Forest Protection Research Articles

From Virtual Trees to Real Forests: Public Participation in Virtual Forest Realization Projects in China

With the rapid development of Internet technology, the channels for the public to participate in forest protection and ecological construction have been expanded. In China, virtual forest realization projects have successfully heightened environmental awareness among the public. However, these projects have also faced a “green gap”, characterized by a substantial disconnect between environmental intentions and actual participation behaviors. Based on 69 articles about virtual forest realization projects in China, this paper aims to reveal the roots of the intention–behavior gap, influencing factors, and potential mitigation strategies. Our findings indicate the following: (1) While virtual forest realization initiatives have made progress, they still face multiple challenges such as governmental inefficiencies and platform traffic bottlenecks. (2) The factors influencing public participation in virtual forest realization projects can generally be categorized into three types: external situational factors, internal psychological factors, and demographic variables. Initially, external influences like online word-of-mouth and gamified platforms played a crucial role in attracting the public. Over time, internal factors such as public trust in the platform and perceived enjoyment have become more prominent. Inconsistent findings regarding demographic variables suggest a need for further research. (3) Current solutions primarily focus on macro policies and have not fully addressed existing challenges. This study reveals the reasons and influencing factors of the intention–behavior gap, with the goal of offering valuable insights for future public engagement and project optimization.

Enhanced Blue Band Vegetation Index (The Re-Modified Anthocyanin Reflectance Index (RMARI)) for Accurate Farmland Shelterbelt Extraction

Farmland shelterbelts are aimed at farmland protection and productivity improvement, environmental protection and ecological balance, as well as land use planning and management. Farmland shelterbelts play a vital role in determining the structural integrity and overall effectiveness of farmland, and assessing the dynamic changes within these protective forests accurately and swiftly is essential to maintaining their protective functions as well as for policy formulation and effectiveness evaluation in relevant departments. Traditional methods for extracting farmland shelterbelt information have faced significant challenges due to the large workload required and the inconsistencies in the accuracy of existing methods. For example, the existing vegetation index extraction methods often have significant errors, which remain unresolved. Therefore, developing a more efficient extraction method with greater accuracy is imperative. This study focused on Youyi Farm in Heilongjiang Province, China, utilizing satellite data with spatial resolutions ranging from 0.8 m (GF-7) to 30 m (Landsat). By taking into account the growth cycles of farmland shelterbelts and variations in crop types, the optimal temporal window for extraction is identified based on phenological analysis. The study introduced a new index—the Re-Modified Anthocyanin Reflectance Index (RMARI)—which is an improvement on existing vegetation indexes, such as the NDVI and the improved original ARI. Both the accuracy and extraction results showed significant improvements, and the feasibility of the RMARI was confirmed. The study proposed four extraction schemes for farmland shelterbelts: (1) spectral feature extraction, (2) extraction using vegetation indexes, (3) random forest extraction, and (4) RF combined with characteristic index bands. The extraction process was implemented on the GEE platform, and results from different spatial resolutions were compared. Results showed that (1) the bare soil period in May is the optimal time period for extracting farmland shelterbelts; (2) the RF method combined with characteristic index bands produces the best extraction results, effectively distinguishing shelterbelts from other land features; (3) the RMARI reduces background noise more effectively than the NDVI and ARI, resulting in more comprehensive extraction outcomes; and (4) among the satellite images analyzed—GF-7, Planet, Sentinel-2, and Landsat OLI 8—GF-7 achieves the highest extraction accuracy (with a Kappa coefficient of 0.95 and an OA of 0.97), providing the most detailed textural information. However, comprehensive analysis suggests that Sentinel-2 is more suitable for large-scale farmland shelterbelt information extraction. This study provides new approaches and technical support for periodic dynamic forestry surveys, providing valuable reference points for agricultural ecological research.

Latitudinal gradients of biodiversity and ecosystem services in protected and non-protected oak forest areas can inform climate smart conservation

Adaptive governance of areas set aside for future protection of biodiversity, sustainable production, and recreation requires knowledge about whether and how effects of area protection are modulated by climate change and redistribution of species. To investigate this, we compare biodiversity of plants (assessed using vegetation plots) and arthropods (collected with Malaise traps, analyzed using metabarcoding) and productivity (tree growth, determined using dendrochronology) in protected and non-protected oak (Quercus spp.) forests along a latitudinal gradient (55.6 °N – 60.8 °N) in Sweden. We also compare historical, recent and projected future climate in the region. In contrast to established global latitudinal diversity gradients, species richness of plants and arthropods increased northwards, possibly reflecting recent climate-induced community redistributions, but neither was higher in protected than in non-protected areas, nor associated with contemporary ground temperature. Species composition of arthropods also did not differ between protected and non-protected areas. Arthropod biomass increased with latitude, suggesting that the magnitude of cascading effects mediated via their roles as pollinators, herbivores, and prey for other trophic levels, varies geographically and will change with a moving climate. Annual growth rate of oaks (an ecosystem service in the form of biomass increase and carbon sequestration) was independent of latitude and did not differ between protected and non-protected areas. Our findings question the efficacy of contemporary designation and management of protected oak forests, and emphasize that development and implementation of modified climate smart conservation strategies is needed to safeguard ecosystem functioning, biodiversity, and recreational values of protected forest areas against future challenges.

Trade-off between herbal and allopathic treatments: An ethnopharmacological case study in Rema-kalenga wildlife sanctuary, Bangladesh

The Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary (RKWS) is a protected forest in Bangladesh that houses a variety of rare flora and fauna and supports the sustenance of 13 ethnic communities. This forest's indigenous and other inhabitants traditionally have a strong cultural connection to the plants, particularly medicinal plants. Due to modern allopathic medicine's rapid growth and commercial tree species prioritization, many medicinal plants are now on the verge of endangerment. Under such circumstances, it is crucial to explore how the local community perceives the importance of herbal treatments in contrast to allopathy, the underlying reasons for their perceptions, and the specific ailments for which they use the plants. The main objectives are: 1) to evaluate the perceptions of the local community towards allopathy and herbal medicine using Nussbaum's central capabilities approach, 2) to identify medicinal plant diversity, therapeutic usages, and quantitative indices, 3) to determine the factors that influence the use of medicinal plants. Repeated interviews and field surveys were conducted at the RKWS, interviewing 145 people, including the indigenous community (72.42 %) and traditional healers (8.27 %) from the surrounding seven villages. The study identified 51 medicinal plant species belonging to 39 families for their potent medicinal properties in treating various ailments. The predominant parts of the plants used in the treatments were leaves and roots. The uses were classified into 12 categories according to Nussbaum's central capabilities. The findings identified Aloe vera, Phyllanthus emblica, and Azadirachta indica as highly culturally important species. In contrast, Terminalia arjuna, Swertia chirata, and Azadirachta indica were found to have the highest relative importance. The underlying determinants influencing the preferences of individual users towards herbal medicine were income from agroforestry, beliefs, knowledge, and ethnicity, as revealed by the analysis of the ordinal logit model. The respondents viewed their strong inclination toward herbal medicine with many positive attitudes. Herbal medicine users held a negative perception of allopathy except for affiliation and practical reasons being viewed as the positive outcomes. Conversely, allopathic medicine users expressed mixed perceptions towards the treatment, with both positive and negative aspects being identified. Promoting the sustainable use of medicinal plants and their conservation efforts is imperative for the benefit of present and future generations in this region.

A flexible data‐driven approach to co‐producing drought vulnerability assessments

AbstractIntensifying weather events are key characteristics of climate change that are fundamentally changing ecological disturbance regimes. Intensifying drought is a particular threat to species, ecosystems, and ecosystem services worldwide. Proactive drought adaptation measures are acutely needed, but without a better understanding of drought vulnerability at the appropriate scale and geography, such measures may not be effective, or even anticipated as potential options. A recent conceptual framework for ecological drought aligns a holistic suite of potential drivers with the key components of climate change vulnerability (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity). We leverage the ecological drought framework and components of vulnerability to introduce a six‐step process for developing a drought vulnerability assessment (DVA) that (1) is place‐based and avoids mismatches between assessment geography and management action, (2) uses existing empirical datasets and leverages machine learning techniques and remotely sensed data from a recent drought, (3) emphasizes the inclusion of stakeholders and the importance of data visualization and science communication, and (4) is flexible and adaptable to a wide range of planning contexts. We illustrate the DVA process with a case study for forested watersheds in the Missouri Headwaters (MH), Montana, USA, that is focused on the impact of an early 2000s drought event on forest health. We show how the DVA provides insights on drought vulnerability that are helpful starting points for co‐developing region‐specific management actions to prepare for the next drought, including strategies to enhance ecologically available water, reduce competition for water, promote ecosystem persistence under drought conditions, and prioritize sites for forest restoration, transition, or protection. The work described here provides a model for developing a DVA in other places that, when used in a participatory adaptation planning process, supports the implementation of effective adaptation strategies.

Community identification and carbon storage monitoring of Heritiera littoralis with UAV hyperspectral imaging

The Heritiera littoralis, an important rare semi-mangrove species found in coastal protective forests, plays a crucial role in carbon storage and cycling within mangrove wetland ecosystems. Despite its importance, previous studies have overlooked remote monitoring of its carbon storage. Taking the world’s oldest and largest natural community of H. littoralis in Shenzhen, China, as the study area, this research pioneers the use of UAV hyperspectral imaging to identify the H. littoralis community and estimate its above-ground, below-ground, and total carbon storage. The impacts of five geo-environmental factors (elevation, slope, aspect, vegetation communities, and inland distance from the coastline) on the spatial variability of carbon storage using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) methods were also investigated. The results demonstrate that the first derivative bands within the red edge and near-infrared regions, the anthocyanin reflectance index 2 (ARI2) and newly-developed three-band VIs, were sensitive features for community identification and carbon storage estimation within the H. littoralis community. Among the four machine learning models (eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Logistic Regression (LR)), the best identification accuracy for the H. littoralis community was achieved by XGBoost. Among the four machine learning models (XGBoost, RF, SVM and kernel ridge regression (KRR)), RF model achieved the best performance in estimating above-ground (R2 = 0.749, RMSE=1.723 kg/m2, EV (explained variance) = 0.704), below-ground (R2 = 0.636, RMSE=0.6 kg/m2, EV=0.606) and total carbon storage (R2 = 0.613, RMSE=2.592 kg/m2, EV=0.597). SHAP and MGWR analysis showed that elevation and inland distance from the coastline were key factors influencing the spatial variability of carbon storage. In conclusion, this study showcases significant advantages in community identification and carbon storage monitoring of rare mangrove communities, providing valuable insights for biodiversity conservation efforts and management within the H. littoralis ecosystem.

The moon's influence on the activity of tropical forest mammals.

Changes in lunar illumination alter the balance of risks and opportunities for animals, influencing activity patterns and species interactions. We examined if and how terrestrial mammals respond to the lunar cycle in some of the darkest places: the floors of tropical forests. We analysed long-term camera trapping data on 86 mammal species from 17 protected forests on three continents. Conservative categorization of activity during the night revealed pronounced avoidance of moonlight (lunar phobia) in 12 species, compared with pronounced attraction to moonlight (lunar philia) in only three species. However, half of all species in our study responded to lunar phases, either changing how nocturnal they were, altering their overall level of activity, or both. Avoidance of full moon was more common, exhibited by 30% of all species compared with 20% of species that exhibited attraction. Nocturnal species, especially rodents, were over-represented among species that avoided full moon. Artiodactyla were more prominent among species attracted to full moon. Our findings indicate that lunar phases influence animal behaviour even beneath the forest canopy. Such impacts may be exacerbated in degraded and fragmented forests. Our study offers a baseline representing relatively intact and well-protected contexts together with an intuitive approach for detecting activity shifts in response to environmental change.

Global primary predictors of extinction risk in primates.

Identifying the main predictors of species' extinction risk while accounting for the effects of spatial and phylogenetic structures in the data is key to preventing species loss in tropical forests through adequate conservation practices. We recorded 22 705 precise geographical locations of primate occurrence across four major geographic realms (Neotropics, mainland Africa, Madagascar and Asia) to assess predictors of threat status using a novel Bayesian spatio-phylogenetic approach. We estimated the relative contributions of fixed factors (forest amount, body mass, home range, diel activity, locomotion, evolutionary distinctiveness and climatic instability) and random factors (space and phylogeny) to primate extinction risk. Precipitation instability increased the extinction risk in the Neotropics but decreased it in mainland Africa and Madagascar. Forest amount was negatively associated with extinction risk in all realms except Madagascar. Body mass increased the extinction risk in the Neotropics and Madagascar, whereas home range increased the extinction risk in mainland Africa and decreased it in Asia. Evolutionary distinctiveness negatively influenced extinction risk only in mainland Africa. Our findings highlight the importance of climate change mitigation and forest protection strategies. Increasing the protection of large primates and reducing hunting are also essential.

Carbon stock assessment of a reforestation site within Mt. Arayat protected landscape, Pampanga, Philippines

The Philippines has very few studies in terms of biomass production and carbon stocks in reforestation sites and the level of emission that has been avoided due to forest protection activities. Most of carbon stock estimates being used in the country are based on secondary data or studies in other countries using the same species. The study aimed to provide a reliable assessment on the contribution of reforestation sites in biomass production and carbon stocks and the potential of these plantation to contribute to the climate change mitigation efforts in the Philippines. The guideline prepared by the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Forest Management Bureau (DENR-FMB) in 2021 on Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) which follows the manual of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Forestry Department in conducting FRA was used during data collection. A tract was established in the southern portion of the reforestation site wherein the species planted in 2012 are already very prominent and their diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height were measured and their corresponding wood specific gravity were taken into account. Carbon stocks were estimated using Chave et al.’s and Brown’s allometric equations. The estimated carbon stocks using Chave et al.’s formula is 542.3 tC/ha while the estimated carbon stock using Brown’s formula is 2001.6 tC/ha. The results of computation using Brown’s equation are considerably higher than the results using Chave et al.’s equation considering that Brown’s equation only took into consideration the DBH of trees while Chave et al.’s equation included the height and wood specific gravity of each species. The study demonstrated how important our forests in terms of their roles as carbon sinks and therefore contribute to our country’s efforts in climate change mitigation.

Deforestation—a call for consistent carbon accounting

Abstract Carbon accounting conventions treat emissions differently depending on their source. Fossil fuel carbon emissions are assessed as gross, whereas anthropogenic land carbon emissions are assessed as net. Despite calls for consistent gross accounting, accounting guidelines remain unchanged. Here we consolidate arguments for consistent accounting and explore implications for national inventories, sector contributions, carbon markets and forest protection programs. We find consistent gross accounting useful for programs supporting forest preservation, deforestation reduction and reforestation, as well as consistency with carbon markets.

«Владельцы песков»: пескоукрепительные работы на землях кочевых народов Юга России (ногайцев, калмыков и туркмен) в XIX – начале XX веков

The publication examines the organization of sand protection works carried out in semi–desert zones of Southern Russia in the XIX - early XX centuries. Despite separate publications on measures to combat desertification in the Russian Empire, sand protection activities that unfolded in the XIX – early XX centuries on the lands of the nomadic peoples of Southern Russia (Nogais, Kalmyks and Turkmens) did not become the subject of separate works, which determines the nov-elty of the study. The peculiarities of the natural, climatic and geographical living conditions of nomads and their irrational use of arid zones as pasture lands for their livestock were factors that caused the rapid growth of sands in the XIX – early XX centuries. Sand protection works in the south and officials of the sand-ravine parties and the corps of foresters of the Forest Department, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of State Property, carried south-east of Russia out. The ac-tivities of sand protection organizations included experimental measures to combat desertifica-tion, which included husking and grass sowing on the sands, sowing sandy oats, removing sands from the use of their owners, forestry and horticulture in the steppe. The source base of the study was materials extracted from the State Archives of the Stavropol Territory (GASK) funds: 153 «Forester of the Stavropol sandy-ravine district» and 247 «Stavropol Provincial Forest Protection Committee». Historiographical works on the study of the problem include publications by pre–revolutionary, Soviet and modern researchers involved in combating desertification in Southern Russia in the XIX - early XX centuries. The analysis of materials and sources made it possible to trace the peculiarities of the activities of central and regional authorities, local societies (A.D. – owners of sands), and other organizations that participated in sand protection works during the historical period under consideration. The conclusion is formulated that the sand protection activi-ty that unfolded in the South of Russia in the XIX – early XX centuries. It included many forest reclamation works, the purpose of which was to curb the process of desertification of pasture and agricultural lands of Nogais, Kalmyks and Turkmens, which in turn was a measure of protection and guardianship of the life, health and economic and cultural activities of nomadic peoples with-in the Russian Empire.

The Role of Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) in Deforestation Issues in Endau-Rompin, 1970-2000

Tropical Rainforests in Peninsular Malaysia have a very important role in social, economic, and ecological development locally and transnationally. During the British colonial period, the forests in Peninsular Malaysia were heavily exploited until the idea of conservation came into existence to avoid the depletion of forest resources in the future. The colonial government subsequently established the Forestry Department by designating certain areas as forest reserves. However, after Independence, these forest areas continued to remain under threat to the extent that it has resulted in a decline in forest cover in addition to damage, fragmentation, and degradation of forests in favour of government policies that prioritized economic development. The rush for economic growth has created a conflict between forest stakeholders, particularly the state government and environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs). The objective of this paper is to present the role of ENGOs related to issues in deforestation and forest protection efforts within Endau-Rompin between 1970 where the EndauRompin controversy began until the establishment of Endau-Rompin State Park (Pahang) in 2000. This study used a qualitative approach, that is primary sources such as Parliamentary Hansard and newspapers, and secondary sources such as books and journal articles. In addition, field research was carried out through the observation of forest-related activities organized by several ENGOs. The findings of the study showed that one of the most critical roles of ENGOs in dealing with the issue of deforestation is to prevent activities that damage the forest, especially legal activities that involve decisions made by the state government. The involvement and role of ENGOs can only delay or prolong the process of losing forest cover. This happens because the state government has authority over the land (forest) matters according to the Federal Constitution which cannot be disputed from a legal point of view. The efforts to save the forest can only depend on the political will on whether the state government wants to address or ignore the concerns voiced by ENGOs in issues related to deforestation.

Farmers’ Perception of Shelter Forests and the Influencing Factors in Windy Desert Areas of the Hexi Corridor, China

Shelter forest systems in the sandy areas mainly comprise farmland shelter forests (FSF) and windbreak and sand-fixing forests (WSF). Through a questionnaire survey of farmers in the oasis–desert transition zone of the windy desert areas of the Hexi Corridor in China, a perception assessment model of farmers’ perception of the status quo and ecosystem service function of shelter forests was constructed, and the willingness of farmers to pay for shelter forest construction and protection was measured. Influencing factors for the farmers’ perception of shelter forests were analyzed by a multiple regression analysis. The results showed problems with pests and diseases all present in FSF and WSF, the destruction of farmland in FSF, and water scarcity in WSF. Farmers evaluated the ecological role of shelter forests as the most obvious in windbreak and sand fixation; intermediate in the four ecological roles of leisure and recreation, agricultural production, a sense of locality, and climate regulation; and the smallest in soil improvement. Nearly 95% of farmers are willing to donate funds to shelter forest construction and protection, and the average amount the farmers were willing to pay was CNY 54.30 per year. Willingness to pay, annual household income, gender, environmental experience, age, and interview area have significant effects on farmers’ perception of shelter forests. Finally, in this paper, we recommend increasing motivation through government financial support and training for farmers to address pests and diseases, water security, and the destruction of farmland in shelter forests to ensure healthy and sustainable growth.

Distribution of Ferns at Different Heights in Gunung Raya Protected Forest, West Kalimantan

Abstract: Ferns are a type of biodiversity that is spread to live on the forest floor and plays an important role in ecological functions, such as humus formation, protecting soil from erosion, and maintaining soil moisture. This study aims to determine the distribution of fern species at different heights in the Gunung Raya Protection Forest, Temajuk Village and their potential for the community. The method in this study, namely the cruising method to observe ferns on soil contours with an altitude of 25-125 meters above sea level, 125-225 meters above sea level, and 225-325 meters above sea level. Environmental parameters including temperature, humidity, light intensity, soil pH and wind speed were measured at each altitude. Herbarium was made to identify ferns. Information about the potential of ferns was obtained from the surrounding community. The results showed that there were 14 species of ferns belonging to 7 families. Ferns found were as many as 14 species at an altitude of 25-225 masl decreased to 10 species at the highest contour (325 masl). The four species that were not found were Stenochlaena palustris, Nephrolepis cordifolia, Hypolepis punctata, and Davalia divaricata. Of the 14 species of ferns, 11 of them have potential as vegetables, medicines, ornamental plants, and craft materials.

Large-scale forest protection: the successful case of the Kayapo people in the Brazilian Amazon

Forest conservation is essential for action on climate change and biodiversity loss. Forest loss and degradation are increasing around the world, including in the Amazon. It is widely reported that Indigenous communities can be effective in forest protection, but less attention has been paid to explaining how they are able to do this in the face of severe threats. This article investigates what can be learned from the success of the Kayapo Indigenous communities and their organizations in protecting more than nine million hectares of primary forest in one of the most highly degraded and deforested areas of the Brazilian Amazon. We use geographic information system analysis to demonstrate the extent of forest protection, along with field work to examine the crucial alliances with conservation NGOs from governance and planning perspectives. Our interdisciplinary analysis is guided by the three-pillar framework for integrated landscape management and is informed by interviews conducted with Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff working for the Kayapo NGOs. Based on this data and the experience of the Kayapo people, we identify the main factors that facilitated large-scale forest conservation. Our research also reveals that the work of the Kayapo NGOs aligns with the principles of strong governance and effective planning. Lastly, we discuss key lessons and critical considerations to ensure the continued viability and ongoing success of the Kayapo NGOs in achieving their objectives.

Coastal resilience and adaptation strategies: Natural habitats for coastal protection and Atlantic forest restoration on the coast of the Rio de Janeiro state

Climate change exerts impacts on biodiversity and coastal ecosystems. Given the socio-economic and environmental significance of coastal zones, preventative and mitigative measures are imperative to address the damages resulting from erosive processes and coastal flooding. The state of Rio de Janeiro, with its 1160 km of coastline, holds ecological, socio-economic, and logistical importance in Brazil, necessitating the safeguarding of these assets. We employed the InVEST modeling program to assess coastal vulnerability, incorporating data on populations, logistical infrastructure (ports and aerodromes), and priority areas for fauna protection. Our findings revealed that the state of Rio de Janeiro faces coastal risks ranging from intermediate to high at 66 %, and a substantial portion of legally protected areas does not encompass habitats near the coast. We illustrated the pivotal role of habitats in coastal protection, emphasizing that their removal would significantly augment coastal vulnerability. The amalgamation of these factors allowed us to propose adaptation strategies based on nature-based solutions to address environmental and socio-economic challenges.

Довкіллєве правосуддя в Україні та світі

The article is devoted to the study of domestic and foreign trends in environmental justice. To solve the set goal, the following research methods were used, in particular: the method of scientific observation is to form the topic and purpose of the research; comparative legal method in the study of foreign experience of environmental justice; logical method – for theoretical generalization and formulation of research conclusions. The main models of environmental justice that exist in the world include such as consideration of environmental cases by courts of general jurisdiction, consideration of environmental cases by judges specializing in environmental issues or specialized environmental divisions of courts, consideration of environmental cases by specialized environmental courts. Environmental courts, as specialized judicial authorities, deal with the resolution of environmental conflicts and the protection of the environment and function in particular in countries that are members of the European Union, such as Sweden and Austria. In Ukraine, environmental justice is carried out in the form of civil, economic, administrative and criminal proceedings. At the same time, civil, economic, administrative and criminal cases in the environmental sphere differ among themselves in terms of the type of offense, the subject of the dispute, the composition of subjects, etc. Judicial practice in the environmental sphere covers a wide range of environmental relations, in particular on atmospheric air protection, land protection and use of land resources, subsoil protection and use of minerals, protection of forests and use of forest resources, protection and use of territories and objects of the nature reserve fund, access to environmental information, waste management, etc. Environmental justice in Ukraine may be limited to the functioning of certain specialized environmental units in courts, or involve the formation of a system of specialized environmental courts throughout the country, including a higher specialized court. At the same time, the implementation of environmental justice will be more or less time-consuming and costly (depending on the model chosen for implementation).

Mobile Devices in Forest Mensuration: A Review of Technologies and Methods in Single Tree Measurements

Mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets or similar devices are becoming increasingly important as measurement devices in forestry due to their advanced sensors, including RGB cameras and LiDAR systems. This review examines the current state of applications of mobile devices for measuring biometric characteristics of individual trees and presents technologies, applications, measurement accuracy and implementation barriers. Passive sensors, such as RGB cameras have proven their potential for 3D reconstruction and analysing point clouds that improve single tree-level information collection. Active sensors with LiDAR-equipped smartphones provide precise quantitative measurements but are limited by specific hardware requirements. The combination of passive and active sensing techniques has shown significant potential for comprehensive data collection. The methods of data collection, both physical and digital, significantly affect the accuracy and reproducibility of measurements. Applications such as ForestScanner and TRESTIMATM have automated the measurement of tree characteristics and simplified data collection. However, environmental conditions and sensor limitations pose a challenge. There are also computational obstacles, as many methods require significant post-processing. The review highlights the advances in mobile device-based forestry applications and emphasizes the need for standardized protocols and cross-device benchmarking. Future research should focus on developing robust algorithms and cost-effective solutions to improve measurement accuracy and accessibility. While mobile devices offer significant potential for forest surveying, overcoming the above-mentioned challenges is critical to optimizing their application in forest management and protection.

Evaluating undergrowth species pattern and soil seed banks mode for monitoring conservation in a protected forest of Nigeria

Evaluating undergrowth species pattern and soil seed banks mode for monitoring conservation in a protected forest of Nigeria

Evaluating the Economic Viability of Agro-Ecotourism as a Nature-Based Solution for a Climate Adaptation Strategy: A Case Study of Yuanshan Township, Taiwan

This study applied the contingent valuation method to evaluate the economic viability of climate adaptation policies in the climate-fragile Yuanshan Township (YST), Taiwan, focusing on the balance between forest conservation and local livelihoods. Traditional agriculture in YST is transitioning to agro-ecotourism, supported by leisure-oriented and hillside forest protection policies that attract visitors and cause the local economy to thrive. This research used non-market valuation methods to quantify the value of local recreational resources perceived by visitors at NTD 1002.00 per visitor. The findings indicate that visitors’ willingness to pay for these resources is significantly influenced by their intention to revisit YST, their trust in local conservation efforts, their gender, and their income. The value that visitors place on recreational resources and the aforementioned significant determinants of their willingness to pay highlight the economic potential of agro-ecotourism in supporting both environmental sustainability and community income. This study emphasizes that successful nature-based climate adaptation must consider the economic interests of resource users and local residents. Agro-ecotourism in YST is shown to be a viable policy for balancing forest conservation with societal benefits, providing a model for the sustainable management of local resources. The economic benefits from this transition underscore the feasibility of agricultural transformation for community income generation and climate resilience, demonstrating that environmental and economic goals can be mutually supportive in addressing climate change.