Forest Authorities Research Articles

Monitoring deforestation, forest health, and environmental criticality in a protected area periphery using Geospatial Techniques.

Protected areas in South Asia face significant challenges due to human disturbance and deforestation. The ongoing debate surrounds the recent surge in illegal encroachment of forest buffer zones in the Musali divisional secretariat division (DSD), which has led to a significant loss of forest cover over the past three decades. In this context, detecting changes in forest cover, assessing forest health, and evaluating environmental quality are crucial for sustainable forest management. As such, our efforts focused on assessing forest cover dynamics, forest health, and environmental conditions in the DSD from 1988 to 2022. We employed standardized image processing techniques, utilizing Landsat-5 (TM) and Landsat-8 (OLI) images. However, the forest area in the DSD has shown minimal changes, and environmental conditions and forest health have illustrated considerable spatial-temporal variations over the 34 years. The results indicated that 8.5 km2 (1.9%) of forest cover in the DSD has been converted to other land use classes. Overall, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has declined over time, while Land Surface Temperature (LST) exhibits an increasing trend. The regression results demonstrated a robust inverse relationship between LST and NDVI. The declining vegetation conditions and the increasing LST contribute to an increase in environmental criticality. The derived maps and indices will be beneficial for forest authorities in identifying highly sensitive locations. Additionally, they could enable land use planners to develop sustainable land management strategies.

Forest Fire Detection System for Preventing Flora & Fauna from Fire Using Computer Vision

Forest fires present a significant threat to ecosystems, endangering both human and animal life while causing irreversible environmental damage. To address this pressing issue in this research paper introduces an innovative & Affordable forest fire detection system that utilises the HSV algorithm and various computer vision libraries with the use of AI. Our advance system aims to detect & respond to forest fires in real-time, mitigating potential harm to flora and fauna. Our proposed System employs deploy camera sensors distributed at the Sensitive Parts of the forest, continually monitoring the environment. The HSV algorithm enhances the system's capability to accurately identify fire-related hues, ensuring reliable fire detection. Upon detecting a fire, an automatic alarm is triggered, initiating a series of measures to protect the ecosystem proactively. In response to a detected fire, the system automatically reroutes animal pathways to minimize their exposure to danger. Concurrently, the system sends immediate notifications to the local fire department and forest authorities via direct email, providing vital information on the fire's location and severity. This rapid communication facilitates timely intervention and improves the chances of successful firefighting efforts. We can put our system at Jim Corbett National Park & at different Sensitive forest Regions. Furthermore, the system features live monitoring capabilities, enabling authorities to observe the fire's real-time progression. This live feed supports informed decision making and facilitates the swift deployment of resources to contain and extinguish the fire. Through the integration of advanced computer vision technology, our system aims to redefine forest fire detection & response mechanisms, ultimately safeguarding the delicate balance of flora and fauna in ecosystems.

Classifying the risk of forest loss in the Peruvian amazon rainforest: An alternative approach for sustainable forest management using artificial intelligence

Peruvian Amazonian rainforests are constantly threatened by forest loss. Understanding changes in forest cover and assessing the level of risk is a permanent concern for numerous scientists and forest authorities. There are many conservation programs for Peruvian forests that involve collaborative efforts and employ diverse methodologies for forest monitoring. In this study, we propose an alternative approach to decision-making for forest preservation, aiming to classify the risk of forest loss in districts within the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. This classification enables sustainable forest management. To accomplish this, we utilized unsupervised learning artificial intelligence through Kohonen's neural network. The network was trained using a historical database spanning from 2001 to 2021, which includes variables such as forest cover and loss, climate, topography, hydrographic networks, and timber forest concessions. Through this approach, the network successfully established five clusters. Following preliminary analysis, we designated these clusters as: low, medium, high, very high, and extremely high risk of forest loss. Kohonen networks demonstrated their effectiveness in clustering forest loss and forest cover. The results indicate a shifting trend among the classes over time, with an increase in the categories exhibiting high and very high risk of forest cover loss. This study provides valuable information for decision-making in the prevention and conservation of Peruvian forests. We strongly recommend maintaining vigilance, particularly in districts classified as a very high or extremely high risk of losing forest cover.

Futuristic Vigilance: Empowering Chipko Movement with Cyber-Savvy IoT to Safeguard Forests

The Chipko Movement, a poignant symbol of nonviolent protest and ecological awakening in 1970s India, ignited a worldwide consciousness for forest conservation. Orchestrated primarily by rural villagers, particularly women, the movement valiantly shielded trees and woodlands from government-sanctioned logging. Despite its historic significance, the specter of unlawful deforestation still casts a shaengadow, masterminded by an alleged land mafia that devastates biodiversity and forest-dependent communities. This research embarks on a transformative mission to combat deforestation by introducing an innovative auto-survival model, ingeniously constructed upon the foundation of the Internet of Things (IoT). Embracing an interdisciplinary approach, the study delves into the seamless fusion of IoT technologies for real-time monitoring and analysis, empowering forest authorities to thwart illegal logging with unparalleled precision. At the heart of the study lies the meticulous architecture of the IoT system, meticulously crafted through an engineering prism and fortified with formidable security measures. Guided by the Secure by Design principle, the research astutely tackles potential vulnerabilities, erecting an impregnable fortress to safeguard forest resources. Illuminating a novel trajectory for forest preservation, this research envisions a future where technology and environmental stewardship harmonize, nurturing a sustainable and flourishing ecosystem. The proposed IoT-driven solution stands as a testament to unwavering pursuit of knowledge and innovation, issuing a resounding call for collaboration and further inquiry. By doing so, it empowers global conservation endeavors to treasure and uphold our verdant heritage for generations to come.

Natural Gum and Resin Bearing Plant Taxa in Telangana, India: A Qualitative Method of Data Collection

Natural resins, gums (NRGs) are the most extensively used and traded non-timber forest products (NTFPs) other than directly consumed products. The present field-based study reports the natural gum, resin and gum-resin yielding plants and the specific parts from which the products extract from plants by local people in Telangana, India. The result of the present report reveals ninety plant taxa belong to 63 genera and 23 families that predominated by Fabaceae with 36 plant taxa, followed by Malvaceae (12 spp.), Combretaceae, Anacardiaceae and Rubiaceae (5 spp. each), Arecaceae (Palmae) (4 spp.), and about thirteen families with single species each. Telangana is one of the most important contributors and collectors of NRGs from Firmiana simplex, Anogeissus latifolia, Cochlospermum religiosum and Boswellia serrata in India to generate maximum commerce. The present study outcome can be used by policy makers, scientific community, forest authorities and local people for bio-discovery of plant-based gums and resins sustainably.

Estimation of the Overmature Wood Stock and the Projection of the Maximum Wood Mobilization Potential up to 2100 in Hungary

The demand for woody biomass as a key raw material of the developing circular bioeconomy is expected to increase. This has led to the need of increased timber productivity and the search for new procurement methods, new assortments, and innovative supply chains. Timber is regarded as a climate-friendly resource, which can contribute to climate change mitigation through long-term carbon storage and through the substitution of fossil products and fossil fuels. Thus, it is of high importance to assess the amount of timber that can be harvested without compromising sustainability concerns. In this paper, we examined the amount of the wood stock accumulated in overmature stands in Hungary. We define overmature stands being those stands where the actual age of the stand is over its cutting age prescribed by the forest authority. According to our results, 11.5% of the standing volume in Hungary is overmature, and the wood stock of overmature stands has increased by more than 250% in the last 40 years. The importance of the overmature forests is enormous, as they represent an unused wood stock reserve, which could be available to meet the growing demand for timber. In our study, we also conducted a simple yield table-based projection on the maximum amount of timber available for harvest in the period 2020–2100 based on the data of the national forestry database and the cutting ages prescribed by the forest authority in the forest management plans. According to our results, even without new afforestation, more timber becomes available for harvest annually in the 2020–2100 period than the level of the average harvests of the last five historic years. In the 2020–2050 period, an additional 56% of timber is projected to become available for harvest as a maximum. This means a maximum additional potential of 4059 thousand m3, even without the harvesting of the stands, which were already overmature in the starting year of the projection. In the first part of the projection period, industrial wood available for harvest is forecasted to be above the average historic level of industrial wood production. However, in the second part of the projection period, the industrial wood yield shows a decreasing tendency and even drops below the 2017–2021 average. The decreasing availability of industrial roundwood in the second part of the projection period points out the importance of innovation in the wood industry. The inclusion of drought tolerant species, which are nowadays less used for industrial purposes seems inevitable in the production of high-quality wood products.

Animal detection in farms using machine learning

Agriculture is extremely important to a countrys development. Agricultural issues have consistently stymied the countrys progress. Farmers face a slew of problems, including a lack of water for irrigation, crops withering due to climatic changes, nutrient-depleted soils, and crop damage from pests and wildlife. In recent decades, innovation has developed to provide effective solutions to a large number of these difficulties. In any event, agricultural protection from wild animals has not been fully addressed until now. The fields have been destroyed by elephants, monkeys, and wild boars. The production of crops is diminished when wild animals trample them or eat them. The presence of wild animals on farmland has always been a contentious issue for farmers. Deer, wild boar, moles, elephants, and monkeys are just some of the animals that might ruin a harvest. When the farmer isn't there, these animals may eat the crops and wander the field, which is bad for the harvest. Because of this, yields might drop significantly, and supplementary financial protection could be necessary to cope with the fallout. This problem has to be solved as soon as possible, and a workable solution needs to be found and put into action. Accordingly, the goal of our programme is to address this problem. Wireless sensors might be used to set off an alarm in the event of an animal intrusion, communicating the situation to the proprietor and forest authorities with an attached photo. This provides an early warning so that measures may be taken according to the intruder type.

Socio-economic exploitation of edible caterpillars in the bimodal rainforest zone of Cameroon

Edible caterpillars are the most traded edible insects in Cameroon, particularly in the humid forest zone, where they are excellent sources of proteins and fats for many indigenous peoples. Their large consumption and their wild harvest have been a major concern, and there is a need for sustainable management. However, specific data on species’ diversity and trade are scarce. Hence, the present study aims to provide an overview of the socio-economic exploitation of edible caterpillars in the bimodal rainforest zone of Cameroon. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with caterpillar traders in six localities covering the three administrative Regions (East, Centre, and South) of the bimodal forest zone of Cameroon. The socio-demographic characteristics of traders, the traded species, quantities, and prices were recorded. Fresh and live samples were also recorded for morphological identification. A total of 129 traders were interviewed, with the majority being women (94.8%). Eleven species of caterpillars were involved in this trade, with the most remarkable diversity observed in the Centre Region. The traded quantity per species varied significantly with Regions, with the overall most exploited species beingImbrasia oyemensis (13,250.44 kg/year),Imbrasia truncata (4,992.30 kg/year) andAnaphe venata (2,589.51 kg/year). The price of caterpillars differed significantly depending on whether the locality was rural or semi-urban.Notodontidae sp. was the most valuable species (US$ 3.63/kg), followed by species of the genus Anaphe (US$ 3.1±0.5/kg). Special attention should be given to the most traded species to enhance their sustainable exploitation. Further studies on the bio-ecology, habitat and life cycle of these caterpillars are needed for the sustainable management of these beneficial insects. Forest authorities should enhance the regulations governing their exploitation and logging of their host trees.

Assessing Forest Carbon Accumulation Potential Across Different Treatments using Field Inventory Data

Deforestation and forest degradation lead to an increase in the level of carbon in the atmosphere and disrupted the global carbon cycle. The tropical forest has received a lot of interest since it contributes around 60% of the total global forest carbon. By enhancing carbon sink, tropical forests have a great potential in mitigating climate change. Assessing aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon stock through field inventories is crucial for this purpose as it provides the most accurate result. The research was conducted at Danum Valley Conservation Area and INFAPRO in Sabah, Malaysia. An earlier study over 35 years ago at this site suggests that restored forests accrue AGB at twice the rate of regenerating forests, though the cause of this difference between treatments is unclear. Thus, this study will focus on three principal study sites which are restored, naturally regenerating and old-growth forests to determine the forest’s potential to sequester and store carbon in the forest ecosystem. These three sites were chosen because it is a well-established plot from the earlier inventory over the last seven years. The field measuring method is a non-destructive methodology. Tree parameters such as diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height and tree species diversity were collected for calculating AGB using a species-specific allometric equation. Results showed a positive correlation between tree species, diameter at breast height, and biomass/carbon stock across three different forest treatments. The active restoration increases up to 151% carbon stock whilst the old-growth forest increased by 34% and natural regeneration increased by 73%, which active restoration can be the best solution for forest treatment. The outcome of this study will increase the ability of forest authorities and the Malaysian government to effective monitoring of carbon stock for establishing reliable standard guidelines in measuring deforestation and forest degradation toward achieving sustainable forest management.

Habitat Ecology, Structure Influence Diversity, and Host-Species Associations of Wild Orchids in Undisturbed and Disturbed Forests in Peninsular Malaysia

As an attempt to examine the causes of forest disturbance and degradation of the orchid community, a comparative study on diversity and ecology in eight undisturbed and ten disturbed forests in Peninsular Malaysia was conducted that varied in areas, elevations, vegetation types, and disturbance regimes. Density and individual-based rarefaction curves were used to describe the abundance. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed to explore the associations of species abundance with biotic and abiotic factors. The study reported 239 orchid species belonging to 65 genera. Species richness, abundance, density, and diversity of orchids varied by locality. Higher density of orchids (2.433 plants/km2) occurred in the undisturbed forests than in the disturbed forests (0.228 plants/km2). As with the character of undisturbed forests, the temperature was between 27.8 ± 0.3 °C and 31.2 ± 0.2 °C, humid (77.1 ± 1.2%–89.6 ± 0.9%), and with low light intensity (23.8 ± 3.3 μmol m−2s−1–171.7 ± 18.8 μmol m−2s−1), thus supporting the high density of the plants. Disturbed forests had higher diversity (H = 4.934 and 1-D = 0.990) and abundance (183 species of 57 genera) but were determined to be highly influenced by the higher abundance of epiphytic orchids on the fallen trees and ease of accessibility in the logged forests. Terrestrial and mycoheterotroph orchids were much lower in density and abundance in the disturbed habitat indicating a gradual reduction in their niche availability following the disturbance. Additionally, the ecology data show that the microclimate conditions of the canopy-covered forest was influenced by proximity to the logged area which had eventually reduced the orchids’ habitat quality. Furthermore, the results show that the abundance of epiphytic orchid communities was associated with the host plant characteristics. Host types and bark texture preference were apparent for the epiphytic orchid species, with certain types and textures hosting more orchid species than others. Overall results show that extreme temperature, humidity, and light intensity caused by the canopy opening inflicted damages to the habitat conditions and bark textures of the host plants and limits recolonisation of the orchids in the disturbed forests. The species diversity and density patterns of orchids in undisturbed and disturbed forests revealed in this study provide a baseline for conservationists, policy makers, and forest authorities in expanding the understanding of the forest ecology and vegetation along the disturbance gradient, forest regeneration, and criteria for plant selection for forest restoration in Peninsular Malaysia.

Climate change effects, adaptation and community-based forest management in the mid-hills of Tanahu and Kaski districts, Nepal

In order to appraise climate change effects and adaptation practices in the forestry sector in Nepal, community forests in Tanahu and Kaski districts, representing tropical and temperate bioclimates respectively, were studied through a literature review, field observation, questionnaire survey and key informant interviews. Although it is clear that climate change is resulting in warmer temperatures, more erratic rainfall, deeper and more prolonged droughts, pervasive landslides and frequent floods and forest-fires, the effects are varied at the district level. The community forests of Tanahu are less resilient as they have limited elevational and bioclimatic range, and forest plant species and habitats, and are vulnerable to forest fire and overgrazing, whereas that of Kaski district cover a wide range of altitude and bioclimate, harboring a diverse range of plant species, habitats and traditional culture and, consequently, are highlighted for conservation by the forest authority. In order to make community forestry more resilient, embracing local adaptation is suggested with the aim of enhancing traditional forest management practices, lessening climate change hazards and increasing conservation trade-offs through strengthening the ownership of local communities and improving the circularity of forest service generation and consumption.

Factors Contributing to Forest Degradation in the Mountainous Tropical Forest: A Case Study of the Mutis-Timau Forest Complex, Indonesia

ABSTRACT The Mutis-Timau Forest Complex, one of the remaining mountainous tropical forest areas in Timor Island, eastern Indonesia, has been exposed to significant deforestation and forest degradation. Numerous studies have highlighted the factors affecting deforestation. However, information about the factors influencing forest degradation at the local scope is still limited. To address this gap, we analyzed the factors contributing to forest degradation during the 1999–2017 period in the Mutis-Timau Forest Complex using a spatial statistical approach. We developed logistic regression using the forest degradation data obtained from forest canopy density time series maps as dependent variables and the spatial representation of the factors contributing to forest degradation, namely distance to the settlement, distance to the road, distance to agriculture, distance to the river, distance to the savanna, distance to the forest edge, slope, elevation, population density, and forest management unit, as independent variables. Our finding showed the increase in distance to the forest edge and elevation would decrease the likelihood of forest degradation, whereas the probability of forest degradation increases in forest located far from the river and the settlement. Such findings are important for the forest authority in prioritizing actions for combating forest degradation and designing appropriate forest-related policies and supporting data for reducing carbon emissions from forest degradation implementation or other incentive schemes in reducing forest degradation.

Reterritorialization of Community Forestry: Scientific Forest Management in the Terai and Chure Region of Nepal.

Nepal's community forestry is an example of a decentralized, participatory and autonomous development model. However, recent community forestry practices informed by the concept of scientific forestry in resource-rich and commercially lucrative Terai regions of Nepal have reversed community forestry gains. Scientific forestry, enforced through the Department of Forest has reproduced frontier power dynamics creating reterritorialization of community forestry through commercialization. Discouraging subsistence utilization and increasing commodification of high-value timber resources have been crucial in reconfiguring forest authority and territorial control. Moreover, the Scientific Forestry Programs have informally institutionalized rent-seeking practices at the local level. A local level, power nexus has developed among forest officials, contractors and community elites that systematically undermine local participation, allocation of resources for subsistence livelihoods and local autonomy. In effect, scientific forestry is recentralizing forest authority by legitimizing territorial control and the elite accumulation of benefits.

Linking species distribution and territorial planning to the management of the endangered Gonopterodendron sarmientoi in native forests of the Chaco region, Argentina

For management and conservation strategies in the long term is necessary to know the species distribution and main biophysical aspects that determine the structure and dynamics of the forest. The aim of this work was to determine the potential and current spatial distribution of Gonopterodendron sarmientoi, an emblematic and endangered tree species of the Dry Chaco. A further aim was to superimpose the distribution of G. sarmientoi, with the zonation in the current Territorial Planning of Native Forests (OTBN, its acronym in Spanish) to provide basic information for conservation and management of the species. For this, a Maxent model was developed to quantify the relationship between G. sarmientoi occurrence and key environmental variables (including water, topography, and climate as a variables). G. sarmientoi’s habitat was mainly influenced by precipitation variables, and secondarily by temperature variables. Considering the OTBN defined by the local forest authority, of the current area of G. sarmientoi (2,477,009 ha), the majority (57.9%) corresponded to the yellow category (forest areas with medium conservation value) and only 10.6% to the red category (high conservation value). It is important to note that around 600,686 ha (24.3%) of native forest with G. sarmientoi is in the green category (low conservation value) subject to change in land use, and 178,107 ha was uncategorized forest (7.2%). For effective management and conservation strategies, the current habitat distribution map of G. sarmientoi provides decision-makers an opportunity to review and adjust the native forests zoning at a provincial scale within the framework of the OTBN, mainly the green category (legal deforestation) with the occurrence of the endangered G. sarmientoi.

A Study on the Problems and Improvement by Analyzing the Disastrous Large-scale Forest Fire Response System: Focusing on Simultaneous Forest Fires along the East Coast of Gangwon-do Province

On April 4, 2019, the forest fire that spread simultaneously to five cities and counties, including Inje, Goseong, Sokcho, and Gangneung and Donghae, on the east coast of Gangwon-do, was extinguished at an early stage. It is regarded as the result of the response with full force of Korea Forest Service, National Fire Agency, Militray, and other related organizations. However, it is also true that the limitations of current forest fire response system and the operation of forest fire response personnel, facilities and equipment were revealed in the process of responding Gangwon forest fire. To find solutions to these problems, from March 3 to April 2, 2021, a survey was conducted with firefighters, forest officials and residents in Gangwon-province with experience in forest fire on a total of 29 questions about Law and Policy, Forest Fire Response System and Operation of manpower and equipment. Based on the results of the survey and literature research, an improvement plan for the Forest Fire Disaster Response System was sought. Based on our survey results, we propose the following measures to improve South Korea's forest fire response system in the future. ; the incident command system should be unified, forest authorities' forest fire prevention and management system should be further strengthened, and forest fire response system must be improved to the level of other major countries through better legislations.

The Way Forward for Community Forestry in Nepal: Analysis of Performance against National Forestry Goals

Covering 45% of Nepal’s national territory, forests play a key role in maintaining the daily life of most rural communities. Community forestry is a participatory forest management approach for managing state-owned forests by local communities. By assessing the link between national level forestry goals and the community forestry outcomes, this study aims to measure the performance of community forestry towards achieving sustainable forest management goals. The 3L causative benchmark model was used, with some adaptations to fit the national context of Nepal. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, a questionnaire survey, as well as using secondary sources such as policy documents, governmental and non-governmental reports, and scientific papers. Results reveal that community forestry is oriented towards achieving sustainable forest management goals, but there are aspects where further improvement is needed: forest product diversification, marketing and business, and planning and management of the non-marketable forest ecosystem services. Community forestry’s role in managing the conflicting interests between stakeholders and promotion of the forestry sector in society is judged to be beneficial. There is an envisaged positive pathway to enhance the performance of community forestry through strong forest tenure rights, community friendly policies and regulations, and proper technical and business support from forest authorities.

Managing for the unexpected: Building resilient forest landscapes to cope with global change.

Natural disturbances exacerbated by novel climate regimes are increasing worldwide, threatening the ability of forest ecosystems to mitigate global warming through carbon sequestration and to provide other key ecosystem services. One way to cope with unknown disturbance events is to promote the ecological resilience of the forest by increasing both functional trait and structural diversity and by fostering functional connectivity of the landscape to ensure a rapid and efficient self‐reorganization of the system. We investigated how expected and unexpected variations in climate and biotic disturbances affect ecological resilience and carbon storage in a forested region in southeastern Canada. Using a process‐based forest landscape model (LANDIS‐II), we simulated ecosystem responses to climate change and insect outbreaks under different forest policy scenarios—including a novel approach based on functional diversification and network analysis—and tested how the potentially most damaging insect pests interact with changes in forest composition and structure due to changing climate and management. We found that climate warming, lengthening the vegetation season, will increase forest productivity and carbon storage, but unexpected impacts of drought and insect outbreaks will drastically reduce such variables. Generalist, non‐native insects feeding on hardwood are the most damaging biotic agents for our region, and their monitoring and early detection should be a priority for forest authorities. Higher forest diversity driven by climate‐smart management and fostered by climate change that promotes warm‐adapted species, might increase disturbance severity. However, alternative forest policy scenarios led to a higher functional and structural diversity as well as functional connectivity—and thus to higher ecological resilience—than conventional management. Our results demonstrate that adopting a landscape‐scale perspective by planning interventions strategically in space and adopting a functional trait approach to diversify forests is promising for enhancing ecological resilience under unexpected global change stressors.

Tree-Cutting Detecting System Using Residual Neural Networks

Trees are significant in that there are products that originate from them. Wood is the greatest product of trees together with other products like timber and paper. Carbonized wood produces charcoal that is energy used for cooking. Trees, as indicated above, have quite a range of importance and usage to the human beings, hence they are not usable while still intact. Due to this reason, people end up cutting down many trees to meet their needs like timber and charcoal. The problem is finding the culprits who cut down trees for their own selfish needs. This paper discusses a solution to this challenge. This is the Tree-cutting Detection System designed to alert the forest authorities when there is tree-cutting going on in the forest. There is detecting device placed in the forest to listen to whether there are chainsaw sounds or not. When it detects chainsaw sounds, meaning there is tree-cutting going on, the forest authorities are alerted through an alarm and the location of the device that signal them is given so as to access the scene easily and faster. The development methodology adopted in the implementation stage was an agile approach. The solution was the designed and developed through several iteration phases of feedback and improvements of functionalities. Finally, testing of the system done severally during development and after the system completed.

Federal land authorities in the modern environmental administration system: general and special, problems and solutions

The organization of environmental management is characterized by certain specifics related to the features of management objects and permissible forms of realization of rights (first of all, property rights), the presence of multi-level public and private interests and other factors. This is the reason for the difference in the structure and powers of the governing bodies. The article examines organization land management bodies at the federal level, and their difference from forest, water and subsoil management authorities.

Recent change of burned area associated with summer heat extremes over Iberia

Owing to climate change-induced global warming, the frequency and duration of extremely hot events over the Iberian Peninsula (IP), such as heatwaves, are expected to continue to increase. This study shows the change of individual and monthly concurrent extremely hot events and burned area in the IP in the recent period of 1998–2015, compared with the reference period 1980–1997. Results show a dichotomic behaviour, with June and August showing an increase in extremely hot events and July and September showing many regions with a decrease, both in individual and concurrent events (most prominently in September). Furthermore, regions with such increases also show a change in spatial extent, with a greater area simultaneously affected by the two extremes (particularly in June). Also, even though the incidence of large burned areas decreased in north-western Spain in July and August, these increased in June. Indeed, together with more extreme heat events observed in the region, an increase in burned area was also found in June. This work paves the way for future studies to delve into the causes and effects of extreme heat events over the IP, to raise awareness of the need by forest authorities of developing early warning systems.