Secondary Forest Research Articles

Losing lemurs: Declining populations and land cover changes over space and time.

Forest loss and degradation due to land cover changes imperil biodiversity worldwide. Subtropical and tropical ecosystems experience high deforestation rates, negatively affecting species like primates. Madagascar's endemic lemurs face exceptionally high risks of population declines and extirpation. We examined how short-term land cover changes within a fragmented landscape in southeastern Madagascar impacted the density of lemur species. Using line transects, we assessed density changes in nine lemur species across five forest fragments. Diurnal surveys were conducted monthly from 2015 to 2019 on 35 transects (total effort = 1268 km). Additionally, 21 transects were surveyed nocturnally in 2015 and 2016 (total effort = 107.5 km). To quantify forest cover changes, we generated land use/land cover (LULC) maps from Sentinel-2 imagery using supervised classification for each year. For the LULC maps, we overlayed species-specific buffers around all transects and calculated the proportion of land cover classes within them. We observed declines in the annual densities of four diurnal and cathemeral lemur species between 2015 and 2019, with species-specific declines of up to 80% (Varecia variegata). While the density of two nocturnal species decreased, one increased fivefold (Cheirogaleus major) between 2015 and 2016. By 2019, Grassland was the dominant land type (50%), while Paddy Fields had the smallest coverage (1.03%). Mature Agricultural Land increased the most (63.37%), while New Agricultural Land decreased the most (-66.36%). Unexpectedly, we did not find evidence that higher forest cover supported a higher lemur population density within sampled areas, but we found support for the negative impact of degraded land cover types on three lemur species. Our study underscores the urgent need to address land-use changes and their repercussions for primate populations in tropical ecosystems. The diverse responses of lemur species to modified habitats highlight the complexity of these impacts and emphasize the importance of targeted conservation efforts.

Analysis and Simulation of Land Use Changes and Their Impact on Carbon Stocks in the Haihe River Basin by Combining LSTM with the InVEST Model

The quantitative analysis and prediction of spatiotemporal patterns of land use in Haihe River Basin are of great significance for land use and ecological planning management. To reveal the changes in land use and carbon stock, the spatial–temporal pattern of land use data in the Haihe River Basin from 2000 to 2020 was studied via Mann–Kendall (MK) trend analysis, the transfer matrix, and land use dynamic attitude. Through integrating the models of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) and the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), the results of the spatial distribution of land use and carbon stock were obtained and compared with Cellular Automation (CA-Markov), and then applied to predict the spatial distribution in 2025. The results show the following: (1) The land use and land cover (LULC) changes in the Haihe River Basin primarily involve an exchange between cultivated land, forest, and grassland, as well as the conversion of cultivated land to built-up land. This transformation contributes to the overall decrease in carbon storage in the basin, which declined by approximately 1.20% from 2000 to 2020. (2) The LULC prediction accuracy of LSTM is nearly 2.00% higher than that of CA-Markov, reaching 95.01%. (3) In 2025, the area of grassland in Haihe River Basin will increase the most, while the area of cultivated land will decrease the most. The spatial distribution of carbon stocks is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast, and the changing areas are scattered throughout the study area. However, due to the substantial growth of grassland and forest, the carbon stocks in the Haihe River Basin in 2025 will increase by about 10 times compared with 2020. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and reference for watershed land use planning, ecological restoration, and management.

Melissopalynology of pot-pollen and pot-honey of the Mayan stingless bee Melipona beecheii Bennett, 1831 (Apidae, Meliponini) in Yucatan, Mexico

The Mayan bee Melipona beecheii is one of the most important and widely cultivated stingless bees in Mexico. In order to document pollen and nectar resources for M. beecheii during the dry season, 25 pot-pollen and 25 pot-honey samples were collected from February to May 2021 at eight villages in Yucatan, Mexico. All samples were acetolysed, and 500 pollen grains were counted randomly for each sample. A total of 21 taxa belonging to eight botanical families were observed in the pot-pollen samples; in contrast, 32 pollen types from 16 botanical families were recorded in the pot-honey samples. According to PCA analyses, the pollen types that explained the maximum variance among the pot-pollen samples were Senna racemosa var. racemosa, Lonchocarpus punctatum, Cochlospermum vitifolium, Bursera schlechtendalii and B. simaruba, while S. racemosa var. racemosa, C. vitifolium, Alternanthera ramosissima, Psidium guajava, B. schlechtendalii, B. simaruba, L. punctatum, Mimosa bahamensis and Solanum americanum explained the greatest variance among the pot-honey samples. Our results confirm that M. beecheii displays polylectic foraging and targets for the secondary vegetation of tropical deciduous and tropical semideciduous forests. Diversity in the pot-pollen was found to be lower than that of the pot-honey samples. Since some pot-honey samples were overrepresented by the pollen grains of S. racemosa var. racemosa, PCA and cluster analysis grouped those pot-pollen and pot-honey samples together.

Using historical habitat loss to predict contemporary mammal extirpations in Neotropical forests.

Understanding which species will be extirpated in the aftermath of large-scale human disturbance is critical to mitigating biodiversity loss, particularly in hyperdiverse tropical biomes. Deforestation is the strongest driver of contemporary local extinctions in tropical forests but may occur at different tempos. The 2 most extensive tropical forest biomes in South America-the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon-have experienced historically divergent pathways of habitat loss and biodiversity decay, providing a unique case study to investigate rates of local species persistence on a single continent. We quantified medium- to large-bodied mammal species persistence across these biomes to elucidate how landscape configuration affects their persistence and associated ecological functions. We collected occurrence data for 617 assemblages of medium- to large-bodied mammal species (>1kg) in the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon. Analyzing natural habitat cover based on satellite data (1985-2022), we employed descriptive statistics and generalized linear models (GLMs) to investigate ecospecies occurrence patterns in relation to habitat cover across the landscapes. The subregional erosion of Amazonian mammal assemblage diversity since the 1970s mirrors that observed since the colonial conquest of the Atlantic Forest, given that 52.8% of all Amazonian mammals are now on a similar trajectory. Four out of 5 large mammals in the Atlantic Forest were prone to extirpation, whereas 53% of Amazonian mammals were vulnerable to extirpation. Greater natural habitat cover increased the persistence likelihood of ecospecies in both biomes. These trends reflected a median local species loss 63.9% higher in the Atlantic Forest than in the Amazon, which appears to be moving toward a turning point of forest habitat loss and degradation. The contrasting trajectories of species persistence in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest domains underscore the importance of considering historical habitat loss pathways and regional biodiversity erosion in conservation strategies. By focusing on landscape configuration and identifying essential ecological functions associated with large vertebrate species, conservation planning and management practices can be better informed.

Estimation of Diameter at Breast Height in Tropical Forests Based on Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Shape Diameter Function

Estimating forest carbon content typically requires the precise measurement of the trees’ diameter at breast height (DBH), which is crucial for maintaining the health and sustainability of natural forests. Currently, Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) systems are commonly used to acquire forest point cloud data for DBH estimation. However, traditional circular fitting methods face challenges such as a reliance on forest elevation normalization and underfitting of large trees. This study explores a novel approach, the Shape Diameter Function (SDF) algorithm model, leveraging the advantages of three-dimensional point cloud information to replace traditional circular fitting methods. This study employed a parallel approach, combining the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) to segment tree point clouds at breast height. Additionally, a point cloud SDF algorithm based on an octree structure was proposed to accurately estimate individual tree DBH. The research data were obtained from tropical secondary forests located in Cameroon, Peru, Indonesia, and Guyana, with forest ground point cloud data acquired via TLS. The experimental results demonstrated the superior performance of the SDF algorithm in estimating DBH. Compared with the Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) and Hough transform methods, the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) decreased by 28.1% and 47.8%, respectively. Particularly in estimating DBH for large trees, the SDF algorithm exhibited smaller errors, indicating a closer alignment between the estimated individual tree DBH values and those obtained from manual measurements. This study presented a more accurate DBH estimation algorithm, contributing to the exploration of improved forest carbon content estimation methods.

Height growth and biomass partitioning during secondary succession differ among forest light strata and successional guilds in a tropical rainforest

In closed‐canopy systems globally, plants exhibit intense competition for light, prioritizing vertical growth to attain elevated positions within the canopy. Light competition is especially intense in tropical rainforests because of their dense shaded stands, and during forest succession because of concomitant changes in vertical light profiles. We evaluated how the height growth of individual tree differs among forest light strata (canopy, sub‐canopy and understorey) and successional guilds (early, mid‐ and late successional species) during secondary succession in a Mexican rainforest. Fourteen secondary forest stands differing in time since agricultural abandonment (1–25 years) were monitored for seven consecutive years. For each stand and census year we estimated relative light intensity (RLI) for each height and categorized trees into forest light strata: understorey (RLI ≦ 33.3%), sub‐canopy (33.3% ≦ RLI ≦ 66.6%) and canopy (RLI ≧ 66.6%), and into successional guilds based on the literature. We estimated two measures of height growth: absolute height growth (HGabs, cm year−1) calculated as the difference in tree height between two consecutive censuses, and biomass partitioning to height growth (HGbp, in kg kg−1 × 100) calculated as the percentage of total aboveground biomass growth partitioned to height growth. Earlier in succession, trees for all strata had greater HGabs and HGbp, resulting in rapid vertical forest development. HGabs was fastest for canopy trees, followed by sub‐canopy and understorey trees. These differences in HGabs among strata, combined with their inter‐specific variation and continuous recruitment of small individuals, lead to a rapid differentiation in tree sizes and increase stand structural heterogeneity. HGbp was greater for understorey and sub‐canopy trees than for canopy trees, reflecting ontogenetic changes in the light competition strategy from growth to persistence. With succession, both HGabs and HGbp decreased, most strongly for canopy trees, probably because of an increased exposure to drought stress. These successional changes stabilize stand size structure and reduce the rate of development.

MONITORING FOREST DEGRADATION OVER FOUR DECADES USING REMOTE SENSING AND MACHINE LEARNING CLASSIFICATION ALGORITHMS IN BOUSKOURA, MOROCCO

Abstract. A large portion of Morocco’s forest ecosystem is being damaged by human activity and climate change, which makes it crucial for the country to monitor forest dynamics and develop measures to counter these effects. The objective of this study was to determine how the forest cover has changed over the past four decades in Bouskoura forest, Morocco. Based on Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS) and machine learning algorithms. Throughout the process, Spatial data such as Landsat 5 TM, Sentinel-2B, and spectral indices, including NDVI, NDWI, NDBI, and MSAVI2 were used to train/validate Random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers. By comparing the performance of the three classifiers for all four periods, the RF method was the most effective with an overall accuracy of 0.99 and kappa coefficient of 0.99 for 1991, 2001 and 2011, and an overall accuracy of 0.99 and kappa coefficient of 0.98 for 2021 . Therefore, the RF was selected as a method of examining time variations. The results indicated that forests covered an area of 20,41 km2 in 1991 which has decreased to 18,96 km2 in 2021, a loss of 1,45 km2 (7.10%) in four decades. The highest forest loss was 2,69 km2 during 1991–2001, 2,12 km2 during 2001–2011, 1,40 km2 during 2011–2021. And the highest forest gain was found to be 3,75 km2 during 2011–2021, 0,61 km2 during 2001–2011, 0,43 km2 during 1991-2001. Recent declines in forest degradation attest to the benefits of initiatives to conserve the environment taken by the country.

The inclusion of Amazon mangroves in Brazil’s REDD+ program

The Legal Amazon of Brazil holds vast mangrove forests, but a lack of awareness of their value has prevented their inclusion into results-based payments established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Based on an inventory from over 190 forest plots in Amazon mangroves, we estimate total ecosystem carbon stocks of 468 ± 67 Megagrams (Mg) ha−1; which are significantly higher than Brazilian upland biomes currently included into national carbon offset financing. Conversion of mangroves results in potential emissions of 1228 Mg CO2e ha−1, which are 3-fold higher than land use emissions from conversion of the Amazon rainforest. Our work provides the foundation for the inclusion of mangroves in Brazil’s intended Nationally Determined Contribution, and here we show that halting mangrove deforestation in the Legal Amazon would generate avoided emissions of 0.9 ± 0.3 Teragrams (Tg) CO2e yr−1; which is equivalent to the annual carbon accumulation in 82,400 ha of secondary forests.

Carbon stocks and sequestration potential of community forests in Bhutan

Community Forestry (CF) is recognized globally as a forest management regime with the potential to address deforestation and forest degradation, provide forest goods and services to local communities and contribute to climate change mitigation. Around 4% of Bhutan's forests are currently under CF management and these forests provide essential goods and services for local communities. However, the potential of CF in Bhutan to contribute to climate change mitigation is not well understood and has not been researched.In this study, we estimated the carbon stock and carbon sequestration of community forests in Bhutan by using data from the 2015 National Forest Inventory (NFI). The total biomass carbon in community forests was 130.3 Mg ha−1 (107.3–153.2) and the soil organic carbon was 52.8 Mg ha−1 (30.4–75.1). Carbon sequestration was 0.7 Mg ha−1 yr⁻¹. Other attributes: basal area, stem density and tree height, were also determined to assess forest condition and the potential to increase carbon sequestration.The values for biomass carbon in Bhutan's community forests as well as the non-community forests (all other forests) were similar to those reported from Forest Resource Assessment and NFI for forests in Nepal and the Indian Himalayan states respectively. Disaggregation of data from 38 research studies across the Himalayan region indicated that biomass carbon in Bhutan's forests was significantly lower than that in well-stocked (non-degraded) forests in the Indian and Nepal Himalayas. It was also much lower than that in Bhutan's Forest Management Units, which were used as an indicator of the potential upper limit of biomass carbon in Bhutan's forest environment. Similarly, basal area, stem density and mean tree height were also lower in Bhutan's community forests than in well-stocked forests in other Himalayan countries.The Bhutan Government is currently exploring the potential to generate revenue from the sale of carbon sequestered in its forests. This study confirms that there is potential to increase carbon sequestration by improving management of existing forests. Currently, the 107,866 ha of community forests in Bhutan store about 19 million Mg of carbon. With improved management by Community Forest Management Groups, which have the institutional capacity to control local management outcomes, the carbon stock could likely be doubled (to 40 million Mg of carbon), thereby demonstrating the potential of Community Forestry to play an important role in climate change mitigation, while not jeopardizing the provision of day-to-day goods and services to local communities.

Rubber plantation size and global rubber price are linked to forest loss and degradation in Jambi, Sumatra

AbstractNatural rubber cultivation is one of the main drivers of tropical deforestation and biodiversity loss. This study examines regulatory and socio‐economic conditions that increase the susceptibility of rubber plantations to deforestation and degradation, aiming to support zero‐deforestation pledges and sustainability commitments made by the natural rubber industry. By combining bottom‐up socio‐economic survey data from rubber smallholder farmers in Indonesia with top‐down spatial datasets on forest loss and degradation, this study identifies factors associated with deforestation, tree cover loss, and degradation of high‐risk plantations. In Jambi Province, Indonesia, from 1991 to 2018, the overall tree cover loss in areas adjacent to rubber plantations was positively correlated to plantation size, remoteness (travel time to cities), and distance to the nearest protected areas, indicating that larger, remotely located plantations likely expanded more into forests between 2000 and 2018. Similarly, tropical forest degradation was positively associated with plantation size, travel time to cities, and distance to protected areas. A higher rubber price in the preceding year correlated with increased annual deforestation and forest degradation, whereas lower prices had the opposite effect. These results suggest that monitoring price changes and identifying plantations that are near non‐protected forest frontiers could enable early detection and potential mitigation of deforestation threats.

Quantifying landscape fragmentation and forest carbon dynamics over 35 years in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest (AF) covers 13% of Brazil but retains only 26% of its original forest area. Utilizing a Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA), we generated 30 m spatial resolution fragmentation maps for old-growth and secondary forests across the AF. We quantified landscape fragmentation patterns and carbon (C) dynamics over 35 years using MapBiomas data between the years 1985 and 2020. We found that from 1985 to 2020 the forest suffered continuous fragmentation, losing core (nuclei forest fragments) and bridge (areas that connect different core areas) components of the landscape. About 87.5% (290 468.4 km2) of the remaining forest lacked core areas, with bridges (38.0%) and islets (small, isolated fragments) (35.4%) being predominant. Secondary forests (1986–2020) accounted for 99 450.5 km2 and played a significant role in fragmentation pattern, constituting 44.9% of the areas affected by edge effects (perforation, edge, bridge, and loop), 53.7% of islets, and comprising only 1.4% of core forest. Additionally, regeneration by secondary forests contributed to all fragmentation classes in 2020. Even with the regrowth of forests, the total forested area in the biome did not increase between 1985 and 2020. Deforestation emissions reached 818 Tg CO2, closely paralleled by edge effects emissions at 810 Tg CO2, highlighting a remarkable parity in C emissions between the two processes. Despite slow changes, AF biome continues to lose its C stocks. We estimated that around 1.96 million hectares (19 600 km2) of regenerated forest would be required to offset the historical C emissions over the analysed period. Hence, MSPA can support landscape monitoring, optimizing natural or active forest regeneration to reduce fragmentation and enhance C stocks. Our study’s findings are critical for guiding land-use policies focusing on minimizing emissions, promoting forest regrowth, and monitoring its permanence. This study offers biome scale, spatially explicit information, critical for AF conservation and management.

Potential Regeneration and Spatial Distribution model of Saurauia pendula Blume in Mount Slamet, Central Java

Saurauia pendula Blume is a species of genus Saurauia and belong to Actinidiaceae family. Saurauia pendula spread over on several highlands or mountains in Java Island. Mount Slamet is the second highest mountain on Java with naturally good vegetations. The existence of several threats such as forest fires, destruction, deforestation and forest degradation has caused the condition of these plant species to begin to require attention. This study aims to determine the population of S. pendula, its potential regeneration and spatial distribution model in Mount Slamet area. The study was conducted on four (north, south, west and east) slopes in 2019-2020. Research on population conditions was carried out by following hiking trails and making new paths around the center of suitable habitat. Coordinate data is taken to make spatial analysis using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt). The results showed that the number of S. pendula was found on the north, west and south slopes at an altitude of 1010-2024 masl. This species has a significant association with Saurauia microphylla de Vriese., Glochidion obscurum (Roxb. ex Willd.) Blume and Castanopsis argentea. The number of mature plants is 106 individuals, which have important role in the distribution of this plant. Analysis of the spatial distribution model shows that S. pendula is estimated to be widely distributed on the western slopes of Mount Slamet.

Preface

The 4th International Conference on Tropical Silviculture (ICTS) 2023 Indonesia, in particular, grapples with the repercussions of deforestation, manifesting in elevated CO2 emissions, climate change, and the alarming loss of biodiversity. In this context, silvicultural science emerges as a pivotal player in steering forest management towards sustainability. Silvicultural science emerges a very vital role in sustainable forest management. Its vital role lies in preserving the functions of forest ecosystems—habitat, regulation, production, and information dissemination, increasing positive socio-economic impacts, including in terms of maintaining and increasing forest productivity and achieving sustainable development. Indonesian silviculturists are expected to demonstrate a high commitment to reducing national greenhouse gas emissions through applicable knowledge and practices. The study of forest ecosystems necessitates in-depth research, as well as the sharing and dissemination of results to various stakeholders.Recognizing the imperative of disseminating silvicultural studies, the International Conference on Tropical Silviculture (ICTS) stands as a crucial platform. Organized regularly by the Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, the 4th ICTS embraced a hybrid format on 24 August 2023. With the theme “Bridging Silviculture Knowledge and Practices to Foster the Achievement of SDGs and FOLU NET SINK 2030,” this conference aims to facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge, and innovations. The conference addressed seven key topics, including biodiversity, forest fire and climate change, agroforestry and forest plantation, ecosystem services, non-timber forest products, silviculture approach, and forest degradation and rehabilitation.I extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Rector of IPB University, the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry and Environment, and the Head of the Silviculture Department for their unwavering support, which has been instrumental in ensuring the success of this conference. Special gratitude is extended to the Directorate of International Program at IPB University, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, the Regional Fire Management Resource Centre-South East Asia (RFMRC-SEA), University Putra Malaysia (UPM), University of Maryland Center for Environmental Studies (UMCES), and Göttingen University Germany as Co-Organizers. Their collaborative efforts have significantly contributed to the realization of this conference.I would also like to express our sincere thanks to our esteemed funding sponsors: Korea-Indonesia Forest Cooperation Center (KIFCC), Rinjani Parahita Nusantara (RPN), PT. Bukit Asam Tbk, Forestry Alumni Association (HAE), APHI, and IPB Press. Your generous support and collaboration have played a pivotal role in making this conference possible.In closing, my heartfelt thanks go out to the committee members of the Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, for their exceptional dedication and hard work. I also extend appreciation to all participants, session moderators, speakers, and poster presenters who contribute to making this conference truly meaningful. Special acknowledgment is reserved for the diligent reviewers, whose insightful comments and suggestions enhance the quality of manuscripts in our conference proceedings.Chairman, Organizing Committee ICTS 2023 Dr. Ati Dwi Nurhayati, S.Hut, M.SList of Proceedings of The 4th International Conference on Tropical Silviculture (ICTS) 2023 is available itn this pdf.

Preface

4th International Interdisciplinary Conference on Green Development in Tropical Regions (4th IICGDTR) “Governance Challenges of Green Development in Tropical Asia” Virtual Conference The Graduate Program – Universitas Andalas, West Sumatera, Indonesia 7 – 8 July 2021 The 4th International Interdisciplinary Conference on Green Development in Tropical Regions (4th IICGDTR) has successfully held virtually on 7 – 8 July 2021 organized by the Graduate Program, Universitas Andalas, West Sumatera, Indonesia.IICGDTR is the biannual international conference on Green Development in Tropical Region (ICGDTR). This 2021 conference is the 4th interdisciplinary ICGDTR which held virtually due to the covid-19 pandemic, with the theme “Governance Challenges of Green Development in Tropical Asia”. The main objective of this international conference is to enhance the discourse and discussion on various aspects of green development in tropical regions, especially on the issue of governance challenges of green development in tropical regions.Since the early 21st century, conventional development strategies have been questioned by various development analysts, especially those concerned with issues and conflicts surrounding its environmental, human and socio-economic impacts. The debate on issues surrounding degradation of natural resources, forest, coastal, and agricultural land, along with understanding climate change, has led to the new proposition of the green development paradigm. The conceptual understanding of the green development paradigm is concerned with the strategy and planning of all aspects including environmental planning, rural and urban planning, regional development planning, agriculture and industrial development planning.The tropical region of Asia, covering South, Southeast, and part of East Asia, is a region with a large population, rich biodiversity, and also high growth. More importantly, this is a culturally rich region. Tropical Region of Asia (TRA) is the most dynamic region and is in a constant effort to balance its development path. Much of the region’s economic growth is supported by the exploitation of common-pool natural resources, i.e., forest, land, water. Agriculture is still a dominant livelihood strategy with very slow technological adoption. But the region also utilizes its ecosystem services for the tourism sector to diversify livelihood. Rural and urban development is still not balanced but instead is urban biased. Unfortunately, housing and settlement development in urban areas sometimes threatens agricultural land.List of Committee is available in this Pdf.

Design and partial validation of novel eDNA qPCR assays for three common North American tick (Arachnida: Ixodida) species

AbstractThe range expansion of ticks to higher latitudes poses a severe threat to human health exposing human populations who had no prior contact with ticks to several harmful tick‐borne diseases. Early detection of ticks in new areas is critical to help inform the public and medical professionals of the dangers associated with tick encounters. Environmental DNA represents a novel survey method that could provide reliable records of tick occurrences and timely warnings of their range expansions. In this study, we designed novel eDNA qPCR assays for three common North American tick species (Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, and Ixodes scapularis) and tested them on 51 samples of grasses and leaf litter collected from 12 grassland and forest sites in central and southern Illinois. We provide in silico and in vitro validation of all three assays; however, we were unable to generate any positive detections from field samples. Our lack of eDNA detections likely stems from low eDNA deposition rates coupled with rapid degradation in grasslands and forests, a problem exacerbated by terrestrial eDNA sampling methods limited by volume of substrate. We provide recommendations for improving sample collection methods to increase detection probability in future efforts. Continued research should focus on the viability of eDNA to detect small terrestrial invertebrates, like ticks, and it potential as early warning indicator of the spread of vector‐borne diseases.

Applicability of the generalized wind profile model over mountainous forests.

The analytical equation based on Monin-Obukhov (M-O) similarity theory (i.e., wind profile equation) has been adopted since 1970s for using in the prediction of wind vertical profile over flat terrains, which is mature and accurate. However, its applicability over complex terrains remains unknown. This applicability signifies the accuracy of the estimations of aerodynamic parameters for the boundary layer of non-flat terrain, such as zero-displacement height (d) and aerodynamic roughness length (z0), which will determine the accuracy of frequency correction and source area analysis in calculating carbon, water, and trace gas fluxes based on vorticity covariance method. Therefore, the validation of wind profile model in non-flat terrain is the first step to test whether the flux model needs improvement. We measured three-dimensional wind speed data by using the Ker Towers (three towers in a watershed) at Qingyuan Forest CERN in the Mountainous Region of east Liaoning Province, and compared them with data from Panjin Agricultural Station in the Liaohe Plain, to evaluate the applicability of a generalized wind profile model based on the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory on non-flat terrain. The results showed that the generalized wind profile model could not predict wind speeds accurately of three flux towers separately located in different sites, indicating that wind profile model was not suitable for predicting wind speeds in complex terrains. In the leaf-off and leaf-on periods, the coefficient of determination (R2) between observed and predicted wind speeds ranged from 0.12 to 0.30. Compared to measured values, the standard error of the predicted wind speeds was high up to 2 m·s-1. The predicted wind speeds were high as twice as field-measured wind speed, indicating substantial overestimation. Nevertheless, this model correctly predicted wind speeds in flat agricultural landscape in Panjin Agricultural Station. The R2 between observed wind speeds and predicted wind speed ranged from 0.90 to 0.93. The standard error between observed and predicted values was only 0.5 m·s-1. Results of the F-test showed that the root-mean-square error of the observed and predicted wind speeds in each secondary forest complex terrain was much greater than that in flat agricultural landscape. Terrain was the primary factor affecting the applicability of wind profile model, followed by seasonality (leaf or leafless canopy). The wind profile model was not applicable to the boundary-layer flows over forest canopies in complex terrains, because the d was underestimated or both the d and z0 were underestimated, resulting in inaccurate estimation of aerodynamic height.

Design of arboretum and ecotourism complex on Kahatex green open space in Jatiroke Village

Jatinangor district, located in Sumedang regency, is experiencing forest degradation due to rapid development spurred by its designation as a transport hub between Bandung, Garut, and Sumedang. In order to facilitate more environmentally sustainable developments in Jatinangor, approaches involving local communities in land rehabilitation is essential. One such proposal is the development of 8.18 ha of land in Jatiroke Village. In collaboration with Jatiroke locals and Geulis Mountain Communications Forum (GMCF) and PT. Kahatex, the land is planned to be transformed into a green open space for ecotourism complex based on the DEWA (Desa Edukasi Wisata Agro or Agro-tourism Educational Village) concept ensuring sustained benefits for the environment and the local populace. The complex is planned to have intensive and non-intensive zones. The intensive zone facilitates the visitors and supporting utilities while the non-intensive zone facilitates vegetation cultivation. The area’s planned main conservation facility is the Arboretum of Textile Dyeing Trees which hosts 20 tree species, 2 bush species, and 4 herb species traditionally used as dyes and are native to Western Java. This forest restoration project, involving collaboration with villagers and a corporation, is slated to exemplify the importance of environmental sustainability through ecotourism and education for all involved.

Local knowledge in forest management: a case study in java forest, indonesia

Forests are currently faced with the challenge of increasingly widespread forest degradation, threatening human life at the global level due to climate change and unexpected plans. In this context, the role of local knowledge is considered strategic in sustainable forest management. In line with the dynamics of global change, local knowledge often needs to be adapted, complemented, or preserved to continue contributing to forestry development. Similarly, in the case of forests in Indonesia, climate change can influence local knowledge of forest management. Consequently, there is a need for studies on how communities adapt their traditional practices to climate change and the impact of such adaptations on the sustainability of forest resources. Through a qualitative method with case studies, this research was conducted to identify and understand local community knowledge and its role in forest management. The research was conducted in Wonokerto Village, Rembang Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Data was collected from January-October 2023 using observation and interview techniques involving 21 informants from Forest Village Community Institutions (LMDH) representatives, forest farmers, facilitators, forest police, Perhutani, and local community leaders. The interactive model analyses data through data collection, reduction, verification, and presentation. Research shows local knowledge of forest communities emerging from various values and norms, cultural rituals, forest management practices, and local institutions. As a result, this local knowledge positively contributes to forest sustainability, where a balanced relationship between society and the forest is well maintained.

Precipitation explains Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) occupancy patterns in Northern Costa Rica

Introduction: The Wood Thrush is a migratory bird that has experienced dramatic declines in its populations in recent decades. This species overwinters in forest fragments with intermediate levels of habitat modification in Central America. However, more studies detailing the use of remnant forests through time are needed to elucidate the threats this species faces in the wintering grounds. Objective: To understand the effects of environmental and forest structure variables on the occupancy of Wood Thrush in Northern Costa Rica. Methods: The study area was the Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), located in Northern Costa Rica, in December 2016, and during the 2018-2019 migration season. We estimated Wood Thrush occupancy and detection probability in four locations of ACG (dry forest, cloud forest, and two locations in the wet forest) using single-season occupancy models. We also estimated Wood Thrush occupancy and probability of persistence in different months in three vegetation types (open area, secondary forest, and old-growth forest) in the wet forest of ACG using a multi-season occupancy model approach. Results: Wood Thrush occupancy was best described by precipitation in the four locations of the ACG; the probability of occupancy increased with precipitation. The average occupancy of Wood Thrushes varied with vegetation type: open area with shrubs and forest edge (0.69 ± 0.09), secondary forest (0.46 ± 0.1), and old-growth forest (0.61 ± 0.1). Wood Thrush probability of persistence responded partially to changes in precipitation, with an unexpected increase in persistence when the rainfall continued decreasing in the season. Conclusion: Wood Thrush occupancy was best predicted by changes in precipitation considering a larger spatial scale. Its probability of persistence partially varied with precipitation. An increase in persistence closer to Spring migration might be explained by the start of the breeding season of resident birds, potentially reducing territorial conflicts and conserving energy before migration. The long-term protection of wet forests in Northern Costa Rica is of paramount importance for the conservation of Wood Thrushes in their wintering grounds.

Provisioning services decline for both people and Critically Endangered wildlife in a rainforest transformation landscape

Abstract The loss and degradation of forests and other ecosystems worldwide threaten both global biodiversity and the livelihoods of people who use natural resources. Understanding how natural resource use impacts landscape provisioning services for both people and wildlife is thus critical for designing comprehensive resource management strategies. We used data from community focus groups, botanical plots and an inventory of plant species consumed by the Critically Endangered red‐ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra) to assess the availability of key provisioning services for people and endemic wildlife on the Masoala Peninsula, a rainforest transformation landscape, in northeastern Madagascar (Masoala National Park and 13 surrounding communities). We constructed Poisson regression mixed models to evaluate the impact of community factors (i.e. community population size, plot distance to community) and changes over time on the count and species richness of timber trees, medicinal plants and red‐ruffed lemur food trees within botanical plots. Over three‐quarters of all plant species could be used for at least one purpose by local communities (n = 238 species). Of the 59 V. rubra food tree species, only 15% had no reported human use. Timber and ruffed lemur food tree availability declined both with community population size and time and were predicted to be lower outside of Masoala National Park. In contrast, medicinal plant availability was not strongly predicted by any tested factors. Provisioning service availability also differed strongly across sites, suggesting that additional, untested proxies of human pressure likely also have an effect. Our results highlight the importance of evaluating natural resource availability from a community‐based perspective and by resource purpose to inform forest landscape restoration efforts that can support both people and wildlife. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.