Forestry Activities Research Articles

Historical and ecological aspects of hydro-reclamation research at the Kirov Meadow-Swamp Experimental Station (<i>to the 105th anniversary of the Station's formation</i>)

The article presents the history of the origin and development of hydromodule research at the Kirov Meadow-Swamp Experimental Station, their practical implementation and ecological significance in the development of the principles of a saving, soil-protective and environment-forming system of agriculture on organic soils in the conditions of the North-East of the European part of the Russian Federation. The main object of long-term research is a typical lowland peatland «Gadovskoye», located on the territory of the Kotelnich peat base of the Kirov region. Special attention is paid to the search for the most effective ways to regulate the water regime of drained swamps used in feed production. It has been established that the most operational, efficient and environmentally friendly method is sluicing, when additional moisture is supplied to the root layer from below. The most optimal range of groundwater regime for annual and perennial forage grasses is shown. The correlation dependence of yield on the degree of drainage of peat deposits is presented. A significant contribution to the reclamation science was made by hydromodule studies on the cutover bogs of the Kirov region. The chemical composition of groundwater and waste swamp waters has been studied on the «Gadovskoye», «Zenginskoye», «Bakhtinskoye», «Pishchalskoye» peatlands, and others, the relationship of the water-physical properties and water regime of the residual deposit with food and temperature regimes, as well as with the coefficient of water consumption of plants and the bearing capacity of the soil of cutover bogs has been established. Agroecological monitoring of the developed peatlands, which have been in culture for more than 40−60 years, shows that during the operation of these facilities there is a gradual decrease in their productivity, due to a decrease in the total agricultural background, partial and even complete violation of the hydrological functions of the drainage network. In order not to completely lose these anthropogenic formations from the sphere of cultural nature management, it is necessary, first of all, periodic repairs of the entire drainage system. Further restructuring within the landscape shell will make it possible to construct fundamentally new post-swamp forest-meadow agroecosystems, where other alternative fields to forage production (hunting, forestry activity, berry-officinal, mushroom, etc.) can be provided.

Efficiency analysis and CO2 emission reduction strategies in the US forest sector: a data envelopment analysis approach

Industrial economic activities produce pollutants and environmentally sustainable production systems in forestry aim to minimize these undesirable outputs while maintaining high production and economic growth. In this contribution, we assume that in addition to plot-specific inputs and outputs, there are some contextual variables that may be exogenously fixed or may be under the control of the decision-makers. In this sense, we first propose a novel and practical approach to calculate environmental efficiency by reducing undesirable products. Then, we utilize an inverse data envelopment analysis (IDEA) model to effectively manage and reduce CO2 emissions. In doing so, the applied models have been utilized to evaluate the efficiencies of 89 forest plots in the USA. Given our estimations in a real application to the forest plots, the study revealed that the average environmental efficiency score is nearly 0.75 (out of 1). However, there is potential for improvement by adjusting the impacts of contextual factors, which could raise the score to approximately 0.8. Furthermore, the analysis indicates a positive correlation between ownership and environmental efficiency, suggesting that increased ownership leads to higher environmental efficiency. Conversely, temperature exhibits a negative correlation with environmental efficiency. Finally, the results obtained from the IDEA indicate that in order to reduce undesirable outputs by a specific level of 5–10%, it is necessary to decrease other inputs and outputs. This is because, under the assumption of weak disposability, reducing the level of undesirable outputs requires a reduction in certain factors that influence production capacity. In other words, achieving the desired reduction in undesirable outputs inevitably involves diminishing certain aspects of the production process. As the major conclusion, the emergence of IDEA as a powerful tool for sensitivity analysis, along with its flexible nature, offers exciting opportunities for research and practical applications in various fields, including forestry activities. It has the potential to enhance overall environmental efficiency and enable better control over GHG emissions levels.

Clean and sustainable environment problems in forested areas related to recreational activities: case of Lithuania and Turkey.

With the acceleration of social life, people's interest and demand for forestry recreation activities is increasing. However, with this increase, it is inevitable that negative environmental effects will occur. Particularly mass participation poses an important risk for environmental sustainability. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine the recreational activities organized in forest areas in Turkey and Lithuania, the environmental effects of these activities and the precautions to be taken. In Turkey and Lithuania, interviews were conducted to determine the attitudes of experts involved in recreational activity processes towards a clean environment and environmental sustainability. A semi-structured interview form was used in the interviews with forest operators and other experts. The sample group of the research consists of 17 experts from Turkey and Lithuania. According to the results of the research, recreational activities are organized in forest areas in both countries, but the most important problem related to these activities is waste production. In addition, there is also damage to the natural environment. Although there are legal regulations in both countries, there are no definite results in solving environmental problems. It can be said that necessary measures such as raising awareness of people and ecological education should be taken in order to ensure the right of individuals to live in a safe and clean environment and at the same time to ensure sustainability in forest areas. as the improvement of legal regulation.

Proceed with Caution: Social Acceptability of Forestry Practices in Puerto Rico among Members of Local Environmental Organizations, Academia and Professional Associations.

Social acceptability of forestry practices plays a key role in defining sustainable forestry policies and strategies. In this study an online survey was distributed among members of environmental, non-governmental, professional, and academic organizations to assess the acceptability of forestry practices in Puerto Rico among members of civic society interested in environmental management issues. Participants were asked about their perception of forest uses, their preference of tree harvesting technologies, methods that may apply in small scale wood production settings, and trust in organizations providing forest information. We also inquired about attitudes towards economic activity in forests and the impact of such activity on recreation and biodiversity. The results show that even though participants do not place a high priority on economic development through forestry activities, acceptance of forest management for wood harvesting will be possible by considering adherence to particular forestry technologies and methods to safeguard current recreation activities and biodiversity conservation. Social acceptability information would be worthwhile when seeking consensus among a broader group of local stakeholders. As a next step we suggest the creation of a council constituted by diverse forestry sector stakeholders that would engage in a strategic planning exercise to delineate a clear road map that can guide short and long-term sustainable forest management, including wood industry development.

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.

Ecosystem services of forests and their economic valuation: Prospects for sustainable development

The relevance of the topic is justified by the diversity of unique natural ecosystem objects in the territories of Kosovo and North Macedonia, where forestry activities are traditional. The aim of the study is to analyse the current state of ecosystem services provided by forests in Kosovo and North Macedonia in the context of their assessment and development prospects. Several general scientific empirical and theoretical research methods were employed, including comparison, generalization, analysis, synthesis, and abstract-logical methods. The article characterizes the current state of forest resource utilization in Kosovo and North Macedonia, highlighting key issues in the management of forest lands, including those hindering the development of ecosystem services. The study justifies indicators of the level of forest resource utilization in Kosovo and North Macedonia, examining the percentage ratio of forest cover indicators in the Western Balkan countries. The relationship between land areas of different categories and purposes in Kosovo is analysed, along with the designation of protected areas within forested areas in North Macedonia. The necessity of conducting an economic assessment of specific ecosystem services provided by forests is justified. Six methods used in the economic valuation of natural goods resulting from forest resource utilization are detailed, deemed most suitable for the Western Balkan countries. A comprehensive list of the most relevant functions of forests requiring economic assessment is compiled. Throughout the justification of all stages of the work, specific ecosystem services provided by forests that may gain greater importance in the future are identified. The practical significance of the study lies in forming the fundamental methodological aspects that can be utilized in the assessment of ecosystem services provided by forests

Performance of tracked excavators equipped with grapple-saw stacking treetops in poplar plantations

ABSTRACT In recent years, the cost of manpower increased in Southern Europe. This has encouraged companies to improve the mechanization level of all activities. Purpose-built machines are very expensive, so in this transition phase, there is a tendency to purchase multipurpose machines to reduce depreciation costs. In this scenario, excavators play a fundamental role because they can be used in many activities by changing the working tools. In poplar plantations, excavators with grapple saws and tracks are usually used to move the residual biomass. This work aimed to analyze the performance of excavators with a grapple-saw during the stacking of residual biomass in poplar plantations. Six excavators that varied in power and mass were analyzed. The data analyzed showed that productivity is directly proportional to the machine’s power and mass (0.15 t h−1 kW−1 and 0.75 t h−1 t−1). Furthermore, productivity is linked to the opening size of the grapple (6.43 t h−1 m−1 of opening). In conclusion, on the basis of the results obtained, it is possible to confirm that the excavators can be valid machines also in forestry activities independently of their nominal power and gross mass.

Forestry control in the Brazilian Amazon III: anatomy of wood and charcoal of tree species from sustainable forest management

Summary The illegal harvest of timber and the subsequent production of charcoal have been contributing to the deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon and its degradation. Analysis of wood anatomy is a well-established tool used to detect illegally harvested wood and is commonly employed in the control of illegal forestry activities. This study aimed to contribute to a database used for the anatomical identification of wood and charcoal from tree species commonly harvested and marketed in the Amazon. The macro- and microscopic characteristics of wood and charcoal for 15 forest species were described. Characteristics that could be described in detail, such as vessel grouping, type of axial parenchyma, and in some cases, perforation plates and uniseriate rays, are fundamental to the identification of wood and charcoal that are illegally, or even legally, marketed. The study aids in the monitoring of the illegal marketing of wood and charcoal and will contribute to the construction of a database and reference collections that will be available for research, training, and use by forest managers, anatomists and anthracologists who study both wood and charcoal.

Biochar addition to compost heat recovery systems improves heat conversion yields

Introduction: Compost heat recovery systems (CHRS) represent an emerging technology to recover residual woody biomass from agroforestry and forestry activities and use the heat that is naturally produced during aerobic biodegradation (composting). However, a low oxygen concentration in the gas phase and self-drying and compaction of the compost body often limit efficient oxidation by microbial communities. Woodchip-derived biochar has often been proposed as a bulking agent and improver of water retention and of oxygen accessibility in the composting process, but the literature reporting its effects in the CHRS is scarce.Methods: Here, biochar (average particle size of 10 mm) was added at 10% (on weight basis) to chipped pruning residues into two bench-scale-controlled reactors (0.2 m3), operated in parallel for 57 days.Results and Discussion: The addition of 10% (w/w) biochar to the composting body increased biodegradation yields by approximately 50% and improved oxidation rates over readily biodegradable organic fractions (addition of cheese whey). Temperatures were on average 1.34°C higher, and heat extraction flux was also improved in the presence of biochar (0.3 kW/m3) versus in its absence (0.1 kW/m3). The organic matter mass balance resulted in approximately 50% higher biodegradation yield and improved oxidation rates over readily biodegradable organic fractions. Microbial analysis highlighted a higher concentration of thermophilic species and a lower concentration of well-known pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant genera in the presence of biochar.

Justice and injustice under authoritarian environmentalism: Investigating tensions between forestland property rights and environmental conservation in China

This study investigates how forestland property rights, established under the Chinese Collective Forest Tenure Reform (CFTR) from 2003, were affected by the emergence of the “Ecological Civilization” discourse in the 2010s. It does so through the lens of environmental justice. Case studies were conducted in four counties in Fujian and Yunnan provinces. The results show outright injustice in the Fujian cases which originate from the government's authoritarian approach to Ecological Civilization, including severe restrictions on timber harvest, lack of recognition of decentralized forestland property rights, and only limited compensation for people affected. Those who heavily invested in forestry activities encountered the most unjust treatment. Meanwhile, despite a similar authoritarian policy in Yunnan, injustice in these cases were less salient because restrictions on timber harvest (for the sake of conserving natural forests) already existed there before the introduction of CFTR, thus deterring private actors from investing in forestry. The results highlight the necessity of upholding justice of distribution, participation, and recognition for all engaged actors, particularly when environmental conservation is prioritized and needs to be sustained.

Long-term dynamics of forests with Pinus sibirica in the upper reaches of the River Kolva (Northern Pre-Urals, Russia) from 1938 to 2023

Forest ecosystems have been impacted by human activity over several millennia in a variety of ways. Previous land use activity has not only changed the ratio of various terrestrial ecosystems, but also influenced the distribution of tree species. The insight into the forest species composition, dynamics and revealing how it differs from the modern one should be of decisive importance for the identification and conservation of the most valuable forests, as well as the restoration of ones previously disturbed. The density and distribution of some species continues to decline rapidly due to the anthropogenic activity. This problem is most urgent in boreal forests, formed by a limited set of tree species. Studies of the long-lived tree species dynamics and their ability to restore after various types of disturbances deserve special attention. Based on analysis of forest management materials from 1938 and 2023, this paper was aimed to analyse the dynamics of forests with the participation of Pinus sibirica in the Northern Pre-Urals (Permsky Krai, Russia), on the western border of the species' natural range. In 1938, the forests with Pinus sibirica occupied 16.6% of all forests in the research area. In 1938, most forests with Pinus sibirica (64%) were forests, in which P. sibirica was represented by only 1–5% of the stock. Pinus sibirica-dominated forests were almost absent, with only one site with 60% dominance of P. sibirica, and five sites with 40% dominance of P. sibirica. Over the next 85 years, the area of forests with Pinus sibirica participation in the research area has decreased by 2.5 times due to the impact of clear cuttings and forest fires. By 2023, the ratio of forest areas with various proportions of Pinus sibirica participation had changed considerably. The highest changes were found in forests with Pinus sibirica participation of 1%, 5% and 20% of the stock. Analysis of the typological structure of forests showed that at present Pinus sibirica has survived only in natural dark-coniferous forests, which have not been affected previously by forestry activities and fires. Due to the exceptionally slow regeneration following fires and logging activities, Pinus sibirica is absent in the forests formed over the studied period. The current federal legal restrictions prove ineffective as they target the preservation of forest stands containing over 30% of Pinus sibirica, while the majority of forests in the study area contain less proportion of this species. We believe that it is necessary to develop uniform measures to preserve existing and restore the lost Pinus sibirica populations in the Komi Republic and the Permsky Krai, including the prohibitions on the logging of forests with any proportion of Pinus sibirica as well as the creation of P. sibirica forest plantations.

Understanding the characteristics of the household energy transition in a developing country

Understanding the energy transition process in developing countries is crucial to implement policies to reduce the use of traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources, which increase pollution, worsen global climate change, and negatively impact people's health. Existing literature indicates that households account for approximately 25% of total energy consumption for consumption and production activities. However, understanding the energy consumption patterns of choices of energy sources and their determinants has largely been neglected in the existing literature. As such, this study uses the multivariate probit model to identify the factors influencing household energy choices in Vietnam, using data from 2016 to 2020 from the Vietnamese Households Living Standard Surveys (VHLSS). Our study focuses on how households' multiple occupations, particularly in rural areas, affect energy sources choices. We find that households participate in different agricultural sub-sectors simultaneously, resulting in differential access to multiple energy sources. Households engaging in cultivation, forestry, and animal husbandry activities are more likely to choose coal, fuelwood, and biomass as the primary energy sources for production and daily uses. In contrast, higher household income and household head with higher education level also increases the likelihood of choosing cleaner energy choices for daily uses and production activities. In addition, our empirical findings confirm the validity of the "energy stacking” hypothesis rather than the “energy ladders" hypothesis – two contrasting hypotheses concerning household energy transition in the literature. Policy implications have emerged based on the findings of this paper to enhance the clean energy transition in Vietnam in achieving sustainable economic development and social transformation and her commitment to combating global climate change issues.

Development of Water Resource Management in India: An Overview

To all forms of life on earth, water is vital, as from the simplest of living organisms to the most complex of human systems. In India, the surface water and ground water resources play significant roles in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, livestock production and industrial activity. Lack of water for drinking, for use in agriculture, industry, and for several other essential needs is a limiting factor perhaps the most important factor hindering development in many regions of India. In order to appropriately address the present and future water and food security, the Government of India (GoI) through the Central Water Community (CWC) has been implementing various measures. The inefficient management of the resource has led to deterioration in water quality, posing new challenges for water management and conservation. The favourable utility of water resources has to be included with development based and efficient management. There is a need of formulating a water management strategy along with the extension of available resources and integrated development carefully.

Analysis of the sanitary state of dendrocenoses of the Chernorechensky forestry of the Orenburg region

To prevent environmental damage from the drying out of forests in the Orenburg region, a necessary condition is to conduct constant monitoring of the processes occurring in the forest fund, arising under the influence of external factors, the main task of which is to build an optimal forest management strategy. The complex of factors of negative impact on forest dendrocenoses is not always the same and depends on the diversity of habitat conditions, soil and climatic characteristics of the territories. According to the results of the study, the sanitary condition of the dendrocenoses of the Chernorechensky forestry is assessed as satisfactory; the main reason that worsens the current condition of the existing plantings is the unfavorable factors of the external environment. Since 2020, the spread of bacterial dropsy (pathogen Erwinia multivora Scz.-Parf.) has been recorded in birch plantations, covering an area of 25.8 hectares. The steady increase in the area of forest plantations of “deep” natural poplar ripeness in forestry, as well as in the Orenburg region as a whole, are the main reasons for the decline in the current sanitary condition. At the present stage, there is an urgent need to revise existing legislation, taking into account an individual approach to forestry activities depending on the characteristics of the subject, while it is important to preserve existing forest plantations, especially in sparsely forested areas, which include the Orenburg region.

Implementation of social forestry policy – Can it reduce economic inequality in sustainable management of forest areas?

You should leave 8 mm of space above the abstract and 10 mm after the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.83/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/10/2016 Concerning Social Forestry that Social Forestry activities are required through efforts to give local communities legal access in the form of Village Forest management, Village Forest utilization, and Village Forest management. The Village Forest initiative aims to sustainably raise village welfare. With a total size of 2,940 hectares, Sungai Tohor Village Forest is one of the Village Forests and. It’s existence is complicated, and it has a challenging issue. In addition to concerns and issues relating to social, cultural, economic, and even organizational factors, the topic of ecological sustainability is crucial. The goal of this study is to determine how Village Forest Utilization Policies can sustainably increase the economic welfare of Village Communities. A case study methodology and a qualitative technique are both used in this work. Using in-depth interviews, observation, Focus Group Discussion, and documentation approaches collect primary and secondary data. Key informants were interviewed using the purposive sampling technique. The policy’s substance includes interests, different benefit types, the degree of change, the position of the policymakers and program implementers, as well as resources. The novelty of this study was that not every location can implement Village Forest regulations.

Environmental impact of mechanical site preparation on mineral soils in Sweden and Finland — a review

Mechanical site preparation (MSP) is deliberate soil disturbance which is undertaken to improve the conditions for forest regeneration. Disc trenching and mounding are the dominant MSP practices currently used in Sweden and Finland. In this paper, the impacts of MSP on the soil, water quality, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ground vegetation of mineral soil sites in Sweden and Finland are reviewed. The practices considered are patch scarification, mounding, inverting, disc trenching, and ploughing, which together represent a wide range of soil disturbance intensity. The environmental effects of MSP in this region have not been studied extensively. The environmental impact of MSP derives from the process of creating microsites which involves horizontal and/or vertical redistribution of soil and soil mixing. This typically affects decomposition, element circulation and leaching, vegetation coverage and uptake of nutrients and water, and possibly erosion and sediment exports. Following disc trenching or mounding the effects on GHG emissions appear to be minor over the first two years. For a few years after disc trenching concentrations in soil water collected below ridges are higher than that below furrows for some elements (e.g., NO3-, NH4+, Mg2+, and total or dissolved organic C). The physical and chemical effects of ploughing remain detectable for several decades. There is little evidence about how the effects of forestry activities in upland areas on soil-water chemistry are transferred to adjacent surface water bodies, including what role streamside discharge areas play. MSP increases the tree biomass C store and may increase the total ecosystem C store. The impact of MSP on the cover and abundance of ground vegetation species depends on the composition of the original plant community, MSP intensity, and the establishment rate of different species. Species cover generally seems to decline for late succession understory species, while pioneer and ruderal species can benefit from the microsites created. Areas containing lichens which are used for reindeer forage require special consideration. More research is needed on the environmental effects of MSP, particularly regarding its long-term effects. Further efforts should be made to develop efficient site-preparation practices which better balance the disturbance intensity with what is needed for successful regeneration.

Теріофауна Лисої гори в Києві: ознаки збереженості та рівні синантропізації

The article describes the mammal fauna of Lysa Hora, one of the key natural sites of Kyiv within the Kyiv Plateau. The analysis of various sources (original data, literature, collections, and social networks) shows the presence of 24 species of 11 families of 6 orders, including 5 species from 3 families of insectivorans, 6 species from 1 family of bats, 1 species of hares, 7 species from 3 families of rodents, 4 species from 2 families of carnivorans, and 1 species of ungulates. The ratio of alien and domestic species is high (21%), but the proportion of species with conservation statuses is also high (50%). The most valuable component of the rare fauna is bats associated with tree stands and fortifications. In general, despite significant anthropogenic changes, the local mammal fauna, combined with other animal groups and flora, makes Lysa Hora one of the most valuable natural sites in Kyiv. The conservation of the fauna of Lysa Hora requires a number of restrictions on anthropogenic activities, including a ban on any forestry activities, restrictions on recreational press, which is provided for by the current zoning of the site and which should be enshrined in the Regulations on the Lysa Hora Regional Landscape Park and the Project for the organisation of its territory.

Pathways to well‐being in Tarumajaya, West Java: Post‐COVID 19 supporting better access to the commons through engagement and a critical systemic reflection on stories

AbstractThis paper explores the concept of community engagement, aligned with President Jokowi's mission to promote social enterprises, as a means to support the development of a re‐generative circular green economy in Tarumajaya, West Java. The primary focus is on enhancing farming, fishing, and forestry activities with villagers. The Covid‐19 pandemic presented significant challenges for the villagers, particularly in marketing their goods, resulting in financial hardships and an increased vulnerability to debt traps, particularly affecting women. Additionally, a major obstacle to achieving regenerative living is the limited access to land, with approximately 80% of the villagers either landless or owning small plots. Moreover, fishing restrictions imposed by the military to protect the Citarum River have further curtailed access to common grazing land for cattle. Preliminary analysis indicates that adopting intensive farming methods, such as rabbit breeding, mushroom cultivation, and fertiliser production, holds promise for reducing the community's carbon footprint. Overcoming these challenges and mapping pathways towards regenerative living are central objectives of this case study, providing insights and practical strategies to foster sustainable economic and environmental progress in Tarumajaya. Key components of the approach include finding markets for village products, extending access to common resources such as rivers, forests, and hillside terraces to villagers, and providing mentorship to women for supporting their small enterprises. The ongoing partnership with the village involves a community of practice consisting of universities and nongovernmental organisations, while private sector entities, including a gas company and tea and coffee plantations, are engaged in negotiations with the village head to secure additional land access. This study highlights the combination of challenges arising from the lack of access to common resources, limited market opportunities, and the influence of predatory financial institutions during the pandemic. By working closely with the villagers, the case study aims to identify opportunities and support the transition towards a green circular economy that moves away from business as usual and promotes regenerative living.

РАЗРАБОТКА СЦЕНАРИЕВ ДЛЯ ИМИТАЦИОННОГО МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЯ ЭКОСИСТЕМНЫХ УСЛУГ ЛЕСОВ

Sustainable forest management implies the necessity to maintain and uphold the balance between the growing demand for forest ecosystem services and the capabilities present. This issue motivates the development of ways to include various ecosystem services in the forest ecosystem planning and management system, taking into account social, political, environmental, and economic contexts. One of the effective tools for ecosystem service management is imitation modelling, which allows assessing the decision-making risks and consequences. This raises the scientific problem of substantiating possible alternative scenarios for future forested area development for subsequent simulation. This article is aimed at analysing the approaches to creating scenarios for the development of a forest area for local-level imitation modelling and testing a new method based on the development of the existing approaches to solving this problem. In its first part, modern research analysis in the field of imitation scenario development is presented; the second one proposes a new method for compiling scenarios, created within the framework of the POLYFORES project, and also presents the results of its testing at three model sites located in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the Republic of Karelia, and the Moscow Region. For the forest plots of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, four scenarios for forest area development have been created, aimed at obtaining benefits: 1 – from timber harvesting, 2 – from recreational ecosystem services and food forest resources, 3 – from regulating ecosystem services, 4 – both from timber harvesting, under the conditions of intensified forest growing, and from regulating ecosystem services. For forest plots in the Republic of Karelia, the first scenario describes the situation of meeting the demand for wood, while also preserving the biodiversity and regulating ecosystem services; the second and third scenarios take into account the increased demand for wood, with low and high priorities for environmental conservation. For the forest plots of the Moscow Region, only two scenarios were relevant, with the increasing need of citizens for recreational ecosystem services, and the biodiversity preservation priority in management decision-making either remaining low or increasing. For each scenario, forestry activities corresponding to the management objectives have been developed. The proposed scenarios can be used to obtain information about the impact of various management decisions on providing forest ecosystem services.

Revitalizing community forestry in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia: A property right perspective

Severe deforestation, land degradation, and the lack of forest products in Ethiopia have necessitated the implementation of a community forestry program since the 1980s by mobilizing the local communities. However, there have been incidents indicating that many of the community forests are either degrading or remaining unproductive. While community forests are, in principle, the collective property of the local community, empirical evidence concerning how property rights impact their management and their role in enhancing rural livelihoods and environmental rehabilitation is lacking. This study aims to investigate the performance of community forestry through the lens of property rights and tenure security, in order to uncover the challenges impeding community forestry in Ethiopia, with a focus on community forests in the Amhara Region. The study gathered primary data on community forest management from two community forests located in East Gojam and North Wollo, using questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. Additionally, secondary data on legal frameworks were collected from institutions involved in community forestry. The data analysis employed descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed that a majority of respondents (91%) lacked clarity regarding the objectives of establishing community forests, and about 95% claimed that community forests belong to the state. These incidents have led to diminished interest in continuing the program. The study highlighted that the community forestry program suffers from inadequate policy and legal provisions, chronic institutional instability, overlapping mandates, and limited community engagement. These factors have weakened property rights, which are reflected in tenure insecurity and the absence of individual household benefit packages. Consequently, it can be concluded that community forest interventions have been promoted based on general belief in the importance of trees for rural livelihoods and ecosystem rehabilitation, rather than as part of a deliberate and directed policy and strategy. In summary, revitalizing community forestry in Ethiopia necessitates a thorough understanding of property rights and tenure security issues. In this regard, it is imperative for government agencies to enact a clear national strategy for community forestry development and adopt a supportive role to enable communities to establish robust community forestry institutions to safeguard their rights while fostering community forestry and environmental protection activities.