Harvesting Activities Research Articles

Carbon balance of forest management and wood production in the boreal forest of Quebec (Canada)

Management of boreal forests can increase terrestrial carbon sinks and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. A case study was conducted in the boreal balsam fir forests of Quebec (Canada), a commercially important region for forestry, to identify optimal management and wood production solutions that contribute to reducing GHG emissions to the atmosphere. Scenarios were based on a steady level of harvest and silvicultural activities over time and a stable flow of wood products to markets. Scenarios included: increases and decreases in the volume of harvested timber; the transition of harvesting activities from clearcuts (the most common practice in the region) to partial cuts; and changes in the rate of natural regeneration (the usual mode of regeneration) vs. plantations. All scenarios provided a carbon sink regardless of the time frame. Compared with other scenarios, reducing harvest levels increased the forest carbon sink in the short (10 to 20 years) and medium (20 to 50 years) terms. Also, for a similar harvest level, the increased use of partial cutting and planting increased the forest carbon sink. In the long term (over 50 years), strategies with low harvesting levels resulted in lower ecosystem carbon sequestration, even though they still had the lowest cumulative emissions. Nevertheless, higher harvesting levels could not be justified because the long-term increase in the forest ecosystem carbon sink could not offset higher emissions from wood products, particularly from short-lived paper products. Sensitivity analyses showed that improving sawmill efficiency and thus increasing the proportion of long-lived products was an important factor that can greatly reduce emissions. On the other hand, transportation distances between forest stands and sawmills had a relatively marginal impact on the overall carbon balance of forest management and wood production scenarios.

A new Meso-Scale coarse-filter indicator for the Canadian boreal forest

Forest management planning and management agencies in Canada have been moving towards an ecosystem-based management (EBM) approach that honours whole ecosystem dynamics over all time and space scales. As part of this evolution, provincial, national, and international agencies have added coarse filter indicators to represent pre-industrial, or ‘natural’ range of variation (NRV) ecosystem conditions as ecologically defendable baselines. The intent was to balance the more traditional species specific (i.e., fine filter) approach to sustainability with a more holistic (i.e., coarse scale) model of ecosystem dynamics. The development and acceptance of coarse filter indicators has been neither linear nor straightforward. One of the more important assumptions inherent in an NRV strategy is that it captures relevant, meaningful patterns at the most appropriate scales in a practical way. To test this assumption, I used a spatially explicit simulation model to compare landscapes created under pre-industrial conditions with those created using four different thresholds of disturbance size commonly used today in boreal Canada. The results suggest that even a 10,000 ha upper size limit create significantly higher levels of homogeneity and fragmentation at intermediate spatial scales relative to pre-industrial landscape patterns. Towards developing a new, more robust coarse filter indicator, the net area burned at four grid sizes over 10 and 20 years was calculated for natural wildfire data from northern Saskatchewan. The results suggest that wildfire tends to cluster at all scales due largely to the influence of large infrequent wildfires. In contrast, data from two forest management areas in Alberta summarized at the same scales confirm that harvesting activity tends to spread out evenly across the landscape. Based on these findings, the NRV data was then refined to capture; 1) the percentage of grid cells where high disturbance levels occur (WHEREs – or WHERE you are) and the proportion where no disturbance occurs (WYNs – or Where You are Not). The WHERE-WYN indicator is unique in that it specifically integrates time as a dimension of landscape dynamics. It is also easily understood and calculated, corresponds directly to management activities, has NRV equivalents, and applicable to most of boreal Canada. Augmenting the current suite of coarse filter indicator with the WHERE-WYN combination addresses a critical gap in our NRV toolkit and will ultimately help create more sustainable landscapes.

Enhancing Agricultural Management: Implementing Web Application for Agriculture Planning from Experts

The "Agrownet Web Application" represents a transformative platform at the forefront of modernizing and optimizing agricultural practices, serving the vital needs of administrators, farmers, and planners. With a user-friendly interface customized to meet the distinct requirements of each user group, this web-based application signifies a pivotal leap forward in the agricultural sector. For farmers, the application provides a dedicated dashboard, offering comprehensive insights into their farming operations. From monitoring the entire lifecycle of crops, managing resources, and maintaining detailed records, farmers are empowered to make well-informed decisions. This approach fosters an environment where agricultural productivity is maximized and resource utilization optimized. Planners, on the other hand, serve as indispensable guides and collaborators for farmers. They delve into intricate crop planning, from selecting the most suitable crop varieties and determining the ideal planting schedules to developing effective strategies for harvesting and post-harvesting activities. Additionally, the application equips planners with data-driven recommendations for managing pests, diseases, and crop growth, ensuring that farmers receive expert guidance at every stage of their agricultural journey. The application's central database houses crucial information about crop availability and stock levels, enabling users to make informed decisions regarding planting choices and resource management. Robust reporting features facilitate in-depth data analysis, which further contributes to improved agricultural productivity and resource optimization.

Regeneration dynamics in mixed mountain forests at their natural geographical distribution range in the Western Rhodopes

Mixed mountain forests consisting of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) are among the most productive and stable forest ecosystems in Europe. Their southeasternmost geographical distribution range is located in the Western Rhodopes, where they have high economic, recreational, and ecological value. In the past, shelterwood cuttings dominated forest management practices in these forests and were mainly aimed at maintaining and reproducing conifers. During the past two decades, single-tree and group-tree selection systems have been promoted as alternative management approaches to support the conversion of spruce-dominated stands to close-to-nature mixed forests of fir, beech, and spruce. However, the natural regeneration dynamics in these stands are barely known, and their dependence on microsite and management effects needs to be better understood.The objective of this study was to investigate ecological factors under management regimes of different intensity (“single-tree”-selection and “group-tree”-selection) that influence the regeneration processes in mixed mountain forests in the Bulgarian Rhodopes. Data on regeneration and microsite conditions were collected on 105 systematically distributed plots (25 m2/100 m2) in four 100–120 years old stands located in the regional forest district of Smoljan, Bulgaria (1580–1650 m a.s.l.). We relied on generalizeds linear mixed models to analyse for each species the (1) size-dependent regeneration density and (2) height increment in dependence on management practices, competing vegetation, as well as soil and light conditions.Our study revealed an overall high potential for recruitment in the Western Rhodopes. Regeneration density was highest in fir (median 12800 N ha-1), followed by spruce (median 1600 N ha-1) and beech (median 1200 N ha-1). Fir benefited most from “single-tree” selection cuttings, while “group-tree” selection cutting tended to promote beech and fir but also spruce. Competing ground vegetation was detrimental for seedling density of all species. Annual height increment increased with plant size, was lowest in spruce, and similar in fir and beech. Sapling increment was driven by light, whereas seedlings did not react to increased radiation. Browsing was species-specific and was highest in beech (15–30 %), followed by fir (5–10 %) and spruce (<1 %). It was not a crucial factor in impeding tree recruitment. We conclude that frequent harvest activities of low intensity which consider advanced regeneration are a promising approach to successfully convert the formerly spruce-fir-dominated forests to climate-adapted fir-beech-(spruce)-mixed stands.

Modeling climate-smart forest management and wood use for climate mitigation potential in Maryland and Pennsylvania

State and local governments are increasingly interested in understanding the role forests and harvested wood products play in regional carbon sinks and storage, their potential contributions to state-level greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and the interactions between GHG reduction goals and potential economic opportunities. We used empirically driven process-based forest carbon dynamics and harvested wood product models in a systems-based approach to project the carbon impacts of various forest management and wood utilization activities in Maryland and Pennsylvania from 2007 to 2100. To quantify state-wide forest carbon dynamics, we integrated forest inventory data, harvest and management activity data, and remotely-sensed metrics of land-use change and natural forest disturbances within a participatory modeling approach. We accounted for net GHG emissions across (1) forest ecosystems (2) harvested wood products, (3) substitution benefits from wood product utilization, and (4) leakage associated with reduced in-state harvesting activities. Based on state agency partner input, a total of 15 management scenarios were modeled for Maryland and 13 for Pennsylvania, along with two climate change impact scenarios and two bioenergy scenarios for each state. Our findings show that both strategic forest management and wood utilization can provide substantial climate change mitigation potential relative to business-as-usual practices, increasing the forest C sink by 29% in Maryland and 38% in Pennsylvania by 2030 without disrupting timber supplies. Key climate-smart forest management activities include maintaining and increasing forest extent, fostering forest resiliency and natural regeneration, encouraging sustainable harvest practices, balancing timber supply and wood utilization with tree growth, and preparing for future climate impacts. This study adds to a growing body of work that quantifies the relationships between forest growth, forest disturbance, and harvested wood product utilization, along with their collective influence on carbon stocks and fluxes, to identify pathways to enhance forest carbon sinks in support of state-level net-zero emission targets.

Consumption of Bivalve Shellfish in French Coastal Populations: Data for Acute and Chronic Exposure Assessment

Shellfish are a source of nutrients but are also a matter of concern in terms of food safety due to natural contaminants such as phycotoxins or anthropogenic contaminants including microbial agents and heavy metals. However, data related to consumption for each mollusk species are scarce and missing for appropriate exposure calculation. The objective of the study was to generate shellfish consumption data in the adult coastal population in France to assess exposure to health risks, the effects of determinants on the frequency of consumption and usual intake, and shellfish food risk perception. Our study, named the CONSOMER study, was carried out using an online survey in 2016 and 2017 and included a food frequency questionnaire. After validation, 2,479 individual questionnaires were available for statistical analysis. Our findings provide estimates of shellfish consumption frequency, portion sizes, weekly intake in g/week, and g/week/body weight that can be used for acute and chronic exposure calculations. For the acute risk, the 97.5th percentile of the portion size was found to be around 290 g for the adult coastal population. For chronic exposure, recreational shellfish harvesting activities were associated with higher weekly intakes. A non-negligible part of this subpopulation is not aware of food safety recommendations concerning harvesting areas. Results for shellfish harvester consumption in particular are consistent with other available data. Exposure calculations and safety recommendations should target shellfish harvesters.

Cost and income analysis of harvesting of aren sugar farmers in Kalobba Village, Tellulimpoe District, Sinjai Regency

Palm sugar is one of the products from aren (Arenga pinnata) which is classified as a non-timber forest product (NTFP). However, the palm sugar harvesters at the research site do not know for sure the costs that have been incurred each time they carry out harvesting activities and the income from the sale. The purpose of this study was to determine how much the cost and income are generated by palm sugar farmers. The material used in this study was a questionnaire while the tools used were a camera and writing utensils. Determination of respondents using the census method. Respondents of this study were sugar palm farmers in Kalobba Village. The data collected consists of primary data and secondary data. Data collection techniques used are observation, interviews, and documentation. The results showed that the process of processing palm sap into palm sugar is still managed simply and traditionally. The stages of processing palm sugar production include tapping. cooking, printing, and packaging. The costs incurred by palm sugar farmers are an average of IDR 229,000/month and the income generated is an average of IDR 1,448,000/month.

Abanfan matilon, a local wisdom in marine ethnoconservation system on the coast of Liki Island, Sarmi District, Papua, Indonesia

Abstract. Keiluhu HJ, Sujarta P, Suharno, Mailissa MG, Hadisusanto S, Yuliana S, Setyawan AD. 2023. Abanfan matilon, a local wisdom in marine ethnoconservation system on the coast of Liki Island, Sarmi District, Papua, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 4693-4701. Liki Island is the outermost part of Sarmi District, Papua, Indonesia, which is directly facing the Pacific Ocean and bordering Papua New Guinea. This island is unique in its geographical features and is characterized by the local wisdom of the people known as Abanfan matilon. Therefore, this study aimed to document the knowledge, participation of people, and the role of the local wisdom of Abanfan matilon in the marine ethnoconservation system. The study was conducted from June to November 2022 using a survey method based on semi-structural interviews. The results of the study of 50 respondents showed that (i) the community knowledge about local wisdom of Abanfan matilon, possed by the Liki Island village community, had transcended from one generation to another through oral stories from parents, (ii) the role of the community in implementing local wisdom was substantial, starting from the planning, preparation, and implementation up to the harvesting activities through local traditional ceremonies, and (iii) the implementation of local wisdom of Abanfan matilon was carried out by community leaders from various sectors, including traditional, church, or local government. In conclusion, local wisdom traditions in Abanfan matilon exhibited the characteristics of a marine ethnoconservation system.

Analisis Struktur Biaya Usahatani Cengkeh Di Desa Raanan Baru Dua Kecamatan Motoling Barat Kabupaten Minahasa Selatan

This study aims to analyze the cost of cloves in Raanan Baru 2 Village, West Motoling District. Sampling in this study used the method (Purposive Sampling) or deliberately from clove farmers in Raanan Baru Dua Village, West Motoling District. The number of respondents was 10 people as respondents. The data used in this study are primary data and secondary data. Primary data was obtained by using direct interview techniques with clove farmers as respondents, by using a questionnaire (questionnaire) as an aid in data collection. While secondary data were obtained from the agencies involved in this study. The analytical method used in this research is cost analysis, analysis of total revenue and total income and the cost structure of farming. the results of research conducted on clove farming in Raanan Baru Dua Village, West Motoling District, obtained an income of Rp.93,906,348.- per harvest with a total income of IDR 196,790,000.- per harvest and a total cost of IDR 102,883,652.- per harvest of the total costs incurred fixed costs (Fix Cost) contributed to the total cost of 0.03 percent and variable costs (Variable Cost) contributed to the total cost of 99.96 percent and for the contribution of costs based on harvest preparation activities contributed to the total cost of 0.59 percent and for cost contributions based on harvest activities contributing to costs of 97.84 percent and for cost contributions based on post-harvest activities contributing to total costs of 1.16 percent.

Camping in clearcuts: The impacts of timber harvesting on USFS campground utilization

This research applies a temporally and spatially explicit model to analyze timber harvesting's impact on campground utilization on United States Forest Service (USFS) land across the Western U.S. Timber harvesting and camping can occur near one another due to multiple-use management strategies used by the USFS. However, intensive forest management can change the degree of perceived naturalness of a forest and may therefore negatively impact recreation. We investigate several facets of harvesting activity, such as proximity to camping, type of harvesting, regional differences, and persisting lagged impacts of timber harvesting. We find that harvesting activity significantly decreases campground reservations during the year of harvest, and this loss in campground utilization can be expected to have negative impacts on nearby tourism-dependent economies. Management implications•Intensive forest management generally negatively impacts campground utilization during the years of operations•Public land managers, such as the USFS, may seek to locate timber harvesting operations further from campgrounds if they wish to not negatively impact campground usage•Alternative, less-intensive, forms of forest management decrease nearby campground utilization less than timber harvesting, so do not necessarily need to be located further from campgrounds to avoid losses in their utilization•Decreased campground visitation due to timber harvesting may imply lower visitation to nearby gateway communities, and therefore less economic stimulation and spending in their economies, which may create an incentive for gateway communities to be involved in the harvest planning process

Monitoring selective logging intensities in central Africa with sentinel-1: A canopy disturbance experiment

Forest degradation is a major threat to tropical forests, and effective monitoring using remotely sensed data is subject to significant challenges. In particular, consistent methods for detecting subtle changes in the forest canopy structure caused by selective logging are lacking. Here, using a unique dataset collected in southeastern Cameroon, covering over 22,000 ha of monthly harvesting areas, >6000 locations of harvested trees, and an independent canopy gap dataset developed from an uninhabited aerial vehicle flight (UAV; RGB camera) of approximately 1500 ha, a new method was designed to monitor canopy disturbance and logging intensity in Central Africa. Using Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, the method was conceptualised using a two-step, two-scale approach, which better matched logging practices. First, (non-)harvesting activity areas were identified using textural indices at a spatial resolution of 300 m (step 1), and within these harvesting activity areas, canopy gaps were detected at a resolution of 10 m (step 2). Both steps were based on monthly differences in the Sentinel-1 SAR time series computed using the average of the 12 months preceding and the average of the three months following the month of interest. This method identified harvesting activity areas (step 1 at 300 m resolution) of over 12,004 km2 with high accuracy (omission and commission errors for both classes ≤0.05) and, within them, detected canopy gaps (step 2 at 10 m resolution) with a global accuracy of 0.89. Although some canopy gaps were subject to omission and commission errors (0.39 and 0.05, respectively), this method yielded better results than other available approaches. Compared to the UAV canopy gaps, this method detected most of the small gaps (≤ 500 m2), which represent 80% of all disturbed areas, whereas other available approaches missed at least 70% of these and consequently missed most of the disturbance events occurring in a selectively logged forest. Furthermore, the predictions were correlated with logging intensity, i.e., the number of trees and volume cut per hectare, which are two important criteria for assessing the sustainability of logging activities. This two-step two-scale method for short-term, monthly monitoring of logging disturbances and intensity has strong practical implications for forest administration and certification bodies in Central Africa.

Quantifying additionality thresholds for forest carbon offsets in Mississippi pine pulpwood markets

Concerns over the additionality of carbon sequestration achieved through voluntary carbon market have threatened offset market credibility and stability. There is an urgent need to examine additionality in a dynamic market context. To this end, our analysis focuses on the extent to which deferred harvests of pine roundwood as an offset source can achieve additionality under changing roundwood prices across a large wood-producing region. Specifically, we consider the potential for offset market activity itself and for unexpected demand shocks to adjust carbon baselines as they each have an impact on the relative prices observed for industrial roundwood. We use a bioeconomic model of the roundwood market to simulate harvest activity and estimate the economically feasible levels of carbon storage across four wood-producing basins in Mississippi. We then present estimates of the expected changes in carbon storage under a given change in timber prices and demonstrate how this information can be used to approximate the optimal reaction curve for an offset broker, dealer, or verification program manager seeking to ensure additionality with credits they exchange. The optimal reaction curve consists of a response to a change in the roundwood price state by either approving supplementary harvest deferral contracts or by restricting the supply of new contracts, depending on the direction of the observed price change. Alternatively, the results suggest that contracts could be structured to facilitate payment conditional on realized timber price outcomes, rather than solely on evidence of a delayed harvest.

Recent Advances in Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Photocatalysts: Design Strategies and Applications in Heavy Metal Control.

The heavy metal contamination of water systems has become a major environmental concern worldwide. Photocatalysis using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has emerged as a promising approach for heavy metal remediation, owing to the ability of MOFs to fully degrade contaminants through redox reactions that are driven by photogenerated charge carriers. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent developments in MOF-based photocatalysts for removing and decontaminating heavy metals from water. The tunable nature of MOFs allows the rational design of composition and features to enhance light harvesting, charge separation, pollutant absorptivity, and photocatalytic activities. Key strategies employed include metal coordination tuning, organic ligand functionalization, heteroatom doping, plasmonic nanoparticle incorporation, defect engineering, and morphology control. The mechanisms involved in the interactions between MOF photocatalysts and heavy metal contaminants are discussed, including light absorption, charge carrier separation, metal ion adsorption, and photocatalytic redox reactions. The review highlights diverse applications of MOF photocatalysts in treating heavy metals such as lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, silver, arsenic, nickel, etc. in water remediation. Kinetic modeling provides vital insights into the complex interplay between coupled processes such as adsorption and photocatalytic degradation that influence treatment efficiency. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is also crucial for evaluating the sustainability of MOF-based technologies. By elucidating the latest advances, current challenges, and future opportunities, this review provides insights into the potential of MOF-based photocatalysts as a sustainable technology for addressing the critical issue of heavy metal pollution in water systems. Ongoing efforts are needed to address the issues of stability, recyclability, scalable synthesis, and practical reactor engineering.

Youth recruitment and retainment in small‐scale fisheries: Factors influencing succession and participation decisions in Cameroon

AbstractFisheries systems face enormous pressures from increased fish demand, decreased fish catches, and an ageing fishing population. As a case study, we investigate how climate change stressors, capacity‐building opportunities, and the introduction of climate‐smart innovations, tools and information may influence youths’ succession decisions in small‐scale fisheries (SSF). We collected empirical data from a survey with the children of SSF actors to identify the factors promoting or hindering succession in fish harvesting activities through a simple random sampling of 415 youths in six fishing communities in Cameroon. The probit model results revealed that youth participation and succession decisions are positively influenced by their education, nationality, that is, being a migrant, desire to be employed full‐time in fisheries‐related activities, climate‐smart innovations, tools and information, and capacity‐building opportunities. Increasing temperatures and uncertainty in fish availability due to climate change negatively influence their succession decisions. We find that parents do not encourage their children to participate in SSF due to climate change impacts, which are reducing fish catch and due to a lack of suitable climate‐resilient innovations and capacity‐building opportunities. The study provides evidence that interventions that create an enabling environment for youths’ participation in fisheries‐related activities are important to secure the future of SSF in Cameroon.

Climate and socioeconomic impacts on Maine's forests under alternative future pathways

This study investigates the combined effects of climate and socioeconomic change on fiber supply and forest carbon in Maine, USA, for broad alternative futures. We conduct an econometric analysis to project forest resource use over the next 80 years under a range of shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) and representative concentration pathways (RCPs). Results show that continued forest successional dynamics – without any harvesting – contribute the most to Maine's aboveground carbon (AGC) accumulation, with 2100 AGC potentially increasing by 140% compared to 2020. On this basis, climate change could result in 2.44–2.64 times greater AGC in 2100 compared to today. Harvest activities are major drivers of forest C dynamics, resulting in 2100 AGC being only 16% >2020. Socioeconomic factors (SSPs) had much larger effects on total harvest and carbon stocks than climate change (RCPs). Harvest volume were projected to increase by 9–29% between 2020 and 2100 for favorable socioeconomic development scenarios (SSP1/SSP2/SSP5) and decrease by 3–29% for unfavorable socioeconomic development scenarios (SSP3/SSP4). Overall, Maine's forest C pools were projected to increase by end-century for RCPs x SSP1/SSP2. This study offers valuable insight on possible methods for region-specific socioeconomic and climate change assessments, particularly in areas with extensive and diverse working forests with mixed ownership.

Harvesting cereals at Tappeh Sang-e Chakhmaq and the introduction of farming in Northeastern Iran during the Neolithic.

Tappeh Sang-e Chakhmaq is the only Neolithic site in Northeastern Iran, characterised by aceramic and ceramic levels corresponding to an occupation of 1500 years from the eighth to the end of the sixth millennium BCE. The Western and Eastern Mounds represent the oldest and longest occupation among the sites identified East of the Zagros, providing a unique context to explore the origin and spread of farming outside the core area of the Eastern Fertile Crescent. We present data about the first harvesting activities in the Northeastern Iranian Central Plateau by applying usewear and microtexture analysis through confocal microscopy on sickle gloss blades. Our results indicate a community of pioneer farmers who settled down in the area carrying with them both domestic cereals as well as advanced techniques of cereal cultivation. We demonstrate that most of the tools were used for harvesting cereals in a fully ripened state collected near the ground, indicating a well-established cereal cultivation strategy. The use of straight shafts with parallel inserts in Tappeh Sang-e Chakhmaq, as known in some sites in the Zagros, suggests the dispersal of farming practices and technologies from the Eastern Fertile Crescent north-eastward across Iran. We observe an evolution in the degree of ripeness of harvested cereals along the first four levels of occupation of the Western Mound, where semi-ripe harvesting is relatively important, suggesting that domestic cereals to be harvested before full maturity were introduced into the village. From the topmost of the Western Mound and along the occupation of the Eastern Mound, ripe harvesting is dominant, showing a well-established cultivation strategy of fully mature cereal. This shift could indicate an in-situ evolution towards a better-established agricultural technology, including harvesting riper crops, that would have resulted in higher yields, as cereals were collected when the grain was fully formed.

Seasons, stress, salience, and support for cooperative groundwater management

AbstractCooperative management of shared groundwater resources in the High Plains region of the United States is critical to support sustainable agricultural‐based economies. This research uses a repeat‐sample survey of agricultural producers in the states of Colorado and Nebraska to analyze how seasonal changes and variation in stress and salience influence support for groundwater management. We find that support for groundwater management tends to be lower in the fall, when agricultural producers are engaged in harvest activities. The results also reveal that changes in the salience of commodity prices and water availability can drive changes in support for groundwater management.

Inventaritation and Potential Utilization of Macroscopic Mushroom in TPKh Tenjo KPH Bogor

The TPKh Tenjo KPH Bogor is a production forest wood collection area and becomes a production forest for the Acacia mangium wood species. Timber harvesting activities leave a lot of tree stumps, twigs, or piles of wood that do not pass production. Environmental conditions with a lot of harvested wood residue and supported by relatively cool air temperatures and high humidity, it is suspected this area has a diversity of macroscopic fungi with various unknown potentials. This study aims to obtain data on the types of macroscopic fungi and their potential uses. The research method includes the stages of exploration, identification and literature study to obtain the potential of the macroscopic fungi found. The research succeeded in finding 8 types of macroscopic fungi classified into the phylum Basidiomycota, 3 orders, 5 families, and 7 genera. The macroscopic fungi include Coprinellus sp., Lentinus sp., Panus sp., Schizophyllum commune, Pycnoporus sp., Fomitopsis sp. 1, Fomitopsis sp. 2, and Lycoperdon sp. Based on the results of the literature study, the potential uses of macroscopic fungi were found are as food, medicine, natural pigment producer, and enzyme producer. This data report can be used as basic information on the use of macroscopic mushrooms by communities around the area to be used as food or medicinal ingredients. Further utilization of this data is the development of the potential of macroscopic fungi that produce enzymes, pigments or drugs to be produced on a large scale. Research on the development of potential mushroom conservation strategies can also be carried out for sustainable use.

Investigations into the performance and emissions of a small-scale CHP system using producer gas obtained from gasification of forest residues

The cost of wood, which form traditional feedstocks for biomass gasification, has been sharply increasing in recent years. Hence, low cost alternative feedstocks, such as forest residues, need to be explored to retain the economical edge. Forest residues (FR) are the materials left behind on the forest floor after forest harvesting and management activities. The present study explores the effect of forest residues as feedstock in a downdraft gasifier coupled with a small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) system, consisting of a diesel engine-alternator setup. The findings reveal that the FR mixtures change the flow behaviors of both feedstock and air in the reactor. While the average composition of the producer gas is similar to that of wood chips, a stratified bed with uneven flow leads to an unpredictable nature in the equivalence ratio which is a process controlling parameter. This is also reflected in gas parameters such as the heating value and cold gas efficiency, which in turn leads to unpredictability in the overall performance of the CHP system, evident in its electrical and thermal efficiencies, and exhaust gas components like CO, CO2, and NOx. Diesel substitution rates (DSR) of up to 59% and 46% for partial and full electrical loads respectively were realized. While emissions of CO and CO2 increased with increasing DSR, supplementing diesel with producer gas has benefits in terms of the pollutants NOx and PM, which were found to be generally lower for the FR mixtures. In the case of NOx, reductions of over 65% was achieved.

Assessment of Thatch Grass Harvesting Model in Protected Areas and Its Role as an Additional Livelihood Option for Woman in North West Matabeleland, Zimbabwe

Thatch grass is a readily available ecosystem productthat plays a direct economic and utilitarian benefit to woman in households surrounding the protected areas of Zimbabwe. The study describes the institutional arrangement in place for the exploitation and lesson highlights of thatch grass in the protected areas of Matetsi Safari Area and Kazuma pan national park in North West Matebeleland region. The arrangement for thatch grass harvesting is that only the women (young and elderly) are allowed to apply for thatch grass harvesting in protected areas for defined period of time usually two weeks. We used park registers of thatch grass harvesters to determine the number of women involved, thatch grass bundles harvested and villages involved. At total of 15 744 bundles of thatch grass were harvested in the year 2022. The total bundles that the woman took home were 10 962 while 4 784 were retained by the park or concession holders. On average, an individual woman collected 27 to 125 bundles. Each individual woman direct income from thatch grass harvesting ranged from US$ 40 to US$187 per harvesting season. The key lesson in the thatch grass arrangement is that woman can successfully be mainstreamed directly to benefit from protected areas without experiencing negative effects associated with resource access in protected such as wildlife poaching which might occur when men are involved. Further, coordinated thatch grass harvesting has less conflict with the trophy hunting experience and activities in the hunting areas. While some challenges have been experienced in the national park component, the challenges are partly due to the perceived regulations, purpose of national parks and the somewhat negative attitude of stakeholders operating in the park to use of natural resource by local communities. In order for the thatch grass harvesting to remain sustainable and compatible with activities in the protected area there ought to be planning, coordination, monitoring of harvesting activities andongoing ecological monitoring of potential ecosystem impacts.