Forestry Region Research Articles

Carbon sequestration potential of eight economically important tree species in Northeast China under climate change

The carbon sequestration potential of forest ecosystems is expected to play a crucial role in mitigating global warming, depending on how climate change will affect tree growth under various local environmental conditions. Here, we investigated the climatic limiting factors for forest tree growth and future carbon sequestration potential for eight economically important forest tree species in Zhongtiao Mountains of Shanxi Province in China. Specifically, we test if moisture limitations compromise annual radial increments (ARI) and a carbon sequestration index (IC), based on tree-rings and wood density. A bootstrapped response function analysis of historical detrended ARIs, reveals statistically significant moisture limitations in two or more summer months for half of the species investigated. Using a custom heat:moisture index based on these seasonal growth limitations, we predict IC under multi-model CMIP6 climate change projections for the region. Under moderate future climate scenarios for the period 2041–2070, the carbon sequestration potential for most species is likely to increase significantly. This is because under current climate only some species experience moisture limitations, and a projected increase in seasonal precipitation mitigates these growth limitations. We conclude that model projections are favorable for carbon sequestration and future commercial forestry potential in the Zhongtiao Mountain forestry region.

Site quality impacts tree form, heartwood content and veneer production of plantation-grown Pinus patula

Abstract Plantation forest species were introduced into South Africa due to limited availability of native forests for wood-derived products. Currently, the Mexican pine species, Pinus patula, is the most widely planted softwood species in the country. To study the effect of growth environment on wood and processing properties for the species, sample plots were established in a 20-year rotation covering a wide range of soil geologies and altitudes in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Temperature and seasonal rainfall were also determined for the sample plots. Randomly selected sample trees were harvested from the plots and processed at a plywood plant to determine veneer recovery and quality. Trees grown on sites composed of granite soils, with higher annual maximum temperatures and less rainfall, found in the Highveld region, displayed superior tree size, slenderness, and volume growth, compared to trees grown on dolomite and shale soils common to the Lowveld region. Veneer derived from Lowveld trees had more splits which were largely related to defects. Larger trees also had a greater percentage volumetric heartwood and a smaller live crown, compared to smaller trees. Highveld trees had greater net veneer recovery and produced better quality veneer than trees grown on the Lowveld. In the Mpumalanga forestry region, strong co-relatedness exists between soil geology, altitude, and climate. Although tree form and wood properties were found to differ with varying soil geology and altitude, these differences were primarily related to climate rather than soil properties. These findings highlight the pitfalls associated with neglecting either climate or soil properties when analysing site-specific growing conditions on tree growth and form.

Dynamic Assessment and Change Analysis of Ecosystem Service Value Based on Physical Assessment Method in Cili County, China

The effective implementation of ecological protection policies requires the adequate assessment of temporal and spatial changes in the environment. To understand how ecosystem services can be used to track environmental changes, we carried out a study which focused on assessing the changes in the ecosystem services over time and space in Cili County, which is an important forestry region. The method we used was to evaluate the value of the regional ecological services based on the method for evaluating the value equivalent factor per unit area; then, by introducing multi-source data, the InVEST model was optimized to accurately assess the function of the regional ecosystem services, such as carbon storage, soil conservation, and water production. In addition, the values of the ecosystem services and the function assessment results were compared. Finally, based on the results of the optimized InVEST model, the value of the ecosystem services in the study area was regulated and re-evaluated. After re-evaluation, the total value of the ecosystem services in Cili county between 2000 and 2020 still showed an upward trend, increasing from CNY 26.136 billion to CNY 35.444 billion, with a total increase of CNY 9.308 billion. Compared to before the re-evaluation, the total value of the ecosystem services only increased from CNY 32.243 billion to CNY 32.473 billion, with a total increase of CNY 0.23 billion; the change in the value of the ecosystem services was more obvious, with a stronger spatial heterogeneity. The areas with high ecosystem service value in Cili County are mainly concentrated in the eastern parts, as well as the northwestern and southern parts, while the areas with low value are mainly concentrated in the central part of Cili County. The value of the central, southern, and northwestern parts of Cili County increased significantly. Such changes are closely related to China’s implementation of ecological protection policies in this region since 2000, such as returning farmland to forest and natural forest protection. The evaluation results of the ecosystem services and the method for evaluating the value equivalent factor in this study are more consistent with the changes in the ecosystem services in the study area. The dynamic assessment method of ecosystem service value proposed in this study is helpful in achieving accurate assessments of the regional ecosystem services and thus provides a useful reference for the formulation of more reasonable regional ecological protection policies.

Enfoque de paisaje para apoyar el manejo forestal sostenible en la región Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca, México

Forest landscape structure comprises a mosaic of natural and human-modified units, which when well depicted, may help to plan and implement forest management policies, which commonly assume territorial homogeneity. Usually, forest policies lack the use of spatial tools that can help scale up conservation program in heterogeneous forested landscapes. This paper applied a conceptual-methodological framework as baseline to guide regional strategies and scale-up community collective action based on local forestry ejidos and communities. The study case was conducted in the Mixteca Alta, a forestry region in Oaxaca, Mexico, where common property prevails. Zoning was made based on biophysical, social, and forest management criteria. A total of 97 communities were surveyed and the region was disaggregated into five zones based on precipitation, watersheds, community forest management experience and level of regional collective action. Each zone was recognized as having different forestry potentials and intervention needs, ranging from restoration to timber and non-timber product management. This zoning proved the potential to guide forest projects and promote joint regional forest development. The potential use of landscape zoning was discussed in the light of the current need for scale-up forest policies.

Comparison results of visual and machine strength grading of Scots pine sawn timber from the Greater Poland-Pomerania Forestry Region in Poland

Comparison results of visual and machine strength grading of Scots pine sawn timber from the Greater Poland-Pomerania Forestry Region in Poland. The paper presents an analysis of the strength grading results performed by two methods – visual (appearance) and machine, carried out for sawn timber obtained from the Greater Poland-Pomerania Forestry Region in Poland. Visual strength grading was performed in accordance with PN-D-94021:2013, while the machine strength grading with the use of MTG device (Brookhuis Electronics BV). As a result of the tests, it was confirmed that a large part of timber batch (39%) was classified as a reject while visual grading, when the machine grading resulted in a very small share of sawn timber classified as rejects (only one piece). At the same time, during machine strength grading there was only one sawn timber piece that was not classified for any class or a reject. Based on its visual appearance, this timber element should be graded as reject.

Burned Area Mapping over the Southern Cape Forestry Region, South Africa Using Sentinel Data within GEE Cloud Platform

Planted forests in South Africa have been affected by an increasing number of economically damaging fires over the past four decades. They constitute a major threat to the forestry industry and account for over 80% of the country’s commercial timber losses. Forest fires are more frequent and severe during the drier drought conditions that are typical in South Africa. For proper forest management, accurate detection and mapping of burned areas are required, yet the exercise is difficult to perform in the field because of time and expense. Now that ready-to-use satellite data are freely accessible in the cloud-based Google Earth Engine (GEE), in this study, we exploit the Sentinel-2-derived differenced normalized burned ratio (dNBR) to characterize burn severity areas, and also track carbon monoxide (CO) plumes using Sentinel-5 following a wildfire that broke over the southeastern coast of the Western Cape province in late October 2018. The results showed that 37.4% of the area was severely burned, and much of it occurred in forested land in the studied area. This was followed by 24.7% of the area that was burned at a moderate-high level. About 15.9% had moderate-low burned severity, whereas 21.9% was slightly burned. Random forests classifier was adopted to separate burned class from unburned and achieved an overall accuracy of over 97%. The most important variables in the classification included texture, NBR, and the NIR bands. The CO signal sharply increased during fire outbreaks and marked the intensity of black carbon over the affected area. Our study contributes to the understanding of forest fire in the dynamics over the Southern Cape forestry landscape. Furthermore, it also demonstrates the usefulness of Sentinel-5 for monitoring CO. Taken together, the Sentinel satellites and GEE offer an effective tool for mapping fires, even in data-poor countries.

Community Based Study of Awareness of Maternity Dangers Amongst Rural, Tribal Preconception and Pregnant Women

Background: Every pregnant woman faces risk of complications which can cause severe illness or even death of mother and /or baby. Creating awareness about maternity dangers is crucial for safe birth, safe future of mother and baby. Although it remains unclear how awareness translates into appropriate actions, chances of better outcome are there. Objectives: Community based study was carried out to know about rural, tribal preconception and pregnant women’s awareness and perceptions of maternity dangers. Material and Methods: After approval of institute’s ethics committee, study was conducted in tribal communities of 100 villages of hilly forestry region, where mother child services were initiated after creating health facility in one village. Randomly minimum 20 and 10 preconception, pregnant women each, from every village, total 2400 preconception, 1040 pregnant women of 15 to 45 years age were interviewed by research assistant with help of pretested tool. Results: Of 2400 Preconception women interviewed, 801 (33.4%) were aware of labour events, 298 (37.2%) mucoid discharge, 291 (36.3%) little bleeding, 212 (26.5%) labour pains. When asked about source of information, 300 (37.5%) said doctors, 291 (36.3%) Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and 210 (26.2%) nurse. Of 2400 preconception women, 1015 (42.29%) did talk of some maternity dangers, 403 (39.7%) said swelling over face and feet, 271 (26.7%) giddiness, 184 (18.13%) excessive vomiting and 157 (15.47%) bleeding, leaking with some overlap. Of 1040 pregnant women, 910 (87.5%) were aware of labour events and 870 (83.7%) some maternity dangers, 474 (54.5%) preterm pains, 118 (13.5%) leaking, 97 (11.1%) epigastric pain, 73 (8.4%) headache, 67 (7.7%) vaginal bleeding and 41 (4.7%) loss of fetal movements with some overlap. Conclusion: Only one third preconception and little more pregnant women had some awareness of maternity dangers, but it was scatchy.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLISH-GROWN PINUS SYLVESTRIS L. STRUCTURAL SAWN TIMBER FROM THE BUTT, MIDDLE AND TOP LOGS

The research consisted in testing Polish sawn timber dedicated for construction applications made of pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) that grew in the Silesian Forestry Region, taking into account three parts of the log: butt, middle and top. The boards had the same cross section, a nominal thickness of 40 mm and width of 138 mm, typical for Polish structural timber. The mean nominal length of the boards under research amounted to 3500 mm. Each set was composed of 70 boards. Before the tests, boards were dried in an industrial drier until reaching the moisture content of 12%, and they were planed on 4 sides. First of all, the sawn timber was graded into strength classes, and their dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOE_dyn) was tested with a non-destructive method, with the use of a portable MTG device. The next step consisted in a bending test with four points of support, according to the EN 408 standard, and with the use of the TiraTest 2300 machine, in order to determine the global modulus of elasticity (MOE_EN-408) and the static bending strength, also referred to as modulus of rupture (MOR). Finally, the average growth ring width was determined for each board (PN-D-94021), as well as wood density according to EN-408. The hereby paper presents the test results for all the tested sawn timber boards, taking into account the part of log that each board came from: butt, middle or top. The hereby paper presents the influence of density on the mechanical properties of wood, taking into account the location on the round timber. The analysis does not include the influence of the width of annual growth rings and the proportion of latewood on the wood properties under research.

Tree growth and soil fertility in plantations of genetic materials of Eucalyptus spp.

Were analyzed the growth and the relationship with soil fertility of genetic materials of Eucalyptus spp. planted in a non-traditional eucalyptus forestry region in Brazil. Five genetic materials were selected, two seminal: Eucalyptus urophylla and E. pellita and three clones: GFMO27, I224, and H13, planted in experimental plots in a completely randomized design. The diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height were measured; basal area and dendrometric variables were calculated, for the ages 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, and 108 months, both statistically compared. The soil was chemically characterized at 108 months of age and correlated with dendrometric variables. The growth of clones H13, I224, and GFMO 27 were superior to the E. pellita and E. urophylla. The levels of N and MO had a significant correlation with the volume and the Al+3 showed a positive correlation with DBH. Clone H13 showed higher values than the other materials, in all variables analyzed, reaching an individual volume of 1.27 m³ at 108 months. The other genetic materials (GFMO27, I244, and E. urophylla) proved to be variable in their growth behavior at different ages, and E. pellita had lower growth. The recommended genetic materials for planting are H13 and E. urophylla.

Evaluation on sustainable development of forest tourism in Heilongjiang Province, China

As an old northeast industrial base and forestry region, Heilongjiang Province is facing problems such as urban decline, aging population and great pressure on environmental conservation. However, the development of ecological tourism is increasing year by year, which is an effective way to solve social problems such as employment and economic development in various regions. In view of this, this paper determines the index weight through expert scoring, and evaluates the overall sustainable development ability of forest tourism in Heilongjiang Province by using analytic hierarchy process, so as to provide reference for the development of forest tourism industry in Heilongjiang Province. The research showed that the sustainable development of forest tourism in Heilongjiang Province should mainly consider the resource support system, focus on improving the quality of forest tourism resources, preserving the characteristic tourism culture, improving the level of tourists' consumption and the per capita growth rate of residents' tourism income, and increasing infrastructure investment.

Changes in Timber Distribution after the 1990s in Nishikawa Forestry Region, Saitama Prefecture, Japan (Academic Article)

Changes in Timber Distribution after the 1990s in Nishikawa Forestry Region, Saitama Prefecture, Japan (Academic Article)

Geographical origin and log quality influence on the mechanical properties of Scots pine sawnwood

This paper presents research conducted on pine timber sawn from logs obtained from three different forestry regions in western Poland. Forestry regions were characterized in terms of i.e. annual mean temperature and rainfall distribution, soil, growing stock, and technical quality and type of forest. The timber logs were classified in three different quality classes, A, B, and C as per PN-D 95017 (1992). The coefficients of correlation were calculated for pairs of the studied properties (density, modulus of elasticity (MOE), and static bending strength (MOR)) considering the forestry region of origin of the different quality logs. The statistical analysis revealed that there is a strict correlation between quality class of logs, geographical origin in terms of technical quality of forest, and physical and mechanical parameters of sawn timber.

Типологічна структура й таксаційні показники робінієвих деревостанів у захисних лісах лісогосподарської області Байрачного степу України

Проаналізовано особливості робінієвих деревостанів у лісах захисної функціональної категорії у лісогосподарській області Байрачного степу України. Наведено типологічну структуру деревостанів за участю робінії несправжньоакації (Robinia pseudoacacia L.). Досліджено розподіл площі робінієвих деревостанів за типами лісорослинних умов та типів лісу, групами віку, класами бонітету та відносними повнотами. За походженням робінієві деревостани захисних лісів лісогосподарської області Байрачного Степу України – штучні, створені лісовими культурами. Робінієві деревостани у досліджуваних захисних лісах високоповнотні. Найбільша частка площі (68,3 %) деревостанів приурочена до відносної повноти 0,8. Вікова структура робінієвих деревостанів лісогосподарської області Байрачного степу України є незбалансованою, із значним переважанням перестиглих деревостанів – 74,9 %. Середній вік досліджуваних робінієвих деревостанів – 43 роки. Найбільший середній запас стовбурової деревини (199 м3·га-1) характерний для перестиглих робінієвих деревостанів віком 51-55 років (XI клас віку). Встановлено, що найбільша частка робінієвих лісостанів Байрачного степу зосереджена у сугрудах – 67,6 %. Частка грудових типів лісорослинних умов становить 20,5 % від площі. За ступенем зволоження ґрунтів робінія несправжньоакація, на теренах Байрачного степу, віддає перевагу сухим гігротопам, де зосереджено 92,1 % площі робінієвих деревостанів. Встановлено, що у досліджуваному регіоні робінія несправжньоакація формує деревостани у двадцяти типах лісу, найпоширенішим з яких є галогенний варіант сухого сугруду. Найбільша площа робінієвих деревостанів у захисних лісах зайнята робінієвими деревостанами, які зростають за І класом бонітету (49,9 %). Середній клас бонітету становить ІІ,5.

Coronavirus and Emergence of an Extraordinary Political Economy: editorial note

Coronavirus, or Covid-19 appeared in a forestry region in China in December 2019 then spread rapidly in 216 countries. While finalizing this note, July first, 2020, this virus had killed about 508000 and infected about 10400000 as well. The speed of spreading such virus is so rapid, the domain of its effectiveness is so huge, and the impacts of that are so broad, that this work can only point out to the main topics of this unprecedented episode. In other words, mentioning the details and the magnitudes of this phenomenon is not affordable in this short article. Consequently, this work is going to highlight main dimensions, key impacts, some routes, and few remedies related to such a bizarre and weird event.

Comparison of results between visual and machine strength grading of Polish-grown pine timber (Pinus sylvestris L.) from the Baltic Forestry Region

Comparison of results between visual and machine strength grading of Polish-grown pine timber (Pinus sylvestris L.) from the Baltic Forestry Region. The paper presents the analysis of results of strength grading of Scots pine wood (Pinus sylvestris L.) with two different methods: visual and machine strength grading, conducted on raw material from the Baltic Forestry Region. Visual strength grading was carried out in accordance with PN-D-94021:2013, while machine strength grading was performed with the use of the MTG device by a Dutch company, Brookhuis Electronics BV. The machine assisted method of timber strength grading proved to be more efficient, resulting in a higher amount of timber in the C30 class (28.7%) than in the best (KW) class after visual strength grading (3.3%). On the basis of the conducted tests, it has been confirmed that machine strength grading results in very few (6.0%) rejected timber pieces. At the same time, there have been cases of timber pieces that hadn't been classified in any of the classes or rejected during machine strength grading. Such pieces were treated as rejected.

Influence of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growth rings width on the strength properties of structural sawn timber

Annual growth ring width was considered relative to the mechanical properties of timber from the Silesian Forestry Region in Poland. The timber was acquired from raw wood aged approximately 120 years old, with log quality A, B, and C. The study was conducted on 210 pieces of timber; 70 of them were from each part of the log: butt, middle, and top. The tested parameters, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), were measured on fully dimensional timber (40 × 138 × 3500 mm3) that had been dried and planed in industrial conditions. The density of wood (stereometric method) and annual rings width were calculated after MOR and MOE determination on samples including the entire cross-section cut near the failure zone. The tests revealed that the correlation between the width of growth rings and MOE or MOR depended on the log area: it was the highest for timber from butt logs and the lowest for timber from top logs. Moreover, the correlation between growth ring width and MOE or MOR depended also on the quality class of the logs from which the samples were obtained: it was the highest for timber from class A, and the lowest for class C.

Correlation between the share of latewood and the density of sawn timber from the Silesian Forestry Region

Correlation between the share of latewood and the density of sawn timber from the Silesian Forestry Region. The paper describes the results of density measurements and the share of latewood in pine wood samples (Pinus sylvestris L.) from the Silesian Forestry Region in Poland. The samples were obtained from sawn timber from different kinds of log: butt, middle and top. The place from which the timber was obtained (three different log kinds) was taken into account when assessing the correlation between wood density and the share of latewood.

The role of mortality coefficients in planning and accounting for greenhouse gas emission reductions

The article presents tables of growth of fir plantations in the southern part of Siberia supplemented by carbon parameters. The dependences of the mortality coefficients on the stock and the number of trunks are considered. The obtained dependences will help determine what determines the relationship between the mortality coefficient and the stock and the number of trunks. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of fir plantations of the South Siberian mountain forestry region considered in this paper will determine their production potential. The calculated coefficients will significantly reduce the uncertainty of carbon estimates, which will undoubtedly contribute to the development and implementation of forestry planning and practical measures for adaptation and adaptation to climate change. This will undoubtedly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, since the possibility and accuracy of taking into account the possibility of forests to bind and accumulate atmospheric carbon will increase.

Rural, Tribal, Young Women's Plans of Post-Partum Contraception, Preconception and During Pregnancy- A Community Based Study in Hilly Forestry Region with Extreme Poverty

Rural, Tribal, Young Women's Plans of Post-Partum Contraception, Preconception and During Pregnancy- A Community Based Study in Hilly Forestry Region with Extreme Poverty

Раритетна компонента лісових фітоценозів Лісостепу України

Наводиться аналіз проблеми щодо актуальності питань інвентаризації раритетної компоненти лісової флори України, її природно-зональних та адміністративно-обласних спектрів. Визначено причини раритетності видів лісової флори та запропоновано заходи щодо їхньої охорони. Для організації моніторингу чисельності та поширення судинних рослин міжнародного, національного та регіонального статусів охорони як складової системного моніторингу лісів досліджено стан популяцій раритетних видів рослин та їхнього розповсюдження в лісових фітоценозах Лісостепу (рясність-покриття та участь у складі рослинного покриву, розповсюдження в межах адмінистративних областей, Лісостепової лісогосподарської області та чотирьох її округів). Об’єкти досліджень – ділянки моніторингу 1-го рівня (642 ділянки) у межах Лісостепу України.