National Forest Research Articles

Innovation in Alternative Material for Craft Business Industry

Rattan is one of the primary forest products in Indonesia, following timber in terms of recognition and utilization. Its unique characteristics, such as flexibility, strength, and durability, make it a preferred raw material for the furniture and handicraft industries. Despite its potential, the development of Indonesia’s rattan industry has been relatively slow. In response, the Indonesian government issued a regulation in 2011 to restrict the export of raw and semi-finished rattan to boost domestic production and value-added processes. According to the Indonesian Rattan Foundation (2010), the annual demand for semi-finished Manau rattan in Indonesia reached 619,538 tons, while the need for finished rattan stood at 533,658 tons. This demand is expected to increase due to government procurement programs supporting domestic production. Indonesia dominates the global rattan market, accounting for approximately 80% of global rattan supply, with production centers located in Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Papua. West Sumatra is a notable producer, ranking as the sixth-largest rattan-producing province in the country. In Padang, West Sumatra, the rattan processing industry operates as a small and medium enterprise (SME) sector under the city’s Department of Industry, Trade, Mining, and Energy. However, the current production capacity of 48 tons per year in Padang remains insufficient to meet national demand, indicating a significant opportunity for industry expansion and value chain enhancement to strengthen Indonesia’s position as the leading rattan producer globally.

Conserving saproxylic flagship species by complementing 150 years of natural history with citizen science data—the case of the stag beetles (Lucanidae, Coleoptera) of Portugal

Abstract The use of flagship species in conservation, such as the European Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus), can positively affect the conservation of other taxonomic or functionally related species. This is especially true for taxonomic groups where the knowledge regarding their distribution and ecology is generally limited, as is the case of insects. This work represents the most accurate and up-to-date publication on the distribution, ecology and environmental niche of the four lucanids found in Portugal. Moreover, it unravels how citizen science initiatives can positively impact conservation planning for flagship species and their taxonomic and functionally related species. Compared to non-citizen science sources, citizen science data increased the known distribution area for all four species (1.6 to 7.2 fold) and confirmed most of the current known species distribution (50.0% to 95.5%). It also expanded the known environmental niche breadth for all species (1.1 to 4.2 fold) and the species suitable modelled habitat (1.1 to 2.1 fold) with very good model performances (AUC > 0.8 and TSS > 0.6). Our results suggest that to improve the conservation of these species, it is paramount to value native forests in Portugal. Management actions to accomplish this might include preserving current native forests and small natural features (such as large old trees) throughout the landscape while simultaneously increasing native forest development. In addition, climate change will affect the species' distribution since all are highly susceptible to specific (bio-)climatic conditions that are expected to change in the next decades. These findings not only enhance our understanding of these species' current distribution but also pave the way for targeted and integrative conservation efforts throughout the country, especially in areas where the (now assessed) ecological niche requirements and habitat availability (either in terms of landscape composition or structure) are met. Guidelines and priorities are discussed on how to implement conservation measures in Portugal following the recently approved European Nature Restoration Law.

Aboveground-belowground linkages across vegetation degradation gradients differ among native eucalypt communities.

Native vegetation degradation impacts soil communities and their functions. However, these impacts are often studied by comparing soil biotic attributes across qualitatively defined, discrete degradation levels within a single plant community at a specific location. Direct quantification of the relationships between vegetation and soil attributes across continuous degradation gradients and at larger scales is rare but holds greater potential to reveal robust patterns in aboveground-belowground linkages that may apply across different plant communities. We investigated how native vegetation attributes relate to soil communities and their functions across a degradation gradient within three native temperate eucalypt woodland and forest communities that differed in soil nutrient availabilities. Across remnant patches of native vegetation in the Sydney Basin bioregion, we established plots representing different levels of decline in their vegetation quality (i.e., increased exotics and canopy changes) compared to relevant reference communities. In those plots, we assessed soil community groups (microbes and fauna), carbon (C) and nutrient cycling (litter decomposition, enzyme activity, and phosphate and nitrate accumulation rates), soil pH, texture and vegetation attributes (composition, structure, and function). Our unique study design revealed that the relationships between vegetation degradation and soil biota across the food web (i.e., AM fungi, Fungi:bacteria ratio, Gram-positive bacteria, total nematodes) were highly dependent on the plant community. However, the degradation impacts on soil functions (i.e., total enzyme activity, and phosphate availability) were mostly consistent, suggesting their potential as belowground indicators of ecosystem degradation, with a notable positive association observed in phosphate availability rates. Additionally, the effects of vegetation degradation on soil biota and their functions appeared stronger in the nutrient-poor plant communities, suggesting greater vulnerability of their belowground components. Our findings call for caution when generalizing belowground responses to degradation and for further research on how nutrient availability mediates the impacts of degradation on aboveground-belowground linkages.

"The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us if We Let Them" by Peter Wohlleben, translated by Jane Billinghurst, 2023, and "The Future is Now: Solving the Climate Crisis with Today’s Technologies" by Bob McDonald, 2022 [book review

"The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us if We Let Them" by Peter Wohlleben, translated by Jane Billinghurst, 2023, and "The Future is Now: Solving the Climate Crisis with Today’s Technologies" by Bob McDonald, 2022 [book review

Diversity, Distribution, and Phenotypic Characterization of Cultivable Wild Yeasts Isolated from Natural Forest

Diversity, Distribution, and Phenotypic Characterization of Cultivable Wild Yeasts Isolated from Natural Forest

Forest restoration improves habitat and water quality in tropical streams: A multiscale landscape assessment.

Forest restoration has been a common practice to safeguard water quality and stream health but it is unclear to which extent and pace forest restoration recovers stream ecosystem structure and functions. Also, stream health might be affected by the forest restoration type and the quality of the interventions. Here, we sought to evaluate the recovery of stream habitat and water quality through forest restoration in catchments dominated by pasturelands, and explored the relationship between landscape structure and stream ecosystem recovery. We sampled a total of 30 catchments during the dry season of 2023, covering six different classes (five catchment per class), based on the type and extent of forest cover: (i) all catchment area covered by native forest remnants, (ii) catchments mostly covered by old (26-37years) restored forests, (iii) catchments mostly covered by young (5-25years) restored forests, (iv) catchments in a pasture matrix with forest remnants around springs, (v) catchments in a pasture matrix with riparian buffers covered by pioneer vegetation (mostly herbs and shrubs), and (vi) catchments mostly covered by pastures. Data on stream water (e.g. temperature, nutrients and sediments) and habitat (e.g. substrate heterogeneity and volume of wood debris) quality were sampled and landscape metrics calculated by GIS at reach, riparian and catchment scales. In catchments covered by remnant and old restored forests, the water temperature and nutrient concentration were lower, and instream leaf banks were higher, whereas the number of large wood debris was higher in forest remnant catchments. Water temperature and ammoniacal-N correlated with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at reach scale. Substrate heterogeneity and volume of woody debris correlated strongly with NDVI and proportion of forest over 38years old at the catchment scale. This outcome shows the potential application of forest structure (NDVI) and age for monitoring the stream ecosystem benefits of forest restoration. Overall, we found a gradient of recovery of both water and habitat quality progressing from more degraded (pasture-dominated catchments, pasture-dominated with forest remnants around springs, pasture-dominated with pioneer vegetation in riparian buffers) to more conserved catchments (young forest restoration, old forest restoration and old-growth conserved forests). In conclusion, the Atlantic Forest restoration contributed to improve water and habitat quality in streams, however these benefits were dependent on forest restoration age, extension and location.

Five new species of the genus Mallinella Strand, 1906 (Araneae: Zodariidae) from Sri Lanka

Five new species of the ant-eating spider genus Mallinella from the natural forests of Sri Lanka are described and illustrated: Mallinella dhanahami sp. nov. (male, female), M. milkyway sp. nov. (male, female), M. moncheri sp. nov. (male, female), M. oreo sp. nov. (male, female), and M. truffles sp. nov. (male, female). A key to all the known Mallinella species from Sri Lanka is provided, and their current distribution in Sri Lanka is mapped.

Fluxes of Cadmium, Chromium, and Lead Along with Throughfall and Stemflow Vary Among Different Types of Subtropical Forests

The interaction between forests and precipitation plays a crucial role in the material cycling of forest ecosystems. Atmospheric deposition and rainfall leaching promote the transfer of heavy metals to the forest floor, while canopy exchange may potentially slow this process. Therefore, studying heavy metal fluxes and their influencing factors, along with canopy rainfall partitioning, is essential for understanding forest material cycling. We conducted a year-long experiment to examine the dynamics of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) concentrations and fluxes in four types of forests (Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations, Castanopsis carlesii plantations, Cas. carlesii natural forests, and Cas. carlesii secondary forests) located in the subtropical regions of southeast China. Results showed that (1) the annual mean concentrations of Cr, Cd, and Pb were 167.6, 13.8, and 6180.5 μg L−1 in the throughfall and 204.7, 28.4, and 2251.1 μg L−1 in the stemflow, respectively, and the annual fluxes of Cr, Cd, and Pb through throughfall were 29.3, 2.4, and 847.7 g ha−1, respectively, and were 1.7, 0.2, and 12.7 g ha−1 through stemflow, respectively; (2) the concentrations of these heavy metals associated with throughfall did not vary between forest types, but their fluxes were highest in Cas. carlesii natural forests; (3) Cr concentration and flux were higher during the rainy than dry seasons, while Cd and Pb concentrations and fluxes showed an opposite trend. Overall, our results indicate that the fluxes of heavy metals along with rainfall partitioning were highest in natural forests and are primarily controlled by meteorological factors, indicating that the conversion of natural forests to other forest types will substantially change the fluxes of heavy metals along with hydrological processes. These results will contribute to a better understanding of the natural fluxes of heavy metals in forest ecosystems and are valuable for sustainable forest management, particularly in the context of forest type transformation.

Forest Soil Microbiomes: A Review of Key Research from 2003 to 2023

Forests have a key role in mitigating both non-biological and biological ecological disturbances. However, major disturbances (soil pollution, shift from native forest species to exoticones, forested watersheds and climate changes) can have different impacts on a forest’s soil microbiome. Because the soil microbial community of forests has a key role in a variety of ecosystem services that promote the forest’s health, this review tries to answer the following questions: (i) Which are the main ecological disturbances that drive the responses of the forest soil microbiome? (ii) How can we measure these changes? For this aim, the review summarizes details on the tree vegetation type, the microbial communities in forest ecosystems, and the mutual influence between plants, soil, and microbiomes. Microbial communities are shaped by factors such as soil type and composition, plant and vegetation types, nutrient levels and soil fertility, disturbance patterns, symbiotic associations, biotic interactions, and the progression of forest succession. Anthropogenic activities produce a rapid response in the microbial communities, leading to both short- and long-term alterations. Harvesting processes reduce drastically the microbiome diversity, forcing a shift from specialized to more generalist microorganisms. Restoration scenarios indicate a re-establishment of microbial communities to a level similar to the native forest, but with a high percentage of replaced native microorganisms. This review emphasizes that the forest soil microbiome is shaped by a range of environmental, ecological, and biotic factors. The primary drivers of the soil microbiome in forest ecosystems discussed in this review include soil composition and nutrient availability, plant community structure, microbial interactions within the soil, disturbances, succession, and temporal dynamics. When considered together, these factors interact in complex ways, influencing the diversity, function, and resilience of the soil microbiome in forest ecosystems.

Influence of Environmental Factors on the Aboveground Biomass of Mature and Postmining Forests in Chocó.

Environmental factors control the accumulation of aboveground biomass (AB) in tropical forests, along with the role of AB in climate change mitigation. As such, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of factors such as forest type, succession, abundance of individuals, species richness, height, diameter, texture, and soil nutrient levels on the AB in mature and postmining forests in Chocó, Colombia. Five plots each were set up in primary and postmining forests with 15 and 30 years of regeneration, in which the amount of AB was measured and related to the environmental factors. The AB was 178.32 t ha-1 in the mature forests and 35.17 and 56.3 t ha-1 after 15 and 30 years of postmining regeneration, respectively. Furthermore, the general AB level was determined by the ecosystem type, diameter, richness, abundance, Shannon evenness, and Margalef diversity. In mature forests, the AB amount was positively influenced by height and richness, and negatively influenced by dominance and evenness; in areas degraded by mining, the AB level was positively related to richness and equity, and negatively related to species diversity and soil silt. In summary, environmental factors determine the carbon storage in the forests in Chocó. Mining reduces the function of these ecosystems in mitigating climate change.

Towards repeated clear-cutting of boreal forests - a tipping point for biodiversity?

Boreal forests are important carbon sinks and host a diverse array of species that provide important ecosystem functions. Boreal forests have a long history of intensive forestry, in which even-aged management with clear-cutting has been the dominant harvesting practice for the past 50-80 years. As a second cycle of clear-cutting is emerging, there is an urgent need to examine the effects of repeated clear-cutting events on biodiversity. Clear-cutting has led to reduced numbers of old and large trees, decreased volumes of dead wood of varied decay stages and diameters, and altered physical and chemical compositions of soils. The old-growth boreal forest has been fragmented and considerably reduced. Here, we review short- and long-term (≥50 years) effects of clear-cutting on boreal forest biodiversity in four key substrates: living trees, dead wood, ground and soil. We then assess landscape-level changes (habitat fragmentation and edge effects) on this biodiversity. There is evidence for long-term community changes after clear-cutting for several taxa: epiphytic lichens; saproxylic fungi, bryophytes and insects; epigeic bryophytes; and soil snails, bacteria, and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Long-term declines in species richness were found for saproxylic fungi, bryophytes and true flies. However, for the majority of taxa, long-term effects of clear-cutting are not well understood. On the landscape level, reduced connectivity to old-growth forests has negative effects on several species of fungi, lichens, bryophytes and insects, notably among Red-Listed species. Furthermore, altered microclimate near clear-cut edges negatively affects epiphytic lichens and epigeic arthropods, implying complex effects of habitat fragmentation. Repeated cycles of clear-cutting might pose even stronger pressures on boreal forest biodiversity due to continued fragmentation of old-growth forests and accumulation of extinction debts. Examining the broad effects of forestry on biodiversity across the boreal biome is crucial: (i) to increase our knowledge of long-term and landscape-level effects of former clear-cutting; and (ii) to gain a better understanding of how forestry will affect biodiversity and, subsequently, ecosystem functioning, with repeated cycles of clear-cutting.

Forest land-use change affects soil organic carbon in tropical dry forests of the Peruvian Amazon

Aim of study: The loss of forest cover is a global problem that alters ecosystems, contributing to carbon emissions. This study measured the soil organic carbon (SOC) at different soil depths in tropical dry forests of the Huallaga Central in the Peruvian Amazon. Area of study: San Martín Region, Peruvian Amazon. Material and methods: A total of 24 plots of 100 m2 were selected in primary (~200 years), intervened (~50 years since intervention), and deforested forests (10 years ago), with 120 soil samples collected across five depths. Soil texture (hydrometer), bulk density (cylinder method), SOC content, SOC density, and erodibility (K parameter) were calculated. Main results: SOC content in the 0-20 cm soil horizon was 79.5±21.3 t ha-1 for the primary forest, 58.5±11.8 t ha-1 for the intervened forest, and 41.8±10 t ha-1 for the deforested forest. A soil erodibility K of 0.065 was observed for primary forests and 0.076 and 0.093 for intervened and deforested forests. In average, the SOC density obtained in this study was 7.6±5.1 t ha-1 in the primary forest, 6.2±3.6 t ha-1 in the intervened forest, and 4.7±2.7 in the deforested forest. Research highlights: Primary forests had the highest SOC content and SOC density, followed by intervened and deforested forests, while the opposite pattern was found for soil erodibility. These patterns were especially marked in the first 40 cm of soil depth.

Moss Cover Modulates Soil Fungal Functional Communities and Nutrient Cycling in Alpine Forests

Moss–cyanobacteria associations serve as significant nitrogen fixers and represent the primary nitrogen sink in boreal forests. Fungi, which are essential for soil biogeochemical cycling, have community structures intrinsically linked to forest ecosystem health and productivity. Using high-throughput sequencing, we investigated differences between moss-covered and non-moss soils in two alpine forests (both plantation and natural forests) by examining soil nitrogen contents, fungal community structure, composition, and functional guilds. Results demonstrated that moss cover enhanced soil nutrient contents, including total carbon, total nitrogen, and inorganic nitrogen. It also altered fungal community characteristics, resulting in higher Chao1 and Shannon diversity indices, as well as a more complex fungal network. Notable changes in functional guilds included an increase in saprotrophic fungi abundance and a decrease in ectomycorrhizal fungi. Our findings support the concept that moss cover creates distinct soil environments: moss-covered soils attract decomposers and nutrient-mobilizing fungi (particularly saprotrophs and ectomycorrhiza), while non-moss soils favor ectomycorrhizal fungi that relieve nutrient limitation through extensional mycelial networks. These findings highlight the critical role of moss cover in sustaining forest soil health and resilience, positioning it as a cornerstone of carbon and nutrient cycling within forest ecosystems.

Five New Species of Pezizales from Northeastern China.

Species belonging to the Pezizales are mainly saprobes in nature. They are most commonly observed in woodlands and humid environments. As a result of recent research conducted on the distribution of species in sandy areas and some National Forests Parks, five new species belonging to three genera were identified. A total of five species of disk fungi from Northeast China were identified and described based on morphological classification and molecular phylogenetics. These included Pulvinula (Pulvinula elsenensis, Pulvinula sublaeterubra), Microstoma (Microstoma jilinense, Microstoma changchunense), and Sarcoscypha (Sarcoscypha hongshiensis). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses were performed using a combined nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and nuc 28S rDNA (nrLSU) dataset for the construction of phylogenetic trees. Morphological descriptions, line illustrations, and photographs of the ascocarps of these new species are provided, along with lists of the salient attributes exhibited by the species in the three genera under consideration.

Integrating Forestry and Local Administrative Data Using Semantic and GIS Technologies

ABSTRACTLinking National Forest Inventory (NFI) data with local administrative units (LAUs) unlocks a wealth of benefits for forest management. It enhances precision in assessments, facilitates policy alignment, optimizes resource allocation, and enables effective monitoring and research at the local level. This study presents an automated process to convert official Spanish municipality geometries from the National Geographic Institute's geospatial database into Linked Open Data (LOD) format. This facilitates the assignment of Spanish NFI plots to their corresponding municipalities using GeoSPARQL and their publication in an open LOD repository. Additionally, we compared the results of this assignment with a GIS‐based solution. To demonstrate the potential of this spatial integration, we conducted analyses in two case studies. This work highlights the benefits of integrating forest information with other cross‐domain data using Semantic Web technologies, which can be further complemented by GIS software for spatial analysis.

Tree-volume and forest age increase bat species diversity in boreal urban landscape

ContextGiven the rate at which humankind is changing habitats, it is essential to understand its impact on the surrounding nature and biota. The intensification of human activities and the fragmentation of forested habitats now affect many taxonomic groups, such as bats, which are largely dependent on forests (e.g. roosting sites and feeding areas). Northern Europe is generally considered very forested but intensive land-use changes, caused by urbanization and forestry, contribute to forest fragmentation and loss of biodiversity. Land-use changes are classified as the biggest threats for bats, but especially in the boreal zone, the impact of these environmental changes is not yet known at a sufficient level.ObjectivesWe explored how bats (species occurrences and activity) were influenced by forestry and urbanization, and by landscape variables (tree volume, percentage of deciduous trees, vicinity of water bodies and built areas).MethodsWe used a bioacoustic dataset on bats from Finnish capital area (20 × 20 km, 51 sites) recorded during the summer season (May – September) to evaluate how different habitat classes (old forest, young economical forest, rural area, suburban and urban) and landscape variables influence activity and species richness of bats across this region. We used Hierarchical Modelling of Species Communities (HMSC) approach to characterize the responses of species. We investigated with two different models: one focusing on species occurrences and the second one focusing on relative activity.ResultsOur findings indicate a distinct pattern, with the highest species richness in old forests, followed by a gradual decline with increased land-use intensity. Species-specific responses to habitat classes were evident in both presence and activity. Most of the species showed negative responses to built area, either by their presence or activity. Key landscape variables further underscored species-specific variations in different environmental conditions. Additionally, our study observed temporal dynamics, revealing species-specific variations in occurrences across the bats’ active season.ConclusionOur study sheds light on the complex dynamics of bats in diverse landscapes, emphasizing the crucial role of both habitats and specific environmental factors in conservation. Old natural forests emerge as vital for bats, while land-use changes, especially urbanization, pose challenges highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and strategic conservation actions.

Investigating LiDAR Metrics for Old-Growth Beech- and Spruce-Dominated Forest Identification in Central Europe

Old-growth forests are essential for maintaining biodiversity, as they are formed by the complexity of diverse forest structures, such as broad variations in tree height and diameter (DBH) and conditions of living and dead trees, leading to various ecological niches. However, many efforts of old-growth forest mapping from LiDAR have targeted only one specific forest structure (e.g., stand height, basal area, or stand density) by deriving information through a large number of LiDAR metrics. This study introduces a novel approach for identifying old-growth forests by optimizing a set of selected LiDAR standards and structural metrics. These metrics effectively capture the arrangement of multiple forest structures, such as canopy heterogeneity, multilayer canopy profile, and canopy openness. To determine the important LiDAR standard and structural metrics in identifying old-growth forests, multicollinearity analysis using the variance inflation factor (VIF) approach was applied to identify and remove metrics with high collinearity, followed by the random forest algorithm to rank which LiDAR standard and structural metrics are important in old-growth forest classification. The results demonstrate that the LiDAR structural metrics (i.e., advanced LiDAR metrics related to multiple canopy structures) are more important and effective in distinguishing old- and second-growth forests than LiDAR standard metrics (i.e., height- and density-based LiDAR metrics) using the European definition of a 150-year stand age threshold for old-growth forests. These structural metrics were then used as predictors for the final classification of old-growth forests, yielding an overall accuracy of 78%, with a true skill statistic (TSS) of 0.58 for the test dataset. This study demonstrates that using a few structural LiDAR metrics provides more information than a high number of standard LiDAR metrics, particularly for identifying old-growth forests in mixed temperate forests. The findings can aid forest and national park managers in developing a practical and efficient old-growth forest identification and monitoring method using LiDAR.

Assessing the Impacts of Selective Logging on the Forest Understory in the Amazon Using Airborne LiDAR

Reduced-impact logging (RIL) has been recognized as a promising strategy for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration within sustainable forest management (SFM) areas. However, monitoring the forest understory—a critical area for assessing logging impacts—remains challenging due to limitations in conventional methods such as field inventories and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) surveys, which are time-consuming, costly, and often lack accuracy in complex environments. Additionally, aerial and satellite imagery frequently underestimate the full extent of disturbances as the forest canopy obscures understory impacts. This study examines the effectiveness of the relative density model (RDM), derived from airborne LiDAR data, for mapping and monitoring understory disturbances. A field-based validation of LiDAR-derived RDM was conducted across 25 sites, totaling 5504.5 hectares within the Jamari National Forest, Rondônia, Brazil. The results indicate that the RDM accurately delineates disturbances caused by logging infrastructure, with over 90% agreement with GNSS field data. However, the model showed the greatest discrepancy for skid trails, which, despite their lower accuracy in modeling, accounted for the largest proportion of the total impacted area among infrastructure. The findings include the mapping of 35.1 km of primary roads, 117.4 km of secondary roads, 595.6 km of skid trails, and 323 log landings, with skid trails comprising the largest proportion of area occupied by logging infrastructure. It is recommended that airborne LiDAR assessments be conducted up to two years post-logging, as impacts become less detectable over time. This study highlights LiDAR data as a reliable alternative to traditional monitoring approaches, with the ability to detect understory impacts more comprehensively for monitoring selective logging in SFM areas of the Amazon, providing a valuable tool for both conservation and climate mitigation efforts.

Bryophytes as Indicators of Disturbance in One of the Last Remnants of the Mountain Forests of El Oro Province, Ecuador.

Epiphytic bryophytes are an important component in terms of the diversity and functioning of montane forests known as biodiversity hotspots. Bryophytes are highly dependent on their external environments because they are sensitive to environmental changes related to disturbance, fragmentation, air pollution, and climate change. The richness and composition of bryophytes in remnants of primary and secondary forests were analyzed, where the richness and cover were recorded on trunk bases of 120 trees. Changes in species richness and diversity were analyzed using generalized linear models (GLMs), and changes in species composition, using multivariate analysis. A total of 57 bryophyte species (36 liverworts and 21 mosses) were recorded in trunk bases. For the first time, 19 new liverworts for the province of El Oro are reported. The richness and diversity of bryophyte species decrease in disturbed forests when compared to primary forests, with a marked decrease in species less adapted to conditions of high light (shade epiphytes). In the same line, species composition is different in each type of forest, where bryophytes with high humidity requirements were abundant in primary forests. This study confirms that forest disturbance is a key factor in determining not only the number of species but also the composition of bryophyte species. The maximum tree diameter and primary forest remnants are important factors in the conservation of sensitive bryophyte species at the base of trees in one of the last remnants of mountain forests in El Oro Province, Ecuador.

Ethnobotany of vascular plants use, conservation and management practice in the homegardens by the people of Dawuro in Southwestern Ethiopia

BackgroundHomegardens (HGs) are well-time-honored traditional land use systems in small plots of land with purposely designed intricate structure and a mixture of planted vascular plants (VPs) for different purposes. Hence, the present study was initiated to investigate the ethnobotanical information of vascular plants of homegardens and their use, conservation and management practice by the people of Dawuro in southwestern Ethiopia.MethodsA total of 162 farmer informants were selected and interviewed within a distance of < 2 km, 2–4 km and > 4 km between the natural forest and homegardens, and 0.8–1 km between the homegardens. Quadrats of three 5 m × 10 m were laid (except front yard) around each living houses. Shannon–Wiener diversity index was used for analysis of diversity.ResultsThere were 345 vascular plants in the homegardens distributed in 252 genera and 79 families. The most frequently recorded plant families were Fabaceae with 38 (11%), Asteraceae 33 (10%), and Lamiaceae 26 (7.5%). The species richness recorded per homegardens ranged from 13 to 59. Ensete ventricosum, Persea americana, Colocosia esculenta, Coffea arabica, Solanum capsicoides, and Ocimum basilicum were the most frequently occurred species. The homegarden was enset-based agrobiodiversity system providing food, medicine and other uses where the highest, 290 species were for medicine. Men are responsible for planting and propagating large-sized plant species in the homegardens, while small-sized were managed by women and children. The α-diversity (H’) ranged from 1.4 to 3.4 and the gamma diversity was 4.2. Culture has positive effect on diversity however, the diversity of species is affected by distance from natural forest (x2 = 14.825, df = 4, p = 0.005) at P < 0.05 level.ConclusionAwareness raising designed and executed by farmer experts and researchers focusing on managing homegarden is necessary to fill the observed gaps in knowledge and attitude of the new generation. The enset-based homegarden management knowledge and practice as well as avoiding the diseases and other constraints of enset should be given attention. Furthermore, decisions on avoiding the growth and management of invasive exotic plant species like eucalyptus tree in the homegardens have to be made.