Search Results (231)

Willow stands (Salix spp.) are an essential part of riparian ecosystems, as they sustain biodiversity and provide bioenergy solutions. The present review synthesizes the global scientific literature about the management of willow stands. In order to achieve this goal, we used a dual approach combining bibliometric analysis with traditional literature review. As such, we consulted 416 publications published between 1978 and 2024. This allowed us to identify key species, ecosystem services, conservation strategies, and management issues. The results we have obtained show a diversity of approaches, with an increase in short-rotation coppice (SRC) systems and the multiple roles covered by willow stands (carbon sequestration, biomass production, riparian restoration, and habitat provision). The key trends we have identified show a shift toward topics such as climate resilience, ecological restoration, and precision forestry. This trend has become especially pronounced over the past decade (2014–2024), as reflected in the increasing use of these keywords in the literature. However, as willow systems expand in scale and function—from biomass production to ecological restoration—they also raise complex challenges, including invasive tendencies in non-native regions and uncertainties surrounding biodiversity impacts and soil carbon dynamics over the long term. The present review is a guide for forest policies and, more specifically, for future research, linking the need to integrate and use adaptive strategies in order to maintain the willow stands. Full article

Ecosystem services—the benefits humans derive from nature—are foundational to environmental sustainability and economic well-being, with carbon sequestration and storage standing out as critical regulating services in the fight against climate change. This study presents a comprehensive financial valuation of the carbon sequestration, storage and product substitution ecosystem services provided by the Hungarian forest-based sector. Using a multi-scenario framework, four complementary valuation concepts are assessed: total carbon storage (biomass, soil, and harvested wood products), annual net sequestration, emissions avoided through material and energy substitution, and marketable carbon value under voluntary carbon market (VCM) and EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) mechanisms. Data sources include the National Forestry Database, the Hungarian Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and national estimates on substitution effects and soil carbon stocks. The total carbon stock of Hungarian forests is estimated at 1289 million tons of CO₂ eq, corresponding to a theoretical climate liability value of over EUR 64 billion. Annual sequestration is valued at approximately 380 million EUR/year, while avoided emissions contribute an additional 453 million EUR/year in mitigation benefits. A comparative analysis of two mutually exclusive crediting strategies—improved forest management projects (IFMs) avoiding final harvesting versus long-term carbon storage through the use of harvested wood products—reveals that intensified harvesting for durable wood use offers higher revenue potential (up to 90 million EUR/year) than non-harvesting IFM scenarios. These findings highlight the dual role of forests as both carbon sinks and sources of climate-smart materials and call for policy frameworks that integrate substitution benefits and long-term storage opportunities in support of effective climate and bioeconomy strategies. Full article

This article examines the role of managed ecosystems, and particularly forests, in achieving carbon neutrality in Russia. The range of estimates of Russia’s forests’ net carbon balance in different studies varies by up to 7 times. The. A comparison of Russia’s National GHG inventory data for 2023 and 2024 (with the latter showing 37% higher forest sequestration) is presented and explained. The possible changes in the Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy of Russia (LT LEDS) carbon neutrality scenario due to new land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) data in National GHG Inventory Document (NID) 2024 are discussed. It is demonstrated that the refined net carbon balance should not impact the mitigation ambition in the Russian forestry sector. An assessment of changes in the drafts of the Operational plan of the LT LEDS is presented and it is concluded that its structure and content have significantly improved; however, a delay in operationalization nullifies efforts. The article highlights the problem of GHG emissions increases in forest fires and compares the gap between official “ground-based” and Remote Sensing approaches in calculations of such emissions. Considering the intention to increase net absorption by implementing forest carbon projects, the latest changes in the regulations of such projects are discussed. The limitations of reforestation carbon projects in Russia are provided. Proposals are presented for the development of the national forest policy towards increasing the net forest carbon absorption, including considering the projected decrease in annual net absorption by Russian forests by 2050. The role of government and private investment in improving the forest management of structural measures to adapt forestry to modern climate change and the place of forest climate projects need to be clearly defined in the LT LEDS. Full article

Climate change poses one of the greatest challenges of our time, with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions significantly contributing to global warming. The agriculture, forestry, and land-use (AFOLU) sectors not only emit GHGs but also offer the potential for carbon sequestration, which can mitigate climate change. This study presents a methodological framework for estimating soil organic carbon (SOC) changes based on carbon farming practices in northern Lithuania. Using satellite-derived indicators of cover crops, no-till farming, and residue retention combined with soil and climate data, SOC dynamics were modeled across the Joniškis municipality for the period 2019–2020 using the Rothamsted Carbon Model (RothC) model. The integration of geospatial data and process-based modeling allowed for spatial estimation of SOC change, revealing positive trends ranging from 0.23 to 0.32 t C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Higher increases were observed in areas where multiple carbon farming practices overlapped. The proposed workflow demonstrates the potential of combining Earth observation and modeling approaches for regional-scale carbon assessment and provides a basis for future applications in sustainable land management and climate policy support. Full article

The transition to a circular economy is essential for enhancing sustainability and resource efficiency, particularly in forestry-dependent regions. This study examines circular economy business models (CEBMs) in Kouvola, Finland, focusing on the utilization of forestry by-products. It compares two case studies: Keltakangas Waste Station, which processes wood waste into biogas, and Koumet, a forestry company producing biochar. Using a comparative case study approach, this research integrates financial analysis (2020–2023), interviews with managers, and policy reviews to assess economic performance, scalability, and environmental impact. Additionally, this study introduces a generalizable framework—Scalability Path Dependency (SPD)—which theorizes how early strategic decisions shape the long-term growth trajectories of circular business models. The findings reveal that Keltakangas follows a capital-intensive model with declining profit margins, while Koumet operates a resource-efficient model with stable but low profitability. Their scaling strategies diverge: Keltakangas relies on external financing for expansion, whereas Koumet emphasizes cost efficiency and market diversification. Despite ongoing challenges related to infrastructure, regulation, and financial viability, both models contribute meaningfully to circularity. This study offers actionable insights for policymakers and businesses aiming to support sustainable forestry practices. Full article

Improving forest carbon sink efficiency (FCSE) is the key to mitigating climate change and achieving sustainable forest resource management in China. However, current research on FCSE remains predominantly focused on static perspectives and singular linear effects. Based on panel data from 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China from 2008 to 2022, this study integrated the super-efficiency Slack-Based Measure (SBM)-Malmquist–Luenberger (ML) model, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and dynamic fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to reveal the spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics of FCSE and the multi-factor synergistic driving mechanism. The results showed that (1) the average value of the FCSE in China was 1.1. Technological progress (with an average technological change of 1.21) is the core growth driver, but the imbalance of technological efficiency change (EC) among regions restricts long-term sustainability. (2) The spatial distribution exhibited a U-shaped gradient pattern of “eastern—southwestern”, and the synergy effect between nature and economy is significant. (3) The dynamic fsQCA identified three sustainable improvement paths: the “precipitation–economy” collaborative type, the multi-factor co-creation type, and “precipitation–industry-driven” type; precipitation was the universal core condition. (4) Regional differences exist in path application; the eastern part depends on economic coordination, the central part is suitable for industry driving, and the western part requires multi-factor linkage. By introducing a dynamic configuration perspective, analyzing FCSE’s spatiotemporal drivers. We propose a sustainable ‘Nature–Society–Management’ interaction framework and region-specific policy strategies, offering both theoretical and practical tools for sustainable forestry policy design. Full article

Utah, USA, relies heavily on snowpack for water to sustain its growing population. Scientists and policy makers are exploring and proposing several potential sustainable solutions to improving flow to the Great Salk Lake as it recently has significantly declined in size, including removing tree canopy. This study examines the influence of tree canopy coverage, climate, and topography on snow water equivalent (SWE) within the Great Salt Lake Watershed. Using SNOTEL data, NLCD land use/land cover rasters, t-tests, and multiple linear regression (MLR), the study analyzed SWE variability in relation to canopy density, winter precipitation, elevation, temperature, and latitude. Initial t-tests showed significant differences in SWE between sites with canopy coverage below and above 70%, yet tree canopy was excluded as a significant predictor in the MLR model. Instead, SWE was primarily explained by mean winter precipitation, elevation, average winter high temperatures, and latitude. Additionally, canopy change analysis of the 2018 Pole Creek Fire in the Jordan River watershed showed no significant changes in SWE following canopy loss. This study highlights the dominant role of climatic factors in influencing snowpack dynamics on a watershed scale. It also provides important data for sustainable watershed and forestry management and a framework for understanding snowpack responses to climate and land cover changes in saline lake ecosystems. Full article

Retention forestry creates anthropogenic ecotones that diversify forest landscapes in terms of age and biomass. Such diversification can have ambiguous ecological impacts, raising uncertainties, particularly for black alder swamp woodlands, which are considered sensitive and are prioritized in EU conservation policy. This study aimed to examine the effects of adjacent clear-cutting on ground cover vegetation in 12 black alder stands in the hemiboreal zone in Latvia 11 to 120 years since the harvest. Ground cover vegetation was recorded by species along 40 m transects. The effects of the time since adjacent stand harvesting and exposure to the edge on species richness and Shannon diversity were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. A detrended correspondence analysis was used to explore the main environmental gradients. A total of 103 species were recorded: 15 in the tree and shrub layer, 66 in the herbaceous layer, and 22 in the moss and lichen layer. The exposure to the adjacent stand had a moderate positive effect on species diversity, while the effects of edge age were complex and varied by stand type. The scale of disturbance (the absolute length of the analyzed edge), rather than edge age or exposure, had the most pronounced effect on ground cover vegetation composition, suggesting persistent secondary edge effects that should be considered in forest management and conservation planning. Full article

This paper examines the critical importance of peatlands in climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and the provision of essential ecosystem services, emphasizing the urgent need for their preservation and restoration. Although peatlands cover just 3% of global land, they store 30% of the world’s terrestrial carbon, making them vital for mitigating climate change. However, activities such as agriculture, forestry, and peat extraction have caused significant degradation, compromising their ecological integrity and climate functions. This review makes a unique contribution by applying a systems thinking approach to synthesize the interconnected technical, environmental, and socioeconomic dimensions of peatland management, an often underrepresented perspective in existing literature. By offering a holistic and integrative analysis, it identifies key leverage points for effective and sustainable conservation and restoration strategies. This paper also explores the European Union’s policy response, including the EU Restoration Law and sustainability initiatives aimed at peatland recovery. It highlights the shift from peat use in energy production to its application in horticulture, reflecting growing demand for sustainable alternatives and eco-friendly restoration practices across Europe. Furthermore, this review addresses the environmental consequences of peat extraction, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity lossand emphasizes the need for robust EU legislation aligned with climate neutrality and biodiversity enhancement goals. It concludes by advocating for comprehensive research and proactive, policy-driven measures to ensure the long-term protection and sustainable use of these vital ecosystems. Full article

Forests have substantial economic and ecological value. However, the overemphasis on economic values raises concerns on the sustainable development of forest resources. This study examines whether the forestry industry can realize coordinated development with forest resources based on forestry industry complexity, and explains the mechanism behind it from a product space perspective. We measure the development status of the global forestry industry using the economic complexity approach and investigate the impact of forestry industry development on forest resource sustainability with a varying coefficient panel data model. Finally, we utilize a complex network to explain the causal mechanism for their relationship. The results indicate that forestry industry development significantly promotes forest resource sustainability globally, but that the relationship varies across different countries. For countries with comparative advantages in labor-intensive industries like furniture manufacturing, development of the forestry industry is detrimental to the sustainability of forest resources. Conversely, for countries possessing comparative advantages in skill-intensive industries like forest cultivation and pulp manufacturing, development of the forestry industry is beneficial to the sustainability of forest resources. This is primarily determined by the input–output relationship between timber and products. Based on the evolution of product space, the transition of forestry industry from labor-intensive to skill-intensive industries is conducive to both the improvement of forestry industry complexity and the sustainability of forest resources. Thus, promoting the cultivation and sustainable management of forest resources through industrial development is a principal policy strategy for achieving a synergistic relationship between forestry industry development and forest resource sustainability. Full article

Hilly mountainous regions are ecologically complex, featuring diverse environmental ecosystem services (ESs) and intricate interactions. However, the variability, drivers, and management of these ESs remain poorly understood, particularly in regions with significant topographical and climatic heterogeneity. This study focuses on the southern hilly mountain belt of China, examining five key ecosystem services: food production (FP), carbon storage (CS), water yield (WY), habitat quality (HQ), and soil conservation (SC). This study examines these ESs across long-term, pixel, and regional scales, exploring the interactive relationships and identifying the driving factors and cluster characteristics. The results indicate the following: (1) Over the past 23 years, although food production and carbon storage have increased, habitat quality has declined. (2) From a spatial perspective, the differences in trade-offs and synergies across the years are relatively small. However, significant differences are observed when considering continuous temporal change, and trade-off relationships are generally prevalent. Additionally, the distribution of trade-offs and synergies is also influenced by a combination of factors. (3) Climatic, vegetation, topographical, and socioeconomic factors are key factors influencing the distribution and changes in ESs. For instance, climate–vegetation interactions enhance carbon storage and soil conservation. Socioeconomic factors, though less impactful, optimize ESs through land management and policy. (4) We found that the ecological priority region covers the largest area, followed by the hilly agricultural development zone, the mountainous agricultural and forestry development zone, and the integrated ecological security zone. These findings deepen our understanding of ESs in hilly mountainous regions, providing actionable insights for enhancing conservation and sustainable management in complex landscapes. Full article

Global forests, valued at over USD 150 trillion and supporting the livelihoods of 25% of the world’s population, are threatened by degradation and deforestation, particularly in developing nations. Several forest management systems are in practice, but leasehold forestry (LF) is considered the best for achieving the dual goals of preventing degradation and alleviating poverty. Nepal is a pioneer in LF, prioritizing it since 1978. It is now practiced in 39 districts, covering 43,994 hectares of forests. Using DFID’s sustainable livelihood assessment guidelines (a framework never before applied to LF) and incorporating seven additional indicators identified through extensive literature review and expert consultation, as well as semi-structured interviews with key informants (n = 14) and LF users (n = 228), this study quantifies the contribution of LF in Nepal to 5 core assets and 21 livelihood indicators across three categories: “successful”, “moderately successful”, and “not successful”. The results reveal that LF significantly contributes to natural and financial capital, with a lesser impact on social and physical capital. Among the key indicators, LF has the greatest influence on savings and investment, but the least on infrastructure. This study offers targeted lessons and recommendations for less successful LF initiatives, which can help improve their outcomes. These insights are also valuable for policymakers and stakeholders to refine policies and programs and to optimize livelihood and restoration benefits from LF. Additionally, the baseline data provided will serve as a reference for monitoring and evaluating LF initiatives. Full article

Forests are one of the most predominant types of land usage in Portugal and are highly relevant in terms of environmental, economic, social, and political factors. Increasing the value and the resilience of the Portuguese forest, defining adequate policies, and aligning forest research with society needs requires a truthful comprehension of the most relevant challenges in this sector. This study identifies and analyzes the most relevant needs and challenges impacting the Portuguese forestry sector, both currently and over a five-year period, from the stakeholder’s perspective. A participatory approach was employed, engaging national and regional forest stakeholders, to ensure a realistic vision of the forest sector in Portugal. A total of 116 topics were identified, with a predominance of immediate challenges over future information needs, underscoring the urgent pressures on the sector. Environmental/ecological and policy issues dominated the identified needs and challenges, reflecting the urgency for strategic interventions in these areas. A significant emphasis was placed on the mitigation of climate change impacts, mainly associated with biotic and abiotic risks, promoting technological advanced forest management, and the sector valorization. Policy and legal issues, such as fragmented ownership and adequate economic and fiscal incentives, were also identified as major concerns. The findings highlight the interconnected nature of forestry challenges and the need for integrated, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches, prioritizing research on climate impacts, developing adaptive management strategies, promoting stakeholder engagement, and enhancing capacity-building initiatives. The results of this study make it a relevant case study for other forest stakeholders in similar regions in Europe with comparative forest management models and can inspire new solutions for common challenges opening new research avenues for other forest related academics. Full article

Despite the lack of legal tools to interfere in the forest policy of the member states, the European Union has initiated the New EU Forest Strategy 2030 (NFS), which emphasizes the protective functions of forests, modifying the interpretation of sustainable forest management. The aim of the study was to compare the State Forest Policy (SFP) in Poland with the assumptions of the New UE Forest Strategy 2030, identifying challenges for Polish forestry. The compliance of both documents was verified, taking into account their objectives, implementation methods, and differences. The analysis showed the coherence of the direction of both policies, while the differences in the methods of achieving the objectives result from divergent interpretations of the concept of sustainable forest management. It is necessary to develop a new definition taking into account the conditions of EU countries and to develop a system of measures enabling the comparison of the degree of implementation of this goal. Previous EU strategies had minimal impact on national legal systems. Diverse concepts of forest management in EU countries make it difficult to implement a common long-term strategy, giving subsequent documents a general character. NFS is a theoretical document presenting a vision of forests from the perspective of EU policy, and SFP serves as a historical document that can be a reference point for modifying assumptions based on contemporary realities. Creating normative acts without taking into account contemporary conditions may be contrary to the direction of development of forestry in Europe. A bottom-up approach, based on consensus of member states, to creating a coherent forest policy at the EU level is more justified. Full article

Agroforestry systems (AFSs) exhibit varied composition and dynamics as intrinsic characteristics of their specificities. In this context, a review of the adoption, composition, and dynamics of AFSs in the Amazon biome was conducted to identify the origin, institutions, and researchers of published studies with results on this scientific topic, focused on trends and characteristics of AFSs diversity in the Amazon. The methodology adopted was a scoping review, based on searches in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, using specific keywords to ensure that the articles addressed topics related to the adoption, composition, and dynamics of AFSs in the Amazon. Following the selection of subtopics, 66 articles were selected and analyzed. The analysis revealed that research on AFSs in the Amazon highlights interactions among traditional knowledge, innovations, and sustainability. The analysis of research published between 1996 and 2023 indicated growth in studies with an interdisciplinary focus, primarily from Brazil. However, internationalization, collaborative networks, and funding factors contribute to the prominence of foreign institutions. Research studies often address topics such as species diversity, agrobiodiversity, and tree growth in agroforestry intercrops. In this context, homegarden agroforestry (HAF) emerges as one of the main subjects of study, encompassing multifunctional environments, richness diversity, and ongoing experimentation with plant species. The choice of species for AFSs is influenced by factors such as labor, personal preferences, and market demands, although loggers and commercial forestry systems tend to have lower diversity, contrasting with HAF. AFSs implementation methods vary according to financing, management, and the farmer’s education and gender. Environmental conservation, food security, ecosystem services, and production flexibility are highlighted as benefits of AFSs, while challenges include technical and economic limitations. This research highlights the strengthening and consolidation of AFSs by addressing scientific gaps and demonstrating the need for studies on the adoption, consolidation, and management of these systems, as well as the relationship between diversity and yield. Future research should be concentrated on deepening studies on the relationship between diversity and yield in AFSs, as well as on management strategies that support the consolidation of these systems in the Amazon biome, integrating innovation, public policy support, and traditional knowledge of farmers. Full article