Protection Of Forest Ecosystems Research Articles

Application of remote sensing in monitoring land degradation: A case study of Stanari municipality (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Abstract The subject of the research represents the application of remote sensing in monitoring land degradation in the municipality of Stanari in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The aim of the study is to identify spatial changes during the research period (2017–2023) by processing remote sensing “products.” Within the changes in land use, the focus is placed on alterations resulting from surface mineral resource mining activities. The total approved exploitation area amounts to 3841.08 ha, covering almost a quarter of the municipality (23.89%). Monitoring changes in land use was conducted through the processing of Sentinel-2 images using supervised classification (SC). The classification results were compared with the Dynamic World (DW) dataset. Results indicate significant losses in forested areas, reduced by −7.23% (DW) or −2.43% (SC) at the municipal level and −11.48% (DW) or −5.90% (SC) within the exploitation area. Spatial extents of deforestation were identified and analyzed based on processing the Hansen Global Forest Data Change dataset. The deforestation area, caused by mining activity in B&H over the research period (2001–2021), amounts to 977.94 ha, with 264.25 ha (27.02%) within the Stanari municipality. Over 90% of the cleared forest area is within the exploitation area. High erosion coefficient values (Z) were recorded within the approved exploitation area, coinciding with the spatial coverage of deforestation. Additionally, results obtained using an empirical method for studying mechanical water erosion (W y) indicate a high intensity within the exploitation area. For the approved exploitation area, possibilities for the restoration of degraded land were analyzed, including an overview of activities conducted so far and mapping some of the previously reclaimed areas. The research contributes to a better understanding of spatial changes resulting from mining activities, and the presented data are significant for numerous practical issues, such as sustainable land use planning, spatial planning, protection of forest ecosystems, and the environment.

2021–2022年广东南岭站日尺度气象数据集

The mountainous forest and biodiversity ecological functional area of the Nanling Mountain forest ecosystem is one of the 25 key ecological functional areas in China, covering a variety of forest vegetation types, including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, coniferous broad-leaved evergreen mixed forest, and mountain top evergreen broad-leaved dwarf forest. The tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests are the most typical vegetation type in the Nanling Mountains. Monitoring the meteorological elements in the community can help understand the response mechanism of the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests in the Nanling Mountains to climate change. Based on the Nanling Forest Ecosystem National Field Scientific Observation Research station ("Nanling Station" for short) in the Nanling Mountains, Guangdong, we carried out positioning research in Nanling National Nature Reserve. In this paper, we disclosed the raw data of 10 min average wind speed, precipitation, air temperature, air pressure, solar radiation (i.e. total radiation, reflected radiation, ultraviolet radiation, net radiation, photosynthetically active radiation) as well as relative humidity continuously collected in the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest area of the Nanling Station from 2021-2022 on a daily scale after data processing, quality control and evaluation. The dataset accessible to the public can serve as a valuable resource for further insights into the Nanling Mountain Forest Ecosystem, and provide foundation for efforts related to the restoration and protection of forest ecosystems.

Evaluation of the Sustainable Forest Management Performance in Forestry Enterprises Based on a Hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model: A Case Study in China

Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) can fully use forest resources and improve the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of forest areas. Forestry enterprises play a crucial role in the implementation of SFM. However, the previous literature on SFM pays little attention to the subject of forestry enterprises. This paper aims to extend research on SFM from a macro perspective to the micro level of forestry enterprises. Taking the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) as a theoretical framework and the Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators (MP C&Is) as a basis, this paper constructs an indicator system to evaluate the performance of SFM of forestry enterprises from economic, social, and environmental aspects. Then, we apply the hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods, i.e., the Best–Worst Method (BWM) and the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method, to construct the methodological system for SFM performance evaluation of forestry enterprises. Through a questionnaire survey of 68 academics and researchers, we determine the weights of the SFM indicators and select a representative forestry enterprise as a case study. The effectiveness of this SFM performance evaluation model is then demonstrated through its application to the case study of forestry enterprises in China. Through the application of the model, this paper evaluates the enterprise’s SFM performance over the five-year period 2017–2021 and proposes appropriate policy recommendations and improvements. It is found that environmental factors are the primary factors of SFM in forestry enterprises. Forestry enterprises should not only pay attention to economic benefits but also to the use of forest resources and the protection of forest ecosystems to better achieve SFM.

Study on the Regeneration Probability of Understory Coniferous Saplings in the Liangshui Nature Reserve Based on Four Modeling Techniques

Forests are one of the most important natural resources for humans, and understanding the regeneration probability of undergrowth in forests is very important for future forest spatial structure and forest management. In addition, the regeneration of understory saplings is a key process in the restoration of forest ecosystems. By studying the probability of sapling regeneration in forests, we can understand the impact of different stand factors and environmental factors on sapling regeneration. This could help provide a scientific basis for the restoration and protection of forest ecosystems. The Liangshui Nature Reserve of Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, is a coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest. In this study, we assess the regeneration probability of coniferous saplings (CRP) in natural forests in 665 temporary plots in the Liangshui Nature Reserve. Using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 images provided by the European Space Agency, as well as digital elevation model (DEM) data, we calculated the vegetation index, microwave vegetation index (RVI S1), VV, VH, texture features, slope, and DEM and combined them with field survey data to construct a logistic regression (LR) model, geographically weighted logistic regression (GWLR) model, random forest (RF) model, and multilayer perceptron (MLP) model to predict and analyze the CRP value of each pixel in the study area. The accuracy of the models was evaluated with the average values of the area under the ROC curve (AUC), kappa coefficient (KAPPA), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) verified by five-fold cross-validation. The results showed that the RF model had the highest accuracy. The variable factor with the greatest impact on CRP was the DEM. The construction of the GWLR model considered more spatial factors and had a lower residual Moran index value. The four models had higher CRP prediction results in the low-latitude and low-longitude regions of the study area, and in the high-latitude and high-longitude regions of the study area, most pixels had a CRP value of 0 (i.e., no coniferous sapling regeneration occurred).

Influence of tree-crown density on dominant plant species of the herb-shrub stratum in the zone of mixed forests

Forest ecosystems are among the most complex and dynamic biological systems of our planet. They play an important role in sustaining biodiversity, regulating the climate, and preserving water resources. Furthermore, they serve as natural filters, improving the quality of soil and air, and also preventing erosive processes. Forests create unique conditions for life of various species of plants and animals, which contributes to maintenance of the natural biodiversity and supports the stability of the ecosystem. Likewise, forests are important for the carbon cycle. They absorb a large amount of carbon, thus hindering global warming. Therefore, forest ecosystems are of paramount ecological value and their preservation is crucial for a balanced functioning of the planet. Our studies were carried out in the forest ecosystems of the Desna-Starohutskyi National Park, which is in the Ukrainian Polissia. The materials and methods of the study included systematic collection of the data on density of tree crowns, and also records of diversity of plants of the herb-shrub stratum in the chosen forest areas. Those data were analyzed using statistical methods. The study results revealed that the crown density has a significant effect on diversity of herb-shrub plants in the lower forest strata. Increase in crown density correlated with decrease in the light availability in the herb-shrub stratum. Change in the crown density towards increase significantly altered the conditions for competition between herbaceous and shrub species. Decrease in light availability led to shift in the competition ratio between the species, promoting dominance of more shade-loving species. Increase in crown density, which often reached 100%, made the competition more severe, especially for key resources (light, water, and nutrients). Because of this, species diversity in the herb-shrub stratum of the forest ecosystems was observed to decrease, and less adapted species were extruded. In general, change in tree-crown density in the forest ecosystem had a significant effect on the dynamics of herbaceous and shrub species, changing competitive relations and the structure of those plant communities. The results we obtained expand the knowledge about interactions between crown density and the structure of herb-shrub stratum, which gives perspectives for more efficient management of forest resources, and can also improve scientific identification and implementation of measures for protection of forest ecosystems.

Principles and strategies of biological control economically harmful forest organisms

Essentially, biological control is nothing but applied ecology, ie the use of natural enemies to (regulatory) reduce abundance in pest populations. Intellectually satisfying, biologically intriguing and ecologically rational, a means of pest control, biological control, is one of the areas of integrated management and protection of forest ecosystems, which is rapidly developing and brings together scientists from many disciplines. Ecologists, entomologists, pathologists of plants and insects, microbiologists, approach the subject of research from different angles. Each discipline uses biological control in order to reduce the number of pests or pathogens, through the activity of beneficial living organisms. Biological control of economically harmful forest organisms means that those who decide on its application in specific environmental conditions should first accurately identify the type of pest, assess the level of infestation and predict potential economic damage, explore all available strategies, their advantages and disadvantages, and select the most efficient, which must be in correlation with all applicable local, national and international regulations. Within the biological control of pests, mainly insects, various strategies are used, which basically include the introduction of natural enemies, predators, parasitoids and pathogens, indigenous and allochthonous harmful insect species (classical and inoculation biological control) and increasing their numbers (inundative biological suppression). It should be noted here that the legislation in the field of nature and environmental protection prohibits the introduction of allochthonous, exotic species into natural and anthropogenic ecosystems in many countries, and therefore, the application of biological control is quite limited. A special, promising, strategy within biological control is the selection of strains with genetically induced ability of autocidal action. Entomopathogenic organisms, various types of viruses, microsporidia, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, which under favorable conditions can cause mass death of insects, live normally in nature and are important regulatory factors in host populations. Epizootics caused by natural viral and fungal pathogens are often responsible for spectacular crashes in populations of graded species, e.g. gubara, žutotrbe, ordinary and red pine sol. Despite such brilliant characteristics, a small number of them are included in certain biological control strategies. Suppression of plant pathogens can rarely be achieved without a careful combination of many techniques. Legislation in the field of nature and environmental protection in many countries prohibits the introduction of non-native, exotic species, and thus, the application of a number of biological control strategies is prevented.The application of fungicides in forest ecosystems is usually too expensive, so biological control measures are preferred, through the use of antagonistic or hypovirulent species of microorganisms and their strains. In essence, when it comes to plant pathogens, biological control measures are more preventive than palliative or curative, and are based on sustainable ecological concepts of forest ecosystems.

The Sustainable Development Goals and Catholic Social Teaching Perspective on Biodiversity in the Context of Protection of Forest Ecosystems in the Ukrainian Carpathians

The Sustainable Development Goals and Catholic Social Teaching Perspective on Biodiversity in the Context of Protection of Forest Ecosystems in the Ukrainian Carpathians

Protection of forest ecosystems in the eastern United States from elevated atmospheric deposition of sulfur and nitrogen: A comparison of steady-state and dynamic model results

Critical loads (CLs) and target loads (TLs) of atmospheric deposition of sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) specify the thresholds of air pollution above which damage to ecosystems is expected to occur and are used to inform environmental regulation and natural resource management. Model estimates of CL and TL can vary for a given location, and these differences can be important for characterization of ecosystem effects from elevated S and N deposition. Moreover, TLs are used to evaluate associated timeframes of ecosystem recovery. We compared published CLs and TLs based on soil acidity criteria derived from steady-state versus dynamic models for terrestrial ecosystems. We examined the magnitude of differences in the CL/TL results from the two types of models for the same regions in the Eastern U.S. Results showed that CLs/TLs from dynamic models (or from steady state modeling using soil base cation weathering estimates from dynamic models) generally produce a broader range of values of acid-sensitivity, including lower CLs/TLs, as compared with a steady-state approach. Applications of dynamic biogeochemical models capable of developing CLs/TLs are relatively data intensive and typically limited to locations where measured soil and soil solution (or nearby stream water) chemistry are available for model parameterization, calibration, and testing. We recommend that CLs/TLs derived from dynamic models be used, where data permit, as they are likely more accurate and allow for evaluation of time-dependent phenomena and period needed for recovery. However, CLs derived from steady-state models remain a useful tool for understanding broad spatial patterns in soil acid-sensitivity throughout the U.S. Future work should focus on the development of more reliable model input parameters, particularly soil base cation weathering, and the extent to which CLs and TLs at a given location may vary and be altered with anticipated future climate change. In addition, dynamic models could be further developed to estimate CLs/TLs for nutrient N.

Influence of Edaphic Properties in Determining Forest Community Patterns of the Zabarwan Mountain Range in the Kashmir Himalayas

The significance of edaphic factors in describing forest vegetation patterns is becoming more well acknowledged, with significant implications for the description of biogeographical regions and biome classification, as well as abundance and growth patterns at regional levels. The current study examines the vegetation association in the Zabarwan mountain range of the Western Himalayas and its association with edaphic factors. To collect data on forest types, we employed a systematic random sampling strategy in 60 plots (0.1 ha) across five forest types. We investigated data using ordination and cluster analysis approaches after calculating the important value index (henceforth IVI) for each plant species and edaphic data from forests. In total, 76 plant species from 39 different families were found in the area. The Rosaceae family was the most numerous, followed by Fabaceae and Asteraceae. Scrub forest types have lower diversity indices, while broad-leaved forest types have greater diversity indices. Two-way cluster analyses classified the forest vegetation of the Zabarwan mountain range into two plant communities on the basis of indicator plant species. The ordination analysis (canonical correspondence analysis) indicated that vegetation association tended to be influenced differently by distinct levels of soil parameters. The soil pH and calcium content were the main factors influencing the species distribution in the different forest types. The phytosociological features (basal area) were higher in coniferous forest type (74.49 m2ha−1) compared to broad-leaved (58.63 m2ha−1) and scrub forest type (15.4 m2ha−1). Overall, the goal of this research is to gain a better understanding of the impact of soil elements on forest composition and associations in order to develop scientifically based management options for forest ecosystem protection in the Himalayan region.

Using the Auction Price Method to Estimate Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services in Xin’an River Basin in China: A BDM Approach

Accurately estimating the forest farmers’ protection costs for forest ecosystem services has become a hot issue in ecological economics. In this research, we propose a novel method of using an auction price model to evaluate the forest ecosystem services. We establish a functional relationship between forest farmers and the forestland that belongs to them based on experimental data from Xin’an River Basin in China. The results indicate that the average willingness of farmers to accept payment for forest ecosystem service protection in the low, middle, and high levels of forest quality is 17,123.10, 23,493.75, and 31,064.40 yuan/ha/year, respectively. Moreover, farmers with different individual characteristics, household characteristics, planting characteristics, policy cognition, and ecological awareness are also willing to be paid differently. This research can provide a reference for forest ecosystem protection policies and assist the sustainable forestry development.

Season-specific evapotranspiration partitioning using dual water isotopes in a Pinus yunnanensis ecosystem, southwest China

Quantifying the regional evapotranspiration is critical in terrestrial water balance and global water cycle, while partitioning of evapotranspiration is challenging but fundamental to predict the fate of terrestrial ecosystems under climate changes. Here, we performed in-situ measurements of water isotopes in atmospheric vapor, plant tissues and soil pools in a Pinus yunnanensis forest ecosystem in southwest China, aiming to partitioning ET by estimating the stable isotopic compositions of ET and that of its two components, i.e., plant transpiration and soil water evaporation. We used combined high-frequency laser spectroscopy and chamber methods, to constrain the estimates of T/ET. We first found that the estimated daily T/ET ratio ranges from 0.59 to 0.81, with an apparent increasing shift in the early growing season and maintaining a plateau level of over 0.75 during the peak growing season. This higher averaged T/ET of 0.73 ± 0.06 indicates that plant transpiration is the main component of evapotranspiration. The estimated δE and δT are in agreement with result from customized chamber method. We also found that in monsoon season (in June-September), soil water content is the main control of T/ET variations, with leaf area index playing only a partial role. Our study confirms the critical impact of soil water on the seasonal change of T/ET in Pinus yunnanensis ecosystem such as the SW China. However, we are also aware the sensitivity of controls on estimated T/ET at different time scale interested. Our results here provide insight into the regional hydrological cycle in alpine forest ecosystem and potentially benefits many applications from forest ecosystem protection to paleo isotope archives.

Effectiveness of functional zones in National Nature Reserves for the protection of forest ecosystems in China

Protected areas (PAs) have been established worldwide to conserve biodiversity. However, the conservation effectiveness of different PA functional zones remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated National Nature Reserves (NNRs) in China to explore and quantify the conservation in their core, buffer, and experimental zones. We compared the area and proportion of forest loss for these functional zones during the period from 2001 to 2018. The results showed that the forest loss in NNRs showed a decreasing trend since 2011, indicating that NNRs reduced the forest loss. There was no significant difference of forest loss proportion (p = 0.42) between the core zones (0.60 ± 1.32%) and buffer zones (0.55 ± 0.88%), implying that their performance in forest conservation was similar. There was a significant difference between experimental and core zones as well as between experimental and buffer zones both in forest loss area and proportion (p ˂ 0.05). We confirmed that the proportion of functional zones significantly affects the conservation effectiveness, i.e., an improper proportion of core zones or buffer zones may lead to forest loss. Therefore, we suggest an optimal proportion of core and buffer zones at 30%–50% and 10%–40%, respectively. Overall, the effectiveness of functional zones in forest nature reserves was assessed on a national scale. The results of this study support the recent adjustment in the PA functional zoning system in China.

Analysis on asymptotic stabilization of eco-compensation program for forest ecotourism stakeholders.

Nowadays, many countries in the world have paid attention to the issue of improving the eco-compensation program for their forest ecotourism systems aiming to successfully drive forest ecosystem protection. However, an operable eco-compensation mechanism must give a fair and balanced consideration to each involved party's pursuits which naturally encompass benefits and responsibilities. In this study, based on the evolutionary game theory, we developed a set of mathematical models to evaluate the attitudes and preferences toward the eco-compensation programs in which the three primary stakeholders are involved including farmers, local government, and business groups in order to investigate whether the stakeholders' asymptotic stabilization strategy can be discovered. In addition, the simulation analysis shows the sensitivity characteristics and evolution process of stakeholders influenced by multiple influencing factors. The results show that the threshold effect of these factors turns out to be an important basis in formulating sustainable development schemes for the eco-compensation program in the forest ecotourism system. Furthermore, the simulation analysis also shows that the initial state of stakeholders affects the rate of convergence to the asymptotic stability. Accordingly, we put forward the three-stage strategy and address policy implications on the operable eco-compensation program development of the forest ecotourism system.

Heterogeneity of water-retention capacity of forest and its influencing factors based on meta-analysis in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

Water retention is important in forest ecosystem services. The heterogeneity analysis of water-retention capacity and its influencing factors is of great significance for the construction of water-retention functional areas, restoration of vegetation, and the protection of forest ecosystems in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. A total of 1366 records concerning water-retention capacity in the canopy layer, litter layer, and soil layer of forest ecosystem in this region were obtained from 193 literature published from 1980 to 2017. The influencing factors of water-retention capacity in each layer were analyzed, and path analysis was used to investigate the contribution of the factors to the water-retention capacity of the three layers. The results showed that mixed forests had the highest water-retention capacity, followed by broad-leaved forests, coniferous forests, and shrub forests. In addition, no matter the forest type, the ranking of the water-retention capacity was soil layer, canopy layer, and litter layer from high to low. The main influencing factors of water-retention capacity in forest canopy were leaf area index and maximum daily precipitation (R2=0.49), and the influencing coefficients were 0.34 and 0.30, respectively. The main influencing factors of water-retention capacity in the litter layer were semi-decomposed litter (R2=0.51), and the influencing coefficient was 0.51. The main influencing factors of water-retention capacity in the soil layer were non-capillary porosity and soil depth (R2=0.61), the influencing coefficients were 0.60 and 0.38, respectively. This study verifies the simulation of the water balance model or inversion of remote sensing of the water-retention capacity at the site scale, and provides scientific basis for further study of the impact of global change on water retention.

Feasibility Assessment of Converting Forest Into Palm Oil Plantation and Its Implication for Forest Policy and Palm Oil Sustainability Challenges: A Case Study in Melawi Regency of West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

The massive development of oil palm plantations puts significant pressure on forest converting in Melawi Regency, West Kalimantan Province. This is supported by the target of opening 200,000 ha of new oil palm plantations in West Kalimantan Province until 2034. Meanwhile, deforestation is the most critical climate change issue in tropical countries including Indonesia. This research examines the feasibility of clearing forest areas to be converted to palm oil plantations. This research employs the insurance approach to assess the benefits of forest ecosystems. Based on the calculation of the cost-benefits of financial and environmental feasibility, it is found that the protection of forest ecosystems is more feasible than opening palm oil plantations. However, based on the socio-economic cost-benefit calculation results, it is found that opening palm oil plantations is more feasible to implement than ecosystem protection activities. Finally, from the calculation of the total benefits-cost financial, environmental, and socio-economic feasibility, it is found that forest ecosystem protection activities are more feasible to implement than opening palm oil plantations. Another finding stated that an opening of 10,000 ha forest area for palm oil plantations would cause 6.4401 times more damage than the benefits that might be obtained if 10,000 ha of forest area ecosystem is not converted into a palm oil plantation area.

Moderate Diversity in Forest Structure and Its Low Dynamics Are Favored by Uneven-Aged Silviculture—The Lesson from Medium-Term Experiment

For several decades, there has been growing interest in highly diversified forests as a result of their management using the so-called uneven-aged silviculture. Such management and forests resulting from its application fulfil the purpose of forest ecosystem protection without significant limitation of the other forest functions and services. The usefulness of such silvicultural system depends largely on the species composition of the stand. In Poland, this system has been used primarily in silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)-dominated forests with an admixture of other shade-tolerant tree species and rather small admixture of light-demanding species. In our study, we analyzed the structure of fir-dominated uneven-aged forest consisting of a certain mix of eight tree species with different light-requirements, in which uneven-aged silviculture was performed for over two decades. The analysis of stand structure concerned three aspects of the forest structure: species diversity, spatial pattern of tree distribution, and tree size diversity. On the basis of three stand inventories, we captured the mid-term dynamics of the stand structure under moderate human pressure conditions. The results showed that the stand was characterized by high growing stock, with stable growth over the entire period. The silver fir was the dominant tree species, but the Scots pine and pedunculate oak also played an important role. However, the silver fir was abundant in the ingrowth class, whereas the pine and oak were absent or very rare in this stand strata. Noteworthy is the increasing importance of the European hornbeam, which is particularly evident in the ingrowth class; its abundance was twice that of the silver fir. The results clearly demonstrated that within 24 years, the share of light-demanding tree species in the forest clearly decreased, while that of shade-tolerant species clearly increased. Structural parameters showed a moderate tree-size diversity, despite the high species richness of the forest. This was mainly the result of selection cuttings, which clearly decreased tree-size variability after the second period of study. However, selection cuttings did not favor regeneration establishment, especially that of light-demanding tree species, whose role in the stand is assumed to be only minor in the future. The relatively high level of volume growth indicated that cutting intensity may be increased. More intense selection cuttings would also improve the stand structure by providing better light conditions for potential regeneration of different tree species, also light-adapted ones.

The role of big data in China’s sustainable forest management

Purpose Forest as a vital natural resource in China plays an irreplaceable important role in safeguarding ecological security and human survival and development. Due to the vast territory, huge population and widespread forest landscape of China, forest management is a complex system involving massive data and various management activities. To effectively implement sustainable forest management, the big data technology has been utilized to analyze China’s forestry resources. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to clarify the role of big data technology in China’s forest management. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the authors revisited the roles of big data in forest ecosystem monitoring, forestry management system development, and forest policy implementation. Findings It demonstrates that big data technology has a great potential in forest ecosystem protection and management, as well as the government’s determination for forest ecosystem protection. However, to deepen the application of big data in forest management, several challenges still need to be tackled. Originality/value Thus, enhancing modern science and technology to improve big data, cloud computing, and information technologies and their combinations will contribute to tackle the challenges and achieve wisdom of forest management.

Spatial Analysis of Temperate Forest Structure: A Geostatistical Approach to Natural Forest Potential

Forest ecosystems represent an important means of ecosystem services; they are key as carbon sinks, water collectors, soil stabilizers, suppliers of great biological diversity, among other benefits. In addition, regionalization based on forest conditions provides a valuable approach to understanding and analyzing spatial patterns, which is useful as a tool for the implementation of forest ecosystem protection and conservation programs. In this research, the structure of a temperate forest in the western Sierra Madre region of Mexico was analyzed and characterized. The study unit was the watershed and the analysis used a geospatial approach combined with multivariate techniques such as: Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Analysis (CA), Discriminant Analysis (DA) and Multivariate Analysis of Variance. We evaluated the relationships among spectral satellite data, thematic maps and structural forest variables. A total of 345 watersheds were grouped based on these variables. The grouping of watersheds under low, medium and high production conditions was carried out with CA, defining 3 groups. The validation of the grouping was performed through DA, estimating errors with the restitution method, as well as with the cross-validation method. Significant differences were found among the groups. The grouping of watersheds provides observable evidence of the variability of the forest condition throughout the area. This study allows identifying forest areas with different levels of productivity and can help to detect levels of vulnerability and ecological fragility in natural forests in temperate zones.

Инновационные разработкиВНИИЛМ – в практикулесного хозяйства

Рассмотрены основные направления работы ВНИИЛМ в области защиты лесов, охраны лесов от пожаров, лесной экономики, международной деятельности и др. Приведены перспективные направления научных исследований. The paper highlights promising areas of VNIILM operation. It is pointed out that lately the Institute has to address more urgent so-called applied challenges that need rather prompt actions. Successful suppression of Siberian moth outbreaks in 2017 in Siberian region is an example of such operation. Coordinated and well organized operation of multiple level managers, researchers and producers enabled such result. Studies related to wild fire prevention and suppression, post fire adaptation and forest regeneration are the Institute priorities. This is a goal of VNIILM subsidiary Forest pyrology, forest ecosystem protection technology development and forest regeneration Center establishment in Krasnoyarsk in 2018. Development and implementation of new procedures to assess forest resources with Earth remote sensing and domestic satellite image analysis is one of the surging areas. The paper focuses on other promising research areas as well. Forest resource pricing improvement primarily based on rent pattern is a priority area in forest economics. Institute cooperation experience with other sectoral institutions is stressed.

An eco-efficient and economical optimum evaluation technique for the forest road networks: the case of the mountainous forest of Metsovo, Greece.

The sustainable forest management can be achieved only through environmentally sound and economically efficient and feasible forest road networks and transportation systems that can potentially improve the multi-functional use of forest resources. However, road network planning and construction suggest long-term finance that require a capital investment (cash outflow), which would be equal to the value of the total revenue flow (cash inflow) over the whole lifecycle project. This paper emphasizes in an eco-efficient and economical optimum evaluation method for the forest road networks in the mountainous forest of Metsovo, Greece. More specifically, with the use of this technique, we evaluated the forest roads' (a) total construction costs, (b) annual maintenance cost, and (c) log skidding cost. In addition, we estimated the total economic value of forest goods and services that are lost from the forest roads' construction. Finally, we assessed the optimum eco-efficient and economical forest roads densities based on linear equations that stem from the internal rate of return method (IRR) and have been presented graphically. Data analysis and its presentation are achieved with the contribution of geographic information systems (GIS). The technique which is described in this study can be for the decision makers an attractive and useful implement in order to select the most eco-friendly and economical optimum solution to plan forest road network or to evaluate the existing forest transportation systems. Hence, with the use of this method, we can combine not only the multi-objective utilization of natural resources but also the environmental protection of forest ecosystems.