Potential Forest Research Articles

Природне лісовідновлення сосни на зрубах без застосування заходів сприяння

Mass drying of pine forests in Polissya ambiguously demonstrated that the dominant monocultures of single-tiered, same-age forestry origin have low biological stability. This necessitates the transformation of the forest fund of artificial origin into natural forests. The article evaluates the prospects of «passive» natural renewal of pine – without use of activities to facilitate natural renewal of forest and without the creation of even partial forest cultures, but with activities to care for natural renewal. The study of the natural renewal of pine was carried out on the Troyaniv Forestry of the branch «Horodotske lisove hospodarstvo» (Horodotsk Forestry). Information is given on the dynamics of the number of natural renewal of pine during 2020-2023. It was established that self-sowing generations of pine can initially reach a significant density (30-43 thousand of plants per 1 ha), however, the decisive condition for the formation of stable natural young forest is the action of pathological factors. The greatest losses of self-sowing (90-95% of the total number of dead shoots) were caused by damage to the roots by the larvae of the common cockchafer. However, due to the high initial density, the forest's potential for self-regeneration is still maintained.

Edge effects on components of diversity and above‐ground biomass in a tropical rainforest

Abstract Edge effects are among the most significant consequences of forest fragmentation. Therefore, understanding the impacts of edge creation on biodiversity is crucial for forest management and biological conservation. In this study, we used trait‐based and phylogenetic approaches to examine the effects of fragmentation on components of diversity and above‐ground biomass of rainforest tree communities in Madagascar in forest edge vs. interior habitats. Tree communities in forest edges showed lower phylogenetic diversity relative to those in interior habitats, suggesting that some clades may be more vulnerable to environmental filtering than others. Functional diversity was also significantly lower on the edge for productivity traits, but not for dispersal traits. Tree communities in the forest edge showed higher divergence of dispersal traits and lower divergence in productivity traits than expected, while functional diversity in interior forest did not differ from random expectations. This suggests that separate mechanisms affect productivity traits vs. dispersal traits in edge habitats. There was no significant difference in above‐ground biomass between edge and interior habitats, suggesting that edge effects have not yet negatively influenced the forest's potential for carbon storage. However, these changes may not have occurred yet, given the slow turnover of tree communities. Synthesis and applications. Our results highlight the role of edge effects in the erosion of functional and phylogenetic diversity of highly diverse tree communities. While above‐ground biomass did not appear to be affected by forest edge in our study, we suggest long‐term monitoring of forests for potential changes in ecosystem functioning. These findings also indicate the need to reduce edge creation and buffer existing edges for holistic biodiversity conservation.

Changes of forest land use and ecosystem service values along Lao-Chinese border: A case study of Luang Namtha Province, Lao PDR

Forest cover and land use change directly impact biological diversity worldwide, contribute to climate change and affect the ability of biological systems to support human needs by altering ecosystem services. Given the forest land use characteristics and ecosystem types in Luang Namtha Province, Lao PDR, the forest cover and land cover category of Luang Namtha Province were divided into six classes, i.e., current forest (CF), potential forest (PF), other wooded areas (OW), permanent agricultural land (PA), other non-forest areas (NF) and water (W). In first instance, earlier geographic information data (GIS data) of forest cover and land use during 1992 and 2002 was obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Lao PDR. Two steps of forest land use change assessment were conducted by the MAF, i.e., plot sampling on satellite image maps (SIMs) to detect the changes of forest cover and land use during 1992 and 2002 for the entire Luang Namtha Province and field verification in order to identify causes of the changes. Secondly, dynamic information of the forest land cover changes during this ten-year period was calculated by means of map algebra in ArcGIS 9.2. Thirdly, based on the theory of ecosystem service functions and the service function values of different global ecosystems, the value of the six forest cover and land use categories in the province was obtained. Finally, ecological environmental effects, produced by the regional land cover changes over the study period, were calculated.

INTEGRATING CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC FORESTRY COMPLEX AT ARABARI, WEST BENGAL

SUMMARY In the southern laterite tracts of West Bengal, large areas of sal (Shorea robusta) forests have been made unproductive through overutilization by poverty-stricken villagers. To conserve the forests it was considered essential to develop the neighbouring villages, and in 1972 an experimental project was launched at Arabari with the aim of integrating conservation and development. This paper presents a sociological investigation of the factors determining the forest's potential for rational management. Four factors have largely contributed to project success: taking into account the needs of local people in the planning phase; popular involvement; strong leadership; and a system of controls based on a just and equitable distribution of resources.

The relationship between forest fire occurrence and 500 mb longwave ridging

Abstract In general terms the probability of forest fires is increased by weather conditions that: a. maximize the drying of forest fuels,b. give a minimum of rain and yet still allow enough convective activity to produce lightning and spread going fires. The hot sunshine and dry weather of summer high pressure systems fulfill these conditions. At the earth's surface however high pressure is transitory while at the 500 millibar level, ridging is much more persistent. Such longwave ridges aloft may persist for as long as 80 days or even more but show oscillations in their strength. For the severe forest fire season of 1974 in northwestern Ontario, the changes in amplitude of the persistent longwave ridge over the area were examined. Using a diagnostic Hovmoller diagram, periodic oscillations of eleven days were discovered in its intensity which agreed closely with the periodicity in the Fire Weather Index, a measure of the forest's potential for fires. If such longwave behaviour is predictable then long term general statements about forest fire occurrence can be made.