Wood Volume Research Articles

Możliwy związek między eksploatacją lasów a emisją gazów cieplarnianych w Rumunii w latach 2008-2020

The increasingly obvious impact of climate change, in recent decades, has produced numerous negative effects and a series of measures have been imposed for reducing the emissions and for adaption to climate change. Forestry activities try to find a balance between adapting forest regeneration practices to the needs imposed by climate change. Two important economic activities: Forestry and logging and the second one the Wood processing and manufacturing play an important role on the quality of environmental factors in general and on greenhouse gas emissions in particular. CO2, CH4, N2O resulting from wood processing activities were used in this paper to evaluate the possible correlation between these emissions and the volume of extracted wood. The data were collected by the National Institute of Statistics during 2008-2020. The volume of extracted wood varies between 16,704 thousand cubic meters in 2008 and 19,652 thousand cubic meters in 2020, the analyzed period average being 18,218 thousand cubic meters. The CO2 emissions from Wood processing and manufacturing are significantly higher than the CO2 emissions from Forestry and logging, for example in 2008 the emissions from the first source were 230 thousand cubic meters compared to only 28 thousand cubic meters from the second source. The analysis of CH4 and N2O emissions shows that the two activities have relatively the same impact on air quality. Until now, there have been extensive studies on Romanian forestry activities from a qualitative and quantitative perspective, but it is important to observe the link between the volume of wood extracted and the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Characterization of hygrothermal, gas pressure and stress characteristics for poplar wood during unilateral surface densification

Unilateral surface compression in wood presents notable benefits, including reduced wood volume loss and energy consumption, rendering a highly promising and extensive utilization. However, shortcomings in compressed wood arise due to unclear gas pressure, temperature, and moisture content distribution within the wood during hot pressing. In this paper, the temperature and pressure distribution were analyzed utilizing an optical fiber temperature and pressure measurement system within the wood during hot pressing. Moreover, the moisture content, stress and strain in each layer at the end of hot pressing were discussed extensively. The results showed that the wood surface layer (SL) and subsurface layer (SSL) maximum temperature values were similar even with different layer thicknesses. Under sealing conditions, SL and SSL temperatures were generally 6 ℃ to 7 ℃ higher compared to unsealing conditions. The gas pressure maximum value exhibited an opposite order, gradually transferring to the core layer (CL) and declining as the processing time extended. During compression treatment, moisture migrated from the hot end to the cold within the wood. The moisture content displayed significant differences between the middle and end parts of the wood under unsealed conditions, with the disparity becoming more pronounced further away from the hot end. The transition region of the compressed wood served as a stress concentration area, experiencing the highest levels of stress. The dense region followed with the second highest stress levels, while the un-densified region exhibited the least amount of stress. Under the same process parameters, the thickness had little influence on the distribution of dense layers.

Evaluating the Use of Smartphone Applications for Log Stacks Volume Measurement in Turkish Forestry Practices

With recent technological development, photo-optical measurement systems in mobile devices have been increasingly used for automatic wood volume estimation because of their ease of use and efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the use of photo-optical mobile apps for measuring solid wood volume of the stack in Turkish forestry practices. For this study, 21 log stacks were measured using the traditional technique and two photo-optical mobile apps – iFovea Pro and Timbeter. A strong correlation was found between the traditionally measured solid wood volume of the stack and the volume estimated using both photo-optical apps, the number of logs in the stack, and the mean diameter of the stack. The estimated number of trees from the two apps and manual measurement were not statistically different. However, statistical differences were observed between all three measurement approaches for the mean diameter of the stack. Also, statistical test results indicated mixed results for estimated solid wood volume in the stack. In addition, the study tested whether both apps correctly measure the diameter of the logs in the stack. Thus, manually measured diameter of the randomly selected 50 trees within 21 stacks was compared to the log diameters measured automatically using both mobile apps. The results indicated no statistical difference between the three measurement approaches. The study results are promising for using photo-optical mobile apps in Turkish forestry in terms of transition to digital forestry. However, there are still opportunities to improve the capabilities of the method through further analysis of estimating stack volume using the image from both sides of the logs considering different quality and diameter classes with bark conditions.

Empirical Insights into Salvage Wood Logistics

Climate crises and natural disasters increasingly challenge wood supply chains by the critical need to transport high volumes of salvage wood quickly out of the forests to limit wood value loss and to prevent inducing forest calamities. Salvage wood logistics covering unimodal, multimodal and multi-echelon unimodal transport as well as storage plays an essential role in tackling existing problems and future risks by linking diverse actors along wood supply chains. Since little is known about specific challenges in salvage wood logistics, an extensive empirical study was conducted to evaluate logistics concepts and coping strategies involving stakeholders representing the entire wood value chain in Austria. The knowledge and experience of 161 forest owners, transport operators and wood-based industry actors were surveyed based on questionnaires with 108 matrix, rating, Likert scale and open questions. Results show a significant loss in salvage wood transport capacity due to long waiting times at receiving mills leading to more than one-fourth lost transport capacity in the unimodal salvage wood supply chain. Sustainable and resilient wood supply chain management can be achieved by increasing train and semitrailer truck wood transport as well as wood storage capacity and by improving both working conditions for self-loading log-truck drivers and cooperation between stakeholders.

Inter‐basin comparison of wood flux using random forest modelling and repeated wood extractions in unmonitored catchments

AbstractPredicting wood flux (i.e., wood piece number per time interval) or discharge (metre cubes of wood per second) in rivers is crucial for adequate integrated river management that balances risk assessment and ecological improvement. To enhance our understanding of the transport mechanisms of wood and assess their effects in various geographical contexts, it is necessary to conduct inter‐basin comparative studies and preliminary modelling. The wood flux of two river basins was analysed using video monitoring and random forest predictions based on hydrological drivers. The wood flux dynamics of the Ain and Allier rivers were both compared and contrasted. Although there was shared wood transport hysteresis, hourly wood flux, relative critical flow discharges of wood transport and certain hydrological factors exhibited differences between the two river basins. As a next step, the two random forest models, which were trained previously, were applied to predict wood flux and then wood discharge in a third river (the Rhône), in order to estimate a wood volume export, which can be compared with the wood volumes extracted over a series of a few monthly periods in the Génissiat reservoir. By using the random forest modelling, it is possible to estimate the volume of wood on the Rhône river. Despite the absence of any training data, there is a noticeable correlation, however, the estimated volumes were significantly overestimated. To resolve this issue, a correction factor was applied, accounting for disparities in wood recruitment dynamics between the Rhône basin and the training river basins. It was found that high flow events are underestimated, emphasizing the importance of incorporating local annotations and additional parameters in training the random forest model. Accurately predicting wood flux is important for integrated watershed management, but field observations are still lacking for validation and process‐based understanding.

Potential of integrated trees-pasture-based systems for GHG emission mitigation and improving soil carbon dynamics in the Atlantic forest biome, Southeastern of Brazil

Brazilian cattle production is mainly carried out in pastures, and mitigating the livestock's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become an essential prerequisite. The importance of planted forests in beef cattle pasture-based integrated systems has been widely recognized in the context of GHG emission mitigation. Adopting the intensification and integration with forest and crops of pasture-based livestock production systems are alternatives to optimizing the soil and tree carbon (C) sequestration; however, research on tropical conditions is still necessary. This long-term trial evaluated the potential of C sequestration (soil + trees) of the forest and the grazing systems with two replicate areas of 3 ha each: 1. continuous stocking rate (CLS) – pasture under continuous stocking; 2. agropastoral or crop-livestock system (AGROP) – pasture under rotational stocking in rotation with corn; 3. agrosilvipastoral or crop-livestock-forestry system (AGROSIL) - similar to AGROP but including eucalyptus; 4. silvipastoral or livestock-forestry system (SIL) - pasture under rotational stocking + eucalyptus and 5. Atlantic Forest (FOR). Soil samples were analysed for texture, C and bulk density in eight soil layers from three to eight trenches for each treatment, then C stock and C accumulation rates were calculated. Data from Eucalyptus urograndis of the SIL and AGROSIL systems with 333 trees. ha−1 during five first years and 166 trees. ha−1 in subsequent years were collected (five- and eight-years old trees) and used to define the wood volume and acquire wood rings. Elemental analyzer CHN performed soil and trees C content. Equations for determining stem volume and tree biomass and, afterward, the C pools of the tree trunks were proposed. The potential of GHG emission mitigation (t CO2 e.. ha−1. year−1) by annual C sequestration (soil or soil + trees) was calculated, including the wood used for the lumber-mill scenario. The participation of the C stock from the 0–30 cm soil layer was between 45 % and 53 % of the total C stock in the 0–100 cm soil layer. Regardless of the elevated C soil accumulation rates, 0.88, 2.54, and 1.74 t C. ha-1. year−1 in the conversion stages CLS → AGROP; AGROP → SIL; AGROP → AGROSIL, respectively, it was not possible to compensate for the negative result of the Forest → CLS conversion (-2.55 t C. ha-1. year−1) because this stage lasted 12 years, while the implementation of AGROSIL and SIL systems had only six years. However, when C tree accumulation rates were considered, the potential of GHG emission mitigation (t CO2 e. ha−1. year−1) by annual C sequestration (soil +trees) was 19.89 to AGROSIL and 18.97 to SIL, including the wood used for the lumber-mill scenario. Based on these results, it can be concluded that C sequestration in trees-pasture integrated systems occurs in layers deeper, with the diverse species contributing in different soil layers; there is a positive effect of improved land-use management, with the use of integrated systems on annual C soil sequestration and the trees consists of an important strategy to improve the GHG mitigation.

How quickly does wood fragment in rivers? Methodological challenges, preliminary findings, and perspectives

AbstractLarge wood plays a significant role in fluvial ecosystems, influencing river geomorphology and ecology. However, it poses both benefits to river systems and risks, making it essential to understand its dynamics for effective management. A better understanding the wood breakdown process is required to evaluate the flood risk of wood in rivers. This paper aims to evaluate early‐stage fragmentation of wood in rivers after being recruited through bank erosion, taking into account its mobility and residence time. Two methods for characterising and monitoring wood fragmentation are suggested and compared: 1) photo‐interpretation based on ground and drone photo and 2) terrestrial LiDAR. We used Quantitative Structure Modelling (QSM) of point clouds to accurately simulate the full branching structure of trees. Close relationships exist between photo‐interpreted and LiDAR‐derived complexity metrics, but a scaled parameter (i.e., diameter) is needed to correlate branching complexity with volume. The debranching process occurs quickly, with a median reduction in branching complexity of over 80% within the initial 2 years. Further research with a larger sample size is necessary to investigate the impact of context – including transportation, submersion, accumulation, and isolation of wood pieces – on the fragmentation process. Field observations indicate that immobile wood pieces can experience a rapid reduction in their branching complexity, similar to the ones that are transported. Partial fine branching structure can be maintained on transported pieces. Both photo‐interpretation and terrestrial LiDAR offer complimentary approaches to monitoring wood fragmentation. Photo‐interpretation is easily implementable and may be used as a proxy for mechanical fragmentation, while terrestrial LiDAR may be used to monitor 3D wood fragmentation, volume and length evolution, following QSM modelling.

Cedrelinga catenaeformis (Tornillo) in natural and agroforestry systems: Dendrometry, soil and macrofauna

Agroforestry and protected areas are alternatives to mitigate the adverse impacts generated by human activities in the tropical forests of the Peruvian Amazon. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of natural and agroforestry systems of Cedrilinga catenaeformis (Tornillo) on soil properties. The physical, chemical, and soil macrofauna properties, as well as dendrometric variables of Tornillo aged 140 and 180 years in natural systems and 7, 17 and 37 years in agroforestry systems, were examined. Results revealed variability in soil properties depending on their origin; however, no marked differences were observed due to tree age or natural versus agroforestry condition. Regarding soil macrofauna, greater diversity was noted in the older agroforestry system, while dendrometric variables exhibited a sigmoidal behavior, except for wood volume, which showed a linear increase. Agroforestry systems of Tornillo associated with Centrosema macrocarpum (Centrosema) maintain soil properties similarly compared to natural systems; however, the soil of the oldest agroforestry system showed higher activity of earthworms Rhinodrilus lavellei, Rhinodrilus pashanasii, Diptera orders, and Julidae, compared to soils of more recent agroforestry systems and natural systems. It was estimated that dendrometric variables of Tornillo show stagnation in the increase of total height at 150 years, commercial height at 165 years, and DBH at 70 years. Meanwhile, total height and DBH showed very strong and strong positive correlations (p < 0.05) with soil N content and CEC in agroforestry systems with 17 and 37 years. Estimating dendrometric variables and understanding the nutritional requirements in the growth and development of Tornillo will contribute to its more effective management in natural and agroforestry ecosystems in the Amazon region.

Long‐term dynamics of large wood in old‐growth and second‐growth stream reaches in the Cascade Range of Oregon

AbstractWe quantified temporal dynamics of wood storage, input, and transport over a 24‐year period in adjacent old‐growth and second‐growth forested reaches in Mack Creek, a third‐order stream in the Cascade Range of Oregon. The standing stocks of large wood in the old‐growth reach exceeded those at the second‐growth reach by more than double the number of wood pieces and triple the wood volume. Annual inputs of large wood were highly variable. Wood numbers delivered into the old‐growth reach were 3× higher and wood volume 10× greater than in the second‐growth reach. The movement of number and volume of logs did not differ significantly between the two reaches over time. Less than 2% of the logs moved in most years, and the highest proportion moved in the year of the 1996 flood (9% in old growth and 22% in second growth). Most of the large wood aggregated as jams in both reaches. The second‐growth reach lacked major jams, but 29% of the logs in the old growth were in full‐channel spanning jams. Long‐term observations of annual storage, input, and movement reveal the temporal dynamics of wood rather than static representations of the characteristics of wood. Input events and transport of wood in Mack Creek were episodic and varied greatly over the 24‐year study, which illustrates one of the major challenges and opportunities for understanding the cumulative dynamics of wood in streams.

An investigation of Inonotus obliquus in Estonia: Its distribution, abundance of conks, rot extent in infected trees, and peculiarities of basidiospore dispersal

Inonotus obliquus, a well-known forest fungal pathogen, started gaining attention for its potential medicinal uses. Known as Chaga, the fungus has become prominent due to the bioactive compounds present in its conks. Forest owners are cultivating it to produce conks as a source of non-timber profit. However, not much is known about the natural occurrence of this pathogen, its formation of conks, the extent of decay in the infected trees, and the distribution of its basidiospores. Across 80 forest stands in Estonia dominated by Betula pendula, B. pubescens, Alnus incana, and A. glutinosa, the conks of I. obliquus were documented in 17 stands. The conks were more common in continental Estonia compared to the western islands. Among 800 randomly chosen trees, I. obliquus conks were documented on ten trees. Additionally, an asymptomatic I. obliquus infection was detected in one tree. After two years of spore trapping, I. obliquus basidiospores were detected only on four occasions, between the end of July and the beginning of September, and only at night. The proportion of rot damage in the total volume of model tree wood ranged from 8.6% to 58.5%. For fast and reliable detection of I. obliquus, TaqMan species-specific qPCR primers were developed and tested.

Bayesian approach for modeling diameter distributions of patula pine (Pinus patula Schiede ex Schltdl. & Cham.) stands in Southern Mexico

Characterization of the diameter distribution of forest stands managed for timber production provides accurate estimates of existing wood volume by diameter class and area unit. It provides the basis for determining the stand's ecological and economic value, its structure, the potential for ecosystem services, and appropriate management practices. Patula pine is one of the most important conifers in southern Mexico and requires biometric tools to improve management strategies. This study aimed to use the Bayesian approach to estimate the parameters of Johnson's SB (JSB) and Weibull (W) probability density functions (pdf) and to model the diameter distribution of patula pine stands in southern Mexico. We used data from 462 diameter distributions derived from 66 permanent 400 m2 sampling plots. The results indicated that the Bayesian approach was appropriate for estimating the JSB and W pdf parameters. Due to the similarity between the nonparametric tests and the goodness-of-fit statistics of the functions, the graphical analysis helped to select the W function as the better option to adequately model the diameter distribution of the analyzed stands. The equations developed for parameter prediction of the W function with stand variables allowed us to characterize and project the theoretical distribution of diameter classes in a simple accurate way with variables easily obtained from forest inventories. The Bayesian approach proved to be an effective method for estimating the pdf parameters used. This allowed for the correct characterization of the observed diameter distribution, and its implementation was easy for executing the procedure. Diameter distribution models are a powerful tool for forest inventory and management of patula pine stands analyzed in southern Mexico.

A Deep Learning Method for Log Diameter Measurement Using Wood Images Based on Yolov3 and DeepLabv3+

Wood volume is an important indicator in timber trading, and log diameter is one of the primary parameters used to calculate wood volume. Currently, the most common methods for measuring log diameters are manual measurement or visual estimation by log scalers, which are laborious, time consuming, costly, and error prone owing to the irregular placement of logs and large numbers of roots. Additionally, this approach can easily lead to misrepresentation of data for profit. This study proposes a model for automatic log diameter measurement that is based on deep learning and uses images to address the existing problems. The specific measures to improve the performance and accuracy of log-diameter detection are as follows: (1) A dual network model is constructed combining the Yolov3 algorithm and DeepLabv3+ architecture to adapt to different log-end color states that considers the complexity of log-end faces. (2) AprilTag vision library is added to estimate the camera position during image acquisition to achieve real-time adjustment of the shooting angle and reduce the effect of log-image deformation on the results. (3) The backbone network is replaced with a MobileNetv2 convolutional neural network to migrate the model to mobile devices, which reduces the number of network parameters while maintaining detection accuracy. The training results show that the mean average precision of log-diameter detection reaches 97.28% and the mean intersection over union (mIoU) of log segmentation reaches 92.22%. Comparisons with other measurement models demonstrate that the proposed model is accurate and stable in measuring log diameter under different environments and lighting conditions, with an average accuracy of 96.26%. In the forestry test, the measurement errors for the volume of an entire truckload of logs and a single log diameter are 1.20% and 0.73%, respectively, which are less than the corresponding error requirements specified in the industry standards. These results indicate that the proposed method can provide a viable and cost-effective solution for measuring log diameters and offering the potential to improve the efficiency of log measurement and promote fair trade practices in the lumber industry.

Fenotipos sobresalientes de Pinus chiapensis y Pinus douglasiana en rodales bajo manejo forestal en Oaxaca

In some areas of Oaxaca, Mexico, it is necessary to implement plantations that use seeds of genetic quality, to increase productivity and phenotypic quality. The objective was to select outstanding phenotypes of Pinus chiapensis (Martínez) Andresen and P. douglasiana Martínez, evaluating quantitative and qualitative characteristics. In 2021, 15 superior phenotypes per species were selected to evaluate inventory variables (height, diameter), density (trees ha-1), age and chip increments, recording climate and site data. Crown area (m2), basal area (m2) and total volume with bark (VTcc, m3) were determined for each tree; site index (SI) was determined based on anamorphic curves, density guides and average VTcc. Data were analyzed with Student's t tests, Pearson's correlation (a = 0.05), cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. The species showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) in dasometric characteristics. Using the average volume as a selection criterion, six P. chiapensis trees presented volumes above average (≥ 9.76 m3) and seven P. douglasiana trees presented volume above average (&gt; 4.14 m3) and clear stem height (18.7 m), in places with high precipitation; while comparing morphological, of site and climatic characteristics, 10 individuals of P. chiapensis and six of P. douglasiana with excellent quality IS were selected. The selected trees have outstanding characteristics of wood quality and volume, so it is convenient to use them to collect seeds in the study area.

Assessing the impact of multi-year droughts on German forests in the context of increased tree mortality

Forests play a crucial role in climate regulation and societal well-being. Despite their significance, the increasing frequency of droughts poses a severe threat to forest ecosystems, impacting carbon sequestration and forest stability. In Germany, the unprecedented 2018–2020 drought resulted in extensive tree mortality and damaged wood volume, with lasting effects observed in subsequent years. As climate models project a continuation of such droughts, understanding the impact of droughts on forests becomes imperative. However, it is unclear how forests will evolve in the future if the drought duration continues to increase.This study employs a forest model to analyze the impact of droughts across various German forest types, focusing on the duration of drought periods and their influence on forest productivity. By utilizing an individual-based forest growth model and national forest inventories, the study addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding the effects of multi-year droughts on biomass and productivity across various forest types, including monocultures and mixed forests. The simulations consider a drought-induced large increase in tree mortality caused by factors such as pest infestations and diseases across Germany.Our simulation results reveal a declining aboveground biomass and gross primary production (GPP) for all simulated drought scenarios, including the three- and six-year drought. GPP is reduced by 46 % in the 3-year drought scenario and by 58 % in the 6-year drought scenario. Notably, prolonged droughts lead to cumulative losses, with a saturation effect in drought scenarios exceeding eight years. Forest stand composition influences these impacts, with greater GPP losses in low-biomass stands. Furthermore, different forest types exhibit varying responses. Monocultures and even-sized forests (mostly planted and managed forests) are more sensitive to drought than mixed and uneven-sized forests.The results provide valuable insights into forest resilience and ecosystem responses to increasingly frequent and prolonged droughts, highlighting the importance of understanding the effects of drought on monocultures and mixed forests to inform future forest management strategies. Modelling the influence of biotic factors on forest dynamics in a process-based manner remains a challenge that requires future research.

Clonal Evaluation and Genetic Divergence Studies in Mulberry Genotypes

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the wood quality and leaf quality traits of selected mulberry clones and assess the genetic divergence among them, providing valuable insights for the development of superior genotypes with enhanced economic value for the sericulture and agroforestry sectors.&#x0D; Study design: Twenty-one genetic resources of mulberry were collected from various regions in India and evaluated through clonal test in a Row Column Design to assess growth attributes and genetic divergence.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in India, and the systematic progeny test and clonal evaluation were carried out in Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam during 2018-2022.&#x0D; Methodology: The selected clones were evaluated for growth attributes such as plant height, diameter at breast height (DBH), volume, number of branches, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, number of leaves, and leaf area. Genetic divergence was estimated using D2 statistics, and clustering of clones was performed using the 'GENRES' statistical package.&#x0D; Results: The study identified several clones with significantly higher growth attributes, highlighting their potential for selection in breeding and cultivation programs. Variability and heritability studies indicated that volume exhibited the highest heritability, suggesting strong genetic control and potential for improvement.&#x0D; Conclusion: Clones MI-0718, MI-0807, and MI-0845 showed superior growth performance and genetic divergence, indicating their suitability for further breeding and improvement programs. The study provides insights into the genetic variability of mulberry clones and emphasizes selecting superior clones for enhancing wood volume and overall productivity.

Volume, Biomass, and Carbon Estimates for Commercial Tree Species in a Managed Forest: A Case Study in the Bolivian Amazon

Tropical forest management has a potential role in forest conservation if it is sustainable. This study of a forest under management in Bolivian Amazonia strongly suggests that the management project is not sustainable and that no potential changes in management would be likely to make it so. In a 216.41 ha harvested area, 278 commercial trees from 10 families, 15 genera, and 15 species were measured. The density of commercial species with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 50 cm was 1.28 trees ha−1, and the harvestable commercial volume was 12.40 m3 ha−1. Due to market restrictions, the actual amounts harvested were much lower: 96 trees were harvested with commercial boles totaling 2.7 m3 ha−1. Of the total impact on biomass and carbon (above- and belowground), the logs removed from the area represented only 13.4%, while 86.6% was from losses in the forest as follows: 14.5% from the stumps, crowns, and roots of harvested trees (DBH ≥ 50 cm) plus 72.1% from the trees (DBH ≥ 10 cm) in the forest lost to roads, log landings, and skid tracks and the gap openings caused by felling the harvested trees. The estimated expenses exceeded the gross revenue of the management company (USD 519.15 ha−1), a fact confirmed by the company’s subsequent bankruptcy. The project’s low harvest intensity reduces the environmental impact per hectare but increases the impact per cubic meter of wood harvested because producing a given volume of wood requires disturbing a larger area and because more kilometers of access roads and skid tracks have to be installed to extract a given volume of wood. Because many costs are fixed regardless of harvest intensity, small harvest volume can render such projects financially unfeasible, increasing the likelihood that they will be abandoned and not provide long-term “sustainable” forest protection. However, this does not mean that higher harvest intensity results in sustainability, as other constraints apply to high-intensity projects. We conclude that conservation alternatives to maintain the forest would be more beneficial than management for timber.

Analysis of the Contribution to the Domestic Timber Industry according to the Shortening of Final Age

Objectives : The domestic forest area is about 6,298 thousand ha as of 2020, accounting for 62.7% of the national land area of 10,041 thousand ha, but the domestic wood and wood product market is seriously dependent on imported products. As of 2020, the domestic wood utilization rate is 15.9%. This has been secured from around 5% by 1990 to about 16% by the last 10 years from '11 to '20, but has been maintained without increase until '21. As domestic demand for wood is 83% dependent on imports, uncertainties in the wood market in the international market are expected to increase in the future due to climate change, resource reporting, and international trade relations.Methods : In this study, the production and collection production of domestic wood by use were calculated by reducing the actual distribution nationwide and the number of trees being planted later by 5 to 10 years, respectively. Based on 2,310 thousand ha, the research target site was divided into 26.20% and 73.80% of national forests and private forests, respectively, and the corresponding cutting age was applied by matching them by tree type.Results and Discussion : The area subject to the logging order for timber production forests was calculated as a ratio of the actual logging area, and the result was calculated as a ratio of the actual logging amount. Afterwards, the final wood volume was calculated based on the results of the actual logging volume performance and the ratio of domestic wood production and collection performance. The calculated final volume of wood is produced for lumber, plywood, boards, chips/pulp, and other uses. As a result, when the harvesting age was shortened to 5 and 10 years as of 2020, timber increased at a rate of approximately 12.70% and 25.36% compared to the previous year. It was confirmed that this could increase the domestic wood utilization rate from about 16% to up to 20%.Conclusion In this study, the contribution of the domestic timber industry to the shortening of the harvesting period for timber production forests. It is believed that the results can be used as useful indicators for establishing policies for shortening the cutting period and managing persistent forests in the future.

The Impact of Natural Disturbances on the Central European Timber Market—An Analytical Study

Central European countries are strategic wood exporters in the European and international wood trade. In the context of wood exporters, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Austria are the important countries providing the development and stability of the forestry and wood sector. The share of these countries’ exports in total EU exports represents more than 52% of the volume of wood exported over 5 years. After the Netherlands, the five mentioned countries recorded the highest increase in roundwood production of all EU and EFTA countries in the years 2000–2022 (from 46% (AT)–126% (CZ)), and the European average is 26%. The last decade has been characterised by a significant destabilisation of the Central European timber market as a result of natural disturbances linked to climate change, which also threatens the long-term competitiveness and preservation of this sector in the economic systems of national economies. The article provides an analytical insight into the historical development of natural calamities and their macroeconomic consequences in Central European countries. The data forecast an unfavourable development of the timber market in Europe caused by the ongoing calamity situation, the pricing policy of the timber trade, the oversaturation of the market with lower-quality calamity timber, insufficient processing capacities for primary processing of wood and its use in secondary processing, and, last but not least, the limited stock of timber in the coming years in selected Central European countries (due to an extreme increase in harvesting plans within the last 5 years, with consequences that will be felt in the coming decade). For the continued economic function of forests and the availability of wood supply for future generations, the current evolution of calamities in forest ecosystems is critical, and long-term strategic measures based on empirical data are necessary. The information presented in this paper can serve as a tool for the objectification of strategic decisions in the development of forestry policies in selected countries.

Diagnosis of the main forest hubs in Paraná to mitigate climate change

In order to fulfill Brazil’s climate change mitigation goals and uphold its environmental commitments, it is crucial to have knowledge of volume, biomass, and carbon stocks of its native forests. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the forest hubs from the state of Paraná, Brazil, towards climate change mitigation efforts. The Guarapuava hub possesses the largest area of native forests and the largest stored stock of volume, biomass, carbon, and carbon dioxide equivalent, while Sengés has the smallest area and the lowest stocks. Apart from Telêmaco Borba, which has only 12% of its native forests within Conservation Units, all the other hubs have more than 35% of their native area inside these locations. This emphasizes the significance of establishing and maintaining these Units. The total wood volume found was 276,136,486 m³, the total biomass 367,233,059 Mg, the total carbon 173,652,842 Mg, and the carbon dioxide equivalent 636,727,087 Mg. These values indicate that native forests can help mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

UAV Imagery for Measuring Large Wood Volume and Distribution: Ground Truthing Results and Sources of Error

abstract: UAV imagery offers great potential in determining precise environmental measurements. This study identifies and quantifies errors and their causes/sources between UAV imagery- and field-derived measurements of large wood (LW) and cross-sectional valley topography in several forested headwater stream valleys in the Ozark Highlands, Missouri. UAV imagery was collected at six sites following best practices for producing high resolution orthophotos and elevation models through Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry. Field-based measurements of LW were completed along 5 m wide valley cross-sections in which all LW &gt; 1 m in length and 0.1 m in diameter were recorded. Topographic surveys were performed along the centerlines of the LW transects. The same assessments were performed using UAV imagery and ArcGIS. Our sites showed high (&gt;= 0.85) R2 values between field and UAV-GIS topographic surveys. Differences between measurements of LW dimensions tended to be larger with R2 ranging from 0.42 to 0.88. Overall 78 percent of standing trees and 60 percent of LW pieces were identified in the UAV imagery. The main source of detection and measurement error was due to vegetation/canopy cover. This study furthers our understanding of the applications and limitations of UAV derived data for environmental assessments.