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Forests
Volume 13
Issue 5
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Forests, Volume 13, Issue 5 (May 2022) – 183 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Trees have been found to move their branches in a diurnal pattern, settling down during the night and rising up in the morning, but the causes of this movement have been unclear. We investigated the effect of tree water status on branch position using terrestrial laser scanning in the laboratory and the field and found that tree water status explained up to 95% of the variation in branch position. Branches moved upwards as leaf water content decreased and vice versa. Based on our findings, the increasing mass of water in leaves and branches due to refilling of water storages causes the downward movement of tree branches during the night. View this paper
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14 pages, 2638 KiB  
Article
Site Index Modeling of Larch Using a Mixed-Effects Model across Regional Site Types in Northern China
by Guangshuang Duan, Xiangdong Lei, Xiongqing Zhang and Xianzhao Liu
Forests 2022, 13(5), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050815 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1952
Abstract
As the dominant height of the stand at the baseline age, the site index is an important index to evaluate site quality. However, due to the variability of environmental factors, the growth process of the dominant height of the same tree species was [...] Read more.
As the dominant height of the stand at the baseline age, the site index is an important index to evaluate site quality. However, due to the variability of environmental factors, the growth process of the dominant height of the same tree species was variable in different regions which influenced the estimation results of the site index. In this study, a methodology that established site index modeling of larch plantations with site types as a random effect in northern China was proposed. Based on 394 sample plots, nine common base models were developed, and the best model (M8) was selected (R2 = 0.5773) as the base model. Moreover, elevation, aspect, and slope position were the main site factors influencing stand dominant height through the random forest method. Then, the three site factors and their combinations (site types) were selected as random effects and simulated by the nonlinear mixed-effects model based on the model M8. The R2 values had raised from 0.5773 to 0.8678, and the model with combinations (94 kinds) of three site factors had the best performance (R2 = 0.8678). Considering the model accuracy and practical application, the 94 combinations were divided into three groups of site types (3, 5, and 8) by hierarchical clustering. Furthermore, a mixed-effects model considering the random effects of these three groups was established. All the three groups of site types got a better fitting effect (groups 3 R2 = 0.8333, groups 5 R2 = 0.8616, groups 8 R2 = 0.8683), and a better predictive performance (groups 3 R2 = 0.8157, groups 5 R2 = 0.8464, groups 8 R2 = 0.8479 for 20 percent of plots randomly selected per group in the calibration procedure) using the leave-one-out cross-validation approach. Therefore, groups 5 of site types had better applicability and estimation of forest productivity at the regional level and management plan design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Forest Growth and Site Productivity Modeling)
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10 pages, 8713 KiB  
Communication
Estimation of Postfire Reforestation with SAR Polarimetry and NDVI Time Series
by Valery Bondur, Tumen Chimitdorzhiev, Irina Kirbizhekova and Aleksey Dmitriev
Forests 2022, 13(5), 814; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050814 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1872
Abstract
This communication is devoted to the methodology of remote complex analysis of forest restoration after strong wildfires. It is proposed to quantify the projective leaf/needles area index by multispectral optical images. The increase in dimensions of trunks and branches commensurate with a radar [...] Read more.
This communication is devoted to the methodology of remote complex analysis of forest restoration after strong wildfires. It is proposed to quantify the projective leaf/needles area index by multispectral optical images. The increase in dimensions of trunks and branches commensurate with a radar wavelength of 24 cm is estimated using radar polarimetric data. It is shown that the growth’s potential of aboveground biomass in different spots of test site ranges from 35 to 70% in the case under consideration. Such a new approach will make it possible to further consider more accurately the role of boreal forests as one of the largest carbon stocks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Remote Sensing to Monitor Forest Fire Behavior and Forest Landscape)
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13 pages, 6430 KiB  
Article
Optimum Phenological Phases for Deciduous Species Recognition: A Case Study on Quercus acutissima and Robinia pseudoacacia in Mount Tai
by Xiao Liu, Ling Wang, Langping Li, Xicun Zhu, Chunyan Chang and Hengxing Lan
Forests 2022, 13(5), 813; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050813 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1558
Abstract
Tree species recognition is important for remote–sensing mapping and dynamic monitoring of forest resource. However, the complex phenological cycle poses a challenge to remote–sensing recognition of deciduous tree species in mountainous areas, and the selection of temporal phase is particularly important to improve [...] Read more.
Tree species recognition is important for remote–sensing mapping and dynamic monitoring of forest resource. However, the complex phenological cycle poses a challenge to remote–sensing recognition of deciduous tree species in mountainous areas, and the selection of temporal phase is particularly important to improve recognition accuracy. Multispectral images of Ziyuan–1 02C (ZY–1 02C) and Ziyuan–3 (ZY–3) at three phenological phases of spring, autumn and winter (12 May, 29 September and 7 December, recorded as T5–12, T9–29 and T12–7) are selected to optimize sensitive spectral indices. Support vector machine (SVM) and maximum likelihood model (MLE) are constructed to explore the optimum phase of recognizing on Quercus acutissima (O. acutissima ) and Robinia pseudoacacia (R. pseudoacacia) in Mount Tai. The results showed the average spectral reflection intensity of O. acutissima was higher than that of R. pseudoacacia Compared to other phenological periods, the most significant spectral differences between O. acutissima and R. pseudoacacia were found in the spring (12 May), which was identified as the optimum phenological phase. Band 4 is the most sensitive band in all the three phases for the tree species recognition. Moreover, the overall recognition accuracy of deciduous tree species on 12 May reached 89.25%, which was significantly higher than the other two phases. On 12 May, the recognition accuracies of SVM based on sensitive spectral indices of up to 93.59% for O. acutissima and 85.44% for R. pseudoacacia, were higher overall than that of the MLE. Sensitive spectral indices introduced were shown to significantly improve the recognition accuracy for tree species over a single sensitive band. The study is expected to facilitate the precise recognition and forestry management on Mount Tai. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
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18 pages, 4337 KiB  
Article
Perceived Benefits and Forest Tourists Consumption Intention: Environmental Protection Attitude and Resource Utilization Attitude as Mediators
by Bin Zhou, Siyi Liu, Hu Yu, Dongfang Zhu and Qihao Xiong
Forests 2022, 13(5), 812; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050812 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2556
Abstract
Establishing a relationship model between environmental protection and resource utilization attitude and consumption intention is the key to promoting the sustainable development of forest tourism. From the standpoint of the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) framework, the purpose of this study is to explore the complex [...] Read more.
Establishing a relationship model between environmental protection and resource utilization attitude and consumption intention is the key to promoting the sustainable development of forest tourism. From the standpoint of the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) framework, the purpose of this study is to explore the complex causal relationships between perceived benefits, attitudes toward environmental protection, resource utilization attitudes, and consumption intentions in the context of forest tourism. The research data have been collected using a questionnaire survey of 436 tourists at Siming Mountain in the suburbs of Ningbo city, China. Furthermore, it is analyzed by structural equation modeling. The results indicate a positive correlation between the perceived benefits and tourists’ consumption intention that is mediated by the tourists’ attitude toward resource utilization. Although the independent mediating effect of environmental protection attitude is not supported in this study, both attitudes have played a chain-mediating role between perceived benefit and consumption intention. This study contributes to the existing knowledge by measuring the impact of perceived benefits and environmental attitudes of forest tourists on consumption intentions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forests Tourism and Recreation)
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31 pages, 5356 KiB  
Review
The Use of Swarms of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Mitigating Area Coverage Challenges of Forest-Fire-Extinguishing Activities: A Systematic Literature Review
by Ihab L. Hussein Alsammak, Moamin A. Mahmoud, Hazleen Aris, Muhanad AlKilabi and Mohammed Najah Mahdi
Forests 2022, 13(5), 811; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050811 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3705
Abstract
The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), colloquially known as drones, has grown rapidly over the past two decades and continues to expand at a rapid pace. This has resulted in the production of many research papers addressing the use of UAVs in [...] Read more.
The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), colloquially known as drones, has grown rapidly over the past two decades and continues to expand at a rapid pace. This has resulted in the production of many research papers addressing the use of UAVs in a variety of applications, such as forest firefighting. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of UAV-based forest-fire-extinguishing activity (FFEA) operations. To achieve this goal, a systematic literature review was conducted to answer a specific set of questions, which were carefully formulated to address the results of research conducted between 2008 and 2021. This study aims to (i) expand our understanding of the development of UAVs and their current contributions to the FFEA; (ii) identify particularly novel or unique applications and characteristics of UAV-based fire-extinguishing systems; (iii) provide guidance for exploring and revising further ideas in this field by identifying under-researched topics and other areas in which more contributions are needed; and (iv) explore the feasibility of using UAV swarms to enable autonomous firefighting in the forest without human intervention. Of the 1353 articles systematically searched across five databases (Google Scholar, ACM Digital Library, Science Direct, Scopus, and IEEE Explore), 51 highly relevant articles were found to meet the inclusion criteria; therefore, they were analyzed and discussed. The results identified several gaps in this field of study among them the complexity of coordination in multi-robotic systems, the lack of evaluation and implementation of fire extinguishing systems, the inability of handling multiple spot fires, and poor management of time and resources. Finally, based on the conducted review, this paper provides significant research directions that require further investigations by researchers in this field including, the deployment of UAV-based Swarm Robotics, further study on the characteristics of the fire extinguishing systems; design more effective area coverage; and the propose of a self-firefighting model that enables individuals to decide on the course of events efficiently and locally for better utilization and management of time and resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges in Framework for Forest Fire Control)
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17 pages, 4696 KiB  
Review
Wastewater-Fertigated Short-Rotation Coppice, a Combined Scheme of Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Production: A State-of-the-Art Review
by Mirko Hänel, Darja Istenič, Hans Brix and Carlos A. Arias
Forests 2022, 13(5), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050810 - 22 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2370
Abstract
Vegetated filters based on short-rotation coppice (SRC) can be used to treat various industrial and municipal wastewater while producing valuable biomass in an economical and sustainable way, showing potential in the field of pollution control and bio-based circular economy. This study provides an [...] Read more.
Vegetated filters based on short-rotation coppice (SRC) can be used to treat various industrial and municipal wastewater while producing valuable biomass in an economical and sustainable way, showing potential in the field of pollution control and bio-based circular economy. This study provides an overview of the state of the art in wastewater-fertigated SRC systems (wfSRCs) worldwide. Different designs, wastewater sources, tree species and varieties, planting schemes, geographic locations, and climates for wfSRC implementation were identified after conducting a literature review. The performance review includes standard water quality parameters, BOD5, COD, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, as well as the extent of pathogen and emergent contaminant removal and biomass production rates. Identified knowledge gaps and important factors to support the practical implementation of wfSRCs are highlighted. Europe leads the research of wfSRC, followed by North America and Australia. The available publications are mainly from developed countries (73%). The most applied and studied tree species in wfSRC systems are willows (32%), followed by eucalyptus (21%) and poplars (18%). Most of the reviewed studies used domestic wastewater (85%), followed by industrial wastewater (8%) and landfill leachate (7%). Most data show high BOD5 and COD removal efficiencies (80%). There are large differences in the documented total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal efficiencies (12%–99% and 40%–80%, respectively). Enhanced biomass growth in wfSRC systems due to wastewater fertigation was reported in all reviewed studies, and biomass production varied from 3.7 to 40 t DM/ha/yr. WfSRCs seem to have high potential as viable and cost-effective wastewater treatment alternatives to conventional treatment technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Hydrology)
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12 pages, 1871 KiB  
Article
Heritable and Climatic Sources of Variation in Juvenile Tree Growth in an Austrian Common Garden Experiment of Central European Norway Spruce Populations
by Laura Morales and Kelly Swarts
Forests 2022, 13(5), 809; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050809 - 22 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1871
Abstract
We leveraged publicly available data on juvenile tree height of 299 Central European Norway spruce populations grown in a common garden experiment across 24 diverse trial locations in Austria and weather data from the trial locations and population provenances to parse the heritable [...] Read more.
We leveraged publicly available data on juvenile tree height of 299 Central European Norway spruce populations grown in a common garden experiment across 24 diverse trial locations in Austria and weather data from the trial locations and population provenances to parse the heritable and climatic components of juvenile tree height variation. Principal component analysis of geospatial and weather variables demonstrated high interannual variation among trial environments, largely driven by differences in precipitation, and separation of population provenances based on altitude, temperature, and snowfall. Tree height was highly heritable and modeling the covariance between populations and trial environments based on climatic data led to more stable estimation of heritability and population × environment variance. Climatic similarity among population provenances was highly predictive of population × environment estimates for tree height. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Variation and Phenotypic Plasticity in Trees)
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13 pages, 962 KiB  
Article
The Market Evolution of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: A Global Supply Chain Analysis and an Application of the Delphi Method in the Mediterranean Area
by Ibtissem Taghouti, Roser Cristobal, Anton Brenko, Kalliopi Stara, Nikos Markos, Benjamin Chapelet, Lamia Hamrouni, Dino Buršić and José-Antonio Bonet
Forests 2022, 13(5), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050808 - 21 May 2022
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5899
Abstract
There is an increasing evidence for the significant value and potential of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) worldwide. Among other non-wood forest products, MAPs are considered a key element of sustainable forest management and economic development. As part of Mediterranean cultural heritage, these [...] Read more.
There is an increasing evidence for the significant value and potential of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) worldwide. Among other non-wood forest products, MAPs are considered a key element of sustainable forest management and economic development. As part of Mediterranean cultural heritage, these plants are a major driver of rural tourism, in many areas representing an important raw material for various bio-based industrial sectors. Besides their economic value, MAPs enhance social integration and maintain gender balance as harvesting and processing MAPs is clearly a female dominated task. Despite the prominent contribution of MAPs to local development, conservation of biodiversity and the development of the traditional Mediterranean food system, many challenges and knowledge gaps could potentially place the sector’s development at risk. The aim of this work is to examine the present situation of the MAPs sector in the most productive countries around the Mediterranean and to identify future challenges and priority actions to develop the MAPs sector in the region. To do so, a supply chain analysis was performed to identify the main stakeholders involved. Various experts from Croatia, France, Greece, Spain, and Tunisia participated in the SWOT analysis and the Delphi approach employed in this study. The results highlight the main challenges facing the sector in Mediterranean countries. Five groups of challenges are identified, related mainly to certification and labelling, life quality and wellbeing, market development, research development, and transforming and processing. To overcome these challenges, a set of actions is validated by the interviewed experts with the aim of improving marketing strategies and including various innovations related to political, legal, organisational, and institutional frameworks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-wood Forest Products Management: Inventory, Planning, Governance, Marketing and Trade)
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12 pages, 4061 KiB  
Article
Broad-Leaved Tree Growth Modulated by Industrial Air Pollution in the Northern Romania (Baia Mare Region)
by Cristian Gheorghe Sidor, Cosmin Ilie Cuciurean, Ionel Popa, Ștefan Leca, Radu Vlad and Ovidiu Badea
Forests 2022, 13(5), 807; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050807 - 20 May 2022
Viewed by 1709
Abstract
Atmospheric pollutants over the last century have led to increased negative impacts on the environment, especially on forest ecosystems. In the Baia Mare region of Romania, the influence of pollution on the neighboring forests of the municipality has been reported since 1970, and [...] Read more.
Atmospheric pollutants over the last century have led to increased negative impacts on the environment, especially on forest ecosystems. In the Baia Mare region of Romania, the influence of pollution on the neighboring forests of the municipality has been reported since 1970, and its negative effects have been reported mainly in the form of reduced tree growth, which implies significant losses of wood biomass. The objective of this study is to analyze the temporal and spatial effect of industrial pollution on the auxological processes of beech trees in this region. Quantification of auxological changes was performed by analyzing the resilience, recovery and resistance indices. The most intense negative effect of local pollution with heavy metal dusts, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, and sulfuric acid vapors, on the auxological processes of beech trees was found in the period 1960–1990, with a maximum in the period 1970–1980, when the mining activity was at its highest intensity. Beech trees responded to the negative effect of pollution by significantly reducing their growth during the period affected by local pollution, and after 1990 they resumed their auxological activity close to normal. In addition, it was noted that the index that best captures the effect of pollution over time is the resilience index. Tree growth resilience, recovery, and resistance assessment and analysis significantly contributes to our understanding of trees response to environment pollution more broadly creating also the base for strategic planning initiatives with valuable insight into the efforts of making the forests more resilient and resistant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Future Prospects for the Integrated Management of Central Eastern Europe Forest Resources)
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12 pages, 2100 KiB  
Article
Rapid and Efficient Regeneration of Populus ussuriensis Kom. from Root Explants through Direct De Novo Shoot Organogenesis
by Shuyu Yang, Runze Liu, Wenlong Li, Yanan Jing, Solme Pak and Chenghao Li
Forests 2022, 13(5), 806; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050806 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2376
Abstract
Populus ussuriensis is an important tree species with high economic and ecologic values. However, traditional sexual propagation is time-consuming and inefficient, challenging afforestation and wood production using P. ussuriensis, and requires a rapid and efficient regeneration system. The present study established a [...] Read more.
Populus ussuriensis is an important tree species with high economic and ecologic values. However, traditional sexual propagation is time-consuming and inefficient, challenging afforestation and wood production using P. ussuriensis, and requires a rapid and efficient regeneration system. The present study established a rapid, efficient, and stable shoot regeneration method from root explants in P. ussuriensis using several plant growth regulators. Most shoot buds (15.2 per explant) were induced at high efficiency under WPM medium supplemented with 221.98 μM 6-BA, 147.61 μM IBA, and 4.54 μM TDZ within two weeks. The shoot buds were further multiplicated and elongated under WPM medium supplemented with 221.98 μM 6-BA, 147.61 μM IBA, and 57.74 μM GA3 for four weeks. The average number and efficiency of elongation of multiplication and elongation for induced shoot buds were 75.2 and 78%, respectively. All the shoots were rooted within a week and none of them showed abnormality in rooting. The time spent for the entire regeneration of this direct shoot organogenesis was seven weeks, much shorter than conventional indirect organogenesis with the callus induction phase, and no abnormal growth was observed. This novel regeneration system will not only promote the massive propagation, but also accelerate the genetic engineering studies for trait improvement of P. ussuriensis species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Tree Breeding and Directed Cultivation Techniques)
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19 pages, 3598 KiB  
Article
Growth and Adaptive Capacity of Douglas Fir Genetic Resources from Western Romania under Climate Change
by Georgeta Mihai, Alexandru-Lucian Curtu, Alin-Madalin Alexandru, Ion-Andrei Nita, Elena Ciocîrlan and Marius-Victor Birsan
Forests 2022, 13(5), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050805 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1790
Abstract
The most recent climate change scenarios show that Southern and Eastern Europe will be affected by a significant increase in temperature and drought frequency by the end of the 21st century. Romania has already recorded very high temperatures and long periods of drought [...] Read more.
The most recent climate change scenarios show that Southern and Eastern Europe will be affected by a significant increase in temperature and drought frequency by the end of the 21st century. Romania has already recorded very high temperatures and long periods of drought over recent decades, the most affected regions being the south, west and east of the country. Considering that successful forest management requires suitable species and high-quality reproductive material for reforestation, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the growth and drought response of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziessi var. menziesii) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) in two stands installed at the end of the 19th century in western Romania. The growth traits, wood characteristics and drought parameters (resistance, recovery, resilience and relative resilience) of Douglas fir and Norway spruce trees have been analyzed and compared. The climate–growth relationship was determined using growth response functions over the period 1938–2017. Additionally, to simulate the potential impact of climate change on Douglas fir in this region, the RCP4.5 scenario was used over two periods: 2041–2070 and 2071–2100. The results reveal that Douglas fir has an exceptional growth capacity, overcoming the Norway spruce since the early ages in both site conditions. The highest growth performances were seen in the low-productivity site. From analyzing the responses to drought events, considerable differences were found between species. The results highlight the high resistance and relative resilience to extreme droughts of Douglas fir compared to Norway spruce. However, autumn–winter temperatures play an important role in the adaptation of Douglas fir to site conditions in Romania. The use of appropriate provenances of Douglas fir in mixed stands with native broadleaved species may be an option for climatically exposed sites, thus increasing the value of these stands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Introduced Forest Tree Species and Their Genetic Diversity)
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14 pages, 17055 KiB  
Article
Differed Adaptive Strategies to Nutrient Status between Native and Exotic Mangrove Species
by Ying Wang, Ziming Zhang, Kehong He, Zhangcai Qin, Luhua Xie, Yihan Liu, Yaobei Lin, Jing Wei and Fan Wang
Forests 2022, 13(5), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050804 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2055
Abstract
To rapidly rehabilitate mangrove forests, exotic mangrove species characterized by high growth rates have been introduced in China, which would undoubtedly affect the nutrient status, nutrient acquisition and utilization strategies of mangrove plants, but the mechanism remains unclear. Qi’ao Island (a suburb of [...] Read more.
To rapidly rehabilitate mangrove forests, exotic mangrove species characterized by high growth rates have been introduced in China, which would undoubtedly affect the nutrient status, nutrient acquisition and utilization strategies of mangrove plants, but the mechanism remains unclear. Qi’ao Island (a suburb of Zhuhai City) has the largest continuous exotic mangrove forests in China, where a mass collection of mangrove soils, plant tissues and tidewater was conducted. Ecological stoichiometric ratios and isotopic compositions were then analyzed to evaluate the ecosystem-scale nutrient status and compare the nutrient acquisition and utilization strategies of native Kandelia obovata (KO) and exotic Sonneratia apetala (SA) species. Soil and foliar C:N:P stoichiometries indicated that there is high P availability but N limitations, while further isotopic evidence indicated that native KO and exotic SA responded differently to the N limitation status. First, native KO seemed to prefer NO3−, while exotic SA preferred NH4+, according to the Δ15Nleaf–root (leaf–root δ15N difference) as well as the relationships between foliar δ15N and soil-extracted NH4+ δ15N, and between N and heavy metal contents. This suggested possible inter-specific competition between native KO and exotic SA, leading to different N species’ preferences to maximize resource utilization. Next, native KO likely adopted the “conservative” strategy to ensure survival with reduced investment in N-rich growth components but root systems leading to lower growth rates and higher N use efficiency (NUE) and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), while exotic SA adopted the “aggressive” strategy to ensure fast growth with heavy investment in N-rich growth components, leading to rapid growth and lower NUE and iWUE, and showing signs of invasiveness. Further, native KO is more responsive to aggravated N limitation by enhancing NUE. This study will provide insights into the adaptation of different mangrove species to nutrient limitations and the risks associated with large-scale plantations of exotic mangrove species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeochemical Cycles of Nitrogen in Forest Ecosystems)
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19 pages, 1388 KiB  
Article
Habitat Associations of Overwintering Bats in Managed Pine Forest Landscapes
by Brett R. Andersen, Liam P. McGuire, Thomas Bently Wigley, Darren A. Miller and Richard D. Stevens
Forests 2022, 13(5), 803; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050803 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2478
Abstract
Research Highlights: Seasonal variation in environmental conditions coinciding with reproductive and energetic demands might result in seasonal differences in species-specific habitat use. We studied a winter assemblage of insectivorous bats and found that species acted as habitat generalists during winter compared to expectations [...] Read more.
Research Highlights: Seasonal variation in environmental conditions coinciding with reproductive and energetic demands might result in seasonal differences in species-specific habitat use. We studied a winter assemblage of insectivorous bats and found that species acted as habitat generalists during winter compared to expectations based on the summer active season. Background and Objectives: In temperate regions, seasonal fluctuations in resource availability might restructure local bat assemblages. Initially perceived to only hibernate or migrate to avoid adverse winter conditions, temperate insectivorous bats appear to also employ intermediate overwintering strategies, as a growing body of literature suggests that winter activity is quite prevalent and even common in some lower latitude areas. However, to date, most studies have exclusively assessed habitat associations during summer. Because habitat use during summer is strongly influenced by reproduction, we hypothesized that habitat associations might differ during the non-reproductive winter period. We used acoustic monitoring to assess the habitat associations of bats across a managed pine landscape in the southeastern United States. Materials and Methods: During the winters of 2018 and 2019, we deployed acoustic detectors at 72 unique locations to monitor bat activity and characterized vegetation conditions at two scales (microhabitat and landscape). We used linear mixed models to characterize species-specific activity patterns associated with different vegetation conditions. Results: We found little evidence of different activity patterns during winter. The activity of three species (hoary bat: Lasiurus cinereus; southeastern myotis: Myotis austroriparius; and tricolored bat: Perimyotis subflavus) was not related to vegetation variables and only modest relationships were evident for four other species/groups (big brown bat: Eptesicus fuscus; eastern red bat: L. borealis; Seminole bat: L. seminolus; evening bat: Nycticeius humeralis; and Brazilian free-tailed bat: Tadarida brasiliensis). Conclusions: During winter, the bats in our study were active across the landscape in various cover types, suggesting that they do not exhibit the same habitat associations as in summer. Therefore, seasonal differences in distributions and habitat associations of bat populations need to be considered so that effective management strategies can be devised that help conserve bats year round. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Forest Management Practices on Bat Habitat and Community Structure)
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18 pages, 5963 KiB  
Article
Habitat Characteristics of Magnolia Based on Spatial Analysis: Landscape Protection to Conserve Endemic and Endangered Magnolia sulawesiana Brambach, Noot., and Culmsee
by Julianus Kinho, Diah Irawati Dwi Arini, Lutfy Abdulah, Ruliyana Susanti, Arif Irawan, Mira Yulianti, Subarudi Subarudi, Rinaldi Imanuddin, Marfuah Wardani, Denny Denny, Titi Kalima, Asef Kurniyawan Hardjana, Adi Susilo, Ika Heriansyah and Ana Tampang
Forests 2022, 13(5), 802; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050802 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2653
Abstract
Based on habitat preferences, in this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of the Magnolia genus in the northern part of Sulawesi. Habitat characteristics, especially temperature, precipitation, and topography, were determined using spatial analysis. The temperature and precipitation datasets were obtained from WorldClim [...] Read more.
Based on habitat preferences, in this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of the Magnolia genus in the northern part of Sulawesi. Habitat characteristics, especially temperature, precipitation, and topography, were determined using spatial analysis. The temperature and precipitation datasets were obtained from WorldClim BIO Variables V1, and topographical data were obtained from the Google Earth Engine. Data collection began in 2008–2009 and was completed in 2019–2020. In total, we analyzed 786 waypoints. The genus distribution was then predicted based on the most suitable habitat characteristics and mapped spatially. This study confirmed that Magnolia spp. distribution is affected by the annual temperature range, precipitation seasonality, and elevation. We discovered endemic and endangered species, Magnolia sulawesiana Brambach, Noot., and Culmsee, that were previously distributed exclusively in the central part of Sulawesi. Five waypoints of the endemic species were found in the conservation area of the Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve and on the border of Bogani Nani Wartabone Nation Park. In general, M. sulawesiana is distributed at higher elevations than other Magnolia species. This study provides a scientific basis for forest officers to develop in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies and landscape protection measures to maintain the sustainable use of the genus, especially the sustainability of endemic species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Recreation and Landscape Protection)
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19 pages, 4658 KiB  
Article
Some Methods for the Degradation-Fragility Degree Determination and for the Consolidation of Treatments with Paraloid B72 of Wood Panels from Icon-Type Heritage Objects
by Anamaria Avram, Constantin Ștefan Ionescu and Aurel Lunguleasa
Forests 2022, 13(5), 801; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050801 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1818
Abstract
The main objective of this paper is to develop methods for assessing the deterioration of wooden panels of iconic heritage objects and the effectiveness of consolidation treatments, methods that are easy to apply to the field of wood restoration. During the research, four [...] Read more.
The main objective of this paper is to develop methods for assessing the deterioration of wooden panels of iconic heritage objects and the effectiveness of consolidation treatments, methods that are easy to apply to the field of wood restoration. During the research, four evaluation methods were identified, respectively: the density method, the excessive porosity method, the Brinell hardness method, and the Mark hardness method. Each method was exemplified on five wooden panels (icons), and when needed, degraded specimens were used and/or treated with Paraloid B72. One of the main conclusions of the research is that, although all methods are minimally invasive and do not require cutting of these heritage objects, the applicability of each is done depending on the type of degradation, often requiring a combined analysis between two or several methods. Additionally, the classification of the cultural good in one of the five degrees of embrittlement-degradation help to design a technological flow regarding the treatments of consolidation/restoration of the heritage object. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novelties in Wood Engineering and Forestry)
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13 pages, 3270 KiB  
Article
Linking Changes in Fatty Acid Composition to Postharvest Needle Abscission Resistance in Balsam Fir Trees
by Gaye E. MacDonald, Rajasekaran R. Lada, Claude D. Caldwell, Chibuike C. Udenigwe and Mason T. MacDonald
Forests 2022, 13(5), 800; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050800 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1546
Abstract
Balsam fir needle retention and fatty acid profile changes due to cold acclimation throughout autumn, but little is known about the relationship between these two phenomena. The objective was to examine differences in FAs in contrasting needle abscission resistant balsam fir genotypes throughout [...] Read more.
Balsam fir needle retention and fatty acid profile changes due to cold acclimation throughout autumn, but little is known about the relationship between these two phenomena. The objective was to examine differences in FAs in contrasting needle abscission resistant balsam fir genotypes throughout autumn and early winter. Branches from genotypes with low and high needle abscission resistance (NAR) were collected from September to January and analyzed for FA composition. High NAR genotypes retained needles 120–130% longer than low NAR genotypes and NAR increased through autumn in both genotypes. There was approximately a 3:1 ratio of unsaturated: saturated FAs, which increased by 4% in favor of unsaturated fatty acids through autumn. Palmitic, palmitoleic, and linolenic acid content was significantly higher in high NAR versus low NAR genotypes; arachidic, oleic, linoleic, pinolenic, coniferonic, icosadienoic, and sciadonic acids were lower in high NAR genotypes versus low. Linolenic acid was of particular interest because it tended to decrease throughout autumn, to the point that high NAR genotypes were significantly lower in linolenic acid than low NAR genotypes in January. These changes may be linked to an increase in abscisic acid and/or jasmonic acid synthesis depleting linolenic acid stores and promoting postharvest needle abscission resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Culture, Plant Health, and Genetics of Christmas Trees in Changing Climate)
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21 pages, 7317 KiB  
Article
Multi-Dimensional Evaluation Framework for the Sustainable Development of Forest Health Bases and Site Selection for Application in China
by Chenjing Fan, Lingling Zhou, Zhenyu Gai, Shiguang Shen, Chu Liu and Shiqi Li
Forests 2022, 13(5), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050799 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1971
Abstract
In the context of global aging, people’s awareness of health is deepening, and the rapid economic development has drawn widespread attention to the health tourism industry. As a way of experiencing health, forest health tourism is becoming increasingly favored, and the site selection [...] Read more.
In the context of global aging, people’s awareness of health is deepening, and the rapid economic development has drawn widespread attention to the health tourism industry. As a way of experiencing health, forest health tourism is becoming increasingly favored, and the site selection and construction of forest health bases (FHBs) have also developed accordingly. To ensure sustainability in the process of the site selection and construction of FHBs, the suitability of regional development and the relative coordination of the market, environment, and resource levels should be considered. Although there have been numerous studies on sustainable forestry management, a comprehensive sustainability assessment framework based on development suitability and coordination in three dimensions is needed to guide the site selection and the construction of FHBs. The following tasks were carried out in this study: (1) based on market sustainability goals, environmental optimization goals, and ecological resource sustainability goals, a comprehensive sustainability evaluation framework for development suitability indicators and coordination indicators in three dimensions was established; (2) via the use of this framework, the construction potential of FHBs in 41,636 towns in China was evaluated; the evaluation results show that the towns in Anhui, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, and other provinces of China generally have superior conditions for the development of FHBs; (3) a multi-dimensional comprehensive analysis of FHB site selection sustainability based on development suitability and coordination was carried out for four batches of approved pilots. The comprehensive analysis results demonstrate the worsening evaluation results of the four batches. The proposed framework can provide a reference for FHB development policies for countries worldwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
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32 pages, 9709 KiB  
Review
Effectiveness and Economic Viability of Forest Certification: A Systematic Review
by Sarah Wolff and Jörg Schweinle
Forests 2022, 13(5), 798; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050798 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5295
Abstract
In the face of accelerating forest degradation and deforestation, forest certification emerged in the early 1990s as a voluntary and market-based mechanism to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. A key goal of forest certification is [...] Read more.
In the face of accelerating forest degradation and deforestation, forest certification emerged in the early 1990s as a voluntary and market-based mechanism to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. A key goal of forest certification is to reduce forest degradation and deforestation while enhancing forest enterprises’ economic viability. However, whether forest certification contributes to meeting such goals is unclear. We conducted a systematic literature review on such impacts, reviewing empirical studies published between 1993 and 2021 regarding the impact of forest certification on forest degradation, deforestation, and economic viability. Drawing on 98 empirical studies, we analyzed these impacts and provide an overview of the studies’ findings in terms of geographical distribution, indicators considered, and the certification schemes assessed. We found that the impact of forest certification on deforestation has been specifically understudied (n = 11) compared to forest degradation (n = 42) and economic viability (n = 45). On deforestation, studies have focused on Africa (45%) and South America (36%); on forest degradation, studies have focused on Europe (40%) and Asia (20%); on economic viability, studies have focused on Asia (33%), Europe (33%) and South America (20%). We found positive-neutral (54%; 46%) impacts on deforestation, positive-neutral-mixed (70%; 21%; 9%) impacts on forest degradation and positive-negative-mixed (50%; 33%; 17%) impacts on economic viability. We did not find clear evidence that impact is linked to a specific region or certification scheme. However, scarce evidence on the impacts of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), the application of various methods, and site-specific indicators in the individual studies challenge such comparison and hamper the generalization of findings. This systematic review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art research on the effectiveness and economic viability of forest certification, evaluates and discusses the current evidence base, and concludes with future research lines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
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11 pages, 1734 KiB  
Article
Effect of Growth Ring Width and Latewood Content on Selected Physical and Mechanical Properties of Plantation Japanese Larch Wood
by Sidong Wang, Dongsheng Chen, Jiangyi Chu and Jinghui Jiang
Forests 2022, 13(5), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050797 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1833
Abstract
In order to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of plantation Japanese larch wood, various physical and mechanical indicators were measured with reference to Chinese national standards. The characteristics of the growth ring on the end face of wood samples were captured, with [...] Read more.
In order to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of plantation Japanese larch wood, various physical and mechanical indicators were measured with reference to Chinese national standards. The characteristics of the growth ring on the end face of wood samples were captured, with the mean latewood percentage being 21.4% and the mean ring width being 3.24 mm. Relationships between growth ring characteristics, latewood percentages, and the physical and mechanical properties of the plantation Japanese larch wood were investigated. The results revealed that it is most appropriate to use growth ring width to evaluate MOE and MOR, and to use latewood percentage to evaluate air-dry density, radial air-dry shrinkage, IBS and UTS. Regression analysis confirmed that air-dry density (R2 = 0.99), radial shrinkage (R2 = 0.97) and UTS (R2 = 0.96) had significant positive correlations with latewood percentage, while MOE (R2 = 0.88) and MOR (R2 = 0.90) had significant negative correlations with RW. IBS was not significantly related to either characteristic. RW can be used to define juvenile wood and mature wood, with the dividing ring width being 4.85 mm. There is a large difference in MOE and MOR between the two wood types. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance Testing and Service Life of Wood and Wood-Based Materials)
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16 pages, 2825 KiB  
Article
Parsing Long-Term Tree Recruitment, Growth, and Mortality to Identify Hurricane Effects on Structural and Compositional Change in a Tropical Forest
by Jiaying Zhang, Tamara Heartsill-Scalley and Rafael L. Bras
Forests 2022, 13(5), 796; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050796 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1699
Abstract
After hurricane disturbances in tropical forests, the size structure and species composition are affected by immediate mortality, and subsequent recruitment and individual growth. Often, immediate post-disturbance stand-level data are presented but understanding of the components that affect changes in growth and longer-term responses [...] Read more.
After hurricane disturbances in tropical forests, the size structure and species composition are affected by immediate mortality, and subsequent recruitment and individual growth. Often, immediate post-disturbance stand-level data are presented but understanding of the components that affect changes in growth and longer-term responses to forest structure and composition are lacking. To answer questions about how mortality, recruitment, and growth change among successional Plant Functional Types (PFT) through time after a hurricane disturbance, we use long-term census data (1989–2014) collected in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. We developed an algorithm to fill missing diameter data from the long-term data set that was collected three months after Hurricane Hugo; and subsequently at five-year intervals. Both the immediate hurricane-induced mortality and subsequent mortality were lower in stems with larger diameters, but varied among successional PFTs Early, Mid, Late, and Palm. Tree growth rates were observed to decrease with time since the hurricane disturbance. Five years after the hurricane, mortality was minimal but then increased gradually with time. In contrast, recruitment was highest five years after the hurricane and then decreased with time. The palm Prestoea montana became the most abundant species in the forest after the hurricane, as it had the lowest immediate hurricane-induced and subsequent mortality, and the highest recruitment. Twenty-five years after the hurricane, the palm and the Late PFT dominate the forest after shifting species composition from pre-hurricane conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Natural Hazards and Risk Management)
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18 pages, 3494 KiB  
Article
Dynamics of Dissolved Carbon in Subalpine Forest Streams
by Jianfeng Hou, Fei Li, Zhihui Wang, Xuqing Li, Rui Cao and Wanqin Yang
Forests 2022, 13(5), 795; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050795 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1749
Abstract
Dissolved carbon (DC) in forest streams plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure and productivity of adjoining aquatic ecosystems as well as informing biogeochemical links between mountain forests and adjoining rivers. Nevertheless, the functions of forest stream DC dynamics are rarely incorporated [...] Read more.
Dissolved carbon (DC) in forest streams plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure and productivity of adjoining aquatic ecosystems as well as informing biogeochemical links between mountain forests and adjoining rivers. Nevertheless, the functions of forest stream DC dynamics are rarely incorporated into river management. To better understand the biogeochemical links between subalpine forests and adjoining streams, the seasonal dynamics of DC in 15 representative forest streams were investigated in a geographically fragile subalpine-gorge catchment in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Depending on stream characteristics and critical periods, the DC stocks in the streams ranged from 0.22 to 2.35 mg m−2 for total DC, from 0.10 to 1.66 mg m−2 for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and from 0.12 to 1.27 mg m−2 for dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Moreover, the annual stocks of DC, DIC, and DOC were 1.01, 0.56, and 0.45 mg m−2, respectively. Correspondingly, the averaged export rates for DC, DIC, and DOC from the forest streams ranged from 0.27 to 1.98 mg s−1, from 0.24 to 1.48 mg s−1, and from 0.18 to 0.90 mg s−1, respectively, in the subalpine forest catchment. The annual export rates of total DC, DIC, and DOC were 1.06, 0.75, and 0.31 mg C s−1, respectively. In particular, the highest rates of export were 4.67, 3.53, and 1.34 mg s−1 for DC, DIC, and DOC, respectively, in the snowmelt period. The average ratios of DOC to DIC stock in the export water ranged from 0.23–2.41 for the 15 streams, and the average value was 0.85 during this one-year investigation. In addition, the maximum and minimum values of the DC stocks, their exports, and the DIC:DOC ratio were consistently observed during the snowmelt season and the late growing period. In summary, precipitation, temperature, water discharge rate, and sediment depth regulated the stocks and export rates of DC and its components. In general, forest streams are important links between the carbon biogeochemical cycle of subalpine forests and adjoining streams. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Fluxes and Production in Forest Ecosystems)
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18 pages, 10332 KiB  
Article
Two Nothofagus Species in Southernmost South America Are Recording Divergent Climate Signals
by Pamela Soto-Rogel, Juan Carlos Aravena, Ricardo Villalba, Christian Bringas, Wolfgang Jens-Henrik Meier, Álvaro Gonzalez-Reyes and Jussi Grießinger
Forests 2022, 13(5), 794; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050794 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2295
Abstract
Recent climatic trends, such as warming temperatures, decrease in rainfall, and extreme weather events (e.g., heatwaves), are negatively affecting the performance of forests. In northern Patagonia, such conditions have caused tree growth reduction, crown dieback, and massive die-back events. However, studies looking at [...] Read more.
Recent climatic trends, such as warming temperatures, decrease in rainfall, and extreme weather events (e.g., heatwaves), are negatively affecting the performance of forests. In northern Patagonia, such conditions have caused tree growth reduction, crown dieback, and massive die-back events. However, studies looking at these consequences in the southernmost temperate forest (Nothofagus betuloides and Nothofagus pumilio) are much scarcer, especially in southernmost South America (SSA). These forests are also under the influence of the positive phase of Antarctic Oscillation (AAO, also known as Southern Annular Mode, SAM) that has been associated with increasing trends in temperature, drought, and extreme events in the last decades. This study evaluated the growth patterns and the climatic response of eight new tree-ring chronologies from Nothofagus species located at the upper treeline along different environmental gradients in three study areas: Punta Arenas, Yendegaia National Park, and Navarino Island in SSA. The main modes of the ring-width index (RWI) variation were studied using principal component analysis (PCA). We found that PC1 has the higher loadings for sites with precipitation values over 600 mm/yr, PC2 with N. betuloides sites, and PC3 with higher loadings for sites with precipitation values below 600 mm/yr. Our best growth-climate relationships are between N. betuloides and AAO and the most northeastern site of N. pumilio with relative humidity (which coincides with heatwaves and extreme drought). The climatic signals imprinted in the southernmost forests are sensitive to climatic variability, the climate forcing AAO, and the effects of climate change in the last decades. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Altitudinal Gradients and Forest Response: Climate, Hydrology, and Isotope Variability of Temperate Forest Ecosystems)
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13 pages, 2700 KiB  
Article
Comparing Geography and Severity of Managed Wildfires in California and the Southwest USA before and after the Implementation of the 2009 Policy Guidance
by Jose M. Iniguez, Alexander M. Evans, Sepideh Dadashi, Jesse D. Young, Marc D. Meyer, Andrea E. Thode, Shaula J. Hedwall, Sarah M. McCaffrey, Stephen D. Fillmore and Rachel Bean
Forests 2022, 13(5), 793; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050793 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3844
Abstract
Managed wildfires, i.e., naturally ignited wildfires that are managed for resource benefits, have the potential to reduce fuel loads, minimize the effects of future wildfires, and restore critical natural processes across many forest landscapes. In the United States, the 2009 federal wildland fire [...] Read more.
Managed wildfires, i.e., naturally ignited wildfires that are managed for resource benefits, have the potential to reduce fuel loads, minimize the effects of future wildfires, and restore critical natural processes across many forest landscapes. In the United States, the 2009 federal wildland fire policy guidance was designed to provide greater flexibility in the use of managed wildfires, but the effects of this policy on wildfires in the western US are not yet fully understood. Our goal was to compare managed and full suppression wildfires and to also analyze the differences between managed wildfires across space (Arizona/New Mexico and California) and time (before and after 2009) using four metrics for each wildfire: (1) distance to wilderness, (2) distance to the wildland–urban interface (WUI), (3) the percentage of area burned with high severity, and (4) the number of land management agencies. Across the study area, we found that managed wildfires were significantly closer to wilderness areas, were farther from the WUI, had a lower percentage of area that was burned at high severity, and had fewer agencies involved in managing the fire compared to full suppression wildfires. In California, managed wildfires occurred closer to wilderness and had a larger percentage of high-severity burn area compared to those in the southwest US (Arizona and New Mexico). Within each region, however, there were no significant geographic differences between managed wildfires before and after the implementation of the 2009 policy guidance. Despite the greater flexibility of the 2009 policy guidance, the basic geographic properties of managed wildfires in these two regions have not changed. As the climate warms and droughts intensify, the use of managed wildfires will need to expand during favorable weather conditions in order to address the threat of large and uncharacteristic wildfires to people and ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management)
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12 pages, 2058 KiB  
Article
Unique Land Cover Classification to Assess Day-Roost Habitat Selection of Northern Long-Eared Bats on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina, USA
by Jesse L. De La Cruz, Michael C. True, Hila Taylor, Dorothy C. Brown and W. Mark Ford
Forests 2022, 13(5), 792; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050792 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2038
Abstract
Reproductively successful and over-wintering populations of the endangered northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) have recently been discovered on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Empirical data on resource selection within the region is limited, likely hindering management of these coastal forests. [...] Read more.
Reproductively successful and over-wintering populations of the endangered northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) have recently been discovered on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Empirical data on resource selection within the region is limited, likely hindering management of these coastal forests. Our objectives were to determine roosting home range size, selection of day-roost tree species, second- and third-order roosting habitat selection, and to quantify the overall availability of resources in the surrounding landscape. We found core and peripheral roosting home range estimates were large, yet similar to observations from other areas of contiguous forests. Prior to juvenile volancy, female northern long-eared bats appear to select red maple (Acer rubrum), water ash (Fraxinus caroliniana), and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) as day-roosts, but then use sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), swamp bay (Persea palustris), and water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) after juvenile volancy. At the second-order spatial scale, roosting home ranges were associated with woody wetlands farther from anthropogenic development and open water. However, within the third-order scale, northern long-eared bats were associated with undeveloped woody wetlands and upland forests, areas containing shorter trees and occurring proximal to open water. Peripheral and core areas were predicted to comprise approximately 20% of the local landscape. Our results show that complex and large tracts of woody wetlands juxtaposed with upland forests in this part of the Coastal Plain may be important for northern long-eared bats locally, results largely consistent with species management efforts in eastern North America. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Forest Management Practices on Bat Habitat and Community Structure)
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3 pages, 696 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Valerio et al. The Role of Canopy Cover Dynamics over a Decade of Changes in the Understory of an Atlantic Beech-Oak Forest. Forests 2021, 12, 938
by Mercedes Valerio, Ricardo Ibáñez and Antonio Gazol
Forests 2022, 13(5), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050791 - 19 May 2022
Viewed by 1098
Abstract
The authors wish to make the following corrections to their paper [...] Full article
20 pages, 3536 KiB  
Article
Motives for Sustainability Certification—Private Certified Forest Owners’ Perspectives
by Anna Thorning and Cecilia Mark-Herbert
Forests 2022, 13(5), 790; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050790 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2005
Abstract
Traditional forest-management practices are currently being scrutinised. Forest certification may verify sustainable development practices in primary forest production. However, certification of privately owned forest lands cannot be taken for granted, as it is associated with the demands and challenges of forest management. Despite [...] Read more.
Traditional forest-management practices are currently being scrutinised. Forest certification may verify sustainable development practices in primary forest production. However, certification of privately owned forest lands cannot be taken for granted, as it is associated with the demands and challenges of forest management. Despite these challenges, some private owners of forest lands chose to certify their operations. The aim of this study is to explain these motives for certification. A qualitative approach, based on thematic interviews with selected forest owners, offers a context-bound and contemporary understanding. The implications of this research are seen in market development for certified forest resources and policy adaptations to support voluntary certification schemes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management and Certification Systems)
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8 pages, 1713 KiB  
Article
Invasion of Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis and Ash Dieback Pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus in Ukraine—A Concerted Action
by Kateryna Davydenko, Yuriy Skrylnyk, Oleksandr Borysenko, Audrius Menkis, Natalia Vysotska, Valentyna Meshkova, Åke Olson, Malin Elfstrand and Rimvys Vasaitis
Forests 2022, 13(5), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050789 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3681
Abstract
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is a beetle that originates from East Asia. Upon invasion to North America in the early 2000s, it killed untold millions of ash trees. In European Russia, EAB was first detected in Moscow in 2003 and [...] Read more.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is a beetle that originates from East Asia. Upon invasion to North America in the early 2000s, it killed untold millions of ash trees. In European Russia, EAB was first detected in Moscow in 2003 and proved to have the potential to also kill native European ash (Fraxinus excelsior). The beetle has since spread in all geographic directions, establishing itself in eastern Ukraine by 2019 and possessing potential for further westward spread towards the EU. Apart from the approaching EAB, F. excelsior is currently threatened by the dieback disease (ADB) caused by the invasive ascomycete fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. The infestation by EAB combined with ADB infection is expected to be more lethal than either of them alone, yet the potential consequences are unknown. To date, eastern Ukraine represents the geographic area in which both invasions overlap, thus providing the opportunity for related investigations. The aims of the study were to investigate: (i) the EAB expansion range in Ukraine, (ii) the relative susceptibility of F. excelsior and American ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) to EAB and ADB, and (iii) the combined effect/impact on ash condition imposed by both the pest and disease in the area subjected to the invasion. The results have demonstrated that (i) the invasion of EAB is currently expanding both in terms of newly infested trees and invaded geographic area; (ii) F. excelsior is more resistant to EAB than F. pennsylvanica, while F. excelsior is more susceptible to ADB than F. pennsylvanica; and (iii) the infection by ADB is likely to predispose F. excelsior to the infestation by EAB. It was concluded that inventory and mapping of surviving F. excelsior, affected by both ADB and EAB, is necessary to acquire genetic resources for the work on strategic, long-term restoration of F. excelsior in devastated areas, thereby tackling a possible invasion of EAB to the EU. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Forest Pests and Diseases)
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13 pages, 2303 KiB  
Article
Heterogeneous Responses of Alpine Treelines to Climate Warming across the Tibetan Plateau
by Yafeng Wang, Daihan Li, Ping Ren, Shalik Ram Sigdel and Jesús Julio Camarero
Forests 2022, 13(5), 788; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050788 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2283
Abstract
The Tibetan Plateau hosts a continuous distribution of alpine treelines from the Qilian Mountains to the Hengduan Mountains and the Himalaya Mountains. However, not much is known about the broadscale alpine treeline dynamics and their responses to climate warming across the Tibetan Plateau. [...] Read more.
The Tibetan Plateau hosts a continuous distribution of alpine treelines from the Qilian Mountains to the Hengduan Mountains and the Himalaya Mountains. However, not much is known about the broadscale alpine treeline dynamics and their responses to climate warming across the Tibetan Plateau. Herein, we collected a total of 59 treeline sites across different forest regions of the Tibetan Plateau and the related field data (i.e., upward advance magnitude, tree recruitment and height growth), expansion potential (i.e., elevational difference between the current treeline and the tree species line (EP)) and vegetation TI (an index of species interactions) from the published references. Site characteristics (e.g., elevation, slope and aspect) and the related environmental factors were used to analyze the relationships between treeline shifts and environmental variables. Despite increases in the recruitment and growth of trees at most treeline sites, alpine treeline positions showed heterogeneous responses to climate warming. Most treelines advanced over the last century, while some treelines showed long-term stability. EP was significantly and positively linked to the summer warming rate and treeline shifts, suggesting that the position of current tree species line is of crucial importance in evaluating treeline dynamics under climate change. In addition, warming-induced treeline advances were modulated by plant–plant interactions. Overall, this study highlighted the heterogeneous responses of regional-scale alpine treelines to climate warming on the Tibetan Plateau. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alpine Treeline Ecotone—from Structure and Function to Ecosystem Services)
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22 pages, 2712 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Variable Selection Methods among Dominant Tree Species in Different Regions on Forest Stock Volume Estimation
by Gengsheng Fang, Luming Fang, Laibang Yang and Dasheng Wu
Forests 2022, 13(5), 787; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050787 - 18 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2034
Abstract
The forest stock volume (FSV) is one of the crucial indicators to reflect the quality of forest resources. Variable selection methods are usually used for FSV estimated models. However, few studies have explored which variable selection methods can make the selected data set [...] Read more.
The forest stock volume (FSV) is one of the crucial indicators to reflect the quality of forest resources. Variable selection methods are usually used for FSV estimated models. However, few studies have explored which variable selection methods can make the selected data set have better explanatory and robustness for the same dominant tree species in different regions after the feature variables were filtered by the feature selection methods. In this study, we chose six dominant tree species from Lin’an District, Anji County, and a part of Longquan City. The tree species include broad-leaved, coniferous, Masson pine, Chinese fir, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, and all tree species which include the above five groups of tree species. The last two tree species were represented by mixed and all, respectively. Then, the satellite images, terrain factors, and forest inventory data were selected by six variable selection methods (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), recursive feature elimination (RFE), stepwise regression (Step-Reg), permutation importance (PI), mean decrease impurity (MDI), and SelectFromModel based on LightGBM (SFM)), according to different dominant tree types in different regions. The selected variables were formed into a new dataset divided by different dominant trees. Besides, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) was used, combined with variable selection methods to estimate the FSV. The performed results are as follows: In the feature selection of coniferous, RFE performed better both in the average and in the separate regions. In the feature selection of Chinese fir and all, PI performed better both in the average and in the separate regions. In the feature selection of Masson pine, MDI performed better both in the average and in the separate regions. In the feature selection of mixed, MDI performed better in the average while RFE performed better in the separate regions comprehensively. The results showed that not only in separate regions, but the average result two factors, RFE, MDI, and PI all performed well to select variables to estimate the FSV. Furthermore, we selected the top five high feature-importance factors of different tree types, and the results showed that tree age and canopy density were both of great importance to the estimation of FSV. Besides, in the exhibited results of feature selection methods, compared with no variable selection, the research also found that variable selection can improve the performance of the model. Additionally, from the results of different tree types in different regions, we also found that small-scale and diversity of dominant tree types may lead to the instability and unreliability of experimental results. The study provides some insight into the application the optimal variable selection methods of the same dominant tree type in different regions. This study will help the development of variable selection methods to estimate FSV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Application in Forest Biomass and Carbon Cycle)
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25 pages, 5800 KiB  
Article
U.S. and Global Wood Energy Outlook under Alternative Shared Socioeconomic Pathways
by Craig M. T. Johnston, Jinggang Guo and Jeffrey P. Prestemon
Forests 2022, 13(5), 786; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050786 - 18 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2295
Abstract
There has been a significant increase in the use of wood pellets for energy in the past decade due in large part to their climate mitigation potential. Because of this, the demand for wood pellets is largely driven by policy, as well as [...] Read more.
There has been a significant increase in the use of wood pellets for energy in the past decade due in large part to their climate mitigation potential. Because of this, the demand for wood pellets is largely driven by policy, as well as socioeconomic development, making projections of future wood energy markets highly uncertain. The aim of this study is to provide projections of future wood energy market trends under five distinct socioeconomic scenarios based on the assumed future evolution of gross domestic product, population, technological change, trade openness, and bioenergy preferences using the FOrest Resource Outlook Model. In four out of the five scenarios considered, it is projected that the use of roundwood and mill chips, particles, and residuals will rise in order to produce a growing output of wood pellets in the United States and globally. In terms of international markets, the global dominance of Europe’s demand for wood, to help that continent achieve its own climate goals, further explains the sustained and growing supply position of the U.S. South regions to meet that demand. Taken together, the projections suggest emerging bioenergy markets will drive increased competition for inputs with other manufacturers, particularly in the U.S. South regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production, Trade and Consumption of Wood-Based Products)
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