Forest Resources Research Articles

Household Livelihood Strategies and Forest Resource Use in Rural West Bengal, India

The economic contributions of forest resources to the well-being of rural households are enormous. However, the level of forest benefits and degree of forest reliance vary across households. Drawing on a sustainable livelihood framework, this article explores how these forest resource uses correlate to the choice of livelihood strategies of rural forest-dependent households with a specific focus on the increased income of households, filling income shortfall, coping with shocks and livelihood diversification. Data were collected from 407 rural forest-dependent households in West Bengal, India. Based on the share of forest income in total household income, households were classified into different livelihood strategy groups. One-way ANOVA was run to test the income differences among these groups. The forest extractive strategy was found least income-generating of all livelihood strategies. Multinomial logit regression was carried out to identify the asset-based explanatory variables that influence livelihood strategy choices and forest dependency of the studied households. Analyses show that households’ differential access to or endowment of livelihood assets determines the choice of a rural household’s livelihood strategy and that forest resource uses of the households are livelihood strategy driven. Asset-poor households should be given opportunities to pursue livelihood activities with higher economic returns. JEL Classifications: Q23, Q56, Q57

Historical Trend Analysis and Future Projections of Rainfall in Amhara, Ethiopia

Understanding rainfall trends & projections is essential for water resource management. This study showed historical (1981-2020) and future (2021-2100) rainfall amounts and trends across 71 grid points separated by 0.44o in Amhara and Amhara’s five rainfall regimes (A3, A4, A5U, A5L, A6). Ground and satellite merged historical data from Ethiopia Meteorology Institute (EMI) and the Rossby Centre Regional Atmospheric Model (RCA) forced by an ensemble of the best-performed Global Circulation Models (GCMs) in Amhara, HadGEM2-ES of UK and MPI-ESM-LR of Germany, in three Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios, RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 from CORDEX project were the basis of dataset. Amhara’s annual, seasonal, and monthly historical rainfall trends mostly increased. During Jun-Sep (Kiremt), lower rainfall receiving regimes (A6, A5L, A5U) had a significant increasing trend (~ 4 mm/year), while wetter regimes (A3 & A4) had a non-significant increasing (< 1 mm/year) and decreasing (~ -0.5 mm/year) trends, respectively. Generally, compared to the climatology, the annual and Kiremt rainfall in Amhara is projected to increase in the near-term (2021-2040) and mid-term (2041-2060) and decrease in the long-term (2081-2100); Oct-Jan (Bega) rainfall is projected to increase in all future terms and all RCP scenarios while Feb-May (Belg) rainfall will be abrupt

UAV-LiDAR Integration with Sentinel-2 Enhances Precision in AGB Estimation for Bamboo Forests

Moso bamboo forests, recognized as a distinctive and significant forest resource in subtropical China, contribute substantially to efficient carbon sequestration. The accurate assessment of the aboveground biomass (AGB) in Moso bamboo forests is crucial for evaluating their impact on the carbon balance within forest ecosystems at a regional scale. In this study, we focused on the Moso bamboo forest located in Shanchuan Township, Zhejiang Province, China. The primary objective was to utilize various data sources, namely UAV-LiDAR (UL), Sentinel-2 (ST), and a combination of UAV-LiDAR with Sentinel-2 (UL + ST). Employing the Boruta algorithm, we carefully selected characterization variables for analysis. Our investigation delved into establishing correlations between UAV-LiDAR characterization parameters, Sentinel-2 feature parameters, and the aboveground biomass (AGB) of the Moso bamboo forest. Ground survey data on Moso bamboo forest biomass served as the basis for our analysis. To enhance the accuracy of AGB estimation in the Moso bamboo forest, we employed three distinct modeling techniques: multivariate linear regression (MLR), support vector regression (SVR), and random forest (RF). Through this approach, we aimed to compare the impact of different data sources and modeling methods on the precision of AGB estimation in the studied bamboo forest. This study revealed that (1) the point cloud intensity of UL, the variables of canopy cover (CC), gap fraction (GF), and leaf area index (LAI) reflect the structure of Moso bamboo forests, and the variables indicating the height of the forest stand (AIH1, AIHiq, and Hiq) had a significant effect on the AGB of Moso bamboo forests, significantly impact Moso bamboo forest AGB. Vegetation indices such as DVI and SAVI in ST also exert a considerable effect on Moso bamboo forest AGB. (2) AGB estimation models constructed based on UL consistently demonstrated higher accuracy compared with ST, achieving R2 values exceeding 0.7. Regardless of the model used, UL consistently delivered superior accuracy in Moso bamboo forest AGB estimation, with RF achieving the highest precision at R2 = 0.88. (3) Integration of ST with UL substantially improved the accuracy of AGB estimation for Moso bamboo forests across all three models. Specifically, using RF, the accuracy of AGB estimation increased by 97.7%, with R2 reaching 0.89 and RMSE reduced by 124.4%. As a result, the incorporation of LiDAR data, which reflects the stand structure, has proven to enhance the accuracy of aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation in Moso bamboo forests when combined with multispectral remote sensing data. This integration serves as an effective solution to address the limitations of single optical remote sensing methods, which often suffer from signal saturation, leading to lower accuracy in estimating Moso bamboo forest biomass. This approach offers a novel perspective and opens up new possibilities for improving the precision of Moso bamboo forest biomass estimation through the utilization of multiple remote sensing sources.

Vegetation Classification and a Biomass Inversion Model for Wildfires in Chongli Based on Remote Sensing Data

Vegetation classification, biomass assessment, and wildfire dynamics are interconnected wildfire-ecosystem components. The Chongli District, located in Zhangjiakou City, was the venue for skiing at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Its high mountains and dense forests create a unique environment. The establishment of alpine ski resorts highlighted the importance of comprehensive forest surveys. Understanding vegetation types and their biomass is critical to assessing the distribution of local forest resources and predicting the likelihood of forest fires. This study used satellite multispectral data from the Sentinel-2B satellite to classify the surface vegetation in the Chongli District through K-means clustering. By combining this classification with a biomass inversion model, the total biomass of the survey area can be calculated. The biomass inversion equation established based on multispectral remote sensing data and terrain information in the Chongli area have a strong correlation (shrub forest R2 = 0.811, broadleaf forest R2 = 0.356, coniferous forest R2 = 0.223). These correlation coefficients are key indicators for our understanding of the relationship between remote sensing data and actual vegetation biomass, reflecting the performance of the biomass inversion model. Taking shrubland as an example, a correlation coefficient as high as 0.811 shows the model’s ability to accurately predict the biomass of this type of vegetation. In addition, through multiple linear regression, the optimal shrub, broadleaf, and coniferous forest biomass models were obtained, with the overall accuracy reaching 93.58%, 89.56%, and 97.53%, respectively, meeting the strict requirements for survey accuracy. This study successfully conducted vegetation classification and biomass inversion in the Chongli District using remote sensing data. The research results have important implications for the prevention and control of forest fires.

Biotic and abiotic factors influencing macrofungal diversity and biomass in Mediterranean forests with a focus on the Porcini group

Macrofungi are among the most crucial ecological forest resources and essential components of terrestrial ecosystems. Despite growing socio-economic interest, knowledge of their production is not understood because of many factors that can affect their natural growth. The aim of this study is to analyze which biotic and abiotic factors can influence the diversity and biomass of macrofungal fruiting bodies, at small and large scales. We worked in broadleaf Mediterranean forests, with a special focus on wild edible species (Porcini). The mycological observations were focused on epigeous macrofungi. To investigate con­nections between the occurrence of Boletus edulis species distribution modeling was used. Contrary to previ­ous studies, the results reveal that, at a small (local) scale, the soil properties and the geochemical content (traces and minor elements) are more strongly correlated with macrofungal communities than vegetation (tree richness, dead wood, and litter volume) and climatic parameters (air temperatures and rainfall). At large scale, both edaphic and climatic factors, are considered essential for fungal fruiting and distribution across landscapes. The quantity of precipitation of the driest month is the crucial climatic factor influenc­ing the occurrence of Porcini. The different results highlight a high variability and site dependence of both biotic and abiotic factors. Further studies appear to be necessary to increase knowledge on which factors have the most influence on edible and non-edible mushroom yield in various habitats.

An Assessment on the Roles and Accountability of Adjacent Local Communities in Decentralized Forest Management System in Mufindi District, Iringa, Tanzania

Purpose: This study was undertaken in Ihang’ana Forest Reserve to provide an understanding of the roles and accountability of forest stakeholders in decentralized forest management for sustainability. The study was proposed specifically to assess decentralization of forest management approach by identifying the main stakeholders and examine their roles and methods used on management of the Ihang’ana Forest Reserve.
 Methodology: Multiple research methods were used for data collection which included literature reviews, structured questionnaires survey; institutional and key informant interviews, transect walks and observation and focus group discussions. The study adopted a mixed methods approach with simple and purposive sampling procedures. Quantitative data were analysed through SPSS with support of content analysis for qualitative data. Three villages adjacent to Ihang’ana forest were studied as target population Igeleke, Kibengu and Mwatasi with a total of 102 sampled respondents.
 Findings: The key findings of the study revealed that the major stakeholders in the management of Ihang’ana forest reserves were the local communities adjacent the forest reserves, the government and non-governmental organizations. The roles played by these stakeholders were guarding and patrolling done by local communities, education provision on forest management and facilities provision of seminars and workshops. The methods used to conserve and manage forest resources in Ihang’ana forest were afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry, destocking, implementation of enacted by-laws and the use of alternative energy. Several factors that led to effective management of the Ihang’ana Forest were implementation of forest by-laws, community inclusiveness, and strictness of the forest committee and application of deterrent penalties. The study concludes that local community participation in decentralized forest management bottom up approach is of paramount. The inclusiveness of the local community had led to effective management of the forest.
 Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that, decentralized bottom-up approach forest management should be maintained for the forest sustainability. Also the central government should continue supporting the local communities in conservation activities of the forest, maintaining the existing fire breaks and timing for clearing the fire breaks is crucial.

The occurrence and comprehensive control technology of pine wilt disease

Pine wilt disease is known as one of the most harmful forestry diseases in the world. It is called the "cancer" of pine trees and seriously threatens forest resources and ecological environment. Therefore, it is of great significance to strengthen the prevention and control of pine wilt disease. This article introduces the pathogens and pathogenesis characteristics of pine wilt disease, summarizes the strategies adopted by Japan, the United States, South Korea and other countries to prevent and control pine wilt disease, and proposes specific comprehensive prevention and control technologies for pine wilt disease from the aspects of quarantine treatment, chemical control, biological control, and physical control. This study is expected to provide a reference for the sustainable development of forest resources and the effective prevention and control of pine wilt disease.

PERSEPSI MASYARAKAT TERHADAP PENGAJUAN PERHUTANAN SOSIAL SKEMA HUTAN DESA DI KAMPUNG KUADAS KECAMATAN MAKBON KABUPATEN SORONG

Background : Kuadas Village, located in Sorong Regency, is one of the villages selected by the Forest Area Management (KPH) of Sorong Regency through the Social Forestry Indicative Map (PIAPS) created by the Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Center (BPSKL). It is proposed under the social forestry program with a village forest scheme and is currently facilitated by the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) Fauna Flora Indonesia Program in the submission of the Social Forestry Village Forest Scheme. However, the issues faced by the surrounding village communities are usually related to social and economic aspects in managing the forest. Method: The researcher used 46 respondents as samples and conducted the study from June to July 2023 in Kuadas Village, Makbon District, Sorong Regency, using the Saturated Sampling technique. The data obtained were analyzed using the Likert Scale. Results: Three perception aspects were assessed, namely the Utilization and Level of Dependence on Forest Resources, Forest Sustainability, and Perception of Social Forestry. After calculating with the Likert Scale formula, it was found that the aspect of Social Forestry Perception received the highest score with a total of 1.175 and a percentage of 87.7%. Conclusion: The development of knowledge about community perceptions regarding the submission of the Social Forestry Village Forest Scheme can provide valuable information for readers, such as the village or others.

Valuation of Ecosystem Services for Driving Community-assisted Forest Landscape Restoration in Endane Biodiversity Corridor, Sri Lanka

The ecosystem services: direct or indirect benefits of ecosystems to human well-being, need to be recognized in conservation and restoration decision-making. In the human-dominated southwest Sri Lanka, we have established a forest landscape restoration project (Endane Biodiversity Corridor) linking a peripheral forest reserve to Sinharaja Rainforest Complex. The ecosystem services provided by tea monocultures, abandoned tea lands, and lowland home gardens were estimated employing a range of methods for estimating respective ecosystem service values with data collected from household surveys, key stakeholder interviews, and survey of tree flora in 20 m × 20 m plots for estimating aboveground carbon stock. The benefit transfer approach was used to value the supporting and regulating services. The total value of ecosystem services provided by this forest corridor landscape was 6,465 USD ha/yr in 2021. This amount included: provisioning services of 1,950 USD ha/yr, supporting services of 645 USD ha/yr, regulating services of 3,807 USD ha/yr, and cultural services of 38.8 USD ha/yr. Overall, our forest corridor landscape of 59.3 ha provided 382,362 of USD of ecosystem services a year. In comparison to tea monoculture, species-rich home gardens generate a high amount of provisioning services. Our study site is prone to ecosystem degradation due to human activities like forest land encroachment, illegal gem mining, and over-harvesting of forest products. However, we recognize the opportunity of enhancing the biodiversity of monoculture tea gardens and home gardens of the corridor following the principles of agroforestry and enrichment planting. These results i.e., the ecosystem service values among different land uses, are imperative for financing and encouraging community participation for forest restoration activities.
 Keywords: Forest resources assessment, Forest restoration, Common-based restoration

Wildlife conservation society’s activities and biodiversity conservation in protected areas in cross river state, Nigeria

Despite the activities of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in protected areas in Cross River State, a high level of forest resource exploitation is still occasioned by indiscriminate logging, wildlife poaching, bush burning, and dangerous fishing. Previous studies in the study area and Africa have identified some reasons for this continuous biodiversity exploitation. However, the effect of the activities of the WCS has yet to be analyzed. This study used a correlational research design to examine the Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS) activities and biodiversity conservation in Protected Areas in Cross River State. A sample of 1360 respondents from a population of 76,704 inhabitants in the 25 support Zone Communities in Afi, Mbe, and Okwangwo Divisions of Cross River National Park (CRNP) was drawn. After receiving face and content validity from experts, a 30-item structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument's Cronbach alpha reliability indices varied between 0.83 and 0.89. The data analysis method employed was Simple Linear Regression analysis. The analysis revealed that conservation education activities, alternative livelihood support, and anti-poaching patrols significantly contributed to biodiversity conservation in Protected Areas in Cross River State. Based on this result, it was concluded that the activities of WCS to ensure adequate conservation of biodiversity-ecosystem in Protected Areas in Cross River State yield intermediate results. It was recommended that WCS intensify efforts in educating community people around protected areas in Cross River State, increase and monitor alternative livelihood support, and intensify anti-poaching patrols in all the protected areas.

Valuation of Ecosystem Services for Driving Community-assisted Forest Landscape Restoration in Endane Biodiversity Corridor, Sri Lanka

The ecosystem services: direct or indirect benefits of ecosystems to human well-being, need to be recognized in conservation and restoration decision-making. In the human-dominated southwest Sri Lanka, we have established a forest landscape restoration project (Endane Biodiversity Corridor) linking a peripheral forest reserve to Sinharaja Rainforest Complex. The ecosystem services provided by tea monocultures, abandoned tea lands, and lowland home gardens were estimated employing a range of methods for estimating respective ecosystem service values with data collected from household surveys, key stakeholder interviews, and survey of tree flora in 20 m × 20 m plots for estimating aboveground carbon stock. The benefit transfer approach was used to value the supporting and regulating services. The total value of ecosystem services provided by this forest corridor landscape was 6,465 USD ha/yr in 2021. This amount included: provisioning services of 1,950 USD ha/yr, supporting services of 645 USD ha/yr, regulating services of 3,807 USD ha/yr, and cultural services of 38.8 USD ha/yr. Overall, our forest corridor landscape of 59.3 ha provided 382,362 of USD of ecosystem services a year. In comparison to tea monoculture, species-rich home gardens generate a high amount of provisioning services. Our study site is prone to ecosystem degradation due to human activities like forest land encroachment, illegal gem mining, and over- harvesting of forest products. However, we recognize the opportunity of enhancing the biodiversity of monoculture tea gardens and home gardens of the corridor following the principles of agroforestry and enrichment planting. These results i.e., the ecosystem service values among different land uses, are imperative for financing and encouraging community participation for forest restoration activities.
 
 
 
 
 Keywords: Forest resources assessment, Forest restoration, Common-based restoration
 
 
 

A qualitative study exploring the epistemology of suffering within a Malaysian Indigenous tribe.

Despite the universal nature of suffering, few studies have examined how Indigenous ethnic minorities in non-western regions understand and respond to adversity. This study explored the epistemology of suffering among the Temiar ethnic group of Peninsular Malaysia using participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts of 43 participants were coded through inductive thematic analysis and a consensual qualitative approach. Three-tier themes were defined and named after subsequent analysis of core ideas and domains in the data. Major adversities reported included a lack of basic needs, lack of land-rights and unjust treatment from authorities, destruction of the forest environment and livelihood, and lack of accessibility and facilities, which were attributed to authorities' negligence of responsibilities, increasing human-animal conflict, environmental threats and imposed lifestyle changes. Faced with adversity, the Temiar endeavoured to survive by working crops and gathering forest resources. They utilized resources from family, fellow villagers, external agencies and spiritual-religious traditions. Theoretical mapping of attribution styles into the Ecological Rationality Framework revealed predominantly external-focused and concrete-perceptual rationalities privileged by strong-ties societies. These findings pointed to the resilience of a strong-ties community while adapting to the systemic suffering and risk factors stemming from a rationality mismatch with modernization and globalization trends. To conclude, we advocate for culture-sensitive mental health and psychiatric practices, as well as sustainable development for the well-being of Indigenous communities locally and globally.

Dynamics of land-cover change and characterization of charcoal production and trade in southwestern Angola

Miombo and mopane woodlands of southwestern Angola have been overexploited for decades, leading to deforestation and forest degradation driven by social dynamics during and after the civil war (1975–2002), with different patterns of use of natural resources. Our objective was to study the changes in land-cover in three municipalities of southwestern Angola, and to characterize the charcoal production and trade on miombo and mopane woodlands, where that production was identified as one of the main causes of degradation. Land-cover dynamics between 1990 and 2019 was evaluated based on four land-cover maps, and the processes involved in deforestation and forest degradation were identified and discussed. Roadside charcoal sale locations, markets, the most exploited species, and the type, size, and efficiency of the kilns were assessed through field surveys. Between 1990 and 2019, the woodland area decreased and was converted to savanna woodland and agriculture, while the urban area continuously increased. Both miombo and mopane woodlands went through higher annual deforestation rates than those reported by FAO at the national level. The dynamics of land use were different between the war and post-war periods, respectively with the abandonment of agricultural land and migration of rural populations to the cities, and their return to the countryside and use of land and forest resources as primary subsistence activities. Agriculture and charcoal production were identified as the main income-generating activities, and the occupation of unused land by outsiders may have also contributed to intensify deforestation and forest degradation. To slow down the ongoing area loss of miombo and mopane woodlands, it seems crucial to implement conservation and restoration strategies promoting the sustainable use of the resources while ensuring the provision of essential goods to local populations and contributing to reduce poverty.

Application of the strip clear-cutting system in a running bamboo (Phyllostachys glauca McClure) forest: feasibility and sustainability assessments.

As a renewable forest resource, bamboo plays a role in sustainable forest development. However, traditional cutting systems, selection cutting (SeC) and clear-cutting (ClC), result in an unsustainable production of bamboo forests due to labor-consuming or bamboo degradation. Recently, a strip clear-cutting (StC) was theoretically proposed to promote the sustainability of bamboo production, while little is known about its application consequence. Based on a 6-year experiment, we applied the strip clear-cutting system in a typical running bamboo (Phyllostachys glauca McClure) forest to assess its feasibility and sustainability. Using SeC and ClC as controls, we set three treatments with different strip widths (5 m, 10 m, and 20 m) for strip clear-cutting, simplified as StC-5, StC-10, and StC-20, respectively. Then, we investigated leaf physiological traits, bamboo size and productivity, population features, and economic benefits for all treatments. The stands managed by StC had high eco-physiological activities, such as net photosynthetic rate (P n), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), and photosynthetic phosphorus use efficiency (PPUE), and thus grew well, achieved a large diameter at breast height (DBH), and were tall. The stand biomass of StC (8.78 t hm-2 year-1) was 1.19-fold and 1.49-fold greater than that of SeC and ClC, respectively, and StC-10 and StC-20 were significantly higher than SeC or ClC (p< 0.05). The income and profit increased with the increase in stand density and biomass, and StC-20 and StC-10 were significantly higher than SeC or ClC (p< 0.05). Using principal components analysis and subordinate function analysis, we constructed a composite index to indicate the sustainability of bamboo forests. For the sustainability assessment, StC-10 had the highest productive sustainability (0.59 ± 0.06) and the second highest economic sustainability (0.59 ± 0.11) in all cutting treatments. StC-10 had the maximum overall sustainability, with a value of 0.53 ± 0.02, which was significantly higher than that of ClC (p< 0.05). The results verified that StC for Phyllostachys glauca forests is feasible and sustainable as its sustainability index outweighs those of traditional cutting systems (SeC and ClC), and 10 m is the optimum distance for the strip width of StC. Our findings provide a new cutting system for managing other running bamboo forests sustainably.

Theoretical foundations of identifying the wood processing industry and prospects for achieving its sustainable development

The goal of this article is to examine and justify the theoretical foundations of identifying the wood processing industry and determine the prospects for achieving its sustainable development in the context of a state of war in Ukraine. The relevance of the topic is driven by the necessity to ensure sustainable use of forest resources, the effective functioning of the industry, and consideration of modern environmental and economic challenges. The study employs a comprehensive research methodology, including the analysis of literary sources and a systemic approach to studying the production and utilization chain of forest resources. Based on the conducted research, key categories such as the wood processing industry, forest management, sawmilling industry, pulp and paper, and furniture industries have been identified. Special emphasis is placed on the interaction between these sectors and ways to optimize the use of forest resources. The article analyzes the component composition of the wood processing industry according to the Classifier of Types of Economic Activity (CPEA-2010) and determines the interconnections between its main branches, such as sawmilling, veneer, particleboard, fiberboard, and furniture industries. It is noted that the wood processing industry is a complex system encompassing both primary and secondary wood processing, paper production, and printing activities. The specificity of production and use of forest resources is determined through the principles of sustainable development. It is proven that the transition to the principles of sustainable development is a priority for the wood processing industry, as it contributes to a balance between economic efficiency, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability. In the context of a state of war, the importance of developing innovative methods of conducting business and production in the wood processing industry is discussed. A comprehensive integrated approach to sustainable development is proposed, wherein various stages of production and use of forest resources interact to achieve common goals: sustainability, efficiency, and a balanced impact on the environment. This approach considers economic, social, and environmental requirements, with a focus on developing the industry in the face of the challenges of a state of war. A systemic view of the production and utilization chain of forest resources allows maximizing the interaction and efficiency of the industry. The practical value of the article lies in the development of recommendations for forming a sustainable development strategy for the wood processing industry in conditions of a state of war. The proposed approaches can serve as a basis for decision-making and implementing state policy in the field of forest use and wood processing, considering modern economic, social, and environmental challenges.

Conceptualizing Forest Operations Planning and Management Using Principles of Functional Complex Systems Science to Increase the Forest’s Ability to Withstand Climate Change

The sustainable management of forest resources is greatly influenced by forest operations (FO). Interactions between humans and nature describe how people engage with and are impacted by the natural world. As we enter the Anthropocene epoch, we are being compelled to reevaluate our past and present methods of managing and planning our forest operations in order to find new ones that are more adaptable and successful at addressing the growing unpredictability resulting from accelerating global change. We briefly discuss the goals and constraints of the prior and current management and planning principles for forest operations in this study, focusing on how these principles have evolved on a worldwide scale. We then propose a promising idea, such as managing forest operations as complex adaptive systems and approaches based on resilience and sustainable use of forest resources, in order to achieve the necessary economic, social, and ecological goals. An in-depth understanding of the ecological, economic, and social factors that influence forest resilience is necessary for planning and managing forest operations efficiently. The proposed strategy combines the effectiveness of forest operations with a functional, complex network approach in order to manage forests for the Anthropocene.

Forestry Applications of Space-Borne LiDAR Sensors: A Worldwide Bibliometric Analysis.

The 21st century has seen the launch of new space-borne sensors based on LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology developed in the second half of the 20th century. Nowadays, these sensors offer novel opportunities for mapping terrain and canopy heights and estimating aboveground biomass (AGB) across local to regional scales. This study aims to analyze the scientific impact of these sensors on large-scale forest mapping to retrieve 3D canopy information, monitor forest degradation, estimate AGB, and model key ecosystem variables such as primary productivity and biodiversity. A worldwide bibliometric analysis of this topic was carried out based on up to 412 publications indexed in the Scopus database during the period 2004-2022. The results showed that the number of published documents increased exponentially in the last five years, coinciding with the commissioning of two new LiDAR space missions: Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-2) and Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI). These missions have been providing data since 2018 and 2019, respectively. The journal that demonstrated the highest productivity in this field was "Remote Sensing" and among the leading contributors, the top five countries in terms of publications were the USA, China, the UK, France, and Germany. The upward trajectory in the number of publications categorizes this subject as a highly trending research topic, particularly in the context of improving forest resource management and participating in global climate treaty frameworks that require monitoring and reporting on forest carbon stocks. In this context, the integration of space-borne data, including imagery, SAR, and LiDAR, is anticipated to steer the trajectory of this research in the upcoming years.

Evaluation of Accuracy in Estimating Diameter at Breast Height Based on the Scanning Conditions of Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Circular Fitting Algorithm

A growing societal interest exists in the application of lidar technology to monitor forest resource information and forestry management activities. This study examined the possibility of estimating the diameter at breast height (DBH) of two tree species, Pinus koraiensis (PK) and Larix kaempferi (LK), by varying the number of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) scans (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9) and DBH estimation methods (circle fitting [CF], ellipse fitting [EF], circle fitting with RANSAC [RCF], and ellipse fitting with RANSAC [REF]). This study evaluates the combination that yields the highest estimation accuracy. The results showed that for PK, the lowest RMSE of 0.97 was achieved when REF was applied to the data from nine scans after noise removal. For LK, the lowest RMSE of 1.03 was observed when applying CF to the data from seven scans after noise removal. Furthermore, ANOVA revealed no significant difference in the estimated DBH from nine scans when more than three scans were used for CF and RCF and more than five for EF and REF. These results are expected to be useful in establishing efficient and accurate DBH estimation plans using TLS for forest resource monitoring.

A 2020 forest age map for China with 30 m resolution

Abstract. A high-resolution, spatially explicit forest age map is essential for quantifying forest carbon stocks and carbon sequestration potential. Prior attempts to estimate forest age on a national scale in China have been limited by sparse resolution and incomplete coverage of forest ecosystems, attributed to complex species composition, extensive forest areas, insufficient field measurements, and inadequate methods. To address these challenges, we developed a framework that combines machine learning algorithms (MLAs) and remote sensing time series analysis for estimating the age of China's forests. Initially, we identify and develop the optimal MLAs for forest age estimation across various vegetation divisions based on forest height, climate, terrain, soil, and forest-age field measurements, utilizing these MLAs to ascertain forest age information. Subsequently, we apply the LandTrendr time series analysis to detect forest disturbances from 1985 to 2020, with the time since the last disturbance serving as a proxy for forest age. Ultimately, the forest age data derived from LandTrendr are integrated with the result of MLAs to produce the 2020 forest age map of China. Validation against independent field plots yielded an R2 ranging from 0.51 to 0.63. On a national scale, the average forest age is 56.1 years (standard deviation of 32.7 years). The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau alpine vegetation zone possesses the oldest forest with an average of 138.0 years, whereas the forest in the warm temperate deciduous-broadleaf forest vegetation zone averages only 28.5 years. This 30 m-resolution forest age map offers crucial insights for comprehensively understanding the ecological benefits of China's forests and to sustainably manage China's forest resources. The map is available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8354262 (Cheng et al., 2023a).

Assessment of Forest Biomass and Carbon Storage in Habitat 9340 Quercus ilex L. to Support Management Decisions for Climate Change Mitigation

The assessment of forest biomass has been a focus of research, aiming to understand matter–energy relationships in forest ecosystems and address forestry practice issues. In recent decades there has been increased societal interest in rational forest resource exploitation, necessitating accurate biomass estimation. In Greece there has been limited efforts in estimating forest biomass, and the current study focuses on habitat type 9340, “Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests,” located in the protected areas “GR1420004–Karla–Mavrovouni–Kefalovryso Velestinou–Neochori” and “GR1430001–Oros Pilio and Paraktia Thalassia Zoni (Mount Pilion and Coastal Sea Zone)” in the Natura 2000 network. The habitat falls within the thermo-Mediterranean zone and the study aims to estimate the biomass and carbon storage to contribute to sustainable EU forest strategies. Due to resource limitations, a generalized allometric equation was proposed as an alternative to traditional biomass estimation methods. The above-ground biomass per hectare was estimated, ranging from 16.10 to 205.27 Mg ha−1 (mean 61.91 Mg ha−1). Furthermore, two approaches were used to estimate the total biomass in the habitat: regional averages based on spatial distribution and spatial interpolation using a geographic information system. The total estimated biomass for habitat 9340 is 183,505 Mg, with the carbon storage in standing dry biomass amounting to 83,725.25 Mg. Despite the absence of sampled biomass specimens, this study combines robust statistical techniques with published empirical values to provide a solid framework for estimating assimilated CO2. Sequestered CO2 in the study area is estimated at 306,992.58 Mg. Therefore, the significant role of Quercus ilex L. in carbon storage in Mediterranean forest ecosystems is highlighted by sequestering a substantial amount of CO2.