activities (maintenance and replacement of any dead plants for at least five years), are herein shown and explained under an ecological perspective. Current implementation outcomes were thus assessed in terms of coherence and expected biodiversity benefits, especially with respect to ecological and biogeographic consistency of planted forests, representativity in relation to national and European plant diversity, biogeographic interest and conservation concern of adopted plants, and potential contribution to the EU Habitats Directive. Compliance with international strategic goals and normative rules, along with recognizable advantages of the measure and limitations to be solved, are finally discussed. In conclusion, the forestation model proposed for the Italian Metropolitan Cities proved to be fully applicable in its ecological rationale, with expected benefits in terms of biodiversity support plainly met, and even exceeded, at the current stage of implementation, especially in terms of the contribution to protected habitats. These promising preliminary results allow the model to be recognized at the international level as a good practice that may help achieve protection targets and sustainable development goals within and beyond urban systems. Full article

Focusing on the Pārijāta Tree on the summit of Mount Sumeru, the centre of Asian cosmology, this study analyses its depictions and images. These include Chinese translations of Buddhist texts, the most notable depictions in the handscrolls from the Dūn Huáng and Harvard Art Museums, its representations in Japanese classical literature and early modern Japanese illustrations of Mount Sumeru. Finally, drawing from the discussions on trees in the Buddhist texts, A Forest of Pearls from the Dharma Garden [法苑珠林, Fǎ yuàn zhū lín], the study also addresses various issues surrounding tree felling, which are relevant to the current concerns of environmental protection. I argue that the Pārijāta Tree, positioned as the heavenly king of trees, holds significance as a core figure at the centre of the cosmos. The Pārijāta Tree can be said to serve as a metaphor for the supreme state pursued by Buddhist practitioners. Furthermore, this study suggests that issues related to Asian cosmology or worldviews should be pursued as important subjects in future research on environmental literature. Full article

Due to rising temperatures, energy use, and thermal discomfort, urban heat islands (UHIs) pose a serious environmental threat to urban sustainability. This systematic review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature on various forms of green infrastructure and their mechanisms for mitigating UHI effects, and the function of urban green spaces (UGSs) in reducing the impact of UHI. In connection with urban parks, green roofs, street trees, vertical greenery systems, and community gardens, important mechanisms, including shade, evapotranspiration, albedo change, and ventilation, are investigated. This study emphasizes how well these strategies work to lower city temperatures, enhance air quality, and encourage thermal comfort. For instance, the findings show that green areas, including parks, green roofs, and street trees, can lower air and surface temperatures by as much as 5 °C. However, the efficiency of cooling varies depending on plant density and spatial distribution. While green roofs and vertical greenery systems offer localized cooling in high-density urban settings, urban forests and green corridors offer thermal benefits on a larger scale. To maximize their cooling capacity and improve urban resilience to climate change, the assessment emphasizes the necessity of integrating UGS solutions into urban planning. To improve the implementation and efficacy of green spaces, future research should concentrate on policy frameworks and cutting-edge technology such as remote sensing. Full article

The use of Google Earth Engine (GEE), a cloud-based computing platform, in spatio-temporal evaluation studies has increased rapidly in natural sciences such as forestry. In this study, Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) elevation data and image classification algorithms based on two machine learning techniques were examined. Random Forest (RF) and Classification and Regression Trees (CART) were used to classify land use and land cover (LULC) in western Oregon (USA). To classify the LULC from the spectral bands of satellite images, a composition consisting of vegetation difference indices NDVI, NDWI, EVI, and BSI, and a digital elevation model (DEM) were used. The study area was selected due to a diversity of land cover types including research forest, botanical gardens, recreation area, and agricultural lands covered with diverse plant species. Five land classes (forest, agriculture, soil, water, and settlement) were delineated for LULC classification testing. Different spatial points (totaling 75, 150, 300, and 2500) were used as training and test data. The most successful model performance was RF, with an accuracy of 98% and a kappa value of 0.97, while the accuracy and kappa values for CART were 95% and 0.94, respectively. The accuracy of the generated LULC maps was evaluated using 500 independent reference points, in addition to the training and testing datasets. Based on this assessment, the RF classifier that included elevation data achieved an overall accuracy of 92% and a kappa coefficient of 0.90. The combination of vegetation difference indices with elevation data was successful in determining the areas where clear-cutting occurred in the forest. Our results present a promising technique for the detection of forests and forest openings, which was helpful in identifying clear-cut sites. In addition, the GEE and RF classifier can help identify and map storm damage, wind damage, insect defoliation, fire, and management activities in forest areas. Full article

We examined three decades of changes in the mammal fauna of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the context of climate variability, land use transformation, and anthropogenic pressures. We compiled distributional, abundance, and status data from publications, atlases, official game statistics, and long-term monitoring programs, and we evaluated trends using compound annual growth rates or temporal indices. Our review identified losses such as regional extinctions of garden dormice and European mink, declines in small insectivores (e.g., pond bats and shrews) and herbivores (e.g., Microtus voles), and the contraction of boreal specialists (e.g., Siberian flying squirrels). However, we also identified gains, including increases in ungulate numbers (e.g., roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, moose, and wild boars before African swine fewer outbreak) and the recovery of large carnivores (e.g., wolves and lynxes). Invasions by non-native species (e.g., American mink, raccoon dog, and raccoon) and episodic disturbances, such as African swine fever and the “anthropause” caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, have further reshaped community composition. The drivers encompass climatic warming, post-socialist forest succession, intensified hunting management, and rewilding policies, with dispersal capacity mediating the responses of species. Our results underscore the dual legacy of historical land use and contemporary climate forcing in structuring the fauna dynamics of Baltic mammal communities in the face of declining specialists and invasive taxa. Full article

Urban green spaces (UGSs), including parks, forests, and community gardens, play a critical role in enhancing public health and well-being by providing essential ecosystem services such as improving air quality, reducing surface temperatures, and mitigating harmful substances. As urbanization accelerates, especially in rapidly growing cities like Jinan, China, the demand for UGSs is intensifying, necessitating careful urban planning to balance development and environmental protection. While previous studies have often focused on city-level green coverage, this study shifts the analytical focus from UGS as a whole to urban functional units (UFUs), allowing for a more detailed examination of how green space is distributed across different land use types. We investigate UGS changes in Jinan over the past two decades and assess the influence of socio-economic factors—such as housing prices, land use types, and building age—on UGS distribution within UFUs. Remote sensing technology was employed to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of UGS and its correlation with these variables. Our findings reveal a significant shift in UGS distribution, with parks and leisure areas becoming primary drivers of UGS expansion. This study also highlights the growing influence of economic factors, particularly housing prices, on UGS distribution in more affluent UFUs. Additionally, while UGS in Jinan has generally expanded, challenges remain in balancing green space with urban expansion, especially in commercial and residential UFUs. This paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of UGS distribution by integrating the UFU framework and identifying socio-economic drivers—including housing prices, construction age, and land use type—that shape green space patterns in Jinan. Our findings demonstrate that the spatial pattern of UGS in Jinan mirrors socio-economic and land use disparities observed in other global cities, highlighting both the universality of these patterns and the need for targeted planning in rapidly urbanizing contexts. Full article

Elevated temperatures and extended drought periods are driving significant changes in the structure and function of forest ecosystems. High-elevation alpine ash forests (Eucalyptus delegatensis R.T. Baker) in Australia are an example of forests that are already impacted by climate change. These obligate seeder forests can shift to non-forest ecosystems following extreme drought and altered fire regimes, raising concern about their adaptation to a rapidly changing environment and long-term forest persistence. Plant functional traits play a major role in determining adaptive mechanisms to environmental conditions. While alpine ash forests are vulnerable to climate change, it is unclear if different provenances have adapted to the climatic conditions in which they grow. We therefore studied the variation in expression of functional traits related to drought tolerance in 21 provenances of alpine ash distributed across an environmental gradient. We investigated if functional traits varied between the provenances and were related to climate of origin in order to identify provenances that may be better adapted to drought. We measured the following traits in a common garden experiment under well-watered conditions: stomatal density, specific leaf area, minimum stomatal conductance and osmotic potential at full turgor. There was very little variation in trait expression between the 21 provenances for all functional traits related to drought tolerance. All provenances had medium-range stomatal density (170–300 stomata mm²) and specific leaf area (SLA, 50–70 cm² g⁻¹), a very low minimum stomatal conductance (2–4 mmol m² s⁻¹) and a high osmotic potential at full turgor (−0.6–0.7 MPa). There was no statistically significant correlation of trait expression with the climate of origin. Thus, there is very little evidence for genetically controlled differences in trait expression of drought tolerance traits in this species. It is likely that the high elevation and high rainfall environment of the species’ ecological niche has not been subjected to frequent and extensive drought periods that would elicit an evolutionary pressure selecting for drought-tolerant traits. We could not identify provenances that would have different drought-tolerant functional trait responses than others, potentially conferring an adaptive advantage under climate change. This has implications for using climate-adjusted provenancing to improve resilience in alpine ash forests predicted to experience more frequent and severe droughts in the future. Full article

Being an essential issue in global climate warming, the response of urban green spaces to air pollution and climate variability because of rapid urbanization has become an increasing concern at both the local and global levels. This study explored the response of urban vegetation to air pollution and climate variability in the Bucharest metropolis in Romania from a spatiotemporal perspective during 2000–2024, with a focus on the 2020–2024 period. Through the synergy of time series in situ air pollution and climate data, and derived vegetation biophysical variables from MODIS Terra/Aqua satellite data, this study applied statistical regression, correlation, and linear trend analysis to assess linear relationships between variables and their pairwise associations. Green spaces were measured with the MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR), evapotranspiration (ET), and net primary production (NPP), which capture the complex characteristics of urban vegetation systems (gardens, street trees, parks, and forests), periurban forests, and agricultural areas. For both the Bucharest center (6.5 km × 6.5 km) and metropolitan (40.5 km × 40.5 km) test areas, during the five-year investigated period, this study found negative correlations of the NDVI with ground-level concentrations of particulate matter in two size fractions, PM2.5 (city center r = −0.29; p < 0.01, and metropolitan r = −0.39; p < 0.01) and PM10 (city center r = −0.58; p < 0.01, and metropolitan r = −0.56; p < 0.01), as well as between the NDVI and gaseous air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide—NO₂, sulfur dioxide—SO₂, and carbon monoxide—CO. Also, negative correlations between NDVI and climate parameters, air relative humidity (RH), and land surface albedo (LSA) were observed. These results show the potential of urban green to improve air quality through air pollutant deposition, retention, and alteration of vegetation health, particularly during dry seasons and hot summers. For the same period of analysis, positive correlations between the NDVI and solar surface irradiance (SI) and planetary boundary layer height (PBL) were recorded. Because of the summer season’s (June–August) increase in ground-level ozone, significant negative correlations with the NDVI (r = −0.51, p < 0.01) were found for Bucharest city center and (r = −76; p < 0.01) for the metropolitan area, which may explain the degraded or devitalized vegetation under high ozone levels. Also, during hot summer seasons in the 2020–2024 period, this research reported negative correlations between air temperature at 2 m height (TA) and the NDVI for both the Bucharest city center (r = −0.84; p < 0.01) and metropolitan scale (r = −0.90; p < 0.01), as well as negative correlations between the land surface temperature (LST) and the NDVI for Bucharest (city center r = −0.29; p< 0.01) and the metropolitan area (r = −0.68, p < 0.01). During summer seasons, positive correlations between ET and climate parameters TA (r = 0.91; p < 0.01), SI (r = 0.91; p < 0.01), relative humidity RH (r = 0.65; p < 0.01), and NDVI (r = 0.83; p < 0.01) are associated with the cooling effects of urban vegetation, showing that a higher vegetation density is associated with lower air and land surface temperatures. The negative correlation between ET and LST (r = −0.92; p < 0.01) explains the imprint of evapotranspiration in the diurnal variations of LST in contrast with TA. The decreasing trend of NPP over 24 years highlighted the feedback response of vegetation to air pollution and climate warming. For future green cities, the results of this study contribute to the development of advanced strategies for urban vegetation protection and better mitigation of air quality under an increased frequency of extreme climate events. Full article

Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) is a valuable timber species native to western North America that was introduced to Europe in the 19th century. The objective of this study was to select the most valuable and stable Douglas fir provenances in Romania by combining growth and quality traits, using two indices recently used in forest tree species: the multi-trait genotype–ideotype distance index (MGIDI) and the multi-trait stability index (MTSI). The study was conducted across three common garden experiments in Romania, established in 1977, evaluating 61 provenances from the United States, Canada, Germany, France, and Romania. The analyzed traits were diameter at breast height (DBH), total height (TH), and pruned height (PH). Significant genotype–environment interactions were observed, with the Douglas fir showing superior growth performance in one of the testing sites in western Romania (Aleșd). The MGIDI and MTSI identified high-performing provenances from diverse geographic origins, including the Pacific Northwest, Europe, and Canada. Selection differentials ranged from 2.8% to 10.9% for individual traits, highlighting the potential for genetic improvement. The selected provenances represent valuable genetic resources of Douglas fir that are adapted to environmental conditions in the Carpathian region, contributing to the development of climate-adaptive breeding strategies and sustainable forest management. Full article

Climate change is reshaping urban environments, intensifying the need for resilient green space design and management that supports biodiversity, improves ecosystem services, and adapts to changing conditions. Understanding the trade-offs between native and non-native species selection is important for developing climate-resilient urban green spaces. This review examines public preferences for native versus non-native plant species and their implications for urban green space design and management. We critically analyse the ecosystem services and biodiversity benefits provided by both native and non-native plants in urban spaces, highlighting the complex trade-offs involved. Our findings indicate that while native plants can be underrepresented in urban landscapes, they offer significant ecological benefits including support for local wildlife and pollinators. Some studies have highlighted the climate resilience of native plants; however, they are likely to be more affected by climate change. Therefore, conservation strategies are needed, especially for endemic and threatened plant species. Several studies suggest a more flexible approach that integrates plant species from diverse climatic origins to improve resilience. We also explore conservation gardening (CG) as a socio-ecological strategy to integrate endangered native species into urban landscapes, promoting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. This review stresses the importance of informed plant species selection and community involvement in creating climate-resilient urban green spaces. Full article

This study investigates the factors influencing urban residents’ interest in and visits to forests and explores strategies to promote forest space utilization. A survey was conducted among 5000 residents of Tokyo’s 23 wards, one of the world’s most densely populated urban areas, using an online questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using least absolute shrinkage, selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression, and piecewise structural equation modeling (pSEM). The analysis revealed that nature experiences in current travel destinations, particularly scenic walks, had a significant positive effect on both forest interest (standardized path coefficient = 0.19) and forest visits (0.30). These experiences were also significantly influenced by childhood nature experiences and frequent local walks. Conversely, factors negatively affecting forest visits included the lack of private vehicle ownership (−0.13) and increasing age (−0.21). While previous studies suggest that older individuals tend to visit natural areas more frequently, our findings indicate the opposite trend. One possible explanation is the low car ownership rate among Tokyo residents, which may limit accessibility to forests. These findings provide valuable insights for policy design, particularly regarding strategies to enhance forest accessibility and engagement among urban populations. Full article

Land consolidation (LC) plays an important role in disturbing carbon storage (CS) change. Evaluating how LC affects CS is crucial for mitigating global climate change. However, existing research often overlooks differences in various aspects of land remediation, making it challenging to propose targeted policy adjustments to enhance CS effectiveness. This study presents a framework to assess the effectiveness of CS changes throughout the LC process, encompassing policy formulation stages (PF), construction stages (CO), and post-management stages (PM). Carbon density, a key factor in measuring CS changes, is adjusted using biomass model-integrated empirical measurements with dynamic growth coefficients calibrated through phenological monitoring. The Guangdong Demolition and Reclamation (D&R) project, a specific type of LC, serves as a case study. The findings are as follows: (1) D&R increased forest and garden land by 1420 hm² and 1674 hm², respectively, leading to a regional CS increase of 359,000 t, a five-fold rise per hectare. (2) The effectiveness of PF is 5.81%, with a discrepancy of over 36 million tons. The policy content’s adaptability is low, indicating significant room for improvement in CS outcomes at this stage. (3) The effectiveness of CO is 24.71%, with considerable variation between counties, ranging from 1.26% to 97.55%, due to the varying capabilities of executors and the diverse regional topographical features. Refining implementation content and encouraging collaborative efforts are effective strategies to enhance CS. (4) The effectiveness of PM is 65.03%, and the counties in the east are lower than the west. Scientific post-care is essential for improving CS. This framework provides theoretical support for optimizing LC to enhance regional CS and lays the groundwork for future investigations into the long-term impacts of LC on CS, as well as the potential for applying the methods used in this study to other regions and types of land consolidation projects. Full article

Propagation of hinoki cypress (Japanese cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Cupressaceae) through adventitious bud multiplication was performed using leaf-segment explants from cutting plants of selected adult trees. Explants were successfully surface-sterilized (>90% asepsis) by agitating them in 2.5% (w/v available chlorine) sodium hypochlorite solution for 15 min and then rinsed with sterile distilled water. Explants approximately 2 cm long were cultured on plates containing medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 20 g/L sucrose, and 7 g/L agar. The cultures were kept at 25 ± 1 °C under a 16-h photoperiod with a photon flux density of approximately 65 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹. The optimal adventitious bud multiplication (31.5 buds per explant) was obtained on a medium supplemented with 10 µM BAP in combination with 1 µM 2,4-D. Proliferated adventitious buds were elongated better on medium supplemented with 1 µM trans-zeatin. The best rooting result (86%) was achieved on a rooting medium supplemented with 1 µM 3-indolebutyric acid in combination with 0.1 µM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. However, rooting response varied according to genotypes. Clones related to the cultivar ‘Nangouhi’ (Na18, Na14 x Isa, Na14-14, Isa x Na14, and NaS) were easier to root than those derived from the cultivar ‘ShizuokaKenZairai’ (SKZ5 and SKZ8). Regenerated plantlets did not show morphological abnormalities and showed a high survival rate after acclimatization (>90%). Full article

During drought, a major abiotic stressor for European forests, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced, causing oxidative damage that affects structural and metabolic tree functions. This research examines the effects of drought, phosphorus (P) fertilization, and provenance on photosynthetic pigments, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, and antioxidant enzyme activities in common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) saplings from two provenances. In a common garden experiment, four treatments were applied: regular watering with (+PW) and without P fertilization (−PW), and drought with (+PD) and without (−PD) P fertilization. Results showed that drought increased both MDA concentrations and antioxidant enzyme activity, particularly superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), which are responsible for ROS scavenging. Additionally, chlorophyll a + b concentrations were lower in drought-exposed plants. Phosphorus fertilization minimally affected MDA levels but enhanced antioxidant responses, particularly APX and CAT activities in oak during drought. Provenance differences were notable, with oak and beech from the drier provenance showing better adaptation, reflected in lower MDA levels and higher enzyme activities. This study underscores the importance of antioxidant defenses in coping with drought stress, with phosphorus fertilization and provenance shaping the species’ adaptive capacity. Full article

Soil heavy metal (HM) contamination has become a critical global environmental issue, predominantly caused by industrial and agricultural operations. This study focuses on Mount Wuyi, a UNESCO biodiversity hotspot and major tea production base, to examine vegetation-mediated soil HM accumulation under anthropogenic impacts. We analyzed nine HMs (Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Ni) across diverse vegetation types using geochemical indices and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) modeling. The findings revealed Mn and Zn were dominant elements, and Cr and Pb concentrations exceeded regional background values by 3.47 and 1.26 times, respectively. Cr, Cd, and Pb demonstrated significant pollution levels, while Cd and Hg posed the highest ecological risks. Vegetation type significantly influenced HM distribution patterns, with cultivated areas and shrublands (including tea gardens) accumulating higher concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, and Hg from agricultural and transportation sources. Notably, bamboo forests exhibited natural resistance to HM contamination. PMF analysis identified four primary pollution sources: urbanization (27.94%), transport–agriculture activities (21.40%), agricultural practices (12.98%), and atmospheric deposition (12.96%). These results underscore the need for implementing clean energy solutions, phytoremediation strategies, and tea-specific detoxification measures to maintain ecological security and agricultural sustainability in this ecologically significant region. Full article