Forestry Tree Research Articles

PENGGUNAAN SISTEM INFORMASI GEOGRAFIS DALAM PENGELOLAAN DAERAH ALIRAN SUNGAI MENGGUNAKAN MODEL SOIL AND WATER ASSESMENT TOOL (SWAT)

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model which is integrated with the Geographic Information System (GIS) can provide an overview or prediction of the influence of land management on watershed hydrology in accordance with the interests of evaluating and monitoring watershed management activities. The purpose of this study was to analyze the management of the Bukit Suligi Micro sub-watershed based on land use patterns, as a basis for determining the best recommendations for Forest and Land Rehabilitation activities by planting forestry trees based on community participation in Sei Kuning Village, Tandun District, Rokan Hulu Regency. The research method is processing primary and secondary data using a SWAT model integrated with GIS in analyzing hydrological characteristics in land use scenarios in the management of the Bukit Suligi Micro Watershed, as a basis for determining the best recommendations in Forest and Land Rehabilitation (RHL). community participation-based forestry tree planting activities in the Village. The best option in the land use scenario is the second scenario, which in its implementation in the field is the application of agroforestry to the existing Protected Forest Rehabilitation, only needing to insert forest plants based on community participation in Sei Kuning Village, Tandun District, Rokan Hulu Regency.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance quartz sand.

The conclusions of the EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, Latvia, and co‐rapporteur Member State, Romania, for the pesticide active substance quartz sand and the considerations as regards the inclusion of the substance in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative field uses of quartz sand as a game repellent on deciduous and coniferous trees (professional use and non‐professional use), orchards, ornamental shrubs and trees in forestry (professional use and non‐professional use) and seedlings of conifer and deciduous trees in forestry (professional use). The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. No concerns are identified.

Identification of Nitrogen Starvation-Responsive miRNAs to Reveal the miRNA-Mediated Regulatory Network in Betula luminifera.

Because of the immobility, plants encounter a series of stresses, such as varied nutrient concentrations in soil, which regulate plant growth, development, and phase transitions. Nitrogen (N) is one of the most limiting factors for plants, which was exemplified by the fact that low nitrogen (LN) has a great adverse effect on plant growth and development. In the present study, we explored the potential role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in response to LN stress in Betula luminifera. We identified 198 miRNAs using sRNA sequencing, including 155 known and 43 novel miRNAs. Among them, 98 known miRNAs and 31 novel miRNAs were differentially expressed after 0.5 h or 24 h of LN stress. Based on degradome data, 122 differential expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) including 102 known miRNAs and 20 novel miRNAs targeted 203 genes, comprising 321 miRNA–target pairs. A big proportion of target genes were transcription factors and functional proteins, and most of the Gene Ontology terms were enriched in biological processes; moreover, one Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes term “ascorbate and aldarate metabolism” was significantly enriched. The expression patterns of six miRNAs and their corresponding target genes under LN stress were monitored. According to the potential function for targets of DEmiRNAs, a proposed regulatory network mediated by miRNA–target pairs under LN stress in B. luminifera was constructed. Taken together, these findings provide useful information to elucidate miRNA functions and establish a framework for exploring N signaling networks mediated by miRNAs in B. luminifera. It may provide new insights into the genetic engineering of the high use efficiency of N in forestry trees.

First Report of the Apple Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne mali, on Maple Trees in the Republic of Korea.

Meloidogyne mali was originally described in Japan on roots of an apple rootstock (Malus prunifolia) (Itoh et al. 1969) and found on elm trees in Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, France and United Kingdom, and euonymus in the USA (EPPO 2018; Prior et al. 2019). In Italy, the nematode was initially described as a new species, Meloidogyne ulmi, but was later synonymized with M. mali (Ahmad et al., 2013). During the study of Meloidogyne species in Republic of Korea, galled roots were found on Acer palmatum collected in Naejangsan National Park, Republic of Korea located at 35°29'29.1"N, 126°55'42.7"E, altitude 147.8 m. Morphologically, the perineal patterns of the females was very similar to M. mali due to rounded dorsal arch and smooth, finely-spaced, indistinct striae. Lateral field shallow, narrow, and faint. Phasmids large, very distinct. Head region of second-stage juveniles flattened anteriorly to hemispherical, slightly set-off from body, without annulations, low head cap. Stylet slender, sharply pointed cone, cylindrical shaft with rounded knob sloping posteriorly. Tail conoid with irregular, and rounded end. Rectum undilated. Several micrographs were made from 25 J2s and females for mean, standard deviation and range. J2s were measured with a body length: 408.2 ± 25.1 (366-449) µm, maximum body width: 15.9 ± 1.0 (14.1-17.9) µm, stylet length: 14.1 ± 0.5 (13.1-15.3) µm, hyaline tail terminus: 10.0 ± 0.9 (8.3-11.0) µm and tail length: 31.7 ± 3.0 (26.0-36.1) µm. Females (n=25) were characterized by a body length: 656.7 ± 102.7 (516-947) µm, a stylet length: 16.4 ± 2.2 (13.9-19.0) µm, a vulval slit length: 22.2 ± 1.8 (19.8-25.7) µm, and a vulva-anal distance: 20.2 ± 2.4 (17.1-25.4) µm. Morphological measurements and configuration of perineal patterns (Fig. 1S) were comparable to M. mali (Itoh et al. 1969; Ahmed et al. 2013; Gu et al. 2020). To confirm pathogenicity, a modified version of Koch's postulates was conducted in the greenhouse by inoculating 300 eggs from a single egg mass onto each of three, two-year-old A. palmatum plants, grown in sterilized sandy soil. After about one year, symptoms developed on the maple tree roots, with numerous galls containing females and egg masses by visual inspection. In addition, PCR was performed for the 28S rDNA D2-D3 segment and ITS region using the primers D2A, D3B, TW81 and AB28. The resulting sequences (MW522548, MW522549, MW523004 and MW523005) were at least 99% identical to other 28S rDNA D2-D3 segment and ITS region sequences on Genbank (MT406757 and JX978229). The molecular phylogenetic relationships of this species strongly supports M. mali (Fig. 2S). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of M. mali in Republic of Korea. The host range of M. mali includes many species which are of economic importance in fruit trees (e.g. apple, chestnut, fig, mulberry), forestry trees (e.g. elm, maple, oak, Yew), and vegetable crops (e.g. cabbage, carrot, cucumber, eggplant, soybean, watermelon). The potential danger to these economically important plants caused M. mali to be added the EPPO Alert List and also the Quarantine List of the Korean Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. Additionally, in our survey around the Naejangsan National Park, M. mali was not found on other economically important host crops, such as grapes. Although this nematode was not detected other crops, it requires regular monitoring because it poses a serious threat to the future production of these crops.

BpEIN3.1 represses leaf senescence by inhibiting synthesis of ethylene and abscisic acid in Betula platyphylla

Leaf senescence and abscission play crucial role in annual plant adapting to seasonal alteration and climate changes by shortening life cycle and development process in response to abiotic and/or biotic stressors underlying phytohormones and environmental signals. Ethylene and abscisic acid are the major phytohormones that promotes leaf senescence, involving various transcription factors, such as EIN3 (ethylene-insensitive 3) and EIL (ethylene-insensitive 3-like) gene family, controlling leaf senescence through metabolite biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways. However, the roles of EIN3 regulating leaf senescence responding to environmental changes in perennial plant, especially forestry tree, remain unclear. In this study, we found that BpEIN3.1 from a subordinated to EIL3 subclade, is a transcription repressor and regulated light-dependent premature leaf senescence in birch (Betula platyphylla). BpEIN3.1 might inhibits the transcription of BpATPS1 by binding to its promoter. Shading suppressed premature leaf senescence in birch ein3.1 mutant line. Ethylene and abscisic acid biosynthesis were also reduced. In addition, abscisic acid positively regulated the expression of BpEIN3.1. This was demonstrated by the hormone-response element analysis of BpEIN3.1 promoter and its gene expression after the hormone treatments. Moreover, our results showed that abscisic acid is also involved in maintaining homeostasis. The molecular mechanism of leaf senescence provides a possibility to increasing wood production by delaying of leaf senescence.

Review: Genetic structure and local adaptation in natural forests of Cryptomeria japonica

AbstractCryptomeria japonica is a very important and useful forestry tree in Japan and there are vast areas of plantation area that occupy 44% of the total man‐made forest in the country. Natural populations have declined as a result of logging and overexploitation for more than a thousand years. The natural distribution of C. japonica is from Aomori Prefecture to Kagoshima Prefecture and it has adapted to widely different environments in Japan. In China, the variety C. japonica var. sinensis is distributed. The genetic diversity is higher in Japanese Cryptomeria than in the Chinese variety, and within Japan, western populations have higher genetic diversity than northern populations. Genetic structure of C. japonica within Japan was clear, with isolation by distance (IBD), and the omote‐sugi on the Pacific Ocean side and ura‐sugi group on the Sea of Japan side were clearly separated by STRUCTURE analysis. Genetic structure was also clear in the Chinese population but there was no IBD, which suggested considerable human disturbance in the past. Local adaption is apparent in this species, in, for example, morphological traits among the three groups such as omote‐sugi, ura‐sugi, and Chinese population. The time of divergence among the three groups was at least before last glacial maximum. Global climate change largely affects species distributions and local adaptation, which play important roles in adaptation and speciation. A suitable conservation strategy for natural populations of C. japonica is ex situ conservation of large trees and applying a zoning method to the remaining natural forests.

Atmospheric Hg Levels in Tree Barks Due to Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Activity in Bunut Seberang Village in Indonesia

Mercury (Hg) is a useful heavy metal; however, it is toxic to both humans and the environment. Tree bark is an excellent bioindicator, which has been proven to be effective in studying the level of atmospheric Hg contamination. This study aimed to determine the distribution of evaporated Hg using the total weight of Hg (THg) in tree barks in Indonesia at the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) area of Bunut Seberang Village and Lampung University, respectively. Samples were taken using purposive sampling, based on the criteria of forestry trees at a height level of 1.3 m above ground as wide as 100 cm2. The samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry and Scanning electron microscopy to determine the levels of THg and to investigate the bark structures. Results showed that the highest THg values were found in a Magnolia champaca sample (56.5 µg), followed by Swietenia mahagoni (45.8 µg) and Swietenia mahagoni (33.5 µg). All species studied showed THg levels in the tree barks at an elevation from 30 to 320 m above sea level. The Hg amounts found in the sampled barks indicated the dispersion of Hg throughout the ASGM area, which signified hazardous atmospheric conditions in the area.

Applying Plant Hydraulic Physiology Methods to Investigate Desiccation During Prolonged Cold Storage of Horticultural Trees.

Plant nursery production systems are a multi-billion-dollar, international, and horticultural industry that depends on storing and shipping live plants. The storage environment represents potentially desiccating and even fatal conditions for dormant, bareroot, and deciduous horticulture crops, like orchard trees, forestry trees, ornamental trees, and grapevines. When tree mortality is considered within a plant hydraulic framework, plants experiencing water stress are thought to ultimately die from hydraulic failure or carbon starvation. We hypothesized that the hydraulic framework can be applied to stored crops to determine if hydraulic failure or carbon starvation could be attributed to mortality. We used deciduous trees as model species because they are important horticultural crops and provide a diversity of hydraulic strategies. We selected cultivars from six genera: Acer, Amelanchier, Gleditsia, Gymnocladus, Malus, and Quercus. For each cultivar, we measured stem hydraulic conductance and vulnerability to embolism. On a weekly basis for 14 weeks (March–June), we removed trees of each cultivar from cold storage (1–2°C). Each week and for each cultivar, we measured stem water potential and water content (n = 7) and planted trees to track survival and growth (n = 10). At three times during this period, we also measured non-structural carbohydrates. Our results showed that for four cultivars (Acer, Amelanchier, Malus, and Quercus), the stem water potentials measured in trees removed from storage did not exceed stem P50, the water potential at which 50% of stem hydraulic conductivity is lost. This suggests that the water transport system remains intact during storage. For two cultivars (Gleditsia and Gymnocladus), the water potential measured on trees out of storage exceeded stem P50, yet planted trees from all weeks survived and grew. In the 14 weeks, there were no significant changes or directional trends in stem water potential, water content, or NSC for most cultivars, with a few exceptions. Overall, the results show that the trees did not experience detrimental water relations or carbon starvation thresholds. Our results suggest that many young deciduous trees are resilient to conditions caused by prolonged dormancy and validate the current storage methods. This experiment provides an example of how a mechanistically based understanding of physiological responses can inform cold storage regimes in nursery tree production.

An Improved and Simplified Propagation System for Pollen-Free Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) via Somatic Embryogenesis.

Sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica) is the most important forestry tree species in Japan, covering 44% of the total artificial forest area. Large amounts of pollen released from these forests each spring cause allergic reactions in approximately 40% of the population, which are a serious social and public health problem in Japan. As a countermeasure, there is an urgent need to reforest using male-sterile plants (MSPs; pollen-free plants); however, the production of MSPs via conventional methods is inefficient, time consuming, and requires considerable resources in terms of labor and space. In the present paper, we described an improved and simplified methodology for the efficient propagation of pollen-free Japanese cedar, combining the use of genetic markers (marker-assisted selection or marker-aided selection) for the early selection of male-sterile genotypes and the use of somatic embryogenesis (SE) for the clonal mass propagation of seedlings. We describe all the stages involved in the production process of somatic seedlings. Our results demonstrated that this methodology easily and efficiently produces MSPs with a discrimination rate of 100% in a short period of time. Production of 243.6 ± 163.6 cotyledonary embryos per plate, somatic embryo germination, and plantlet conversion frequencies of 87.1 ± 11.9% and 84.8 ± 12.6%, respectively, and a 77.6 ± 12.1% survival rate after ex vitro acclimatization was achieved. Moreover, we also describe an easy method for the collection of somatic embryos prior to germination, as well as an efficient and practical method for their storage at 5°C. Finally, a representative schedule for the propagation of pollen-free sugi somatic seedlings is presented as a reference for practical uses. This methodology will definitively help to accelerate the production of C. japonica MSPs across Japan.

Effects of Thinning on the Growth and Relative Change in the Diameter of a Mahogany Plantation

Honduras mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) is an important forestry tree species in low altitude areas in central and southern Taiwan and has good potential for sustainable forestry in tropical regions. The aim of this study was to understand changes in the diameter at breast height (DBH) and stand structure of large-leafed mahogany. A lower layer thinning experiment was conducted in 2011 in a 14-year-old mahogany plantation in Guanmiao, Tainan City, Taiwan. Four zones of heavy, moderate, and light thinning, as well as a control were established and DBH surveys were conducted in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017 at tree ages of 14, 15, 16, 18, and 20 years, respectively. The DBH trend was observed using simple linear regression with continuous slope values and the Weibull density function was used to match the distribution of diameter classes and compare the average DBH growth under different thinning treatments. The results showed that the growth of small diameter trees remained slow after felling, whereas medium-intensity thinning could result in a similar increase in DBH for larger diameter trees within a certain period. The stand structure remained skewed (c < 3.6) six years after harvesting and spatial allocation needed to be re-adjusted to alleviate competition pressure. The mean periodic growth of a single tree DBH after thinning was significantly different from that of the un-thinned trees at tree ages of 16, 18, and 20 years (p value < 0.05). However, the difference between thinning treatments was not significant and the effect of moderate thinning and intensive thinning was a similar in terms of promoting the mean periodic growth of single wood.

Diversity of Botryosphaeriaceae species causing stem canker and fruit rot in olive trees in Uruguay

AbstractOlive production has expanded strongly in the last twenty years in Uruguay. In this study, a collection of 37 Botryosphaeriaceae isolates obtained from stem canker and fruit rot symptoms in olive trees of six cultivars from 14 orchards throughout the country were characterized. Based on phylogenetic analysis of ITS and TEF‐1α gene regions and phenotypical characteristics, eight species belonging to the genera Botryosphaeria (41%), Neofusicoccum (51%) and less frequently to Diplodia (8%) were identified. The recognized species were B. wangensis (n = 11), N. cryptoaustrale (n = 9), N. luteum (n = 7), B. dothidea (n = 4), N. occulatum (n = 2), D. seriata (n = 2), N. australe (n = 1) and D. mutila (n = 1). Isolates of all Botryosphaeriaceae species were able to cause typical necrotic lesions on inoculated olive stems of Arbequina cultivar under laboratory conditions, but those belonging to Neofusicoccum genus were significantly more aggressive. Five of the eight species found in this study were previously reported affecting other fruit and forestry trees in Uruguay; thus, further epidemiologic studies and management programmes should be developed considering all the Botryosphaeriaceae hosts, especially those cultivated in proximity. Also, we present B. wangensis, N. cryptoaustale, N. occulatum and D. mutila species as new records to olive worldwide.

Isolasi dan Respons Tumbuh Cendawan Mutualistik Akar pada Beberapa Tanaman Pangan dan Kehutanan

The study aims to isolate and test the effectiveness of mutualistic root symbiont fungi isolates from the roots of rubber plants grown in marginal acidic soil plantations in increasing the growth of food crops and forestry plants. The fungal were isolated by root surface sterilization methods. We obtained 19 fungal isolates consisting of 8 genera, namely Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Penicillium Paecilomyces, Trichoderma, and mycelia sterilia. All isolates were subjected to a pathogenicity test on the Centrosema pubescens plant. Five out of the 19 fungal isolates increased plant growth and showed no disease symptoms, and the Aspergillus section Nigri FKK 3 isolate showed the best response. The isolate was further analyzed to assess the growth response of food crops (rice and corn) and forestry plants (Acacia auriculiformis and Paraserianthes falcataria). The treatments consisted of 3 phosphate (P) concentrations, namely 20%, 50%, and 100% of the recommended field applications. The combination of mutualistic fungal inoculation of Aspergillus section Nigri FKK 3 and 50% P concentration exhibited the highest biomass growth response compared to other treatments. This finding can provide basic information for developing fungal-based fertilizers to increase the productivity of food crops and forestry plants on sub-optimal land.
 
 Keywords: food crops, phosphate fertilizer, forestry trees, plant growth improvement, root mutualistic fungi

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance sheep fat.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State the Czech Republic (CZ) and co‐rapporteur Member State France (FR) for the pesticide active substance sheep fat and the considerations as regards the inclusion of the substance in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of sheep fat as a repellent on deciduous and coniferous trees in forestry. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance fish oil.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State the Czech Republic and co‐rapporteur Member State France for the pesticide active substance fish oil and the considerations as regards the inclusion of the substance in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of fish oil as a game repellent on deciduous and coniferous trees in forestry. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed.

Characterization and pathogenicity of Diplodia seriata causing branch canker on Pinus pinea in Tunisia

Several species of Botryosphaeriaceae family are among the most aggressive pathogens associated with botryosphaeria dieback of agricultural and forestry trees. Particularly, Diplodia spp. having a cosmopolitan distribution, are well-known as virulent of woody plant hosts including Pinus spp. In recent years, symptoms of canopy wilt, branch dieback, necrosis, and trunk cankers have been noticed on Pinus pinea trees in Tunisian forests. However, this has been less welldocumented in North Africa and especially in Tunisia. The aim of this study is to characterize the causal agent of P. pinea dieback in northeastern Tunisian forest. A collection of thirty-eight isolates obtained from symptomatic branches of P. pinea trees was identified as Diplodia seriata by means of morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. A pathogenicity test was conducted on 3-years-old P. pinea seedlings, confirmed the virulence of the fungus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of D. seriata associated with branch canker on P. pinea in Tunisia.

Natural coagulants from forestry trees are used to enhance drinking water quality and reduce microbial load

Natural coagulants from forestry trees are used to enhance drinking water quality and reduce microbial load

Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) the Challenge and Management: A review

Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) are among the most damaging parasitic weeds to agriculture. The subsite themselves on the roots of a wide range of cultivated and wild-grown plant species of different plant families. These parasites are varied in morphology and plant hosts they attack, although they share a large number of host species. Certain Orobanche species are more specialized to plant species of specific growth forms such as fruit and forestry trees. All Orobanche species are obligatory parasites because they lack chlorophyll and thus heterotrophic completely depend on host plants for food and/or water absorbed through specialized organs called a haustoria. The present review introduces information on biology, ecology, distribution, host/parasite relationship, economic importance, and management of the most important Orobanche species widely spread in Jordan and worldwide that cause great yield loss of different economic crops and devastate yield totally under heavy infestation. Recent literature and overview information on methods of control followed in Jordan and different parts of the world are included and discussed.

A miR169c-NFYA10 module confers tolerance to low-nitrogen stress to Betula luminifera

Betula species constitute a large portion of species in forest ecosystems, are a key player in biomass resources and are recognized as pioneer species with strong stress tolerance. The miR169-NFYA module plays essential roles in the response to abiotic stress, including nutrient stress. However, the functional roles of the miR169-NFYA module in Betula luminifera, an important subtropical and pioneer forestry tree species, in response to nitrogen (N) starvation are not well documented. In the present study, ten BlNFYA genes were identified in B. luminifera. The expression of most BlNFYAs increased under low-nitrogen (LN) stress, while the expression of BlmiR169 was inhibited; among them, BlmiR169c and its corresponding target gene BlNFYA10 might play important regulatory roles in response to N availability. We then functionally investigated BlmiR169c-BlNFYA10 in response to LN stress and determined its regulatory roles in response to N starvation by analyzing the expression patterns, miRNA-mRNA interactions, phenotypes, and physiological and transcriptomic responses of transgenic Arabidopsis and birch roots under LN stress. Overexpression of BlmiR169c and BlNFYA10 resulted in contrasting tolerance to N starvation, and BlNFYA10 provided transgenic plants with LN tolerance with lower growth costs compared with those of the wild type under LN stress. This tolerance might involve a trade-off between growth and defense by upregulating defense- and downregulating photosynthesis- and translation-related activities under LN stress. On the other hand, BlNFYA10 provided transgenic plants with enhanced uptake and assimilation of N, effectively compensating for the defense-growth trade-offs in BlNFYA10-overexpressing plants. Our data demonstrate that a potential regulatory mechanism of BlmiR169c-BlNFYA10 is involved in the LN stress response, providing a basis for increasing the nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) of B. luminifera and/or other forestry tree species.

Agroforestry-Based Ecosystem Services: Reconciling Values of Humans and Nature in Sustainable Development

Agroforestry as active area of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary research aims to bridge several artificial divides that have respectable historical roots but hinder progress toward sustainable development goals. These include: (1) The segregation of “forestry trees” and “agricultural crops”, ignoring the continuity in functional properties and functions; the farm-scale “Agroforestry-1” concept seeks to reconnect perennial and annual, woody and nonwoody plants across the forest–agriculture divide to markets for inputs and outputs. (2) The identification of agriculture with provisioning services and the assumed monopoly of forests on other ecosystem services (including hydrology, carbon storage, biodiversity conservation) in the landscape, challenged by the opportunity of “integrated” solutions at landscape scale as the “Agroforestry-2” concept explores. (3) The gaps among local knowledge of farmers/agroforesters as landscape managers, the contributions of social and ecological sciences, the path-dependency of forestry, environmental or agricultural institutions, and emerging policy responses to “issue attention cycles” in the public debate, as is the focus of the “Agroforestry-3” concept. Progress in understanding social–ecological–economic systems at the practitioners–science–policy interface requires that both instrumental and relational values of nature are appreciated, as they complement critical steps in progressing issue cycles at the three scales. A set of hypotheses can guide further research.

Trees outside forest (TOFs) aids in mitigating global climatic change through carbon sequestration: Example from academic institutional landscapes

TOF including urban and other plantations like road side, homestead gardens, residential areas or in various institutional or academic landscapes make positive contribution to living conditions of different towns and cities. The present work reports the amount of biomass and its contribution to carbon stock of different woody perrennials in the campus of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India. The study was carried out by enumerating the entire study area for volume estimation and further calculation was done through validated methodologies. A total of 1816 numbers of individuals with dbh ≥ 10 cm of 95 woody perennials species belonging to 79 genera and 38 families were enlisted. Out of 95 species, the contribution was dominated by 52 forestry tree species followed by road side plantation (21) and fruit crops (14). A total of 812.211 Mg ha−1 of biomass was recorded from the woody tree species with 79.40% contribution from above ground biomass (AGB) and 20.60% (BGB) below ground biomass. In the AGB forestry tree species showed dominance in terms of contribution (322.95 Mg ha−1) followed by plantation crops (169.695 Mg ha−1), road side plantation (107.069 Mg ha−1) and least by fruit crops (45.190 Mg ha−1). The overall carbon stock found was 403.176 Mg Cha−1 with highest contribution from forestry tree species (200.53 Mg Cha−1) followed by plantation crops (106.720 Mg C ha−1) and least by fruit crops (28.470 Mg Cha−1). The study recommends plantaion of more and more woody species across the academic landscapes especially with threatened category flora for conservation and carbon sequestration for mitigating global climate change. TOFs will have to play an important role for sustaining future generations due to shrinking of other forest landuse systems.