Vegetation Management Research Articles

Development and performance evaluation of an APP for vegetable fertilization and irrigation management originated from EU-Rotate_N

Overapplication of nitrogen fertilizer and water in vegetable production is popular and serious in China and other developing countries, leading to severe environmental pollution. To date, most model-based decision support systems, which are believed to be powerful tools for improving fertilizer and water management in vegetable production, have been established by developed countries, and the weather, soil, hydrology, facility type and vegetable species of developing countries have been less considered. In this study, a water level component and a new vegetable species, pakchoi (Brassica campestris ssp. Chinese) were incorporated into EU-Rotate_N, a simulation model developed by the European Union for open field vegetable cultivation. The experiment was carried out in typical vegetable plastic tunnels in Jiangsu Province, China, an area with high groundwater level. The results indicated that the water level algorithm which differentiate the soil into saturated and unsaturated layers enhanced the model simulation accuracy of the soil nitrogen and water content in the 30 cm soil layer, indicating the significant influence of groundwater on the soil water and nutrient movement. The pakchoi experiment suggest that new vegetables could be added into the crop list of EU-Rotate_N by adjusting parameters with ‘trial and error’ methods after considering its biological characteristics. Furthermore, a novel module was added for recommendations of fertilization and irrigation on daily basis in accordance with reasonable upper and lower thresholds of soil water content and soil available nitrogen after a series of adjustment. Finally, a user-friendly application (APP) was developed based on the improved model. The evaluation experiments in 2021 and 2022 showed that APP could significantly improve nitrogen and water use efficiency without obvious yield loss in pakchoi production. We conclude that simulation models for vegetable fertilizer and water management established by developed countries could be modified by several operable steps to expand its application area.

Vegetation Analysis and Silvicultural Suggestions for Mitigating Fire Danger and Protecting Nature the Case of a Natura 2000 Site in Southern Greece

Purpose: The development of a methodological approach for the estimation of the wildfire danger in a protected area, located near a big city, based on the dominant factors contributing to a fire-prone environment and affect fire behavior. Theoretical framework: Vegetation management in protected areas characterized by sprawling of adjacent urban and suburban development patterns, is a complicated task, especially under Mediterranean climate due to the high vulnerability to wildfires. They should aim, among others, to mitigate forest-fire occurrence risk, eliminate the wildfire damages as well as to protect humans, and conserve the high biodiversity of the protected areas. Method: We generated a forest fire occurrence danger zone map based on: i) historical fire data ii) types of vegetation and forest ecosystem characteristics, iii) topographical characteristics, iv) distance from the settlements, and v) distance from the roads. A probability model equation for forest fire occurrence was produced. Wildland-Urban Interface mapping was also considered. Results and conclusion: Four categories of forest fire occurrence danger zones, ranging from very high to low, were classified. The zones with high and very high fire occurrence danger cover a low percentage of the study area (6.84% and 5.76%, respectively). In the very high fire danger zones, Pinus halepensis forest and evergreen sclerophyllous vegetation, prevail. A great part of the Wildland-Urban Interface WUI belongs to the zones of high and very high fire occurrence danger. Research implications: Several silvicultural and policy measures for creating fire-resilient ecosystems and mitigating the possibility of a wildfire occurrence and damages, are suggested. Originality/value: The determined site-specific vegetation management and policy measures are of great importance for land management in similar areas.

Vegetation cover change and its response to climate extremes in the Yellow River Basin

Extreme climate events have increased in frequency and severity under the background of climate change, with vegetation growth exhibiting a sensitive response to them. By assimilating GIMMS NDVI and MODIS NDVI using the Residual Network, we obtained a long time series and high resolution NDVI dataset of the Yellow River Basin (YRB). The dataset was utilized for examining the spatiotemporal variability of NDVI and analyzing the response of vegetation cover to climate extremes with meteorological data. Our findings reveal the following: (1) A significant rise in NDVI was seen in the YRB, displaying a mean growth rate of 0.019/10a (p < 0.001). However, seasonal differences exist. The mean NDVI of multi-year declines from southeast to northwest, while the overall trend of vegetation cover improves. (2) The NDVI response to extreme temperature exhibits noticeable spatiotemporal differences. Daytime extreme high temperature in the northern YRB is negatively correlated with NDVI, while they are positively correlated in the lower YRB and the southern part of the middle YRB. Nighttime extreme high temperature exhibits a positive correlation with NDVI. Overall, NDVI displays a stronger response to extreme precipitation than to extreme temperature, with a negative correlation with CWD and a positive correlation with PRCPTOT. (3) The NDVI demonstrates a lagged response to climate extremes in the YRB, with a greater lag in response to extreme temperature than extreme precipitation. The research findings can provide scientific support for the future management and planning of vegetation in the YRB, as well as contribute to the promotion of ecological environment regulation and sustainable development.

Vegetation response to changes in climate across different climate zones in China

Vegetation growth is sensitive to climate change. The complex climate types of China pose great challenges to the sustainable management of vegetation on global change. Therefore, this study used Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) as an indicator to explore the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation and their driving factors in different climatic zones of China to provide theoretical support for sustainable vegetation management in different climate zones in the future. The results showed that vegetation exhibited considerable clustering patterns in the country, with high and low values concentrated in the eastern and western regions, respectively. From 2001 to 2020, both at regional and pixel scales, vegetation in China showed a significant greening trend. EVI displayed a noticeable increase within temperate and subtropical areas. The only exception is observed in the eastern coastal area of the North China Plain and Yangtze River Delta region, which experienced evident degradation trend. During this period, China's climate showed an overall trend towards warming and humidification with drying trends observed mainly over the western regions. The impact of climate changes resulted in EVI dynamics that vary over time and space. The vegetation change in China was mainly derived by changes in precipitation and radiation rather than temperature, especially in temperate and subfrigid regions. Precipitation was the main driving factor for vegetation greening in tropical and temperate regions, while radiation and temperature were the dominant climate factor for vegetation greening in subfrigid and subtropical regions, respectively. When precipitation was no longer a limiting factor for vegetation growth, the effect of temperature or radiation increases. In addition, the positive impact of precipitation on plant growth in temperate regions was much greater than that of radiation and temperature, and this difference was much greater than in tropical, subtropical, and subfrigid regions.

Crushed concrete and biochar: A sustainable solution for vegetated roofs

Besides providing several important ecosystem services, vegetated roofs can provide also ecosystem disservices, such as leaching nutrients that cause eutrophication in adjacent water bodies. Such downsides and limited knowledge on hydrologic performance of vegetated roofs in a cold climate may prevent their wider implementation. Another issue concerns sustainability of materials used in vegetated roofs. A replicated field experiment was run for four years in southern Finland to study the performance of vegetated roof ecosystems with substrates containing crushed lightweight concrete, biochar or crushed brick. All materials were locally sourced and recycled. Nutrient dynamics, soil fauna, vegetation and stormwater management were monitored. Alkaline concrete efficiently reduced phosphorus leaching due to high pH compared with that of a neutral brick substrate. Amending concrete substrate with 20% (v/v) biochar improved retention of nitrogen and in < 20 mm events also rainfall. Vegetation grew equally well in all treatments. The abundance of soil animals, nematodes and enchytraeids, varied markedly over time, driven by changes in substrate moisture. Rainfall was efficiently retained and runoff detained, especially during summer, which is the rainiest season in Finland. We conclude that concrete and biochar as materials used in substrate can provide an effective, innovative and sustainable solution for vegetated roofs.

Impact of Vegetation Differences on Shallow Landslides: A Case Study in Aso, Japan

Climate change has increased the frequency and scale of heavy rainfall, increasing the risk of shallow landslides due to heavy rainfall. In recent years, ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) has attracted attention as one way to reduce disaster risks. Vegetation is known to increase soil strength through its root system and reduce the risk of shallow landslides. To reduce the risk of shallow landslides using vegetation, it is necessary to quantitatively evaluate the effects that vegetation has on shallow landslides. In this study, we constructed a generalized linear model (GLM) and random forest (RF) model to quantitatively evaluate the impact of differences in the vegetation, such as grasslands and forests, on the occurrence of shallow landslides using statistical methods. The model that resulted in the lowest AIC in the GLM included elevation, slope angle, slope aspect, undulation, TWI, geology, and vegetation as primary factors, and the hourly rainfall as a trigger factor. The slope angle, undulation, and hourly rainfall were selected as significant explanatory variables that contribute positively to shallow landslides. On the other hand, elevation and TWI were selected as significant explanatory variables that contribute negatively to shallow landslides. Significant differences were observed among multiple categories of vegetation. The probability of shallow landslide in secondary grasslands was approximately three times that of coniferous and broadleaf forests, and approximately nine times that of broadleaf secondary forests. The landslide probability of shrubs was approximately four times that of coniferous and broadleaf forests, and approximately ten times that of broadleaf secondary forests. The results of constructing the RF model showed that the importance was highest for the hourly rainfall, followed by geology, then elevation. AUC values for the GLM and RF model were 0.91 and 0.95, respectively, indicating that highly accurate models were constructed. We quantitatively showed the impact of differences in vegetation on shallow landslides. The knowledge obtained in this study will be essential for considering appropriate vegetation management to reduce the risk of future shallow landslides.

Enhancing resilience against geological hazards and soil erosion through sustainable vegetation management: A case study in Shaanxi Province

As an important component of terrestrial ecosystems, vegetation performs a necessary function in linking the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere as well as soil sphere. The response of vegetation to its driving factors has been a hot research issue that needs to be further explored. Here, the temporal and spatial changes in vegetation cover in Shaanxi Province from 2000 to 2020 was characterized, and the responses to topographic elements, climate factors, geological hazards, and human activities was addressed. The outcomes proved that the average annual vegetation coverage in Shaanxi Province displayed a slight upward trend with a growing rate of 0.0545/10a. Specifically, enhanced vegetation index (EVI) increased significantly in most parts of the study area, while EVI decreased significantly in the border areas of Xi'an and Xianyang. There are differences in the effects of the driving factors on vegetation change during the study period. According to correlation analysis, vegetation was positively associated with temperature and negatively associated with precipitation. In addition, when the elevation was under 2500 m, EVI increased with elevation, while when the elevation used to be above 2500 m, EVI decreased with elevation. Moreover, geological disasters and soil erosion are the major driving factors in the reduction of vegetation cover. Human activities and national policies are the main driving factors for vegetation recovery in the study area. The results of the study are of great significance for ecosystem monitoring and provide a scientific basis for ecosystem restoration.

Heterogeneity Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Vegetation Cover in Two-Tider Administrative Regions of China

Vegetation cover is a crucial component of regional ecological environments that plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance. This investigation utilized Google Earth Engine and MODIS NDVI products to examine the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of regional vegetation coverage based on the multi-year average NDVI in China. Using the multi-year average NDVI, multi-year change trend slope, coefficient of variation, and Hurst exponent, the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of provincial and prefectural administrative regions were quantified. The results indicated an upward trend in vegetation coverage from 2000 to 2021 at both provincial and prefectural levels, with growth rates of 0.032/10a and 0.03/10a, respectively. Moreover, the multi-year average NDVI significantly correlated with regional precipitation. Notably, vegetation growth was fastest in the Loess Plateau, while degradation was observed in southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang. Additionally, the degree of vegetation cover change in Ningxia and Macau was particularly prominent. These findings support the effectiveness of the Loess Plateau greening project and highlight the potential cost of economic and population growth on the ecosystem in eastern and southeastern coastal areas, where local vegetation degradation occurs. This study can serve as a valuable reference for ecosystem restoration and developmental planning at the administrative regional level, with the goal of enhancing vegetation management and conservation efforts in China.

Understory vegetation supports more abundant and diverse butterfly communities in oil palm plantations

IntroductionThe cultivation of oil palm, from which palm oil, the world’s most widely traded vegetable oil, is processed, has had marked effects on ecosystems and native species across the tropics. While declines in biodiversity due to conversion to oil palm have been well recorded across plant and animal taxa, less work has been done to identify approaches to plantation management which will enable producers to satisfy growing global demand while limiting environmental damage.MethodsThrough a large-scale understory management experiment, we investigated the long- and short-term effects of varying vegetation management regimes on the abundance, richness, and diversity of day-flying Lepidoptera.ResultsOver the long-term, the lowest levels of vegetation complexity resulted in significantly lower Lepidoptera abundance, species richness and evenness. Less intensive understory clearing resulted in healthier communities, with limited differences between removal by herbicide application or chemical-free removal. Over the short-term, biodiversity was not directly affected by vegetation complexity, suggesting that manual removal of vegetation may be equally damaging to butterfly or moth communities as removal by intermediate levels of herbicide spraying.DiscussionThese findings substantiate calls to limit vegetation clearing and maintain habitat heterogeneity on both a local and landscape scale, while also suggesting that a hard “no-spray” guideline may not be the only option to support butterfly friendly plantations.

Phytophthora Root Rot in Rangpur Lime Cultivated in Soil Managed with Ecological and Conventional Mower

Root rot and gummosis caused by Phytophthora spp. are considered one of the most important citrus diseases in Brazil. Symptoms of Phytophthora spp. infection in citrus plants are associated with lesions on the bark at the base of the plant, roots, and even lower branches. Inappropriately performed cultural practices, such as excessive irrigation and practices that result in reduced aeration and soil drainage, favor the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Urochloa ruziziensis mulching provided by an ecological mower on the severity of Phytophthora nicotianae root rot and the development of citrus plants and their root system. The experiments were carried out under controlled conditions on Rangpur lime seedlings kept in pots containing soil from ‘Hamlin’ orange orchards with the use of an ecological mower or a conventional mower in the management of inter-row vegetation for six years. Urochloa ruziziensis mulching (9 t ha−1) was added or not to the pots. The inoculation of P. nicotianae in the roots occurred through infection of the soil with a solution containing mycelium and sporangia of the pathogen. A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial scheme was used, with the following factors A: soil type, B: inoculation of P. nicotianae and C: mulching of U. ruziziensis. The attributes of plant development, such as root growth, average number of leaves, leaves and dry mass of shoots and roots, in addition to assessments of the severity of disease in the roots, were evaluated. The mulch of U. ruziziensis did not promote an increase in root rot. The soil resulting from this management promoted the better development of Rangpur lime plants. Therefore, vegetation management of inter-row with an ecological mower is not associated with increased symptoms of Phytophthora root rot.

Agroecological management of spontaneous vegetation in Bachajón’s Tseltal Maya milpa: a preventive focus

Agroecological management of spontaneous vegetation in Bachajón’s Tseltal Maya milpa: a preventive focus

Impacts of Extensive Sheep Grazing on Soil Physical and Chemical Quality in Open Mountain Forests, NE Portugal

Grazing and mechanical clearing are common techniques for vegetation management in open Mediterranean forests. Despite its recognized benefits in the prevention of high-intensity and severity forest fires, it is essential to consider its impacts on the physical and chemical soil properties. In an open mountain forest located in the NE of Portugal, soil samples were analyzed at depths 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm collected at two moments: before mechanical clearing, (Control) and after 18 months of extensive sheep grazing, in areas without grazing, only mechanical clearing (MC) and in areas with both mechanical clearing and grazing (MCG). The results indicate that vegetation cutting has induced a significant decrease in extractable potassium, and an increase in the soil organic matter and total nitrogen. The exchangeable bases and the exchangeable acidity did not undergo expressive changes, as indicated by the pH values and the cation exchangeable capacity. After grazing, extractable phosphorus and potassium, organic matter, total nitrogen, exchangeable bases, and cation exchangeable capacity have increased significantly in the topsoil (0–5 cm), reducing soil acidity. Regarding physical properties, only soil permeability has been negatively affected by grazing. Mediterranean mountain open forests management with the combination of vegetation clearing and extensive sheep grazing proved to be effective in reducing vegetable fuel availability and improving soil quality.

Abiotic mineralization of dissolved organic phosphorus for improved nutrient retention in a large-scale treatment wetland system

The Everglades Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) in South Florida are large treatment wetlands that were constructed and managed to reduce phosphorus (P) loads to the Everglades Protection Area. Most P in inflow waters originates from urban, agricultural, and equestrian runoff, as well as discharges from Lake Okeechobee. To effectively reduce dissolved organic P (DOP) in the outflow of the STAs, DOP must be mineralized to soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) (Ged and Boyer, 2013), and then removed through uptake by aquatic vegetation or co-precipitation with calcite during photosynthesis. In order to explore the effects of sunlight and photolytic processing on dissolved P mineralization within the STAs, a series of photochemical experiments were conducted. First, DOM entering the STAs was measured and found to be highly aromatic (mean SUVA = 0.38) and dominated by large molecular weight molecules (75% of bulk DOM > 10KDa) that are reactive to photolytic degradation. Model molecules, such as phytic acid, and site water from the STAs were exposed to light and produced SRP from DOP after exposure to high energy UV radiation. Additionally, analysis of excitation emission matrices (EEM) found that aromatic and humic structures were photolytically degraded during UV exposure. These findings suggest that photolysis is a significant process in DOM and P cycling in the STAs, and if leveraged in SAV dominated areas, could benefit P removal by co-precipitation with calcite. These findings suggest that vegetation management strategies could be employed to maximize UV photolytic reactions to optimize P retention.

Modeling the impact of local environmental variables on tree-related power outages along distribution powerlines

Accurate vegetation risk modeling requires detailed and timely information on the physical structure of roadside trees in conjunction with local environmental and management factors. This study aims to understand the contribution of multiple environmental and management variables on tree-related power outages during storm events at a fine scale. We developed and compared five candidate vegetation risk models (VRMs) comprising 19 predictor variables falling into four categories: (1) forest characteristics, (2) soil and terrain, (3) vegetation management, and (4) utility infrastructure using Random Forest (RF) algorithm. The VRM model consisting of all four categories of predictor variables demonstrated the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) value of 0.8320. The VRM that excluded tree-related variables exhibited the lowest AUC-ROC value of 0.7760. Two VRMs excluding soil/terrain and vegetation management variables performed marginally worse than the model with all variables. According to Shapley Additive Explanation analysis, the LiDAR-derived tree variables (proximity tree pixels), length of primary distribution overhead, median tree height, and wire properties (i.e., covered or bare) reported the highest importance-variables. This study's findings can guide vegetation risk at fine scales, which will help improve electrical grid resilience and hardening.

Effects of Biomass and Soil Water Content Distribution on Cosmic Ray Neutron Probe Measurement

Cosmic ray neutron probes (CRNPs) provide continuous monitoring of average near-surface soil water content (SWC) on hectometer scales. However, the performance of CRNPs on surfaces of highly heterogeneous vegetation and SWC remains uncertain. This study evaluated three vegetation calibration methods with the correction of vegetation distribution developed for a CRNP on the Loess Plateau of China. Three plots with different vegetation distributions were selected and equipped with CRNPs and SWC sensors, and their biomass as well as distribution were measured by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a RedEdge multispectral camera. We found that the parameter N0, which is neutron flux in dry soil, was best represented by the biomass at average growth conditions of the monitoring period, yielding the lowest RMSE (0.068). The Veg–N0 vegetation calibration method reduced the RMSE the most between the CRNP SWC and the Kriging-weighted SWC, and the correction of the spatial distribution of the vegetation further reduced the RMSE. The cooperation between the CRNP and the UAV could obtain the regional averaged SWC accurately. This study makes up for the lack of vegetation calibration for the CRNP on the Loess Plateau, which should help develop sustainable vegetation management and ecohydrological management strategies on the Loess Plateau, so as to protect water security in the region.

Vegetation Dynamics and Their Response Patterns to Drought in Shaanxi Province, China

Effective water and vegetation management requires a better understanding of vegetation dynamics, and their response patterns to drought. Here, based on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), we investigate the vegetation response patterns to drought in Shaanxi Province (SAX), using Spearman’s correlation analysis. The results show that the NDVI increased significantly (p &lt; 0.01) from 2000 to 2019, with a trend of 0.054/10 yr. The maximum correlation coefficient between the NDVI and the SPEI (Rmax) showed a significantly positive correlation (p &lt; 0.05) in most areas (84.5%) of SAX. The Rmax of Northern Shaanxi (NS, median = 0.55) was higher than that of Central Shaanxi (CS, median = 0.53) and Southern Shaanxi (SS, median = 0.52). The corresponding timescale of Rmax was longer in CS (median = 7 months) than NS (median = 4 months) and SS (median = 3 months). The occurrence date of Rmax in NS (median = July) lagged that in CS and SS (median = May). The vegetation response patterns to drought varied with elevation; the Rmax decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.01) with increasing elevation, while the corresponding timescale exhibited fluctuations. Additionally, Hurst exponent analysis indicated that 78.6% of the areas in SAX will exhibit a humidification trend in the future, and that vegetation growth in 74.7% of the areas in the region will be promoted.

Albedo-dominated biogeophysical warming effects induced by vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau, China

Vegetation restoration can reduce surface albedo and retain more heat on the land surface. This feedback would partially offset the cooling effect of vegetation by absorbing CO2. Ignoring the climate feedback from changes in albedo will lead us to overestimate the contribution of increased vegetation to warming mitigation. Utilizing remote sensing data and employing a radiative forcing algorithm, we quantified the climatic feedback associated with vegetation restoration on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). The surface albedo on the CLP decreased from 2001 to 2017, correlating with increased vegetation greenness, resulting in positive radiative forcing (multi-year average: 1.58 W/m2, average growth rate: 0.125 W/m2/yr). The radiative feedback of reduced albedo due to vegetation restoration is equivalent to the warming effect of emitting 3.7 kgCO2/m2. Contrary to expectations, CLP vegetation restoration efforts lacked a significant cooling effect, potentially increasing surface warming risks from albedo changes. These results emphasize the dominant role of biogeophysical feedback mechanisms induced by vegetation restoration. It will contribute to a comprehensive assessment of the climate benefits of large-scale vegetation increases in temperate regions. Decision makers can provide diverse vegetation management and restoration strategies depending on the differences in climate feedback for vegetation restoration at different locations.

Urban space maintainability factors based on life cycle approach

PurposeThe maintainability of urban spaces has become critical with rapid urbanization to create an effective and safe environment for the increasing population. The absence of scientific studies exploring the factors that affect urban space maintainability (USM) has hindered the incorporation of maintainability aspects during the urban space planning and designing stages. This paper aims to establish critical factors for USM.Design/methodology/approachQualitative content analysis is performed under an abductive approach to developing USM factors. A bibliometric search is conducted using databases including Scopus Elsevier, Emerald Insight, Science Direct, IEEE XPLORE and the American Society of Civil Engineers. The selected primary data set comprises journal papers on USM published after 2000. Seventy-three journal articles are selected through a comprehensive screening procedure and subjected to further analysis. The literature findings are processed via a software-assisted systematic coding and visualizing of the key data using NVivo 12 software. The coded USM factors are validated based on experts’ consensus statements by conducting an expert focus group discussion.FindingsTwelve critical factors are established for USM; they include six design stage-related factors, one construction stage-related factor and five operational stage-related factors.Research limitations/implicationsEstablished USM factors give an insight into the main focus areas when incorporating maintainability into urban spaces.Originality/valueThe authors establish a set of maintainability factors for urban spaces based on the life cycle stages. USM factors such as vegetation management, interdepartmental coordination and work zone safety draw attention to context-specific aspects of USM.

Deliberate disproportionate policy outcomes and regulating deforestation in Queensland, Australia

AbstractThis paper analyses the strategic interests that inform deforestation policies in Australia, and the variance in policy selections over time. A theory of deliberate policy disproportionality is used to analyse 20 years of regulatory reform in Queensland, focusing on the Vegetation Management Act (VMA) 1999. Application of the framework to this case suggests that political executives were prone to deliberately adopt (dis)proportionate policies as a strategic response to either manage or capitalise on stakeholder support or opposition to any proposed legislative change. The high variance in (dis)proportionate deforestation policies is attributed to how political executives respond to claims made by competing constituencies regarding the costs versus benefits of successive reforms. During key reform phases, policy under‐reaction was the norm, and political executives intentionally limited the scope and effectiveness of the VMA 1999 due to perceived impacts on the agricultural sector. Political executives were highly responsive to the emotional investment of rural constituents and averse to introducing policies that required difficult trade‐offs. Elections offered strategic opportunities for delivering more proportionate policies that balanced public environmental benefits with economic impacts, as evidenced by a conditional deforestation ban introduced between 2004 and 2012 and reinstated in 2018.Points for practitioners Variance in Queensland's deforestation policy over time can be attributed to the intentional decisions by political executives to limit or expand the scope of regulations as a strategic response to stakeholder expectations. Political executives were responsive to the costs versus environmental impacts/benefits of any deforestation reforms, but prone to policy under‐reaction when the priority was managing the emotive reactions from rural constituencies. More proportionate regulations, such as the partial deforestation ban of 2004, aimed to balance environmental benefits with compensation for landholders but were only implemented when electorally beneficial. Stakeholders have a significant influence on disproportionate deforestation policy design and governments will need to manage competing claims to deliver more durable policy outcomes.

Understory vegetation management regulates soil carbon and nitrogen storage in rubber plantations

Understory vegetation management regulates soil carbon and nitrogen storage in rubber plantations