Forest Nature Reserve Research Articles

Characteristics of Nocturnal Boundary Layer over a Subtropical Forest: Implications for the Dispersion and Fate of Atmospheric Species.

The nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) significantly influences the dispersion and fate of atmospheric species at night. Subtropical forests are crucial in carbon and water exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere. However, the NBL characteristics and their impact on atmospheric species over these forests remain unknown. This study conducted vertical measurements of atmospheric species such as O3 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), along with meteorological variables, over a national forest reserve in Southern China. Results reveal that the NBL height ranged from 180 to 300 m in the summer and from 80 to 160 m in the winter. The vertical distribution of chemical species varied by time and season, with greater concentration gradients observed in the summer. Over 90% of VOCs above the NBL were anthropogenic, while biogenic VOCs were mainly found within the NBL. Higher O3 concentration and VOC product-to-reactant ratios were observed in the residual layer, suggesting enhanced oxidation levels. This unique vertical distribution of atmospheric species at night is driven by factors, such as emission, deposition, turbulence, and atmospheric chemistry, potentially affecting ecosystem functions. Results from this study highlight the importance of incorporating NBL dynamics into atmospheric models to better understand the evolution of chemical species and their ecological effects over forests.

Illicit Resilience: Revisiting Political Ecologies of Conservation Noncompliance in the Context of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Over the past several decades, the spatial extent of national parks, forest reserves, and other protected areas has expanded rapidly, encompassing more than 16 percent of the Earth’s terrestrial and inland water area in 2024. This expansion of protected areas has often led to population displacements and heightened restrictions on access to land and natural resources for indigenous peoples and other local communities, at times precipitating various conflicts, contestations, and broader forms of noncompliance with conservation regulations. Despite ongoing challenges in resolving trade-offs between conservation and livelihood objectives, the recently established Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) seeks to achieve even more ambitious conservation targets. These include GBF Target 3—sometimes referred to as the “30 × 30” target—of encompassing 30 percent of all terrestrial and marine ecosystems in protected areas or other effective area-based conservation measures by 2030. The GBF’s vision for achieving Target 3 implicitly assumes, however, that widespread challenges related to noncompliance in conservation governance can largely be resolved in their present manifestation(s), and prevented from reemerging as the scale of the global conservation estate increases. Seeking to deepen our understanding of the emergence and recurrence of illicit or otherwise non-rule-complying behaviors in everyday practices of conservation governance, we draw on a case study of the Manas Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve in the India-Bhutan borderlands region, northeastern India. Highlighting key findings from this case study, we foreground the concept of illicit resilience to encompass a suite of informal factors and dynamics that lead to the persistence of de facto land uses and management regimes in ways that often strikingly diverge from de jure prescriptions for resource conservation within protected areas. These dynamics include (1) long-term insurgency and political unrest; (2) collusive corruption, patronage, and local politics; and (3) elite-driven processes of informal resettlement and subsequent occupation of forestland. In short, we argue that a deeper understanding of such forms of illicit resilience and their underlying drivers will be crucial for more accurately conceptualizing both feasibility constraints on, and socioenvironmental justice implications of, efforts to rapidly upscale the spatial remit of conservation areas by 2030 and beyond.

Global warming impacts of carbon dioxide, methane, and albedo in an island forest nature reserve

Abstract Forest ecosystems influence climate by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and by altering the surface energy balance. However, the combined global warming impacts (GWIs), contribution from carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes, methane (CH4) fluxes, and albedo changes (Δα) remain poorly understood. Here, we reported the combined GWIs of CO2, CH4, and albedo with eddy covariance (EC) measurements during 2020–2022 in a subtropical island forest located in the Nanji Islands National Marine Protected Area in Southern China. We suggested that the island forest acted as a significant carbon sink, with annual CO2 and CH4 fluxes of −548.6 ± 11.1 and −5.67 ± 1.1 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively, while the daily albedo varied within the range of 0.03–0.15. By converting the radiative forcing induced by CH4 and albedo change in the forest to CO2 equivalents, we analyzed the three contributors to the combined GWI. The annual averages GWI of CO2 uptake, CH4 uptake, and Δα were −2 011.6 ± 40.6, -211.3 ± 1.1, and 0.03 ± 4.5 g CO2-eq m−2 yr−1, respectively, with a mean combined GWI of −2 223 ± 40.8 g CO2-eq m−2 yr−1. During 2020–2022, the contributions of CO2 uptake, CH4 uptake, and Δα to the combined GWI were 89.7% to 91.4%, 9.4% to 9.6% and -1.0 to 0.9%, respectively. Nanji island forest had a strong positive effect on climate change mitigation, with CO2 and CH4 uptake greatly enhancing its cooling benefits. Using Pearson correlation and path analysis, we found photosynthetically active radiation, precipitation, soil water content were the primary factors controlling the GWI dynamics, mainly driving the changes in CO2 fluxes. This study provided novel insights into the establishment of the overall evaluation framework for ecosystem-scale GWIs of CO2 and CH4 fluxes, and albedo based on long-term EC measurements in an island forest.

Kimboza, a Small Lowland Forest With an Outstanding Herpetofauna Diversity in East Africa.

The Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) and Coastal forests of Tanzania are renowned for harboring large number of threatened and endemic vertebrate species, yet most of these areas have been partially studied. The Kimboza Nature Forest Reserve (KNFR) is a small forest which is in transition between the EAM and Coastal forests, and among the poorly surveyed areas for amphibians and reptiles. We conducted systematic surveys across the KNFR in 2012 and between 2020 and 2023 using a range of approaches with the aim of establishing a comprehensive and updated list of reptile and amphibian species and assess the contribution of EAM and Coastal forests to the KNFR's herpetofauna. We identified 77 species, 29 amphibians and 48 reptiles, substantially updating previous species lists. Three of these species (Kinyongia magomberae, Trachylepis boulengeri and Philothamnus macrops) represent range extensions from previously known ranges. Fourteen species are endemic to East Africa, 11 of them being restricted to Tanzania. These results make the KNFR the richest forest reserve for herpetofauna per square km in Tanzania, and most similar in its composition to the Coastal, rather than Eastern Arc forests. With the caveats concerning taxonomic uncertainties and the inequalities of sampling intensity across the region, this study shows that the KNFR is an important area that deserves conservation attention. The KNFR, like other Coastal forests, is under significant pressure from anthropogenic activities which call for an urgent action to protect this small but rich forest.

Botanical and geographical analysis of flora of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve

Botanical and geographical analysis of flora of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve

Растительный покров лесных фитоценозов заповедника «Кологривский лес»

При исследованиях структуры растительных сообществ только описание флористического состава является недостаточным, а необходимо выявление функциональных связей между отдельными видами растений, между растениями и окружающей средой, обилия и эколого-ценотических групп видов. Цель исследования – выявление особенностей растительного покрова лесных фитоценозов по данным наблюдений на постоянных пробных площадях в условиях государственного природного заповедника «Кологривский лес» (Костромская область). Объектом исследования послужили 34 постоянные пробные площади, заложенные на Кологривском (28 пробных площадей) и Мантуровском участках заповедника (6 пробных площадей). В исследовании использованы данные учетов 2018–2022 гг. Проведенный анализ геоботанических описаний на постоянных пробных площадях заповедника «Кологривский лес» позволил выделить семь основных групп по общности растительного покрова, каждая из которых характеризуется индивидуальным эколого-ценотическим спектром: i) сосновые формации с преобладанием вереска в травянистом ярусе Мантуровского участка; ii) ельники липняково-ильмовые; iii) коренные ельники и производные от них насаждения в местах старых вырубок; iv) насаждения на участках с нарушенным почвенным покровом с преобладанием лугово-опушечной эколого-ценотической группы, v) еловые насаждения с нарушенной структурой верхнего полога и vi) насаждения на участках с нарушенным почвенным покровом с преобладанием боровой эколого-ценотической группы; vii) сосняки черничные Мантуровского участка. Ординации геоботанических описаний в абстрактных осях факторов по экологическим шкалам Д.Н. Цыганова позволила выделить две основные группы местообитаний: i) с сильно кислыми/кислыми почвами очень бедными/бедными азотом в пергумидных климатических условиях, где получаемого солнечного тепла недостаточно для испарения поступающей влаги; ii) с кислыми/слабокислыми почвами бедными азотом, относящихся к эугумидной экологической группе. На исследуемых пробных площадях наблюдений должны быть продолжены для выявления динамических процессов в составе и структуре растительного покрова без воздействия антропогенных факторов в условиях заповедного режима территории. When studying the structure of plant communities, only a description of the floristic composition is insufficient, but it is necessary to identify functional relationships between individual plant species, between plants and the environment, the abundance and ecological-coenotic groups of species. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of the vegetation cover of forest phytocenoses according to observations on permanent sample plots in the conditions of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve (Kostroma region). The object of the study was 34 permanent trial plots laid out on the Kologrivsky (28 trial plots) and Manturovsky areas of the reserve (6 trial plots). The study used survey data from 2018–2022. The analysis of geobotanical descriptions on the permanent sample plots of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve made it possible to identify seven main groups according to the common vegetation cover, each of which is characterized by an individual ecological and coenotic spectrum: i) pine formations with a predominance of heather in the herbaceous layer of the Manturovsky area, ii) linden-elms spruce forests, iii) native spruce forests and plantations derived from them in places of old clearings, iv) forest stands in areas with disturbed soil cover with a predominance of the meadow-edge ecological-coenotic group, v) spruce stands with a disturbed structure of the upper canopy and vi) forest stands on areas with disturbed soil cover with a predominance of boron ecologicalcenotic group; vii) blueberry pine forests of the Manturovsky area. Ordinations of geobotanical descriptions in abstract axes of factors according to D.N. Tsyganov ecological scales made it possible to distinguish two main groups of habitats: i) with strongly acidic/acidic soils, very poor/poor nitrogen in perhumid climatic conditions, where the received solar heat is not enough to evaporate the incoming moisture; ii) with acidic/slightly acidic soils poor in nitrogen, belonging to the euhumid ecological group. On the sample plots under study, observations should be continued to identify dynamic processes in the composition and structure of the vegetation cover without the impact of anthropogenic factors under the conditions of the protected regime of the territory.

Features of the structure of the herbaceous cover and natural regeneration in the spruce forests of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve

The aim of the study was to identify the features of the structure of the herbaceous cover and natural regeneration in the southern taiga spruce forests of the Kostroma region using the example of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve. To achieve this goal, twelve temporary square sample plots (SP) with an area of 0.0625 ha were established. Forest type, canopy density, soil and topography were determined. To characterize the forest stands, a taxonomic survey of the sample plots was carried out. To describe the vegetation cover, a combined method was used, including the Braun-Blanke and Drude-Uranov methods, which assumes the distribution of typical plant complexes over a large number of plant species growing together. Geobotanical descriptions were processed according to the method of D.N. Tsyganov, which consisted in using two tables: ecological amplitudes of species and scales of factors. Correlation analysis was used for data processing. The obtained statistical data set was presented in histograms and graphs for the sake of clarity. The frequency of occurrence, errors, participation rate, and average projective cover of the species were calculated according to generally accepted methods. In the course of the work, all sample plots were characterized by a tree-by-tree census. As the sample plots were located in very different parts of the reserve, the taxonomic indicators varied. In most cases, however, the dominant species was spruce. Its viable regrowth was 95%, indicating a high renewal potential. In the studied forest areas, the dominant species of the living ground cover were Northern linseed (Linnaea borealis) and blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) and wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella). The practical significance of the conducted research lies in the expansion of the ideas about the structure of the herbaceous cover formed under the canopy of spruce forests in the conditions of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve, as well as about the peculiarities of the process of natural regeneration in different conditions of the growth site.

Age changes of birch stands on the permanent sample plots of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve

The actual patterns of forest stand dynamics can be revealed only if observational data on permanent sample plots are available. The aim of the study is to identify the characteristics of the age changes of stand indicators in permanent birch sampleplots of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve (Kostroma Region). The object of the study was forest stands in birch stands located in the core of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve. At present they are represented by mature and over-mature birch stands with the predominance of spruce undergrowth in narrow clearings of 1928 with a width of 100‑150 m. In the permanent sample plots trees were counted according to individual forest elements with the distribution of 4 cm in thickness steps. For 20‑25 trees, heights were measured in the range of varying diameters with further graphical alignment of the values. The stock was calculated using stem volume tables, and the biomass of the stand fractions was calculated using allometric equations. An analysis of the age changes of stand indicators (average height and diameter, number of trees, basal area, stock, biomass fractions, carbon content in biomass) for the period from 1981‑1983 to 2018‑2022 was carried out. In the sample plots considered, the dominant forest element in each age interval is birch. At present, however, the forest stands are approaching the stage of initial decay. Instead of pure birch stands, mixed spruce-linden stands will develop in the future. Comparing the changes of the stand indicators on the plots with a model of the growth of birch stands in the sorrel spruce forest type, it was found that the changes of the average heights of the actual stands are synchronous with the curve obtained from the model, while for other indicators there are significant discrepancies.

Current status of tree species diversity at Abu Gadaf Natural Forest Reserve, Blue Nile Region – Sudan

Current status of tree species diversity at Abu Gadaf Natural Forest Reserve, Blue Nile Region – Sudan

Impact of Malayan Uniform System and Selective Management System of Logging on Soil Quality in Selected Logged-over Forest in Johor, Malaysia

Understanding the effects of various forest management systems, including logging practices, on soil properties is essential for implementing sustainable management strategies. In Malaysia, two types of forest management systems were commonly used: Malayan Uniform System (MUS) and Selective Management System (SMS) practices. However, their effects on soil quality remained elusive, especially after decades of recovery. To address this need, we selected three plots for the MUS and SMS in Johor, Malaysia, to assess soil properties in logged-over forest plots. All the plots were natural forest reserves. Soil properties analyzed include soil acidity, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, selected nutrient contents, and soil compaction. Generally, the results of the study indicate that forests logged using the SMS exhibit superior soil quality compared to those logged using the MUS according to several key soil properties. Specifically, significantly higher cation exchange capacity, potassium content, calcium content, and magnesium content with lower soil compaction was observed in the SMS when compared to MUS plots. In short, the SMS enhances soil quality more effectively than the MUS, even with a shorter logging cycle. This is because the SMS does not harvest all trees and distributes the impact of harvesting more evenly over time, rather than concentrating it at a single time point. Ultimately, this highlights that the SMS can play a significant role in promoting sustainable forest management practices by preserving soil quality.

Using density surface models to assess the ecological effectiveness of a protected area network in Tanzania

AbstractGiven recent global endeavors to increase protected area coverage, it is crucial to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of various area‐based conservation strategies in effectively reducing biodiversity loss. Here, we investigated the responses of wildlife populations to different protection levels and environmental variables at the landscape scale in the Katavi–Rukwa Ecosystem, western Tanzania. To this end, we conducted line distance sampling surveys and counted the dung of six target mammal species (elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, topi, and hartebeest) along foot transects within areas differing in protection levels (from strict to less‐strictly protected: national park, game reserve, forest reserve, game‐controlled area, and unprotected areas). Based on these dung counts, we modeled the spatial distribution of these six mammal species using a species‐specific density surface modeling framework. We found consistent effects of protection level and land use variables on the spatial distribution of the target mammal species: dung densities were highest in the national park and game reserves, intermediate in less‐strictly protected areas, and lowest in unprotected areas. Beyond species‐specific environmental predictors for dung densities, our results highlight consistent negative associations between dung densities of the target species and distance to cropland and avoidance of areas in proximity to houses. Our findings underpin differences in ecological effectiveness of protected areas within one ecosystem. Protection level and land use play crucial roles in moderating the spatial distribution of all considered mammal species. Our findings suggest that a landscape approach needs to guide effective conservation across the entire protection gradient of the Katavi–Rukwa Ecosystem.

Ectoparasites of wild rodents in forest sites invaded and uninvaded by Maesopsis eminii in Amani nature forest reserve, Tanzania

Parasites are important component of communities in a forest ecosystem with profound effects on trophic interactions such as food web. Modification of the forest structure (e.g. changes in species composition and abundance of key species) can have a strong impact on the occurrence, diversity, and abundance of parasites, with subsequent repercussions for ecosystem functioning. In this study, we compared the occurrence and abundance of wild rodents’ ectoparasites from forest sites invaded and uninvaded by an invasive tree, Maesopsis eminii in Amani Nature Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Three large plots (40 m × 100 m) were randomly established in each forest sites invaded and uninvaded by M. eminii. In each plot, 50 Sherman traps were systematically placed at 10 m interval for capturing wild rodents through a capture-mark-recapture technique. Wilcox rank sum test was used to compare for differences in the abundance of infested rodents and ectoparasites between the invaded and uninvaded forest sites. A total of 297 individual rodents were captured and screened for ectoparasites, including 174 rodents from uninvaded forest site and 123 rodents from invaded forest site. The number of infested rodents were significantly (W = 8592, P < 0.001) greater in uninvaded forest site (66.27%) than in the invaded forest site (36.2%). Furthermore, a significant greater number of Echinolaelaps echidninus (W = 1849, P < 0.01) and Dinopsyllus ellobius (W = 2800.5, P < 0.05) ectoparasites were found in uninvaded as compared to the invaded forest sites. The results of this study suggest that the invasion and dominance by, M. eminii in Amani Nature Reserve has created unfavorable conditions for rodents and ectoparasites and therefore impacting the diversity and function of the forest ecosystem. We recommend prevention of further introduction of the M. eminii outside their natural range and mitigating the impact of the established M. eminii in Amani Forest Nature Reserve.

Nature Forest Reserves in Tanzania and their importance for conservation.

Since 1997 Tanzania has undertaken a process to identify and declare a network of Nature Forest Reserves (NFRs) with high biodiversity values, from within its existing portfolio of national Forest Reserves, with 16 new NFRs declared since 2015. The current network of 22 gazetted NFRs covered 948,871 hectares in 2023. NFRs now cover a range of Tanzanian habitat types, including all main forest types-wet, seasonal, and dry-as well as wetlands and grasslands. NFRs contain at least 178 of Tanzania's 242 endemic vertebrate species, of which at least 50% are threatened with extinction, and 553 Tanzanian endemic plant taxa (species, subspecies, and varieties), of which at least 50% are threatened. NFRs also support 41 single-site endemic vertebrate species and 76 single-site endemic plant taxa. Time series analysis of management effectiveness tracking tool (METT) data shows that NFR management effectiveness is increasing, especially where donor funds have been available. Improved management and investment have resulted in measurable reductions of some critical threats in NFRs. Still, ongoing challenges remain to fully contain issues of illegal logging, charcoal production, firewood, pole-cutting, illegal hunting and snaring of birds and mammals, fire, wildlife trade, and the unpredictable impacts of climate change. Increased tourism, diversified revenue generation and investment schemes, involving communities in management, and stepping up control measures for remaining threats are all required to create a network of economically self-sustaining NFRs able to conserve critical biodiversity values.

A New Hybrid Record for The Vascular Flora of Türkiye: Fagus x taurica Popl.

The presence of Fagus x taurica Popl., a hybrid of two Fagus L. taxa known to be naturally distributed in Türkiye, has been detected in the natural deciduous-mixed forests of Bolu. Specimens were collected from Kökez Old Growth Fir Forest Nature Reserve Area, Bolu Kale Fındığı Nature Reserve Area, and Yedigöller National Park in Bolu province, northwest Türkiye. After the identification, specimens were compared with materials in the international herbaria. As a result of the examinations, the morphological features seen to be different from its parents are as follows: Young shoots are grayish-green in color, leaves have 7-13 pairs of lateral veins, are ovate or obovate, and their margins are dentate, and the cupula scales are subulate. It resembles F. orientalis Lipsky in terms of leaf characteristics and F. sylvatica L. in terms of cupula characteristics. In this article, a botanical description of the taxon, differences from the main species, distribution maps, and photos are given. Fagus x taurica is a new hybrid record for the vascular flora of Türkiye. With this new record, the number of Fagus sp. taxa in the flora of Türkiye has risen to 3.

Long-term biomass dynamics of temperate forests in Europe after cessation of management

Forests can contribute to climate change mitigation by sequestering carbon when management intensity is reduced. However, there is high uncertainty regarding biomass dynamics in temperate forests after the cessation of management. We used forest inventory data from an extensive network of 224 plots in 37 natural forest reserves (NFR) covering a wide environmental gradient with mean annual temperatures ranging from 1 to 10.4 °C and mean annual precipitation ranging from 901 to 2317 mm. Inventories had been conducted approximately every 10 years during the last 60 years. We used mixed effect models to (i) analyse biomass development, (ii) assess the role of time since the cessation of management (TSCM) and (iii) disentangle the environmental and forest structural drivers of biomass change. After the cessation of management and in the absence of high-severity natural disturbances, biomass accumulated gradually along a saturation curve. There were large differences in biomass among reserves and plots, with values ranging from 101 Mg ha−1 to 851.2 Mg ha−1, with a median of 362.1 Mg ha−1 (SD = 122.5 Mg ha−1). The biomass curve did not yet tend towards an equilibrium, most likely because the majority of the NFRs do not exceed 100 years of TSCM. Compared to higher elevations, forests at lower, warmer sites showed a larger total biomass and higher rates of biomass accumulation. We found a reduction by 148 Mg ha−1 of biomass per 1000 m of elevation gain. The strongest positive rate of change (>8 Mg ha−1 year−1) was found in forests with high basal area (>60 m2 ha−1) and medium to high levels of tree density (1500 to 2000 stems ha−1). Overall, most reserves have not reached a biomass equilibrium yet and continue to act as carbon sinks in tree biomass. This highlights the carbon sequestration capacity of forest reserves and their role as carbon pools.

Issues of ecosystem conservation and safety (using the example of the “Semey Ormany” of the Republic of Kazakhstan)

The article analyzes the issues of preserving the integrity of the planet’s ecosystem in a rapidly changing world and climate change on the Earth. The authors note that at the present stage, threats arise in nature that require coordinated actions to restore, ensure the conservation and rational use of natural resources, including unique natural complexes. Among these is the ribbon-like pine forest, the history of which is described in the article. The object of the study is a forest natural reserve located in the east of the Republic of Kazakhstan – the “Semey Ormany”. The authors research environmental conservation activity, forest protection and reforestation activities of the “Semey Ormany”, i.e. activities to protect ecosystems necessary to preserve our environment and ensure sustainability for future generations. The analysis carried out in the article allows us to gain and recommendations were made for the conservation of biological diversity.

Via Ferrata as an innovative technology of health-improving physical culture

Via ferrata is a phenomenon that has long been known in mountain tourism and is becoming increasingly widespread every year. Currently, it is increasingly developing in Russia, and its popularity is actively growing. Via ferrata is a professional term. It marks a section of the rock route equipped with special metal structures. These devices on a difficult rocky area can significantly speed up passing along the route and save energy costs to overcome it. The purpose of the study is to develop a project that includes the development of this type of sports tourism in the Black Sea regions of Russia. The objectives of the study are to study the history and recreational potential of via ferrata, as well as to develop a project and justify its effectiveness. The subject of the study, as an example, is the designed via ferrata route along a natural formation on the eastern wall of the Ai-Petri rock massif in Crimea. The scientific and practical significance of this study lies in the development of a potentially interesting project from a recreational point of view, using a natural object of the Crimean mountain forest nature reserve, as well as the presence of a technical justification for it, which can subsequently be proposed for the project implementation.

The relationship between the abundance of non-native tree species and the community structure of resident woody species in tropical montane forest of West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Non-native tree species are globally claimed as liable to the encroachment of natural forests in their proximity resulting to the loss of biodiversity. This study was conducted in Magamba Nature Forest Reserve (MNFR) in West Usambara Mountains of Tanzania. A total of 96 (20 m x 20 m) plots were established to record all woody plants with Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm while two nested plots of 2 m x 5 m were set to measure any plant with DBH ≥ 1 cm but less than 5 cm. Furthermore, two nested plots of 1 m x 1 m were established within the bigger plot in order to assess and record seedlings (DBH < 1 cm). Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) were used to assess the relationship between total abundance, species diversity, richness, evenness, and biomass of resident species and the abundance of Acacia melanoxylon and Eucalyptus grandis. Findings show a significant (p < 0.05) decrease of abundance of all resident woody species, adults, saplings and seedlings with an increase in the abundance of A. melanoxylon. The study also showed that the species richness and diversity of all resident species decreased with increasing the abundance of non-native species (p < 0.05). The abundance of E. grandis did not show significant (p > 0.05) association when assessed against the total abundance, species diversity, richness and evenness of all the resident woody species. This non-significant result may not necessarily mean no effect. This is because the P-value does not explain the size of the effect in biological data. Further analysis revealed that, the biomass of resident species was negatively related to the abundance of non-native species A. melanoxylon (p = 0.003) and E. grandis (p = 0.038). The negative relationship between the abundance, richness, diversity, evenness, and biomass of the resident woody species and the abundance of non-native species portrayed in this study raise an alarm. Therefore, there is need for setting monitoring and control mechanism to stop further spread of the non-native tree species in MNFR and hence, save the remaining biodiversity of the area.

MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE LEVEL OF PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS ROSCI0045 JIU CORRIDOR, BISTREȚ ROSPA0010 AND NATURAL RESERVES DRĂNC FOSSIL PLACE-2391 AND ZAVAL FOREST - IV.33 + A6

The paper aims to highlight the aspects related to the urban infrastructure for the protected areas ROSCI0045 Jiu Corridor, Bistreț ROSPA0010 and the Drănic Fossil Place-2391 and Zaval Forest Nature Reserves – IV.33+A6, given that they group a significant number of species of plant and animal origin. These protected areas play an essential role in biodiversity conservation at the level of the 56 ATUs (37 in Dolj County, 17 in Gorj County, one in Mehedinţi County, one in Olt County), on whose territory they are located. The paper refers to the drinking water distribution network, the sewerage network and the natural gas distribution network (including adjacent aspects related to them).The area has 740 km of city streets, of which 578 km modernized, 1971.2 km drinking water network, 936.0 km sewerage network, produces about 342 thousand cubic meters of water per day, achieving a daily consumption of 19,956 cubic meters. Within the area, there are 940.2 km of pipelines for natural gas distribution (two thirds located in the urban area), which facilitated a consumption of 133,040 thousand cubic meters of gas annually. The urban infrastructure improved during 2017-2021, but certain aspects related to it need to be properly analyzed in order not to have a high negative impact on the state of the environment.

EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF HUMAN ACTIVITY ON THE SPATIO-TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF LARGE CARNIVORES USING CAMERA TRAPS IN THE CENTRAL FOREST NATURE RESERVE

The possibilities for assessing the impact of human activity on mammals using camera traps are demonstrated in Russia for the first time, three species of large carnivores taken as examples: the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), and the grey wolf (Canis lupus). To do this, a single-season species-level occupancy analysis and an analysis of daily activity were utilized. The study was carried out in 2022 in the territory of the Southern Forestry of the Central Forest Nature Reserve, western European Russia during the period of maximum human activity (July–August). The relative abundance indices of pedestrians, all-terrain vehicles, as well as the distance to villages were used as variables. The maximum predicted occupancy was found for the lynx (ψ = 0.97), vs the minimum for the wolf (ψ = 0.78). The detection probability was the highest for the brown bear (p = 0.18), in contrast to both lynx and wolf (0.08 each). For the lynx and the brown bear, large degrees of overlap of daily activities with pedestrians (\({{\hat {\Delta }}_{4}}\) = 0.57 and \({{\hat {\Delta }}_{4}}\) = 0.47) and all-terrain vehicles (\({{\hat {\Delta }}_{4}}\) = 0.51 and \({{\hat {\Delta }}_{4}}\) = 0.41) were noted, in contrast to those for the wolf (\({{\hat {\Delta }}_{1}}\) = 0.37 and \({{\hat {\Delta }}_{1}}\) = 0.35, respectively). Human activity had no noticeable effect on either the spatial or temporal distribution patterns of the brown bear and lynx. In contrast, the wolf showed a shift in both patterns away from human activity. The combined use of occupancy and daily activity analyses based on data from camera traps is the optimal method for assessing and regulating the human activity in particularly strictly protected natural areas.