Search Results (254)

Non-industrial private forestlands (NIPF) have often been subjected to logging practices that remove the highest quality trees of the highest value species, leaving behind less-desirable stems and species; a practice termed high-grading or selective harvesting. Timber stand improvement (TSI) can be used to correct high-grading practices by removing poorly-formed or low-value tree species in order to promote the growth of higher value trees and species. The felled trees may be removed for biomass fuel or left in place. At study sites in southwestern Virginia, we monitored tree growth across experimental TSI with biomass removal, TSI cut-and-leave felled stems, and control plots in mixed-pine hardwood forests from 2012–2025, measuring diameter at breast height (DBH) for multiple species. Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea) and Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) had the largest growth increments during the study period, while Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) and Hickory species (Carya spp.) showed consistently low growth. Larger trees tended to grow at faster rates, consistent with allometric expectations. The two TSI treatments had similar growth increments and were 60–100% higher than control plots over the tree blocks of treatments in this study. Mortality at the longest-term measured block was more than twice as high as TSI plots. These results suggest that TSI can reduce competition for light and nutrients promoting diameter growth, whereas untreated plots may experience resource limitations that suppress growth and increase mortality. The study provides a baseline for understanding forest dynamics and highlights the importance of management interventions in maintaining productivity and structural diversity in selectively-logged forests. Full article

Land-use/cover change threatens the ecological integrity of the Miombo region of south-central Africa. In Angola, Miombo ecosystems are of high ecological and socio-economic importance, providing rural populations with woody and non-timber forest products. Fire plays an important role in regional agricultural and silvicultural land-use systems. This study contextualised Copernicus land-cover classes at the regional level to analyse LULC transition pathways and their association with fire occurrence in Central Angola. LULC change was assessed using a post-classification comparison approach combined with pixel-based trajectory analysis. Fire activity was analysed using MODIS-derived ignition points, burned-area data, and a hexagonal-grid aggregation approach. At the same time, spatial clustering was assessed using hot spot analysis based on the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic. Differences in mean fire size among LULC transition classes were tested using the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s post hoc test. The results indicate a gradual reduction in forest cover and conversion to Cultivated Land, associated with the expansion of agricultural frontiers and urban areas. Fire activity was highest in areas affected by LULC conversion, with seasonal patterns varying notably among classes. Mean fire size differed by more than two orders of magnitude among transition types. Overall, fire activity was strongly associated with areas undergoing land-cover transition, highlighting the need to integrate fire management into sustainable land-use policies for long-term Miombo conservation. Full article

Tropical forests are facing escalating deforestation, while forest degradation, driven by a complex interplay of human-induced factors, emerges as an additional and compounding threat. In this context, regulated selective logging persists as an alternative to conciliate forest protection and economic development. This study synthesizes current knowledge on the impacts of logging, focusing on research trends, geographic distribution, ecological topics, and key variables like logging intensity, time since logging, and number of logging cycles. Since the 1970s, 641 papers listed on the Scopus platform have demonstrated a sharp increase in publication activity over the past five years, followed by a tendency toward stabilization. Papers were concentrated in Brazil and Malaysia, with few papers coming from other countries, particularly from Africa. Notably, 47% of the studies did not report logging intensity, and one-third focused almost exclusively on its impacts on forest physical structure, damage, or biomass—leaving a wide range of other topics largely unexplored until 2022. We refer to 13 topics with less than 20 studies in total, such as nutrient cycling, non-timber forest products, biological invasion, and key biological taxa. Herbs, epiphytes, fishes and amphibians were among the least investigated taxa across the regions. Furthermore, when controlling variables like region and logging intensity, most ecological topics had fewer than five dedicated studies. Research remains largely restricted to similar scenarios: first-cycle logging in old-growth forests, leaving substantial knowledge gaps. As logging operations are expected to increase, we argue for (1) mandatory long-term monitoring in logging regulations; (2) public access to monitoring data, reports and information related to regulated logging; (3) a global platform to exchange experience such as long-term monitoring, better practices, silvicultural approaches and sustainability assessment; (4) alignment among regulatory and certification agencies on sustainability standards; (5) capacity building initiatives; and (6) long-term experiments devoted to logging sustainability and better practices. Full article

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) constitute an important component of forest-based production systems and biomass supply chains in Türkiye. Despite their growing economic and ecological significance, the long-term structural dynamics of NTFP production remain insufficiently understood. This study examines temporal and structural changes in NTFP production in Türkiye during the period 1988–2024 using official production statistics and production support data. The analysis applies a quantitative framework that combines linear trend analysis, Shannon diversity and Herfindahl–Hirschman concentration indices, volatility measures based on the coefficient of variation, and regression models to evaluate production trends, structural transformations, stabilization patterns, and the effectiveness of production support mechanisms. The findings reveal a non-linear and multi-phase development pattern characterized by diversification and production growth after 2000, followed by increasing concentration and greater production volatility after 2018. Although total production volume increased substantially, portfolio diversity declined over time, and dependence on a limited number of high-volume products intensified, indicating growing structural vulnerability within the system. In addition, production support mechanisms showed a weak and heterogeneous relationship with production outcomes. A limited contextual comparison with Lithuania’s multifunctional NTFP system is also included to position the findings within a broader European context. Overall, the results suggest that increasing production alone is insufficient to ensure long-term system stability. Instead, diversification-oriented and risk-sensitive resource management strategies that account for production risks, regional disparities, and product heterogeneity are essential for developing sustainable and resilient NTFP production systems. Full article

Although Non-Wood Forest Products can offer interesting economic opportunities for rural communities, little is known about their commercial harvesters. Our work aims to shed light on the labour profiles, their accessibility to new entrants, and attractiveness for future green jobs. Through in-depth interviews, we explored the five-capitals profile of commercial resin, cork, mastic foliage, chestnut, pine nut, and wild mushroom harvesters in Spain. We found either freelance harvesters or entrepreneurs with a small gang. Our data show a typical male collector, who started the activity through his social networks (Social Capital), and whose origin depends on the product and Spanish region. Some commercial female harvesters were found in mushroom, chestnut and resin harvesting. Social constructs around the masculinization of these activities may explain their limited attractiveness for women. The ratio of non-Spanish commercial harvesters correlates with the weight of migrants in the analysed regions. Only a subgroup of resin harvesters devotes most of their year to this single activity. The rest complement NWFP income with a main forestry (cork and pinenut) or non-forestry occupation (mushroom, chestnut and mastic). For the latter products, access to Natural Capital was found to be crucial for job progress, as non-landowners require administrative and/or negotiation capacities to secure harvesting permits. Human Capital differs across NWFPs, from simpler skills such as recognising marketable produce and handling easy tools (mushroom, chestnuts, pine nut ground gathering and mastic), to complex abilities needed to balance efficiency with minimising tree damage (in resin tapping, pinenut shaking, and cork extraction). Such specialised tools and machinery (Built Capital) typically act as a barrier to entry and advancement. These profiles are expected to help decision-makers to design instruments promoting and regulating commercial harvesting, and tackle their risks: local landowners in allocating harvesting rights to external collectors; regional policymakers as competent authorities in forest legislation; and state-level administration concerning cultural, fiscal and labour-permit aspects. Full article

Rattans of the genus Korthalsia are ecologically and economically important non-timber forest resources in Southeast Asia, yet their conservation is limited by knowledge of species-specific distribution patterns and environmental constraints. We modeled the potential distributions of four Korthalsia species (K. flagellaris, K. laciniosa, K. rigida, and K. scortechinii) using species distribution models (SDMs). Models were fitted in R using the sdm package, and ensemble maps were generated by combining predictions from Random Forest (RF), Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), Generalized Additive Models (GAM), and GLMnet. The top predictors influencing habitat distribution included soil physical structure, atmospheric moisture demand, and canopy light availability. The dominance of these factors reflects three distinct and non-interchangeable environmental axes that regulate belowground moisture dynamics, atmospheric constraints on gas exchange, and the energetic requirements for recruitment. All four species ensemble models significantly outperformed the null model, and spatial block cross-validation (k = 5, 200 km blocks) indicated a marginal drop in area under the curve (AUC) values, confirming a predictive signal under geographically independent evaluation. Ensemble suitability maps identified Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra as centers of predicted habitat. Core habitat was estimated to be less than 0.6% of total suitable area for all species, ranging from 980 km² (K. scortechinii) to 19,256 km² (K. rigida), with anthropogenic modification exceeding 50% in the core habitat in K. flagellaris and K. rigida. These results provide the first species-specific baseline for these Korthalsia across Southeast Asia, supporting more targeted conservation and restoration planning under varying habitat constraints. Full article

The Andean walnut (Juglans neotropica Diels), locally known as tocte, is a keystone tree species of major socio-ecological importance in South American mountain ecosystems, facing severe anthropogenic pressure associated with genetic erosion, habitat fragmentation, and unregulated selective logging. This article presents a case study applying a qualitative phenomenological approach to examine the power relations and institutional failures shaping the sustainable management of its value chain in Imbabura Province, Ecuador. Drawing on 21 in-depth semi-structured interviews with key actors (including woodcarvers, sawyers, traders, and environmental authorities) conducted between March and September 2025 until theoretical saturation was achieved, and supported by thematic analysis in ATLAS.ti, we identified five thematic categories revealing the tension between cultural valuation and market pressure. The findings confirm the existence of a value paradox, whereby high timber demand paradoxically accelerates resource depletion rather than incentivizing conservation, as premature harvesting of young trees undermines the viability of non-timber forest products such as nuts and accelerates the loss of local genetic resources. We conclude that the long-term conservation of the species requires a transition toward polycentric stewardship, community forestry enterprises, and integrated landscape management in which the standing tree is formally recognized as carrying greater ecological and economic value than harvested timber. Full article

The identification of standing tree species, timber logs, and on-site assessment of their quality and value using images holds significant potential for forestry applications, including inventory management, traceability under EU regulations like the Deforestation Regulation, and market valuation amid growing demands for sustainable practices. This study addresses this by classifying images of timber logs by tree species and market value using the Orange data mining software, which leverages pre-trained convolutional neural networks (Inception v3 and SqueezeNet) to generate embeddings from a dataset of 5549 images collected at a real timber auction in Slovenia, followed by logistic regression image classification. Results show high accuracy for tree species classification (up to 92.6%), but substantially lower accuracy for market value classification (40%–55%), reflecting the greater complexity of value determination from visual features. These findings underscore the promise of deep learning for species identification while indicating the need for further methodological advancements to enhance value classification reliability, which offers the practical impact for operational forestry and bioeconomy value chains. Full article

The urban trade in non-timber forest products (NTFPs) plays a key role in sustaining livelihoods in the Global South, while also suggesting potential pressure on resource supply systems. This study provides an integrated analysis of NTFP diversity, market structure, economic importance, and perceived drivers of resource decline in Kolwezi, a rapidly expanding mining city where such dynamics remain poorly documented. Data were collected through surveys conducted with 35 sellers across two major urban markets and 384 consumers from different neighbourhoods and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to examine patterns, associations, and socio-demographic influences. A total of 65 NTFP species were recorded, including 49 plant, 14 animal, and 2 fungal species, reflecting strong dependence on Miombo ecosystems. Medicinal (59.3%) and food uses dominate, with multifunctional species such as Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Desv.) J.H.Kirkbr. & Wiersama, Canarium schweinfurthii Engl., Terminalia mollis M.A.Lawson, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc., and Albizia antunesiana Harms, playing a central role in both household use and market supply. The trade is largely female-dominated (79.1%) and constitutes a major component of the informal urban economy, with monthly incomes ranging from USD 9 to 429.3, primarily driven by sales volume rather than unit price. However, the sector is constrained by structural and logistical limitations, including remoteness of supply areas, seasonality, and limited value addition. The perceived declining availability of high-use-value species, attributed by respondents to deforestation, mining expansion, and overexploitation, highlights perceived sustainability concerns. These pressures are perceived differently across socio-demographic groups, indicating heterogeneous understandings of environmental change. Overall, the results indicate a perceived mismatch between rising urban demand and declining resource availability, which may reflect an emerging socio-ecological imbalance between urban demand and perceived resource availability. Addressing these challenges requires integrated strategies that combine the domestication of priority species, the development of processing chains, improved infrastructure, and strengthened governance mechanisms. Such approaches are essential to reconcile livelihood support with the sustainable management of NTFPs in rapidly transforming urban landscapes. Full article

Despite the growing number of publications using the value network approach to analyze agro-industrial competitiveness, knowledge gaps persist in other food production sectors. The objective of this study is to analyze, through bibliometric techniques, the scientific articles that have studied the competitiveness of food products using the value network framework. The study will determine the spatial and temporal distribution of the identified food products and detect opportunities for generating new research. Articles from major publishing databases (Elsevier, Scopus, Frontiers, MDPI, and Springer) were considered. The keywords used were “red de valor” and “value network”, combined with “sustainable agricultural production” and “food security”. This information formed the basis of a spatial–temporal analysis and bibliometric indicators using descriptive statistics, as well as keyword and author networks generated with VOSviewer software. A total of 147 scientific articles were documented. The highest growth in publications occurred from 2017 to 2024 and was concentrated in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Studies in these regions analyzed basic food products such as maize, mango, rice, and coffee in Latin America; wine and bovine milk in Europe; and rice and sugar in Asia. Research in aquaculture, apiculture, and non-timber forest sectors was limited, positioning these areas as opportunities for generating new knowledge, particularly through the analysis of local resources to enhance their market positioning while incorporating sustainability aspects. Full article

Brosimum alicastrum Swartz is a forest species with substantial potential for animal and human nutrition. However, its nutritional attributes and commercial applications are poorly disseminated and structurally underdeveloped. This study examines the relationship between scientific research and the commercialization of Brosimum alicastrum products in Mexico, integrating bibliometric analysis with a value network approach to identify market constraints and opportunities. Scientific publications indexed in Scopus from 1961 to 2024 were analyzed to characterize research trends, documented uses, and the geographic distribution of knowledge production. In parallel, companies commercializing Brosimum alicastrum-based products in Mexico were surveyed during 2024 using a value network approach (suppliers, customers, complementors, and competitors). A SWOT analysis was conducted to assess the structural strengths and vulnerabilities affecting market development. The results show that research in Mexico has primarily focused on the species’ properties as a functional food. At the same time, limited attention has been given to silviculture, commercialization strategies, and value-chain governance. Although Brosimum alicastrum products are currently positioned within premium market segments, business continuity is constrained by unstable supply systems that rely almost exclusively on seasonal wild collection from natural distribution areas. Both the value network and the SWOT analysis identified supply instability as the main factor limiting market expansion. Therefore, advancing research on the silviculture of Brosimum alicastrum is essential to support the establishment of managed production systems and commercial plantations capable of ensuring a stable, year-round supply of raw material. These developments would facilitate access to new market niches and enhance the biocultural and ethnobotanical value of Brosimum alicastrum as a functional and medicinal food resource within Mexico’s emerging bioeconomy. Full article

Efforts to build a sociobiodiversity-based bioeconomy increasingly depend on recognizing and rewarding the stewardship practices carried out by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and smallholder farmers. Yet, such practices, rooted in collective governance, traditional knowledge, and care for ecosystems, remain largely invisible in market and policy frameworks. This study compares recognition mechanisms for stewardship practices worldwide (38 case studies) and in Brazilian projects supporting sociobiodiversity chains (384 projects) using an inductive typology of material and non-material recognition and Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation. Results show that 70% of cases combine multiple recognition forms, but their distribution and empowerment outcomes diverge. Globally, recognition mechanisms are more balanced, often codified in laws, participatory councils, and payment-for-ecosystem-service schemes that place communities on the upper rungs of Arnstein’s ladder, with co-management authority. In Brazilian projects, recognition remains predominantly material and focused on short-term interventions–capacity-building, equipment, and market access, corresponding to lower rungs of citizen participation. Overcoming this condition requires policies that couple economic incentives with institutionalized participation. Markets alone will not value the non-material elements that sustain sociobiodiversity. Implementing Brazil’s National Bioeconomy Strategy will therefore depend on public policies that reward both the products and the collective stewardship behind them. Full article

Following successful national forest restoration projects, South Korea has designated and operates Leading Forest Management Zones (LFMZs) to improve forest quality and promote sustainable use. The objective of this study is to comparatively evaluate the operational characteristics of 26 LFMZs (5 national and 21 private forests) based on complete long-term data from 2013 to 2024 and to identify ownership-based structural differences in integrated forest management performance. Five core indicators representing the forest management cycle (afforestation, timber harvest, forest products, forest roads, and forest tending) were analyzed using multivariate statistical methods. Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA) results revealed statistically significant structural differences between national and private forest management systems (F = 13.22, p = 0.001, R² = 0.47). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) identified forest road development and timber harvest intensity as the primary drivers of these differences. National forest LFMZs exhibited consistently higher and more balanced management intensity across all indicators, supported by stable institutional frameworks and professional management capacity. In contrast, private forest LFMZs showed substantial variability in performance, reflecting differences in ownership structure and regional conditions. Correlation analysis further demonstrated strong positive relationships among afforestation, forest tending, forest road development, and timber harvest, underscoring the importance of integrated forest management. These findings provide empirical evidence to support differentiated, ownership-sensitive forest management strategies and contribute to strengthening sustainable forest governance in South Korea under climate change and socio-economic transitions. Full article

Breaking through the constraints of traditional agricultural resources and expanding food supply channels have become essential for safeguarding food security. The non-timber forest-based economy (NTFE), which integrates multiple understory production activities including planting, breeding, and foraging, expands the variety of food sources and provides a new pathway for enhancing regional diversified food supply capacity (DFSC). Based on this perspective, this study constructs evaluation indicator systems for both DFSC and NTFE development. The entropy-weighted TOPSIS method is employed to measure the levels of DFSC and NTFE development across 31 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2022. A two-way fixed effects model and a spatial Durbin model are applied to empirically investigate the mechanisms through which the NTFE enhances DFSC. The results show the following: (1) Between 2011 and 2022, both the DFSC and the level of NTFE development in China exhibited a sustained upward trend. Specifically, the level of NTFE development grew rapidly before 2019, with a slowdown in growth in the later years, while DFSC maintained a steady increase throughout the study period. (2) NTFE development significantly promotes DFSC. (3) The NTFE enhances DFSC by facilitating the upgrading of the forestry industrial structure and improving forestland productivity. (4) The NTFE generates positive spatial spillover effects on DFSC, and these spillover effects are stronger than direct local effects. Full article

Nordic forest management is increasingly emphasizing multi-functional goals, expanding beyond timber production towards non-wood forest products such as wild berries. Wild berry yield maps are based on sample plot data combined with meteorological, remote sensing, and geoinformation data. Automating sample plot data processing is crucial, as manual collection is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and complicated by short berry seasons and fluctuating yields. This study compares two methods for automatic bilberry detection and counting: a deep learning detector YOLO and a machine learning model using the segment anything model (SAM) followed by a random forest classification (SAM-RF). Both system camera and drone imagery were evaluated as input data. YOLOv8 clearly outperformed SAM–RF in berry detection, achieving an $R^2$ of 0.98 and an RMSE of 3.8 berries when evaluated against annotated system camera images, compared to an $R^2$ of 0.80 for SAM–RF. System camera imagery consistently produced higher accuracy than drone imagery due to higher image clarity and more optimal viewing angles, with YOLOv8 achieving an $R^2$ of 0.95 against field counts, compared to 0.81 for drone images. The results also indicate that the primary error source in berry counting arises from the fact that many berries are not visible in the captured images. The results from the data analysis support the use of the developed technologies in yield modeling and even in implementing future ‘follow-me’ drone berry assistants. Full article