Protected Forest Areas Research Articles

Field estimation of fallen deadwood volume under different management approaches in two European protected forested areas

Abstract Fallen deadwood is essential for biodiversity and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. In modern forest management, there is growing interest in developing accurate and efficient methods for field estimation of deadwood volume due to its many benefits (e.g. carbon storage, habitat creation, erosion control). The most common methods for deadwood inventories are fixed-area sampling (FAS) and line-intersect sampling (LIS) methods. While the estimations of deadwood volume by LIS generally show results comparable to FAS estimations, active management (e.g. production forestry clearcutting, logging, and thinning activities) can impair LIS accuracy by changing local deadwood patterns. Yet, the comparison of LIS and FAS methods has typically focused on production forests where deadwood is limited and deadwood volumes are comparably low. In this study, we assessed fallen deadwood volume in two large national parks—one being a more actively managed landscape (including, e.g., selective thinning for maintaining cultural–historical values and enhancing recreational opportunities) with overall lower levels of fallen deadwood, and the other having a strict non-intervention approach with higher levels of deadwood. No significant differences between average FAS and LIS estimations of deadwood volumes were detected. Additional experimentations using simulated data under varied stand conditions confirmed these results. Although line-intersect sampling showed a slight overestimation and some variability at the individual plot level, it remains an efficient, time-saving field sampling method providing comparable results to the more laborious fixed-area sampling. Line-intersect sampling may be especially suitable for rapid field inventories where relative changes in deadwood volume rather than absolute deadwood volumes are of large interest. Due to its practicality, flexibility, and relative accuracy, line-intersect sampling may gain wider use in natural resource management to inform national park managers, foresters, and ecologists.

The Role and Importance of Protected Forest Areas in the Preservation of Lake Baikal

The article is devoted to identifying the role and importance of forest systems of specially protected natural territories –– the Baikal-Lena Reserve and the Baikal National Park in the conservation of Lake Baikal. The analysis of the formation of anthropogenic impact on the Baikal natural territory of industrial and recreational processes is carried out. The differences between the legal regime of the reserve and the national park and the identity of their goal-setting are revealed. The analysis of the characteristics of forest systems of protected areas that ensure the conservation of biodiversity of the plant and animal world, a variety of landscape conditions conducive to the development and habitat of animals. The role of forest systems in the preservation of Lake Baikal is shown. It is proved that the recreational use of protected areas has a negative impact on their condition. In order to restore disturbed areas of forest and soil, protect against fires and protect the environment in general, it is necessary to ensure the balance of environmental and economic interests by charging a fee for the use of the forest fund, identifying sources of income from forest recreation through appropriate measures. In order to prevent the negative impact of protected areas on the preservation of the Baikal system, it is necessary to increase the efficiency of management of these territories.

Utilization of Plants as Traditional Medicine by the People of Momiwaren Village, West Papua

Momiwaren Village is one of the villages close to the Momiwaren Protected Forest Area. In line with regional development and technological advances, knowledge of the use of plants as medicinal ingredients is starting to disappear. For this reason, it is necessary to conduct research on how many types of plants are still used by the community as medicinal ingredients. The method used in this research is a survey method with interview techniques. The results of this research show that the people of Momiwaren Village still use plants as medicinal ingredients. There are 30 species from 22 families used by the community. If we look at the conservation status of the plants used, the types of plants used are still included in the naturally available (LC/DD) category, but there is one type of plant that is threatened with extinction and requires further silvicultural action so that this plant can be cultivated and not extinct from nature.

Assessment of Recreational Value in a Protected Forest Area Considering the New Environmental Paradigm (Case Study: Helen Forest, Southwestern Iran)

This study investigates the recreational value of the Helen protected forest area, incorporating the new environmental paradigm into economic valuation. Visitors’ willingness to pay and its association with scores reflecting the new environmental paradigm were assessed through contingent valuation and a dual-dimensional questionnaire. Two models are employed: a base model with socio-economic variables and a model integrating new environmental paradigm. Results indicate that 83.04% of visitors are willing to pay for recreational use. The proposed amount, visit frequency, new environmental paradigm, age, gender, education, and income were found to significantly influence the acceptance of willingness to pay. Results indicated a strong positive correlation exists between new environmental paradigm and willingness to pay, highlighting the influence of environmental perspective. Average willingness to pay per household per visit is IRR 190,390.4 (USD 0.53), translating to an annual recreational value of IRR 22,629,264,215 (USD 64,088) for the entire Helen forest. The average new environmental paradigm scores for visitors stand at 57.36, with the statement “plants and animals have similar rights to humans” receiving the highest score of 28.4. These findings emphasize the importance of considering environmental perspectives in managing recreational sites. Integrating a new environmental paradigm into valuation methods can inform sustainable management strategies that balance economic development with environmental conservation and social well-being.

SRAP markers for characterization of the genetic diversity and differentiation of Pinus nigra populations in protected forested areas in Bulgaria, Greece, and Cyprus

The present study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and differentiation of Pinus nigra Arnold, the European black pine, populations located in protected forested areas in three countries from the Balkan and Mediterranean region: Bulgaria, Greece, and Cyprus. Totally, 175 DNA samples from P. nigra plants collected from eight populations in these countries were analyzed using three SRAP primer pairs. The applied SRAP markers demonstrated high-resolution power, resulting in the identification of an average of 215 ± 67 polymorphic loci per SRAP primer pair. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 82% of the observed variation was due to intra-population variation, while 18% was due to inter-population variation. The overall analysis of the population structure suggested low (Fst ≤ 0.01) intra-country differentiation for the populations from Bulgaria and Cyprus and moderate (0.15 ≤ Fst ≤ 0.17) inter-country differentiation. On the contrary, high differentiation between the populations (0.06 ≤ Fst ≤ 0.20) and complex genetic structure were characteristic of the three populations from Greece, relatively closely located in the area of the Pindos National Park. Analysis of the population structure also revealed that one of the Pindos populations belonged to the cluster of Bulgarian populations (Fst ≤ 0.01), showing moderate (Fst ≤ 0.11) to high (Fst ≤ 0.20) genetic differentiation from the other analyzed Pindos populations. The further use of SRAP markers for mapping the genetic diversity among P. nigra populations and identification of local populations diverted from the overall phylogeography-driven pattern in the studied region are discussed.

What evidence exists on birds and mammals' biodiversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF) agricultural ecosystems? A systematic map protocol

BackgroundBrazil has one of the planet's greatest biodiversity, with over 20% of the world’s total species. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF) spans 17 Brazilian states, making it the third-largest biome in Brazil. The BAF is composed of a range of ecological formations, with climatic conditions and landscape diversity that directly contribute to the different structures of the forest. The fragmentation of the original habitats, mainly due to anthropogenic activities, is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss, causing the decline and habitat loss for several species, including birds and mammals. While there has been extensive research on species diversity in forest fragments or protected areas, there is a lack of basic research in agricultural ecosystems. Only 1.5% of the studies on bird occurrence data in the BAF were reported from pasture habitats and 1.4% from exotic tree plantations. To address this gap, the present systematic map protocol aims to carry out a bibliographic survey on the presence of birds and mammals in agricultural landscapes and its adjacent areas of natural vegetation to describe the prevalence of species across different (semi-)natural and anthropogenic habitat types. Collecting this data is important to support environmental management policies to preserve biodiversity in these areas.MethodsWe will conduct a systematic literature review on the biodiversity of birds and mammals in agricultural landscapes within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest as well as adjacent areas of natural vegetation. Our search will cover the following databases, without limiting the year of publication: Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and PubMed. We will also include grey literature such as dissertations and theses, performing the search at the “Biblioteca Digital Brasileira” database. The results will be screened for relevance based on predefined criteria. The screening process will take place in two stages: firstly, the articles will be screened by title and abstract, and then the eligible articles will be screened in full text. Only articles that meet the eligibility criteria will proceed to data extraction. The extracted data will provide the elements to build a systematic map.

The Influence of Driving Factors for the Opening of Settlements on Protected Forest Areas in Nahel Hamlet, Gunung Nona, Nusaniwe District, Ambon City

The Influence of Driving Factors for the Opening of Settlements on Protected Forest Areas in Nahel Hamlet, Gunung Nona, Nusaniwe District, Ambon City

Models of residential space for ethnic minorities in Thanh Hoa Province associated with sustainable livelihoods

Thanh Hoa Province has 11 mountainous districts with seven ethnic minority groups, and the three largest ethnic groups are the Muong, Thai, and H'Mong. This region has great potential for developing a forest-based economy, ecotourism, community-based tourism, and cultural heritage tourism that is associated with cultural festivals, customs, lifestyles, and traditional housing architecture. However, developing a family-based economy, such as engaging in community-based tourism or agricultural production, has negatively affected and disrupted the structure of village spaces, spatial planning, and traditional house design. The arbitrary construction of additional service spaces and spaces for resident guests within the village space and the precinct of a house has reduced the area of the garden and agricultural land. The self-initiated modification, expansion, and use of non-traditional materials in traditional housing structures by residents to serve tourists have resulted in the loss of the architectural value of traditional homes. The exploitation of agricultural land has affected the natural forest area, the forest protection area at the headwaters, and the vegetation cover and natural ecosystems. Moreover, agricultural economic activities have not been linked to service activities, handicraft production, or tourism, and there are no adaptive residential space models, thus failing to create sustainable livelihood activities. Therefore, the article proposes settlement space models and orientations for residential space development including village spaces, house precincts, and traditional housing spaces of ethnic minorities in Thanh Hoa Province, associated with sustainable livelihoods based on the exploitation of traditional housing architectural heritage values to ensure local economic development. These models are closely linked with the conservation and promotion of ethnic cultural values, landscape preservation, environmental protection, and contribution to poverty reduction for residents.

Estimation of Adult Sex Ratio and Size-Related Sexual Dimorphism Based on Molecular Sex Determination in the Vulnerable La Selle Thrush, Turdus swalesi.

Sex-determination is of particular importance in avian ecology and conservation. However, many bird species show no conspicuous sexual dimorphism, such as the La Selle Thrush, Turdus swalesi, a vulnerable species endemic to Hispaniola. We captured individuals in southeastern Haiti, in 2019-2022. For each one, we collected contour feathers or blood samples for molecular sex identification based on the CHD-1 gene. In addition, we took body measurements of several captured individuals and recorded their weight. Out of a total of 65 birds, 45 were identified as males and 20 as females, indicative of a significantly male-biased sex ratio. However, analyses of first captures showed that the sex ratio at our study site was male-biased only outside of the breeding season, suggesting that females may disperse at that time while males remain on their territories. Sexual dimorphism was limited to wing chord length and tail length, with males being larger than females. Tail length was the best predictor of sex in a logistic regression model and correctly classified about 80% of individuals as male or female. We discuss our results in relation to previous studies of sex ratio and sexual dimorphism in turdid species and address their relevance for the conservation of avian species in one of the major protected forest areas in Haiti.

Success story of agroforestry system for RHL: case study in Register 38 of Gunung Balak-Protected Forest, Lampung Province

Undoubtedly, the agroforestry system is the best land use strategy. Still, if it is linked to the success of land rehabilitation, it needs to be re-examined, especially in cases of rapid deforestation. The agroforestry in rehabilitation activities will contribute to the FOLU carbon net sink as one of the climate crisis mitigation programs to support government goals. This research was conducted at Register 38 of Gunung Balak using a qualitative approach through case studies. In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants to obtain data and information. The long struggle for restoring the protected forest area registers 38 of Gunung Balak through various policies ranging from coercion to persuasion, but facing various obstacles has made success very difficult. BPDAS Way Sekampung Way Seputih, in collaboration with the Forestry Service, has recently made breakthroughs in rehabilitating land. In recent years, new ideas on productive and sustainable agro-forestry patterns, with local communities as key stakeholders, are bringing economic, social, and environmental benefits to local communities. This success is expected to help pioneer forest restoration elsewhere.

Studi Kesesuaian SNI 8748:2019 Terhadap Partisipasi Pengelolaan Pendakian Gunung Oleh Masyarakat di Kawasan Hutan Lindung Salahutu

Mountain climbing is an outdoor activity that has risks. SNI 8748:2019 about mountain climbing management by the technical committee of forest management under the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. Its function is to make the stakeholders optimize the activity of mountain climbing. This research aims to determine the compatibility between SNI 8748:2019 with mountain climbing management by the communities of two villages in The Salahutu Protected Forest Area. The research’s samples were taken using purposive sampling and accidental sampling. Data analysis uses Miles & Hubermann Theory and measuring instrument of SNI 8748 (Pusfaster, 2019). The result of research that the communities of two villages participate in the form of thoughts, energy, items, and skills. Meanwhile, participation of money was not found. There is percentage of conformity with measuring instrument SNI 8748:2019 in Waai Village amount of 43,75% and 23,43% in Morella Village.

Ecology of Nepenthes on Mount Talang, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Gunung (Mount) Talang is an active volcano in West Sumatra that has a number of Nepenthes species, including the endemic N. talangensis, but their ecology has been little been studied. This study found five species of Nepenthes growing in the protected forest area of Gunung Talang, namely N. bongso, N. inermis, N. pectinata, N. spathulata and N. talangensis. The population of N. talangensis is very small (23 individuals) and it grows sympatrically with N. bongso and N. inermis forming natural hybrids. Lithocarpus conocarpus, Camellia lanceolata, Syzygium acuminatissimum, Adinandra dumosa and Dehaasia sp. are the five most dominant tree species found in the Nepenthes habitat, while L. conocarpus and Podocarpus neriifolius had strong positive associations with N. talangensis. Growth rates of the five Nepenthes species were not significantly different, neither were foliar nitrogen (mean = 1.14%) or phosphorus concentrations (mean = 0.11%). We suggest that N. talangensis should be considered as Critically Endangered and outline some possible conservation actions.

Wild Foods Are Positively Associated with Diet Diversity and Child Growth in a Protected Forest Area of Madagascar

BackgroundConcurrent losses in biodiversity and human dietary diversity are evident in Madagascar and across many food systems globally. Wild food harvest can mitigate nutrition insecurities but may also pose species conservation concerns. ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the association of wild plant and animal species consumption during hunger season with diet diversity and child growth near the Alandraza-Agnalavelo protected forest in Southwestern Madagascar. Second, we studied the conservation status of the consumed wild plants. MethodsMethods from public health nutrition (24-h recall dietary intake, anthropometry using World Health Organization [WHO] Growth Standards), ethnobotany, and forest ecology (ecologic studies of abundance, habitat preference, associated species, food chemistry assays, and species richness) were applied. ResultsMalnutrition in children (n = 305) was highly prevalent: stunting (32.3%); wasting (18.8%); and low-dietary diversity (4% meeting WHO minimum dietary diversity threshold). Animal foods were consumed in small quantities, providing <10% of Dietary Reference Intakes for all limiting nutrients. Twenty-two wild plant species were consumed during hunger season, prominently tubers (Dioscoreaceae), and leafy greens (Asteraceae, Blechnaceae, Portulacaceae, and Solanaceae). Eight of the 9 target species were identified as abundant and “Least Concern,” whereas Amorphophollus taurostigma was abundant and “Vulnerable.” Regression modeling showed wild food consumption was associated with an increased household dietary diversity score [β = 0.29 (0.06 standard error); P < 0.001], and total wild animal foods positively correlated with height-for-age Z score [β = 0.14 (0.07 standard error); P = 0.04]. ConclusionsWild plant and animal foods may be an important element of food systems to support human nutrition while maintaining ecosystem viability.

Actualizing local knowledge for sustainable ecotourism development in a protected forest area: insights from the Gayonese in Aceh Tengah, Indonesia

Actualizing local knowledge for sustainable ecotourism development in a protected forest area: insights from the Gayonese in Aceh Tengah, Indonesia

Establishing an Ecological Network to Enhance Forest Connectivity in South Korea’s Demilitarized Zone

This investigation delineated an ecological network within South Korea’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to enhance ecosystem functionality, with a focus on forest landscape connectivity. The study employed spatial autocorrelation analysis and the minimum cumulative resistance model to identify key source patches. These patches are vital for maintaining connectivity across various topographies and land uses in the DMZ. Morphological spatial pattern analysis in the DMZ’s forest area showed a variation in forest patch types. The core class, less affected by external influences, was more prevalent in the eastern part. In contrast, the edge class, influenced by different environmental boundaries, was dominant in the western part. A 452.36 km long ecological network was constructed, serving as an essential corridor linking habitats of endangered species. This network covers a total forest area of 730.17 km2, which includes an existing forest protection area of 165.84 km2 (22.7%). The study also identified 564.33 km2 (77.3%) of previously non-designated forest regions as potential conservation areas. This aims to significantly increase forest connectivity within the DMZ. The research highlights the effectiveness of spatial planning tools in promoting ecosystem integrity in politically sensitive and restricted-access areas.

The rising human footprint in the Tibetan Plateau threatens the effectiveness of ecological restoration on vegetation growth

Ecological restoration projects in the Tibetan Plateau aimed to reverse ecosystem degradation and safeguard the fragile alpine ecological environment. However, it is still being determined if the vegetation restoration is successful on a large scale or reaches the expected magnitude, restricting our ability to adapt practices to maximise the benefit. With multiple vegetation indices (VIs: NDVI, LAI, and GPP) from satellite observations and random forest machine-learning models, we performed an attribution study on vegetation growth trends caused by climate change and human activities. Then, we further explored the relationship between vegetation growth and ecological projects and human footprint without the influence of climate. The results showed that climatic change was a relatively strong driver of vegetation growth. The positive contributions of ecological restoration occurred only in half of the plateau due to the increased human footprint. Vegetation enhancement resulting from ecological restoration occurred in 13.1%–23.1% of the plateau. Among these values, ecological restoration counteracted the negative climate effects in 4.7%–8.3% of the plateau (about half of the negative climate effect area). In forest and grassland protection areas, the ecological restoration was more successful. The study provides a better understanding of the role of ecological projects in vegetation restoration and potential threats to its effectiveness. This is essential to improve future restoration projects.

Ecosystem services-based mangrove forest with management model strategies, sustainability of coastal natural resources.

The purpose of this research is to examine; Ecosystem Services Based Mangrove Forest with Management Model Strategies, Sustainability of Coastal Natural Resources. This research design uses systematic review namely library research that examines quality and critical journals, which have been filtered with inclusion criteria and uses several Google Scholar, Pubmed, Science Direct and Research gate databases as literacy in this study. A search of 2018-2023 articles returned 17,000 keyword results. Ecosystem Services Based Mangrove Forest with Management Strategies, which were filtered into 10 journals according to the theme and analyzed by reviewing them. Ecosystem Services Based Mangrove Forest with Management Strategies. The research results show that mangrove ecosystem services with an area of 88,556 ha was Rp 6,961,126,186,194 year-1 (US$ 467,974,555.06 year-1) or Rp 78,607,444 ha-1-1 (US$ 5,284.5 ha-1year-1). Ecosystem Services Based Mangrove Forest with Management Strategies, that there are three main components that must be considered in efforts to manage and utilize mangrove ecosystems and coastal natural resources, namely; 1) social activity(social processes) provide socialization or understanding to the community about the importance of protecting mangrove forests and the benefits that the community will receive 2) the economy(economic processes) take advantage of the existing potential by planting mangrove trees, and 3) the natural resources themselves(natural processes) Mangrove forest management includes establishing protected forest areas for mangrove forest conservation so that they are well maintained and sustainable. From the socio-economic, cultural and human aspects, natural resources are needed to be able to continue their lives, on the other hand, the existence or sustainability of coastal natural resources is very dependent on human activities as the main users of natural resources.

Short Communication: A Rapid Assessment of Vertebrate in Pasir Timbul-Sungsang IV, Banyuasin, South Sumatra, Indonesia

The mangrove forest in Pasir Timbul, Sungsang IV Village, Banyuasin Regency, part of mangrove area within the Air Telang Protected Forest Area, is experiencing pressure from changes in land cover. A rapid survey to determine the vertebrate diversity in Pasir Timbul, at the tip of the Air Telang Protected Forest area was conducted in early June 2023. The purpose of the survey is to propose species priority in conservation within context species and habitat management plan. Vertebrate surveys were carried out rapidly using several methods adapted to certain taxa levels, namely amphibians and reptiles, fish, birds and mammals. Priority for fauna conservation in the Air Telang Protected Forest (study area) for reptiles: Crocodylus porosus (Protected under Indonesian law), Fishes: Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Endangered by IUCN), Birds: Anhinga melanogaster (Protected), Haliastur indus (Protected), Microhierax fringillarius (Protected), Rhipidura javanica (Protected), and Mammals including the long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis (Endangered), langurs Trachypithecus cristatus (Vulnerable), and Prionailurus sp. Conservation efforts need to be increased because this area as buffer zone of Berbak Sembilang National Park, having high carbon absorption, and provide a breeding ground for fish, shrimp and crabs. It is clear the site is habitat for various fauna (including protected ones), as well as other ecological functions such as breaking waves, resisting seawater intrusion and abrasion.

Assessing forest changes in Yok Don National Park and surrounding areas, Dak Lak province, Vietnam

Forests serve as vital ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in preserving biodiversity, maintaining air and water quality, and regulating the climate, all while delivering many benefits to humanity and serving as a critical resource for diverse industries. This study investigated changes in forest cover within Yok Don National Park and surrounding areas in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, over the period from 2001 to 2021. The primary objective was to identify decadal shifts in forest cover through the utilization of freely accessible satellite remote sensing data and geographic information systems (GIS) tools. The maximum likelihood classification technique was employed to categorize Landsat images captured in 2001, 2011, and 2021. Furthermore, we evaluated the efficacy of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) based classifications in detecting forest cover changes when compared to supervised classification. Initial estimates placed forest cover at 2796.91 km2, constituting 88.44% of the total land area in 2001, which subsequently declined to 2609.97 km2 (82.53%) in 2011, and further reduced to 1843.57 km2 (58.29%) in 2021. Severely reduced forest cover is often associated with the expansion of agriculture on the forest edge; other contributing factors include logging and illegal production land. Notably, the NDVI outperformed the SAVI in detecting forest cover changes. The findings of this research are anticipated to contribute to ongoing studies and enhance the effective monitoring of this protected forest area, thus providing invaluable insights for decision-makers.

Struktur Umur dan Sex Rasio Sub-Sub Populasi Simpai (Presbytis melalophos melalophos) pada Lanskap Campuran dalam Kawasan Hutan Lindung Bukit Daun

The research aims to determine the number of individuals, age structure and sex ratio in the Simpai population or sub-population in the Bukit Daun Protected Forest. The research used the direct sencus method or direct counting of individual hoops (P. m. melalophos) in a sub-population in the field. Observations were carried out at 06.00-18.00 WIB and increased observations were carried out four times on different days. The research results show that there are three sub-populations of Simpai in the Bukit Daun Protected Forest Area. The number of individuals in the first sub-population is 10 individuals, the second sub-population is 13 individuals, and the third sub-population is 15 individuals. Based on the age structure, the number of young individuals, namely teenagers and children, including babies, in the third sub-population is greater (24 individuals) compared to adults (14 individuals). The sex ratio of adult male and female hoops, namely (1:3) in subpopulations I and II, is higher than subpopulation III (1:2), whereas in the juvenile group, the sex ratio in subpopulation III (1:4) is higher than subpopulation I and II (1:2).&#x0D; Keywords: Bukit Daun Protected Forest, Sex ratio, Hoop, Age Structure, Subpopulation