Forest Restoration Research Articles

Cork oak (Quercus suber) in the dynamism of a forest landscape shaped by fire on Monte Pisano (Tuscany N-W, Italy)

The plant landscape of Monte Pisano is characterized by a predominant forest component, with Pinus pinaster and Castanea sativa, of clear anthropic imprint. Another important component is constituted by dynamically advanced scrubs and woods of evergreen sclerophylls of natural origin, although often differently altered by the anthropic action and/or by fires, and dominated by Quercus ilex. Quercus suber is often found within holm oak woods, and – with lower frequency – inside the pine forests. Cork oak, in some cases, becomes dominant going to constitute the northernmost cork forests in Tuscany. The frequency of fires in Monte Pisano in the last decades seems to have led to an increase in Q. suber surface due to its known resilience to wildfires. The aim of this research is: a) to define the distribution of Q. suber in the area also in relation to repeated fire events in the past; b) to provide an updated characterization of these stands using a phytosociological approach; c) to identify stands and groups of trees that can be used as "seed forests" for post-fire forest restoration purpose, in relation to their marginal population characteristic. The study suggests a relationship between the spread of cork oak and the historical pattern of fires. This wide spread should be protected by forms of forest management unfortunately absent in this territory.

Designing goal-appropriate forest restoration at a broader scale

Abstract

Effectiveness and driving mechanism of ecological restoration efforts in China from 2009 to 2019

Over the past decades, China's rapid economic growth and industrialization have led to serious ecological concerns. To combat ecological degradation and promote ecosystem sustainability, China has made substantial investments in ecological restoration in recent decades. Nevertheless, a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness and driving mechanisms of these efforts are still lacking. Therefore, this study aims to bridge this gap by employing national land-use survey data to evaluate the effectiveness and driving mechanisms of China's ecological restoration efforts during 2009-2019, with a specific focus on ecological land preservation, land use structure, and their contribution to ecosystem services. Additionally, the Geodetector model was used to detect potential influencing factors and driving mechanisms of these efforts. The results of this study revealed that: (1) Between 2009 and 2019, a total of 585,492.61 km2 of non-ecological land was successfully transformed into ecological land through various ecological restoration efforts. Most of these areas were previously unused or cultivated land. (2) Forest and grass plantations were the major ecological restoration efforts in China, accounting for 47.35% and 41.91% of the total restored ecological land, respectively. Grassland restoration clustered northwest of the Hu Line, while forest restoration concentrated mainly to the southeast. Water and wetlands restoration were mainly distributed around China's major rivers, such as the Yangtze River and Yellow River. (3) China's ecological restoration efforts contributed to a 2.53 trillion CNY yuan increase in ecosystem service value during 2009-2019, with over 65% of the increase attributed to ecosystem regulating services. (4) China's ecological restoration efforts were mainly influenced by anthropogenic factors, such as population, land use, and urbanization, while the non-linearly enhanced interaction between natural and other factors also deserves attention. China should balance urban expansion, agricultural development, and ecological preservation, aligning restoration with socioeconomic trends while establishing effective inter-regional ecological compensation mechanisms.

Large‐scale one‐off sea urchin removal promotes rapid kelp recovery in urchin barrens

Sea urchin overgrazing is a leading cause of kelp forest loss and in such cases their removal is increasingly advocated for kelp forest restoration. However, refining removal approaches is needed to improve the efficiency and success of restoration, as most previous removal studies have been small scale and require ongoing removals to maintain low densities and allow kelp recovery. We investigated the effectiveness of one‐off urchin removal from large, semi‐discrete areas of urchin barrens as a tool to promote kelp recovery. We removed sea urchins (Evechinus chloroticus) from four areas (1.6–2 ha) of urchin barrens in northeastern New Zealand. Exposed urchins were reduced to approximately 7% of initial densities and remained low, yet cryptic urchin densities increased after 2 years. Kelp (Ecklonia radiata) and fucoid (Sargassum sinclairii, Carpophyllum spp.) densities increased rapidly in removal areas, but remained constant or declined in adjacent control urchin barren areas. Macroalgal canopy recovery varied among and within removal areas, but increased on average from approximately 5 to 43% in 2 years. Densities of large sea urchin predators did not increase with kelp recovery, likely due to ongoing fishing within removal areas. Our results demonstrate that a single urchin removal from large, semi‐discrete areas of urchin barrens can effectively and efficiently promote rapid multi‐species macroalgal recovery without additional actions (e.g. repeated urchin removals or macroalgae enhancement) for at least 2 years. However, this approach does not restore whole ecosystems and consequently restoration benefits through kelp recovery will be temporary without longer‐term urchin management and/or rebuilding of predator populations.

Co-limitation of resources reveals adaptations of a tropical tree to heterogeneous environments along an elevational cline

IntroductionPlant species often exhibit significant variation in functional traits in populations along elevational gradients to cope with varying stress conditions. While plant development has been assumed to be most limited by a single resource, growing evidence suggests the potential for interactions of co-limiting resources to impact plant performance. Here, we aimed to determine how light, nitrogen, and water availability influence the growth and physiology of different populations of koa (Acacia koa), a tree species of concern that occurs across a large elevational gradient in tropical Hawaii, United States.MethodsPopulations from three seed sources [low (L), mid (M), and high (H) elevation] were grown in a controlled greenhouse experiment and exposed to co-limiting light, water, and nutrient (nitrogen) conditions. Light response, gas exchange, water status, resource use efficiency, nutrients and shoot non-structural carbohydrate concentrations, and growth and biomass allocation responses were quantified.ResultsWe found that resource co-limitation sometimes interacted to determine responses of the measured parameters. In general, the low elevation (L) koa population was more sensitive to conditions where both moisture and nutrients were limiting, while the high elevation (H) koa population was more sensitive to conditions where either light and moisture or light and nitrogen were co-limiting. The M population performed well overall regardless of resource limitation.DiscussionOur findings lend support to the theory that multiple resources limit growth and physiology of populations rather than the traditional view of a single resource limiting performance. Therefore, the possibility that multiple resource limitations drive population differences should be considered when developing population-based guidelines for forest and tree species restoration.

Natural deadwood hosts more diverse pioneering wood‐inhabiting fungal communities than restored deadwood

Deadwood can be recreated as a forest restoration measure to increase the amount of deadwood and assist deadwood‐dependent biodiversity. While deadwood restoration is known to have an overall positive effect on associated species in the long term, it remains poorly understood how and when wood‐inhabiting organisms colonize different kinds of deadwood, which is essential for developing efficient restoration frameworks. In this study, we use DNA metabarcoding to compare wood‐inhabiting fungal communities between fresh naturally fallen spruce logs and spruce logs felled for restoration. The results show that although pioneering fungal community composition greatly differs between natural and felled logs, with natural logs hosting more species‐rich and heterogeneous communities, felled logs still hold a relatively high fungal diversity. Responses to log type carried a strong phylogenetic signal, and orders Polyporales and Hymenochaetales including most species of conservation concern were more likely to occur in natural than in felled logs. Furthermore, we found that log type was more important for rarely recorded than commonly recorded taxa, suggesting that rare species might be more specialized in their habitat requirements than the common ones. Overall, while restored deadwood can hold a high fungal diversity, the results underline that freshly felled logs do not mimic fresh natural logs. Deadwood restoration should focus not only on increasing the quantity of deadwood but also on the quality of thereof, and most importantly, retaining the existing natural deadwood rather than artificially downing trees.

Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: The Transformative Power of Tourism in Empowering Women in Munsiyari, India

Summary In the picturesque village of Munsiyari, India, nestled in the Himalayan foothills, a group of local women found a way to turn tourism into a powerful tool for social change. Domestic violence was a pervasive issue in the community, with many women suffering in silence due to social stigma and lack of support for years until Malika Virdi, an avid mountaineer and social activist, came to their aid. The local women, with the guidance of Malika, took a bold step towards empowering themselves and ending domestic violence through the establishment of Maati Sangathan . Although the Sangathan was founded with the primary aim of promoting gender equality and eradicating the pervasive issue of domestic violence that had plagued the community for years, the women have successfully leveraged eco-tourism and handicrafts as ways to enhance their economic independence while also raising awareness about gender-based violence. This case study utilizes secondary published data to demonstrate the effectiveness of Sarmoli’s Himalayan Ark, a community homestay program started under the aegis of Maati Sangathan that incentivizes the conservation of the Himalayan Ecosystem. The program has notably contributed to the restoration of high-altitude lakes, forests, and local communities, ultimately leading to its recognition as a thriving ecotourism model in Uttarakhand. Information © The Author 2023

Divergent Effects of Topography on Soil Properties and Above-Ground Biomass in Nepal’s Mid-Hill Forests

Various factors, including topography, climate, soil attributes, and vegetation composition, influence above-ground biomass productivity in forest ecosystems. Despite the success of community forestry in restoring degraded hill forests in Nepal, existing research offers limited insights into how topographic factors and plant species affect soil chemical properties and, in turn, influence above-ground biomass. This study investigates the interrelations between altitude, aspect, soil depth, and vegetation type on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), and soil pH. These soil metrics are further correlated with forestry indices, such as diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height (Ht), above-ground tree biomass (AGTB), basal area (BA), and above-ground total carbon (AGTC), in the mid-hill region of central Nepal. Our findings indicate that aspect had a significant influence on SOC (p < 0.001), TN (p < 0.001), P (p < 0.05), and pH (p < 0.001) levels. Soils in the northwest (NW) aspect exhibited higher levels of SOC and TN but lower levels of P and pH than those in the southeast (SE) aspect. Altitude did not significantly affect soil properties. Variations in SOC, TN, K, and pH were observed across different soil depths. Key forestry metrics like DBH, Ht, AGTB, and AGTC were notably higher at elevated altitudes and under the NW aspect. We also found that vegetation composition adds a layer of complexity to the relationship between aspect, soil properties, and above-ground biomass. The higher altitudes in the SE aspect are more conducive to above-ground biomass productivity, while the NW aspect is favorable for higher levels of SOC and TN in the soil. These variations could be due to differences in carbon deposition rates, plant compositions, soil microbial activities, and microclimatic conditions between the aspects. These findings highlight the need for holistic forest management approaches that consider topographic factors, soil depth, and plant species, offering practical implications for the region’s sustainable forest management and restoration efforts.

Integrated global assessment of the natural forest carbon potential

Forests are a substantial terrestrial carbon sink, but anthropogenic changes in land use and climate have considerably reduced the scale of this system1. Remote-sensing estimates to quantify carbon losses from global forests2–5 are characterized by considerable uncertainty and we lack a comprehensive ground-sourced evaluation to benchmark these estimates. Here we combine several ground-sourced6 and satellite-derived approaches2,7,8 to evaluate the scale of the global forest carbon potential outside agricultural and urban lands. Despite regional variation, the predictions demonstrated remarkable consistency at a global scale, with only a 12% difference between the ground-sourced and satellite-derived estimates. At present, global forest carbon storage is markedly under the natural potential, with a total deficit of 226 Gt (model range = 151–363 Gt) in areas with low human footprint. Most (61%, 139 Gt C) of this potential is in areas with existing forests, in which ecosystem protection can allow forests to recover to maturity. The remaining 39% (87 Gt C) of potential lies in regions in which forests have been removed or fragmented. Although forests cannot be a substitute for emissions reductions, our results support the idea2,3,9 that the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of diverse forests offer valuable contributions to meeting global climate and biodiversity targets.

Response of soil micro-food web to nutrient limitation along a subtropical forest restoration

Forest ecosystem productivity and function is strongly influenced by the interaction between soil organisms and their resource use that can be impeded by an imbalance of ecological stoichiometry. Soil microorganisms are known to have an important role in biogeochemical cycling which is strongly influenced by ecological stoichiometry. However, there is limited understanding of how soil micro-food web respond to stoichiometric imbalances during forest restoration. Here, we investigated the effect of forest restoration on soil physio-chemical properties and the structure and function of soil micro-food web along a chronosequence of transformation stages: (i) early stage monoculture plantation of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) comprised of three age classes (5, 10 and 20 years); (ii) mid-stage conifer-broadleaved mixed forest; and (iii) late-stage mixed species broadleaved forest in south China. Results showed that forest restoration from C. lanceolata monocultures to mixed species broadleaved forest significantly increased soil organic carbon and total nitrogen. Soil bacteria, fungi, protists and nematodes abundance increased and the co-occurrence networks of soil biota became more complex and stable along the restoration chronosequence. In contrast, soil nitrogen and phosphorus limitations, particularly phosphorus limitation, increased along the chronosequence. In addition, soil exoenzyme activity suggested that the microbial investment in resource acquisition shifted from C- to nutrient-acquiring enzymes from the earlier to the later restoration stages. Availability of soil resources (e.g., dissolved organic carbon, ammonium, and available phosphate) appeared to have an important role in regulating soil food web composition, structure and stability during forest restoration. We conclude that nutrient limitation, particularly phosphorus limitation, likely has an important role in determining the stability of soil food webs during forest restoration. These findings contribute to our understanding of the relationships between soil nutrient limitation and soil micro-food web, and have implications for carbon sequestration through forest restoration and management in southern China.

Vegetation structure and carbon stock of restored mangrove on abandoned shrimp pond in the International Mangrove Botanical Garden Rama IX, Thailand

Abstract. Wongprom J, Maneeanakekul S, Tara A, Chandaeng W, Duangnamon D, Rueangket A, Wechakit D, Wanthongchai P, Maknual C. 2023. Vegetation structure and carbon stock of restored mangrove on abandoned shrimp pond in the International Mangrove Botanical Garden Rama IX, Thailand. Biodiversitas 24: 5821-5830. The conversion of mangrove forest into shrimp aquaculture has severely impacted biodiversity and increased carbon emissions. Restoration program is thus urgently needed for such mangrove forests. In this study, we investigated the vegetation structure and composition, and biomass and carbon stock of restored mangrove on abandoned shrimp pond. Observation plots at restoration sites with age of 3-year-old (MF3) and 14-year-old (MF14) were established in the International Mangrove Botanical Garden Rama IX, Chanthaburi Province, Thailand and at abandoned shrimp pond (ASP) and protected mangrove forest (PMF) as reference sites. The diameters and heights of mangrove species were measured and identified in order to determine the vegetation structure, composition, biomass, and carbon stock. Soil samples from four soil depths, i.e. 0-15, 15-30, 30-50, and 50-100 cm, were collected to quantify the soil carbon stock. The results showed the good growth of Rhizophora stand planted at the restored sites with high vegetation biomass and carbon stock. This species also promoted species diversity, suggesting that Rhizophora spp. are suitable species for the restoration of abandoned shrimp pond. The vegetation biomass and carbon stock of MF14 (230.99 t ha-1 and 102.54 t C ha-1, respectively) was higher than that of PMF (133.84 t ha-1 and 64.94 t C ha-1, respectively). Higher vegetation and soil carbon stocks of the restored mangrove forest was positively influenced by the Rhizophora stand. However, the ecosystem carbon pool of PMF was higher (366.38 t C ha-1). This result indicates that the conservation of mangrove forest is significant to maintain the forest diversity, ecosystem function, and reducing carbon emissions, while mangrove forest restoration is essential to improve the vegetation structure and increase the soil and vegetation carbon stocks.

Assessing the impact of forest conversion to plantations on soil degradation and forest water conservation in the humid tropical region of Southeast Asia: Implications for forest restoration

The deterioration of soil and water resources resulting from tropical rainforest (TR) conversion to monoculture plantations (e.g., rubber monoculture; RM) could be restrained and restored through intercropping. However, the response of soil properties and forest water conservation function to forest conversion, i.e., the conversion of RM to rubber rainforest (RR: derived from the invasion of wild native plants in abandoned RM), is still unclear. We involved four forests types, TR, RM, rubber-tea agroforestry (RTA), and RR, as transitional steps of forest conversion through a space-for-time substitution approach to examine the dynamic of soil physical, hydrological and chemical properties during the forest conversion (from TR to RM, RM to RTA, RTA to RR, and retransformation into TR). The results show that SOC, TN, TP, and TK decreased in the order of TR > RR > RTA > RM, which was followed by the trend of soil hydrological and physical properties among these forest types. The interrelation between soil physical and chemical properties was mediated by water flow behaviours. High macroporosity and related low Ks in TR favoured the occurrence of water flow behaviours. Water flow behaviours not only influenced the distribution of soil chemical elements but also played a crucial role in forming appropriate conditions for nutrient turnover. The co-occurrence of preferential and matrix flow was more prevalent in the rainy season than dry season due to the higher frequency and higher amount of rainwater. The preferential flow promoted the soil water flow in the water flow paths and enhanced water storage in the soil pores. In short, the soil properties and soil water supply decreased in the following order: TR > RR > RTA > RM, suggesting that the severe soil degradation that occurred after TR conversion to RM can be restored back to the extent of TR after a period of succession. The results provided new insights for understanding the forest water conservation function and soil properties in response to forest conversion and highlighted that the RR appeared as a transitional stage during the course of forest restoration from RM to TR under low rubber demand. These findings improve the current knowledge of the relationship among soil physical, hydrological and chemical properties in the rubber-growing humid tropical region of Southeast Asia.

Taxonomic and ecological structure of myrmecocomplexes in the forests of Volyn’ Polissia (Ukraine) and its transformation in the process of forest restoration in clerings

57 ant species were found in Volyn’ Polissia, of which 34 were found in the selected model forest plots. Changes in the ecological and taxonomic structure of the myrmecofauna in 2-, 7- and 17 years old wood cleanings were analyzed. Immediately after cutting down the trees and destroying the territory ants disappeared. Next year, meso-xerophilic and hemixerophilic species begin to populate this territory. Later, a number of meso- xerophilic species, which inhabit mainly dry meadows, appear there. The structure of myrmecofauna on the 17-years old cleaning begins to approach that of virgin forests. Red wood ants completely disappeared from the cleanings, what negatively affects the phytosanitary condition of the adjacent wooded areas. As a result, new ant associations are formed, but they become less stable, and it takes at least 50 years for the complete restoration of zonal forest myrmecomplexes.

Forest restoration decouple soil C:N:P stoichiometry but has little effects on microbial biodiversity globally

AbstractIntroductionForest restoration is an effective way to promote ecosystem functions and mitigate climate change. However, how forest restoration affect soil C:N:P stoichiometry and microbial biodiversity, as well as their linkage across contrasting forest types globally remains largely illusive.Materials and MethodsHere we conducted a global meta‐analysis by synthesizing 121 published papers with 1649 observations to explore how forest restoration affect soil C:N:P stoichiometry and microbial biodiversity globally.ResultsForest restoration significantly increased soil total carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content, whereas having no significant impact on most microbial diversity indicator, except for an enhancement in bacterial operational taxonomic unit and fungal Simpson. Meanwhile, forest restoration effects on soil C:N:P stoichiometry varied with different forest types, with promoting more soil C and P in ectomycorrhizal than those in arbuscular mycorrhizal forests. Meanwhile, forest restoration induced changes in soil N and P were positively correlated with microbial Shannon index. More importantly, forest restoration effects on soil C:N:P stoichiometry and microbial biodiversity were regulated by climate factors such as mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation.ConclusionOur results highlight the crucial role of forest restoration in decoupling the biogeochemical cycles of C, N and P through changes in microbial biodiversity. Therefore, incorporating the decouple effects of forest restoration on soil C:N:P stoichiometry into Earth system models may improve predictions of climate–forest feedbacks in the Anthropocene.

Influence of forest vegetation restoration on carbon increment after mining

We have clarified the study area has a history of 65 years and has been restored for 6 years. This study investigated the carbon storage characteristics of undisturbed natural forests and restored mining vegetation in Yunnan Province, China. The goal was to quantify carbon reserves and increments to inform ecological restoration strategies. Four vegetation components (tree, shrub, herb, litter) and five soil layers (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40, 40–60 cm) were analyzed. In natural forest, the tree layer stored 60% of carbon (273 Mg ha−1), overwhelmingly dominating vegetation carbon stocks. Shrub, herb, and litter layers each comprised < 1%. Surface soil layers (0–30 cm) stored 64% of soil carbon. In the restored mining area, the tree layer contributed 75% of vegetation carbon increment (16 Mg ha−1), though stocks were lower than natural forest. Soil layers showed the highest carbon increment (69%) despite lower biomass than natural conditions. Unexploited forests thus exhibit robust carbon storage, while restored mining areas have weaker carbon gains, indicating recovery potential. Strategic interventions targeting soil quality, stimulating vegetation growth, and increasing carbon sequestration could significantly augment reserves and ecological functionality. Prioritizing vegetation succession and soil revitalization are paramount to ensuring ecological integrity and sustainable development. Fostering a positive regional ecological feedback loop will be pivotal. This research quantifies carbon storage differences between undisturbed and restored mining areas, highlighting soil and vegetation as critical targets for optimizing carbon sequestration and ecosystem recovery in degraded environments.

Multifunctional Forest Restoration in Brazil: A Critical Analysis of the Trends and Knowledge Gaps in the Scientific Literature

The global demand for forest products will increase in the coming decades due to population growth and increasing environmental awareness. Therefore, the production of forest products through multifunctional forest restoration could be a meaningful opportunity for large-scale restoration while promoting sustainability and vegetation recovery. We conducted a comprehensive literature review to explore how forest restoration in Brazil can meet the growing global demand for forest products, thereby promoting the widespread adoption of restoration practices. The number of forest restoration publications addressing forest product supply has increased, but remains limited. Notably, only studies on payments for environmental services have increased significantly over the years, while studies on non-timber forest products and timber have not increased significantly. Similar patterns and trends were found in earlier studies. Many studies do not provide insights into the socioeconomic outcomes of multifunctional forest restoration, which is consistent with other research findings. The studies cited 108 native species of commercial value. According to the literature, these species can provide multiple forest products, making their management economically attractive. Multifunctional restoration in Brazil has the potential for meeting global demand for forest products and supporting large-scale restoration. However, advancing scientific and technological knowledge in this area is needed to make this feasible.

Wood density is related to aboveground biomass and productivity along a successional gradient in upper Andean tropical forests.

Wood density (WD) is a key functional trait related to ecological strategies and ecosystem carbon dynamics. Despite its importance, there is a considerable lack of information on WD in tropical Andean forests, particularly regarding its relationship with forest succession and ecosystem carbon cycling. Here, we quantified WD in 86 upper Andean tree and shrub species in central Colombia, with the aim of determining how WD changes with forest succession and how it is related to productivity. We hypothesized that WD will increase with succession because early successional forests will be colonized by acquisitive species, which typically have low WD, while the shaded understory of older forests should favor higher WD. We measured WD in 481 individuals from 27 shrub and 59 tree species, and quantified aboveground biomass (AGB), canopy height, net primary production (NPP) and species composition and abundance in 14, 400-m2, permanent plots. Mean WD was 0.513 ± 0.114 (g/cm3), with a range between 0.068 and 0.718 (g/cm3). Shrubs had, on average, higher WD (0.552 ± 0.095 g/cm3) than trees (0.488 ± 0.104 g/cm3). Community weighted mean WD (CWMwd) decreased with succession (measured as mean canopy height, AGB, and basal area); CWMwd also decreased with aboveground NPP and stem growth. In contrast, the percentage of NPP attributed to litter and the percent of shrubs in plots increased with CWMwd. Thus, our hypothesis was not supported because early successional forests had higher CWMwd than late successional forests. This was related to a high proportion of shrubs (with high WD) early in succession, which could be a consequence of: 1) a low seed availability of trees due to intense land use in the landscape and/or 2) harsh abiotic conditions early in succession that filter out trees. Forest with high CWMwd had a high %NPP attributed to litter because they were dominated by shrubs, which gain little biomass in their trunks. Our findings highlight the links between WD, succession and carbon cycling (biomass and productivity) in this biodiversity hotspot. Thus, WD is an important trait that can be used to understand upper Andean forest recovery and improve forest restoration and management practices.

Forest restoration treatments indirectly diversify pollination networks via floral- and temperature-mediated effects.

In North American conifer forests, a variety of federally initiated thinning programs are implemented to restore pre-European settlement forest structures, but these changes may impact ecosystem function via impacts on sensitive biotic communities. Across the wildland-urban interface of the Front Range region of Colorado, agencies associated with the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) have implemented thinning treatments across thousands of hectares of ponderosa pine forest; here we leverage these treatments as an experimental framework to examine thinning effects on a pollinator community. We measured variation in forest structure and sampled bee community assemblages using multiple methods (trapping and netting) to compare bee biodiversity and patterns of floral visitation by bees (bee-flower networks) between mechanically thinned stands that were 3-10 years after treatment and nonthinned stands. Three key findings emerged: (1) Native bee abundance, richness, and diversity were 120%, 53%, and 37% greater, respectively, in thinned stands. In addition, nestedness, richness, and abundance of bee-flower interactions were all substantially higher in thinned stands, and there was increased functional redundancy in bee assemblages after thinning. (2) Structural equation modeling indicated that variation in temperature and floral abundance were mediated by canopy openness and correlated with bee richness and abundance, thereby indirectly driving variation in bee-flower interactions. (3) Four floral species (Penstemon virens, Cerastium arvense, Erysimum capitatum, and Geranium caespitosum) were identified as key connectors in bee-flower interaction networks, though these were not necessarily the most abundant flowering plants. Our analyses indicate that native bee α-diversity and bee-flower interactions positively responded to thinning treatments, and these effects were indirectly driven by canopy removal. We conclude that CFLRP treatments have conservation value for native bee communities. Further monitoring is warranted to evaluate the longevity of these effects.

Native Metallophytes on Ultramafic Wooded Grassland in Sta Cruz, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines: Insights Into Phytostabilization and Forest Restoration

&lt;p&gt;The native metallophytes species are the optimum choice to restore degraded areas on ultramafic soil. However, a limited restorative floristic survey on the wooded grassland of Mindoro Occidental had been reported. Four 20 m x 20 m plots were established to rapidly assess the plant diversity of a wooded grassland on ultramafic soil in Sta. Cruz, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines. Diversity index (H`), relative density, relative dominance, and importance value (IV) were computed. Physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal contents of the soil in the site were analytically determined. We identified 43 morpho-species of plants belonging to 25 families. Thirty-six of the morpho-species identified are Philippine natives and typically grow on ultramafic forests. Nine species out of the top 10 trees with the highest IV are native ones, with &lt;em&gt;Buchanania arborescens&lt;/em&gt; Blume as the most dominant. The estimate of Relative Cover (%) also showed native species. Poles and sapling dominated the area, suggesting that active regeneration is taking place. Further, 72.94% of the ground cover were represented by tree flora recruits (e.g., &lt;em&gt;B. arborescens&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Alstonia macrophylla&lt;/em&gt;). The sites have overall moderate diversity (H` index of 2.7). The soil contains a high amount of Nickel, Chromium, Iron, and Manganese. There were no Nickel hyperaccumulators but 22 native species showed Aluminum and Silicon hyperaccumulation. Therefore, the study revealed that the surveyed area is home to important metallophytes that have the potential for phytostabilization and reforestation.&lt;/p&gt;

Effects of human depopulation and warming climate on bird populations in Japan.

Quantifying biodiversity trends in economically developed countries, where depopulation, associated secondary succession, and climate warming are ongoing, provides insights for global biodiversity conservation in the 21st century. However, few studies have assessed the impacts of secondary succession and climate warming on species' population trends at a national scale. We estimated the population trends of common breeding bird species in Japan and examined the associations between the overall population trend and species traits with the nationwide bird count data on 47 species collected from 2009 to 2020. The overall population trend varied among species. Four species populations increased moderately, 18 were stable, and 11 declined moderately. Population trends for 13 species were uncertain. The difference in overall trends among the species was associated with their habitat group and temperature niche. Species with relatively low-temperature niches experienced more pronounced declines. Multispecies indicators showed a moderate increase in forest specialists and moderate declines in forest generalists (species that use both forests and open habitats) and open-habitat specialists. Forest generalists and open-habitat specialists also declined more rapidly at sites with more abandoned farmland. All species groups showed an accelerated decline or decelerated increase after 2015. These results suggest that common breeding birds in Japan are facing deteriorating trends as a result of nationwide changes in land use and climate. Future land-use planning and policies should consider the benefits of passive rewilding for forest specialists and active restoration measures (e.g., low-intensive forestry and agriculture) for nonforest specialists to effectively conserve biodiversity in the era of human depopulation and climate warming.