Forest Protection Research Articles

Direct and mediated impacts of mixed forests on Norway spruce infestation by European bark beetle Ips typographus

Climate change-induced windfalls and droughts exacerbate bark beetle outbreaks, severely impacting forest ecosystems. Despite extensive research on bark beetle infestation patterns, the question regarding the optimal spatial grid (SG) size for analyzing this phenomenon remains unresolved. The protective potential of natural forest complexity against bark beetles has been underestimated. We used remotely sensed data to fit Generalized Linear Models and structural equation models to explore the direct and environment-mediated effects of mixed forest cover (MFC) on Norway spruce forest infestation in central Europe. We assessed the effectiveness of various spatial grids (from 100 m to 1 km) for studying infestation by Ips typographus. We found a strong non-linear decline in infestation with increasing MFC across different spatial scales. The relationship between infestation and temperature was positive, while elevation had a negative effect on infestation, with higher infestation rates observed below 900 m. Direct effects of environmental predictors on infestation were significant at SGs of 100 m, 300 m, 400 m, and 500 m, but insignificant at 200 m and 1000 m SGs. Slope positively influenced infestation at 300 m and 400 m SGs. MFC exhibited significant indirect effects on infestation mediated by elevation, temperature, potential evapotranspiration, slope, and heat load index. Landscape variables played a significant role in the models at high-resolution spatial grids, whereas climate variables were influential in models at lower spatial grids of infestation data. We argue that mixed forest facilitates cooling, preserves water, enriches symbiotic fungal community, alleviating tree drought stress and mitigating infestation risk. Broad-leave trees’ non-host volatiles presumably disrupt olfactory signals, impeding beetles’ ability to locate host trees effectively. Our results underscore the potential of increasing mixed forest cover as a self-sustainable silvicultural measure for forest protection against I. typographus and for mitigating the effects of climate change.

Topography- and depth-dependent rhizosphere microbial community characteristics drive ecosystem multifunctionality in Juglans mandshurica forest

Rhizosphere microbial community characteristics and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF), both affected by topographic factors, are closely correlated. However, more targeted exploration is yet required to fully understand the variations of rhizosphere microbial communities along topographic gradients in different soil layers, as well as whether and how they regulate EMF under specific site conditions. Here, we conducted relevant research on Juglans mandshurica forests at six elevation gradients and two slope positions ranging from 310 to 750 m in Tianjin Baxian Mountain. Results demonstrated that rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities of both layers (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) varied significantly with elevation, while only at top layer did slope position have significant impacts on most indicators. Bacterial richness and diversity were higher in the top layer at slope bottom and middle-high elevation, the difference in fungi was not as noticeable. Both topographic factors and soil depth significantly impacted microbial community structure, with Candidatus_Udaeobacter of bacteria, Mortierella, Sebacina, and Hygrocybe of fungi mainly contributing to the dissimilarity between communities. EMF rose with increasing elevation, bacteria were more critical drivers of this process than fungi, and topographic factors could affect EMF by altering bacterial diversity and dominant taxa abundance. For evaluating EMF, the aggregate structure of sub layer and the carbon cycle-related indicators of top layer were of higher importance. Our results revealed the depth-dependent characteristics of the rhizosphere microbial community along topographic gradients in studied stands, as well as the pivotal regulatory role of bacteria on EMF, while also highlighting depth as an important variable for analyzing soil properties and EMF. This work helps us better understand the response of individuals and communities of J. mandshurica to changing environmental conditions, further providing a scientific reference for the management and protection of secondary forests locally and in North China.

Global atmospheric methane uptake by upland tree woody surfaces

Methane is an important greenhouse gas1, but the role of trees in the methane budget remains uncertain2. Although it has been shown that wetland and some upland trees can emit soil-derived methane at the stem base3,4, it has also been suggested that upland trees can serve as a net sink for atmospheric methane5,6. Here we examine in situ woody surface methane exchange of upland tropical, temperate and boreal forest trees. We find that methane uptake on woody surfaces, in particular at and above about 2 m above the forest floor, can dominate the net ecosystem contribution of trees, resulting in a net tree methane sink. Stable carbon isotope measurement of methane in woody surface chamber air and process-level investigations on extracted wood cores are consistent with methanotrophy, suggesting a microbially mediated drawdown of methane on and in tree woody surfaces and tissues. By applying terrestrial laser scanning-derived allometry to quantify global forest tree woody surface area, a preliminary first estimate suggests that trees may contribute 24.6–49.9 Tg of atmospheric methane uptake globally. Our findings indicate that the climate benefits of tropical and temperate forest protection and reforestation may be greater than previously assumed.

I boschi in Italia e le politiche forestali nazionali

In Italy, forests cover 12 million hectares, equivalent to 40% of the national territory, with a significant increase compared to previous decades. Italian forests are mainly located in hilly and mountainous areas, characterised by considerable fragmentation. The MASAF (Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovreignty and Forests) has divided Italian wooded areas into 19 ecoregions to facilitate reforestation with native species. The composition of Italian forests is highly diversified, with 117 tree species. However, these ecosystems are threatened by fires, pathogens, and climate change. Italian forest policies, historically conservationist, aim to protect and sustainably manage the country’s forests. The Serpieri Law of 1923 and other regulations ensure the protection of forests, which are among the most protected in Europe. However, the Italian wood industry largely depends on foreign imports due to fragmented ownership and strict regulations. The essay, starting with a description of Italian forests, provides a comprehensive overview of national forest policies up to the publication of the National Forestry Strategy in 2022, which outlines a long-term vision for the sustainable development of the sector and the enhancement of ecosystem services. It involves various stakeholders, from institutions to citizens, and promotes professional training and the responsible use of forest resources, integrating energy policies and a circular bioeconomy.

Лесохозяйственные мероприятия в полезащитных лесных полосах Краснодарского края

In the process of growth and development of forest belts, some of their taxation characteristics and design change. Forest reclamation complexes are subject to homeostasis. Changing the design of shelterbelts leads to crop shortages, loss of profits for agricultural organizations, as well as to the deterioration of the ecology of field soils. A way out of this situation can be found in the application of a system of measures, an important part of which is forestry measures. The aim of the research has been to determine the timing and types of forestry measures aimed at improving the agro-ecological efficiency of protective forest reclamation complexes on agricultural lands of the Krasnodar Territory. Data from the 2019 inventory of protective forest plantations and data obtained by the authors in 2015–2021 in the Kushchevskij and Leningradskij Districts of the Krasnodar Territory have been used. According to the data obtained, graphs of the dependence of stock on the age and height have been constructed for some tree species of field protection forest reclamation complexes. It has been established that in the study area the largest number of areas of shelterbelts have a dense structure – 538.5 ha, and 501.7 ha of them are trees of the III age class. A significant increase in the stock of plantations has been noted at the age of: Robinia pseudoacacia L. – 15 years, Fraxinus excelsior L. – 25 years, Gleditsia triacanthos L. – 10 years, Ulmus pumila L. – 35 years. The equations of the regressional dependence of stock on the age and height for the main tree species have been obtained. These equations can be used to predict the timing of forestry measures in order to maintain the openwork design of forest belts recommended for the region under study.

First Report of Leaf Blight of Osmanthus fragrans Caused by Diaporthe eres in China.

Osmanthus fragrans is an evergreen garden tree species, with high ecological, social, and economic benefits (Lan et al. 2023), which is widely planted in Guizhou Province. From late April to June 2023, a leaf blight disease was observed on O. fragrans in a bauxite mining area in Qingzhen City, with an incidence of ~50%. Symptoms first appeared at the leaf tip or margin, as irregular brown spots, which gradually coalesced into dark brown patches until the leaves withered and fell off. Symptomatic leaves were collected and surface disinfected with 2% NaClO for 30 s, 75% ethanol for 30 s, rinsed 3 times in sterile ddH2O, air-dried and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium and incubated at 25°C for 7 d. Fungal colonies on PDA of 9 similar obtained isolates were white, with at least one concentric ring. The reverse was light yellow and gradually turned brown. At 12 d, the pycnidia on PDA was gray to black, spherical or conical, with a diameter of 305.15 μm (n=20). The conidial horns oozed out from pycnidia after 25 d of incubation on Pinus massoniana needles. The alpha conidia were unicellular, fusiform, hyaline, had a guttule at each end, and measured 6.24 ± 0.10 μm × 2.48 ± 0.04 μm (n=50). No beta or gamma conidia were observed. The morphological characteristics were likely to Diaporthe spp. (Gomes et al. 2013). DNA of isolates GH02, GH06 and GH08 was extracted. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α), calmodulin (CAL), beta-tubulin (TUB2), and histone H3 (HIS) genes were amplified with primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), EF1-728F/EF1-986R, CAL228F/CAL737R (Carbone and Kohn, 1999), βt2a/βt2b and CYLH3F/H3-1b (Crous et al. 2004; Glass and Donaldson, 1995), respectively. The sequences of ITS, TEF-1α, TUB2, CAL and HIS were deposited in GenBank (GH02: PP813499, PP813844, PP813846, PP813848 and PP813850; GH06: PP813500, PP813845, PP813847, PP813849 and PP813851; GH08: PP507168 and PP529956 to PP529959). BLAST results showed the sequences of GH08 were highly identical to sequences of Phomopsis mahothocarpi (NR147522 [ITS], 527/530), P. mahothocarpi (MW700277 [TEF-1α], 367/372), D. eres (OR885862 [TUB], 513/513), D. celeris (ON221721 [CAL], 484/486), and D. eres (OP968956 [HIS], 477/477). A phylogenetic tree constructed with MEGA X using Neighbor-Joining algorithm (Felsenstein, 1985) indicated the isolate GH02, GH06 and GH08 separated from D. eres CBS 297.77 previously reported from O. aquifolium in Netherlands, as well as D. osmanthi and D. fusicola from O. fragrans in China (Gomes et al. 2013; Long et al. 2019; Si et al. 2021). Based on these results, the three isolates were identified as D. eres (Chaisiri et al., 2021). The isolate GH08 was deposited in the Forest Protection Laboratory, Guizhou University. To confirm pathogenicity, spore suspensions (1×105 spores/mL) of GH08 were sprayed on healthy detached leaves (n=10) and leaves of 3-year-old potted O. fragrans seedlings (n=8). An equal volume of sterile water was sprayed for the control. Then they were placed at 20°C and 70-80% RH. Similar leaf blight symptoms appeared after 5 and 15d on the inoculated leaves and seedlings, respectively. The re-isolated fungus, was identical to D. eres based on morphological and molecular analysis, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of D. eres causing leaf blight of O. fragrans in China, supporting a basis for developing effective methods to manage this disease.

Assessment of Forest Suitability of Soils in the Dry Steppe Zone of the Volgograd Region

Background: Assessing the forest suitability of soils is one of the key areas of agroforestry science. Research in this direction makes it possible to characterize areas where tree and shrub vegetation does not grow under natural conditions. The research carried out makes it possible to assess the possibilities of afforestation in the area of interest; they contribute to the perception of landscape diversity in the context of the reclamation efficiency of the created systems of protective forest plantings, their productivity and durability. Identification of soil suitability for forests is closely related to the assessment of soil quality and fertility. The study of forest suitability of soils has a pronounced regional aspect. This article presents materials from cartographic studies of the dry steppe zone of the Volgograd region of the Russian Federation. The study region is characterized by a wide variety of soil cover. Dark chestnut, chestnut soils and light chestnut soils are common in this zone. The processes of erosion, salinizationand deflation make a great contribution to the diversity of soil complexes. Methods: In this work, the cartographic research method is the main one. Achieving the research goal, creating a cartographic model of the forest vegetation properties of the study area, was carried out in three stages. At the first stage, the contours of the soil map at a scale of 1:400000 were classified into forest suitability groups. During the second stage, based on the functionality of the QGIS software package, new soil contours were created. At the third stage, area characteristics were taken, share parameters were calculated and an analysis of changes in soil cover was carried out in natural and economic areas. The research materials presented in this article were obtained during the implementation of the state task of the research work of the FSC of Agroecology RAS. The research period is from 2021-08 to 2023-11. Result: The result of the research is the creation of a cartographic model of the forest suitability of soils in the dry steppe zone of the Volgograd region. Based on measuring the areas of soil contours for each of the 17 administrative districts, the ratio of groups of forest suitability of soils was established. The revealed value of the share indicator for the study area as a whole is as follows: soils I, forest suitability groups occupy 10.4% of the territory; II -9.3%; III - 68.3%; IV - 12%. The data obtained are necessary for planning agroforestry work in the study area.

Developing a smart forest protection mini program with Spring Boot: Integrating big data and image recognition technologies

Forests are essential for ecological stability yet pose significant management challenges due to their expansive and remote nature. Despite advancements in data acquisition, there is a lack of tools that effectively combine image recognition with big data analytics for real-time monitoring. This study introduces a "Smart Forest Protection" mini program, developed using Spring Boot, which integrates these technologies to facilitate immediate and efficient forest management. The program features intelligent plant recognition, user-driven incident reporting, waste recycling point displays, and a platform for disseminating forest conservation knowledge. Additionally, a big data visualization platform illustrates the spatiotemporal distribution of forests in Zhuhai, aiding governmental and environmental agencies in making informed decisions that enhance forest conservation and promote sustainable practices.

Research on the Implementation of Customary Law in the Protection of Forests and Forest Land by Ethnic Minorities in Đắk Lắk Province (Vietnam) today

Livelihood methods and the transition from subsistence production to commodity production are factors affecting current communities and also influence the changes in nature and the capacity of communities in managing and using natural resources. This article is conducted based on the collection, evaluation, and analysis of current Vietnamese legal documents and policies on Land, Forest Protection and Development, Civil Codes, sub-law resolutions, and other local documents. It also involves analyzing documents on the current state of forests, forest land, ethnic minority groups, and their customary laws. The content of the article provides an overall picture of the current state of using customary law in the management and use of forests and forest land in ethnic minority communities at the study sites.

KEANEKARAGAMAN VEGETASI ULTRABASA DI HUTAN LINDUNG NANGA-NANGA PAPALIA KOTA KENDARI

This research aimed to determine the ultra-basic vegetation diversity in the Nanga-Nanga Papalia Protected Forest, Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi. The study was conducted in May to June 2023, covering an area of 42 hectares within the Nanga-Nanga Papalia Protected Forest. The sampling intensity was set at 5% over a study area of 2.1 hectares, resulting in 52 sampling plots arranged using the Line Transect method. The findings revealed that the ultra-basic vegetation diversity across all vegetation levels in the protected forest was classified as low, with values of 1.25 for trees, 1.22 for saplings, 1.27 for poles, and 1.13 for seedlings

Protection Law Forest Tradition Reviewed from Rights Traditional Legal Communities

Customary forests are not customary forests but private forests that have been owned by customary law communities for generations as long as their existence can be proven, which can raise great hopes for customary law communities to obtain guaranteed legal protection for customary forests which have so far been designated as State forests. The existence of customary law communities together with their customary rights is still respected, respected and recognized as long as they are still alive and in accordance with community development, national interests and the principles of the Republic of Indonesia. This is stated in various statutory regulations, for example Article: 18 B paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, UUPA, Human Rights Law, and so on. However, in this article this recognition is still weak because there are no operational regulations that regulate further, so this article aims to optimize what is their right in occupying their position as a customary law community. The research in this article uses two approaches, namely the statutory and normative juridical approaches.

A New Paradigm for Assessing Detailed Dynamics of Forest Landscape Fragmentation

There is an urgent need for a thorough assessment of forest landscape fragmentation to inform forest protection and restoration, and reforestation policies. However, there is currently a lack of an effective comprehensive index for forest landscape fragmentation, and detailed knowledge of the forest landscape fragmentation dynamics remains insufficient. Here, taking Putian City of Fujian Province in Southeastern China as a case, we employed a forest fragmentation comprehensive index (FFCI) to capture key features of forest landscape fragmentation, such as patch size, number, and distribution. Then, bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis was employed to identify the spatial associations between the static forest landscape fragmentation (FFCI) and the dynamic forest landscape fragmentation (ΔFFCI), and the spatial coupling modes among the three individual components of FFCI (mean patch area, MPA; aggregation index, AI; patch density, PD) were identified to explore the detail process of forest landscape fragmentation. Finally, the random forest model was applied to observe the impact factors of forest landscape fragmentation dynamics. The findings showed that forest landscapes with different degrees of fragmentation exhibited more noticeable changes at both ends (i.e., either high or lower-level fragmentation), with the intermediate level remaining consistent from 2000 to 2020. Around 18.3% of forest landscapes experienced a decrease in fragmentation, particularly in the northern part of the study area, while approximately 81.7% of forest landscapes exhibited an increasing trend in fragmentation. The bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated that the proportion of Low–High-type grids was the highest at 17.3%, followed by the High–High type at 7.0%. We also identified eight forest landscape fragmentation modes, which indicate the most significant forest landscape fragmentation pattern is a decrease in MPA and an increase in PD. Moreover, the anthropogenic factors (e.g., population density and night light intensity) were found to dominate the FFCI dynamics during 2000–2020. This study offers an efficient research paradigm for the dynamics of forest landscape fragmentation. The outcomes are conducive to an in-depth comprehension of the detailed dynamic information of forest landscape fragmentation, and supply a scientific foundation for enhancing the overall ecological service function of the forest.

Whether the Natural Forest Logging Ban Promotes the Improvement and Realization of the Ecosystem Service Value in Northeast China: A Regression Discontinuity Design

To protect forest land from loss and mitigate the global climate crisis, China has proposed a stringent natural forest protection plan, known as China’s natural forest logging ban (NFLB). This policy aims to halt the over-exploitation of natural forests, restore forest ecosystem functions, and promote regional green economic development. This study uses a regression discontinuity design (RDD) model to quantitatively and comprehensively assess the effectiveness of this policy in the key state-owned forest regions in Northeast China. Additionally, it analyzes the heterogeneity and structural characteristics of the policy’s effects on the internal composition of ecological and economic systems. The empirical results are as follows: (1) Ecological and economic impacts: The policy has successfully achieved its ecological objectives by significantly enhancing the quality and value of ecosystem services. However, it has also had a notable adverse impact on economic development, particularly in the timber supply sector, reducing the conversion efficiency of ecosystem service values into economic benefits. (2) Structural analysis: The logging ban effectively promoted the value of various ecosystem services, particularly enhancing regulatory and support functions, with a LATE estimate of approximately 8.47 units. The implementation of the policy caused a negative growth in the output value of supply-oriented ecological products, and the significance level was lower than 0.1. Conversely, the LATE estimates for different types of GDP indicate a negative growth in supply-type GDP due to the policy, with p < 0.1. (3) Heterogeneity: On the one hand, a simplistic and singular approach to logging prohibition may constrain the efficiency of enhancing ecosystem service values. On the other hand, although the policy disrupted the majority of traditional forest enterprise operations, business models focusing on quality and technology improvements were able to mitigate this impact.

A holistic approach to assessing REDD+ forest loss baselines through ex post analysis

Abstract The implementation of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) projects has become a key Nature Based Solutions (NBS) strategy to protect at-risk forests using the sale of verified emission reductions (carbon credits) as financing, generated by reducing forest loss against counterfactual baseline scenarios. Controversy over the reasonableness of such baseline scenarios has thrown this nascent market mechanism into disarray. While new technical approaches to baseline-setting that promise wider market acceptance are set to roll out in the coming years, existing projects are becoming unviable, as carbon credit buyers reduce investment due to lost confidence in the integrity of emissions reduction claims. Transparent, reproducible methods to assess existing REDD+ project baselines are needed in order to provide a clearer picture of the real impact of projects, and provide an objective basis on which investment decisions can be made today. Here we introduce such a method. .. In contrast to existing studies which utilize only one method to create a single “control,” we integrate actual forest loss rates from a variety of control sites to establish a “zone of reasonable accuracy (or ZORA)”. Application of our method in Cambodia, using two geospatial datasets (one global and one locally calibrated), shows that all three project baselines fall within or below ZORA. This approach is fully reproducible, and provides a transparent way for analysts to assess REDD+ baselines during this critical time when investment in forest protection must increase dramatically and without delay.

Restructuring agricultural land use in Ukraine. Directions for development

The intensity of agricultural land use in Ukraine was analyzed based on soil quality and the values of the land-use intensity (LUI) index and the land-use capacity (LUC) index. In the administrative districts of Cherkasy region, the LUI index ranged from 0.07 to 1.0, and the LUC index ranged from 0.01 ha per 1000 UAH of gross output to 0.19 ha per 1000 UAH, which points to considerable difference in land-use intensity and agricultural land-use capacity. New approaches should be sought to improve the management and use of agricultural land. Functional land use areas should be restructured, in particular, by implementing non-traditional methods of agricultural land use. The results of the study indicate that land-use functions should be modified over an area of 5,343,900 ha, where 2,049,900 ha should be converted to crop rotations for soil protection, 208,000 ha – to protective forest margins; and 2,878,000 ha – to non-traditional forms of agricultural land use. Motives: The purpose of the article was to propose a methodological approach for assessing the intensity of agricultural land use and to suggest directions for land-use restructuring to improve its ecological status. Aim: In the proposed methodical approach, the intensity of agricultural land use was assessed with the land-use intensity (LUI) index and the land-use capacity (LUC) index. To reduce plowing and increase land-use intensity, the functions of degraded arable land should be modified over an area of 5,343,900 ha, where 2,049,900 ha should be converted to crop rotations for soil protection, 208,000 ha – to protective forest margins; and 2,878,000 ha – to non-traditional forms of agricultural land use. Results: The article substantiates the need to modify the functions of arable land over an area of 5,343,900 ha, where 2,049,900 ha should be converted to crop rotations for soil protection, 208,000 ha – to protective forest margins; and 2,878,000 ha – to non-traditional forms of agricultural land use.

Analisis Penetapan Cagar Budaya Kampung Adat Cikondang Sebagai Sarana Konservasi Hutan Adat

Indonesia is a country with diverse cultures, and these cultures need to be preserved, one way being through Law No. 11 of 2010 on Cultural Heritage. The traditional village of Cikondang in West Java has been designated as cultural heritage, which has a significant impact on the preservation of its customary forest. This study aims to analyze the impact of this designation on the conservation of the Customary Forest. Using a qualitative method, the research was conducted through interviews, observations, and literature studies. The results show that the designation as cultural heritage strengthens the protection, management, and preservation of the customary forest, which serves as a water reservoir, a habitat for flora and fauna, as well as a center for education and research. Strict customary regulations, such as restrictions on entering the forest on certain days and the use of resources only for customary purposes, help maintain the sustainability of the ecosystem. The designation as cultural heritage also boosts tourism and the economic well-being of the local community. Thus, the preservation of the customary forest in the traditional village of Cikondang is not only rooted in local wisdom but also reinforced by national legal policies, which overall support the sustainability of the ecosystem and the welfare of the local community. ,

Soil surface erosion susceptibility analysis using the USLE model. Case study: Bran - Dragoslavele Corridor, Romania

The present study falls within the scope of the analysis of the morphodynamic potential of the Bran - Dragoslavele Corridor (Romania), a low mountain area, favorable to erosion processes due to the high energy of the relief, diversified lithology, tectonic complexity, and due to the variation in the energy of atmospheric risk phenomena. For the expansion of pastoral agricultural areas and those intended for human settlements, the deforestation of the last 3-4 centuries deprived the slopes and the soil of the protective forest cover on an area of 55.44%, favoring the amplification of the action of natural morphodynamic agents. In this context, the quantitative and spatial assessment of sheet erosion, expressed as the average annual rate of surface soil erosion (measured in tons hectare–1) was approached by applying the calculation model implemented in the GIS environment by using the universal soil loss equation (USLE). Implementation of the model was realized through the spatial delimitation of the potential erosion and the rendering by susceptibility classes of the quantitative results which reveal the fact that the largest surface of the studied mountain unit (91.68%) presents tolerable values, of 0-1.5 t ha–1 year–1. The highest values, over 4 t ha–1 year–1 (1.24%), are characteristic of the calcareous areas belonging to the many sectors of the gorges with discontinuous vegetation, as well as the limestone exploitation area from Mateiaș mountain. The quantitative knowledge and spatial distribution of surface erosion becomes important for communities and local authorities, interested in the planning and management of the implementation of some agrotechnical measures to improve the quality and productivity of soils or to prevent and restrict erosion processes with a tendency to expand areally and in depth.

Pengelolaan Hutan Berbasis Masyarakat (PHBM) Pada Hutan Lindung Gambut (HLG) di Desa Pematang Rahim Provinsi Jambi

Sungai Buluh Peat Protection Forest is a peat area with protected forest status in Jambi Province. Protected forests are not only aimed at preservation, and protection but also open up utilization opportunities for local communities. The utilization is through Social Forestry (SF) which turns part of the forest area into a Village Forest. This aims to open up opportunities and access for local communities. A critical ethnographic approach explains the meaning behind the reality, where the forest is not only protected but has an economic impact on the surrounding community. Through interviews, observation and documentation techniques, data was collected. Informants consisted of KPHD, KUPS, community leaders, stakeholders, KKI Warsi and local communities to provide their views on the village forest scheme and how it impacts their lives. The results show that forestry provides opportunities for community-based forest management with the aim of protection, preservation and utilization. Through KPHD the village forest is managed and provides economic opportunities through KUPS which consists of the community in Pematang Rahim Village. Thus, through social forestry the forest can be maintained and local communities experience economic improvement. However, the challenge is that efforts to sustain forest protection and utilization must be supported by all sectors so that forest management by the community provides welfare and maximum protection efforts are achieved.

Effect of three-year amendment measures on coastal saline-alkali soil conditions during the growing season

Seawater intrusion and fluctuations in the water table in coastal areas lead to seasonal variations in soil salinity and pH, which greatly limit the development of coastal protection forests. In a three-year field study, the impact of five soil amendment measures were evaluated on soil conditions in coastal areas. Amendments included biochar, biochar with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), straw with AMF, straw alone, and AMF alone, compared to a control (CK) with no additive. Results indicated that combinations of straw, biochar, and AMF reduced soil pH across various layers and seasons, with electrical conductivity mainly decreasing in spring. During the summer, at the 0-20 cm soil depth, microbial biomass carbon notably increased due to these mixtures. Additionally, AMF alone and biochar with AMF significantly improved enzyme activities in the 0-40 cm layer in spring, while in fall, AMF alone notably increased nutrient availability in the same layer. Linear regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between electrical conductivity, microbial biomass carbon, enzyme activity, and nutrient availability with pH. The biochar–AMF mixture emerged as the most effective soil amendment, suggesting that using it in conjunction with seasonal management could optimize soil health and promote silviculture in coastal regions.

Copper silicate nanoneedle arrays on reduced graphene oxide like “shelter forest” guiding Zn gradient deposition

With the sustainable and efficient development of aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs), the research on addressing the issues of the adaptability and durability of zinc anodes has been hot-topic and is still of great challenge. In this work, inspired by the sand treatment and afforestation of the Gobi Beach in Northwest China to ameliorate the problem of wind and sand encroachment, we propose a material with a morphology similar to that of a “shelter forest”, CuSiO3 nanoneedles arrays grown on both sides of reduced graphene oxide (rGO@CuSi), as a coating layer on the zinc metal surface to guide Zn gradient deposition. The presence of rGO improves the electrical conductivity of CuSiO3, and the finite element simulation of the electric field and Zn2+ concentration proves that the electric field distribution can be effectively homogenized and the local current density can be reduced for the rGO@CuSi-Zn electrode with the surface presenting the shape of a protective forest. This is due to the abundant pores between the nano-needle array structures on the surface of the electrode, which provides high electron and ion transport paths, and are conducive to achieve uniform Zn deposition, like the principle of wind-sand stabilization by protective forest. Both electrochemical experiments and density functional theory calculations show that the negatively charged surface of rGO@CuSi with good Zn affinity is more capable of guiding Zn2+ transport. Thanks to its inherent material and structural characteristics, the rGO@CuSi-Zn anode has a high specific capacity and good cycling stability. This study provides an insight for interface engineering like protective forest to accelerate the commercialization of high-performance Zn-based batteries.