Aiming to enhance the efficiency and precision of multi-objective optimization in southwestern secondary growth of Pinus yunnanensis forests, this study integrated spatial and non-spatial structural indicators to establish objective functions and constraints for assessing forest structure. Felling decisions were made using the random selection method (RSM), Q-value method (QVM), and V-map method (VMM). Actions taken to optimize the forest stand structure (FSS) through tree selection were approached as decisions by a reinforcement learning (RL) agent. Leveraging RL’s trial-and-error strategy, we continually refined the agent’s decision-making process, applying it to multi-objective optimization. Simulated felling experiments conducted across circular sample plots (P1–P4) compared RL, Monte Carlo (MC), and particle swarm optimization (PSO) in FSS optimization. Notable enhancements in the values of the objective function (VOFs) were observed across all plots. RL-based strategies exhibited improvements, achieving VOF increases of 17.24%, 44.92%, 34.66%, and 17.10% for P1–P4, respectively, outperforming MC-based (10.73%, 41.54%, 30.39%, and 15.07%, respectively) and PSO-based (14.08%, 37.78%, 26.17%, and 16.23%, respectively) approaches. The hybrid M7 scheme, integrating RL with the RSM, consistently outperformed other schemes across all plots, yielding an average 26.81% increase in VOF compared to the average enhancement of all schemes (17.42%). This study significantly advances the efficacy and precision of multi-objective optimization strategies for Pinus yunnanensis secondary forests, emphasizing RL’s superior optimization performance, particularly when combined with the RSM, highlighting its potential for optimizing sustainable forest management strategies.
{"title":"Reinforcement Learning for Stand Structure Optimization of Pinus yunnanensis Secondary Forests in Southwest China","authors":"Shuai Xuan, Jianming Wang, Yuling Chen","doi":"10.3390/f14122456","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122456","url":null,"abstract":"Aiming to enhance the efficiency and precision of multi-objective optimization in southwestern secondary growth of Pinus yunnanensis forests, this study integrated spatial and non-spatial structural indicators to establish objective functions and constraints for assessing forest structure. Felling decisions were made using the random selection method (RSM), Q-value method (QVM), and V-map method (VMM). Actions taken to optimize the forest stand structure (FSS) through tree selection were approached as decisions by a reinforcement learning (RL) agent. Leveraging RL’s trial-and-error strategy, we continually refined the agent’s decision-making process, applying it to multi-objective optimization. Simulated felling experiments conducted across circular sample plots (P1–P4) compared RL, Monte Carlo (MC), and particle swarm optimization (PSO) in FSS optimization. Notable enhancements in the values of the objective function (VOFs) were observed across all plots. RL-based strategies exhibited improvements, achieving VOF increases of 17.24%, 44.92%, 34.66%, and 17.10% for P1–P4, respectively, outperforming MC-based (10.73%, 41.54%, 30.39%, and 15.07%, respectively) and PSO-based (14.08%, 37.78%, 26.17%, and 16.23%, respectively) approaches. The hybrid M7 scheme, integrating RL with the RSM, consistently outperformed other schemes across all plots, yielding an average 26.81% increase in VOF compared to the average enhancement of all schemes (17.42%). This study significantly advances the efficacy and precision of multi-objective optimization strategies for Pinus yunnanensis secondary forests, emphasizing RL’s superior optimization performance, particularly when combined with the RSM, highlighting its potential for optimizing sustainable forest management strategies.","PeriodicalId":12339,"journal":{"name":"Forests","volume":"26 32","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138966075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In order to investigate the mechanism of the effect of asymmetric reinforcement on the static-bending properties of wood, this paper tests and analyzes the static-bending properties of SPF wood and seven different types of asymmetric fiber surface-reinforced wood (AFRWC) formed by SPF wood as the substrate and bamboo and carbon fibers as the reinforcement materials. The results of the study found that (1) the moduli of rupture of the seven types of AFRWC were increased to varying degrees, but the static-bending moduli of elasticity increased or decreased; (2) the asymmetric reinforcement changed the cross-section strain distribution and damage type of the wood in static bending; (3) the results of the cross-section strain-field tests and the ABAQUS finite element simulation showed that the asymmetric reinforcement method of bonding the bamboo material and the two layers of CFRP in the compression and tensile zones, respectively, can greatly enhance the static-bending performance of the wood. The error between the simulated and measured values of specimens MOR and MOE is only −0.7% and −7.3%, respectively. This type of asymmetric reinforcement makes it possible to obtain a more reasonable cross-section stress distribution.
{"title":"Study on the Static-Bending Properties of Surface-Reinforced Wood with Asymmetric Fibers","authors":"Xu Guo, Fengwei Zhou, Shuduan Deng, Chunlei Dong","doi":"10.3390/f14122454","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122454","url":null,"abstract":"In order to investigate the mechanism of the effect of asymmetric reinforcement on the static-bending properties of wood, this paper tests and analyzes the static-bending properties of SPF wood and seven different types of asymmetric fiber surface-reinforced wood (AFRWC) formed by SPF wood as the substrate and bamboo and carbon fibers as the reinforcement materials. The results of the study found that (1) the moduli of rupture of the seven types of AFRWC were increased to varying degrees, but the static-bending moduli of elasticity increased or decreased; (2) the asymmetric reinforcement changed the cross-section strain distribution and damage type of the wood in static bending; (3) the results of the cross-section strain-field tests and the ABAQUS finite element simulation showed that the asymmetric reinforcement method of bonding the bamboo material and the two layers of CFRP in the compression and tensile zones, respectively, can greatly enhance the static-bending performance of the wood. The error between the simulated and measured values of specimens MOR and MOE is only −0.7% and −7.3%, respectively. This type of asymmetric reinforcement makes it possible to obtain a more reasonable cross-section stress distribution.","PeriodicalId":12339,"journal":{"name":"Forests","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138967146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jianyang Liu, Ying Quan, Bin Wang, Jinan Shi, Lang Ming, Mingze Li
Timely and reliable estimation of forest stock volume is essential for sustainable forest management and conservation. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data can provide an effective depiction of the three-dimensional structure information of forests, but its large-scale application is hampered by spatial continuity. This study aims to construct a LiDAR sampling framework, combined with multi-sensor imagery, to estimate the regional forest stock volume of natural secondary forests in Northeast China. Two sampling approaches were compared, including systematic sampling and classification-based sampling. First, the forest stock volume was mapped using a combination of field measurement data and full-coverage LiDAR data. Then, the forest stock volume obtained in the first step of estimation was used as a reference value, and optical images and topographic features were combined for secondary modeling to compare the effectiveness and accuracy of different sampling methods, including 12 systematic sampling and classification-based sampling methods. Our results show that the root mean square error (RMSE) of the 12 systematic sampling approaches ranged from 55.81 to 57.42 m3/ha, and the BIAS ranged from 21.55 to 24.89 m3/ha. The classification-based LiDAR sampling approach outperformed systematic sampling, with an RMSE of 55.56 (<55.81 m3/ha) and a BIAS of 20.68 (<21.55 m3/ha). This study compares different LiDAR sampling approaches and explores an effective LiDAR sample collection scheme for estimating forest stock, while balancing cost and accuracy. The classification-based LiDAR sampling approach described in this study is easy to apply and portable and can provide a reference for future LiDAR sample collection.
{"title":"Estimation of Forest Stock Volume Combining Airborne LiDAR Sampling Approaches with Multi-Sensor Imagery","authors":"Jianyang Liu, Ying Quan, Bin Wang, Jinan Shi, Lang Ming, Mingze Li","doi":"10.3390/f14122453","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122453","url":null,"abstract":"Timely and reliable estimation of forest stock volume is essential for sustainable forest management and conservation. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data can provide an effective depiction of the three-dimensional structure information of forests, but its large-scale application is hampered by spatial continuity. This study aims to construct a LiDAR sampling framework, combined with multi-sensor imagery, to estimate the regional forest stock volume of natural secondary forests in Northeast China. Two sampling approaches were compared, including systematic sampling and classification-based sampling. First, the forest stock volume was mapped using a combination of field measurement data and full-coverage LiDAR data. Then, the forest stock volume obtained in the first step of estimation was used as a reference value, and optical images and topographic features were combined for secondary modeling to compare the effectiveness and accuracy of different sampling methods, including 12 systematic sampling and classification-based sampling methods. Our results show that the root mean square error (RMSE) of the 12 systematic sampling approaches ranged from 55.81 to 57.42 m3/ha, and the BIAS ranged from 21.55 to 24.89 m3/ha. The classification-based LiDAR sampling approach outperformed systematic sampling, with an RMSE of 55.56 (<55.81 m3/ha) and a BIAS of 20.68 (<21.55 m3/ha). This study compares different LiDAR sampling approaches and explores an effective LiDAR sample collection scheme for estimating forest stock, while balancing cost and accuracy. The classification-based LiDAR sampling approach described in this study is easy to apply and portable and can provide a reference for future LiDAR sample collection.","PeriodicalId":12339,"journal":{"name":"Forests","volume":"9 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138996398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alvin Muhammad Savero, Jong-Ho Kim, B. Purusatama, Denni Prasetia, Imam Wahyudi, A. H. Iswanto, Byung-Ho Park, Seung-Hwan Lee, Nam-Hun Kim
The macroscopic and microscopic anatomical characteristics of wood impact its utilization. This study investigated and compared the anatomical characteristics of six Korean oak wood species: Quercus variabilis, Quercus serrata, Quercus mongolica, Quercus dentata, Quercus aliena, and Quercus acutissima. Microscopic anatomical characteristics were evaluated according to the International Association of Wood Anatomists’ list for hardwood identification. Q. variabilis had a corky bark texture, with a color similar to that of Q. serrata. Flat ridges and shallow-fissured barks were observed in Q. serrata and Q. mongolica. The heartwood color was darker than that of sapwood in all species, with color variations. Q. variabilis had heartwood–sapwood colors similar to those of Q. acutissima, while Q. mongolica and Q. aliena presented similar heartwood–sapwood colors. Concerning microscopic features, Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima exhibited similar latewood vessel arrangements, featuring diagonal and/or radial patterns. In contrast, dendritic-to-diagonal patterns of vessels with angular outlines were observed in Q. serrata, Q. mongolica, Q. dentata, and Q. aliena. Additionally, Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima had vasicentric, confluent, and unilateral paratracheal axial parenchyma in the latewood. In summary, bark morphology, bark color, wood color, and latewood vessel characteristics can be used as identification keys for Korean oak species.
{"title":"Macroscopic and Microscopic Anatomical Characteristics of Six Korean Oak Species","authors":"Alvin Muhammad Savero, Jong-Ho Kim, B. Purusatama, Denni Prasetia, Imam Wahyudi, A. H. Iswanto, Byung-Ho Park, Seung-Hwan Lee, Nam-Hun Kim","doi":"10.3390/f14122449","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122449","url":null,"abstract":"The macroscopic and microscopic anatomical characteristics of wood impact its utilization. This study investigated and compared the anatomical characteristics of six Korean oak wood species: Quercus variabilis, Quercus serrata, Quercus mongolica, Quercus dentata, Quercus aliena, and Quercus acutissima. Microscopic anatomical characteristics were evaluated according to the International Association of Wood Anatomists’ list for hardwood identification. Q. variabilis had a corky bark texture, with a color similar to that of Q. serrata. Flat ridges and shallow-fissured barks were observed in Q. serrata and Q. mongolica. The heartwood color was darker than that of sapwood in all species, with color variations. Q. variabilis had heartwood–sapwood colors similar to those of Q. acutissima, while Q. mongolica and Q. aliena presented similar heartwood–sapwood colors. Concerning microscopic features, Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima exhibited similar latewood vessel arrangements, featuring diagonal and/or radial patterns. In contrast, dendritic-to-diagonal patterns of vessels with angular outlines were observed in Q. serrata, Q. mongolica, Q. dentata, and Q. aliena. Additionally, Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima had vasicentric, confluent, and unilateral paratracheal axial parenchyma in the latewood. In summary, bark morphology, bark color, wood color, and latewood vessel characteristics can be used as identification keys for Korean oak species.","PeriodicalId":12339,"journal":{"name":"Forests","volume":"4 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138998011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chenyao Zhao, Shuisen Chen, Kai Jia, Dan Li, Boxiong Qin, Yishan Sun, Hao Zhang
Vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) is critical to maintaining and enhancing the carbon sink of vegetation. Shaoguan is a characteristic forest city in the subtropical region of South China and an ecological barrier in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), playing an instrumental role in protecting water resources, purifying air, and maintaining ecological balance. However, studies that quantify subtropical vegetation NPP dynamics in Shaoguan under the influence of climate and human drivers are still incomplete. In this research, vegetation NPP at 30 m resolution was estimated from 2001 to 2020 using the enhanced CASA model based on the GF-SG algorithm in Shaoguan. The RESTREND method was then utilized to quantify climatic and human effects on NPP. The results indicated that the vegetation NPP in Shaoguan increased rapidly (4.09 g C/m2/yr, p < 0.001) over the past 20 years. Climate and human drivers contributed 0.948 g C/m2/yr and 3.137 g C/m2/yr to vegetation NPP, respectively. Human activity plays a major role in vegetation restoration through ecological projects, whereas vegetation deterioration is primarily attributable to the combined action of climate change and human activity, such as urban expansion, deforestation, and meteorological disasters. The results emphasize the importance of ecological projects for the restoration of vegetated ecosystems and ecological construction in Shaoguan.
植被净初级生产力（NPP）是维持和提高植被碳汇的关键。韶关是华南亚热带地区的特色森林城市，也是粤港澳大湾区的生态屏障，在保护水资源、净化空气、维持生态平衡等方面发挥着重要作用。然而，对气候和人为因素影响下韶关亚热带植被NPP动态的量化研究尚不完善。本研究利用基于GF-SG算法的增强型CASA模型对韶关2001-2020年30米分辨率的植被NPP进行了估算。然后利用 RESTREND 方法量化气候和人为因素对植被生产力的影响。结果表明，在过去的20年中，韶关的植被NPP快速增长（4.09 g C/m2/yr，p < 0.001）。气候和人为因素对植被NPP的贡献分别为0.948 g C/m2/yr和3.137 g C/m2/yr。人类活动在通过生态项目恢复植被方面发挥了重要作用，而植被恶化则主要归因于气候变化和人类活动的共同作用，如城市扩张、森林砍伐和气象灾害。研究结果强调了生态工程对韶关植被生态系统恢复和生态建设的重要性。
{"title":"Quantitative Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change and Human Activity on the Net Primary Productivity of Subtropical Vegetation: The Case of Shaoguan, Guangdong, China","authors":"Chenyao Zhao, Shuisen Chen, Kai Jia, Dan Li, Boxiong Qin, Yishan Sun, Hao Zhang","doi":"10.3390/f14122447","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122447","url":null,"abstract":"Vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) is critical to maintaining and enhancing the carbon sink of vegetation. Shaoguan is a characteristic forest city in the subtropical region of South China and an ecological barrier in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), playing an instrumental role in protecting water resources, purifying air, and maintaining ecological balance. However, studies that quantify subtropical vegetation NPP dynamics in Shaoguan under the influence of climate and human drivers are still incomplete. In this research, vegetation NPP at 30 m resolution was estimated from 2001 to 2020 using the enhanced CASA model based on the GF-SG algorithm in Shaoguan. The RESTREND method was then utilized to quantify climatic and human effects on NPP. The results indicated that the vegetation NPP in Shaoguan increased rapidly (4.09 g C/m2/yr, p < 0.001) over the past 20 years. Climate and human drivers contributed 0.948 g C/m2/yr and 3.137 g C/m2/yr to vegetation NPP, respectively. Human activity plays a major role in vegetation restoration through ecological projects, whereas vegetation deterioration is primarily attributable to the combined action of climate change and human activity, such as urban expansion, deforestation, and meteorological disasters. The results emphasize the importance of ecological projects for the restoration of vegetated ecosystems and ecological construction in Shaoguan.","PeriodicalId":12339,"journal":{"name":"Forests","volume":"33 130","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138998979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huirong Zhang, Hongguang Cheng, Gratien Twagirayezu, Fang Zhang, Yanjin Shi, C. Luo, Fan Yan, Zhenhong Wang, Dan Xing
In the initial stages of restoring rocky desertification, the proliferation of nutrients strongly influences plant survival. The carbon–nitrogen doctrine in plants argues that a lower leaf carbon–nitrogen (C:N) ratio enhances the growth of plant nutrients. However, the mechanisms by which inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can influence plants during the restoration of rocky desertification are not thoroughly understood. This study used mulberry as a suitable example of a mycorrhizal plant in desertification areas to examine changes in growth, leaf carbon, nitrogen accumulation, and the carbon–nitrogen ratio post inoculation using AMF. The correlation between leaf carbon–nitrogen ratio and root morphology following AMF inoculation was also examined. The results demonstrated that inoculating mulberry with the dominant strains Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) not only enhanced above-ground growth and improved carbon and nitrogen nutrient absorption but also had a more pronounced effect on leaf nitrogen accumulation than on carbon accumulation, resulting in a potential decrease in the leaf C:N ratio by 42.13%. It also significantly improved root morphology by exponentially increasing the number of connections and crossings by 120.5% and 109.8%, respectively. Further analysis revealed a negative correlation between leaf C:N ratio and root morphology, as well as between root length and the number of connections. Plants with more developed root systems exhibited greater competitiveness for nitrogen, resulting in a lower leaf C:N ratio. This study suggests that the inoculation of AMF could enhance leaf nitrogen accumulation and reduce the leaf C:N ratio by expanding the spatial absorption range of the root through positive changes in root morphology, thereby promoting plant nutrient growth. This study forms a fundamental scientific basis for the successful management of desertification.
{"title":"Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Adjusts Root Architecture to Promote Leaf Nitrogen Accumulation and Reduce Leaf Carbon–Nitrogen Ratio of Mulberry Seedlings","authors":"Huirong Zhang, Hongguang Cheng, Gratien Twagirayezu, Fang Zhang, Yanjin Shi, C. Luo, Fan Yan, Zhenhong Wang, Dan Xing","doi":"10.3390/f14122448","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122448","url":null,"abstract":"In the initial stages of restoring rocky desertification, the proliferation of nutrients strongly influences plant survival. The carbon–nitrogen doctrine in plants argues that a lower leaf carbon–nitrogen (C:N) ratio enhances the growth of plant nutrients. However, the mechanisms by which inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can influence plants during the restoration of rocky desertification are not thoroughly understood. This study used mulberry as a suitable example of a mycorrhizal plant in desertification areas to examine changes in growth, leaf carbon, nitrogen accumulation, and the carbon–nitrogen ratio post inoculation using AMF. The correlation between leaf carbon–nitrogen ratio and root morphology following AMF inoculation was also examined. The results demonstrated that inoculating mulberry with the dominant strains Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) not only enhanced above-ground growth and improved carbon and nitrogen nutrient absorption but also had a more pronounced effect on leaf nitrogen accumulation than on carbon accumulation, resulting in a potential decrease in the leaf C:N ratio by 42.13%. It also significantly improved root morphology by exponentially increasing the number of connections and crossings by 120.5% and 109.8%, respectively. Further analysis revealed a negative correlation between leaf C:N ratio and root morphology, as well as between root length and the number of connections. Plants with more developed root systems exhibited greater competitiveness for nitrogen, resulting in a lower leaf C:N ratio. This study suggests that the inoculation of AMF could enhance leaf nitrogen accumulation and reduce the leaf C:N ratio by expanding the spatial absorption range of the root through positive changes in root morphology, thereby promoting plant nutrient growth. This study forms a fundamental scientific basis for the successful management of desertification.","PeriodicalId":12339,"journal":{"name":"Forests","volume":"55 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138999199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The rapid-developed scale of China’s trade in wood forest products has undergone a considerable uptick. Concomitant with the evolution of high-quality development paradigms, product quality within trade fraforest products. Specifically, Chimeworks has gained escalating scrutiny. Based on the statistical analysis of the export characteristics of China’s wood forest products, this study leverages BACI data spanning from 1998 to 2017. Utilizing regression-based inverse methods, the study quantifies the quality attributes of these export products, dissects fluctuations in quality, and places particular emphasis on the markets within “Belt and Road Initiative” economies to elucidate dynamic trends and spatial distribution characteristics of export quality in this geoeconomic domain. Based on this, the fixed effect model, random effect model, and system GMM are used to empirically examine the influencing factors of China’s wood forest product export quality. This study found that wood-based panel products have the highest quality, followed by paper products and wood furniture among the three major categories of wood forest products. Besides, the overall quality levels of the three products exported to countries participating in the Belt and Road initiative haven’t significantly changed, while notable changes are evident across divergent export destination markets. In addition, an empirical study on the influencing factors of the export product quality of wood forest products is conducted, which indicates that total factor productivity, R&D investment, capital intensity, labor costs, and foreign direct investment are influencing factors. Finally, based on the research conclusions, suggestions are provided on how to improve the export quality of wood forest products.
{"title":"Export Growth and Quality Determination of Wood Forest Products: Evidence from China","authors":"Lu Wan, Nannan Ban, Yizhong Fu, Luyao Yuan","doi":"10.3390/f14122451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122451","url":null,"abstract":"The rapid-developed scale of China’s trade in wood forest products has undergone a considerable uptick. Concomitant with the evolution of high-quality development paradigms, product quality within trade fraforest products. Specifically, Chimeworks has gained escalating scrutiny. Based on the statistical analysis of the export characteristics of China’s wood forest products, this study leverages BACI data spanning from 1998 to 2017. Utilizing regression-based inverse methods, the study quantifies the quality attributes of these export products, dissects fluctuations in quality, and places particular emphasis on the markets within “Belt and Road Initiative” economies to elucidate dynamic trends and spatial distribution characteristics of export quality in this geoeconomic domain. Based on this, the fixed effect model, random effect model, and system GMM are used to empirically examine the influencing factors of China’s wood forest product export quality. This study found that wood-based panel products have the highest quality, followed by paper products and wood furniture among the three major categories of wood forest products. Besides, the overall quality levels of the three products exported to countries participating in the Belt and Road initiative haven’t significantly changed, while notable changes are evident across divergent export destination markets. In addition, an empirical study on the influencing factors of the export product quality of wood forest products is conducted, which indicates that total factor productivity, R&D investment, capital intensity, labor costs, and foreign direct investment are influencing factors. Finally, based on the research conclusions, suggestions are provided on how to improve the export quality of wood forest products.","PeriodicalId":12339,"journal":{"name":"Forests","volume":"222 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138996982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yoonkoo Jung, Yoonseong Chang, Joungwon You, Dayoung Kim, Hee Han
Poor bucking decisions in forest stands can result in underestimating the profitability of timber sales. This study focuses on Pinus densiflora, commonly known as a red pine in Korea, which has often been underutilized as pulp and chips, leading to reduced profit margins. This study aimed to improve bucking decisions for red pine by analyzing the potential values in different log types and the profitability of manufacturing lumber products compared to pulp chips. A log sawing simulation model was developed using dynamic programming. This study optimized sawing patterns and estimated net profits for varying log sizes within the lumber market in Korea. The findings reveal that manufacturing lumber products from 3.6 m and 2.7 m logs can yield net profits 861% and 723% higher, respectively, than producing pulp chips from 1.8 m logs. Notably, sawing 3.6 m logs resulted in an average net profit 24% higher than from 2.7 m logs. These results advocate for more strategic bucking decisions based on potential timber sale profits and the end-uses of logs, especially in trees with large diameters at breast height (DBH), which can produce high-quality logs and should be bucked into long sawlogs whenever possible. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of practicing timber cruise to appraise the stumpage value of forest stands more accurately, moving beyond mere volume estimation to include tree type and expected volume. By implementing these practices, timber sale profits and the overall value of forest stands in Korea can be significantly enhanced. This approach not only benefits the economic aspect of forestry but also encourages sustainable and efficient resource management.
{"title":"Optimizing Bucking Decisions in Korean Red Pine: A Dynamic Programming Approach to Timber Profitability","authors":"Yoonkoo Jung, Yoonseong Chang, Joungwon You, Dayoung Kim, Hee Han","doi":"10.3390/f14122450","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122450","url":null,"abstract":"Poor bucking decisions in forest stands can result in underestimating the profitability of timber sales. This study focuses on Pinus densiflora, commonly known as a red pine in Korea, which has often been underutilized as pulp and chips, leading to reduced profit margins. This study aimed to improve bucking decisions for red pine by analyzing the potential values in different log types and the profitability of manufacturing lumber products compared to pulp chips. A log sawing simulation model was developed using dynamic programming. This study optimized sawing patterns and estimated net profits for varying log sizes within the lumber market in Korea. The findings reveal that manufacturing lumber products from 3.6 m and 2.7 m logs can yield net profits 861% and 723% higher, respectively, than producing pulp chips from 1.8 m logs. Notably, sawing 3.6 m logs resulted in an average net profit 24% higher than from 2.7 m logs. These results advocate for more strategic bucking decisions based on potential timber sale profits and the end-uses of logs, especially in trees with large diameters at breast height (DBH), which can produce high-quality logs and should be bucked into long sawlogs whenever possible. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of practicing timber cruise to appraise the stumpage value of forest stands more accurately, moving beyond mere volume estimation to include tree type and expected volume. By implementing these practices, timber sale profits and the overall value of forest stands in Korea can be significantly enhanced. This approach not only benefits the economic aspect of forestry but also encourages sustainable and efficient resource management.","PeriodicalId":12339,"journal":{"name":"Forests","volume":"74 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138996350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In 2022, the Russian forest sector was severely affected by the government’s ban on the export of unprocessed timber and trade sanctions imposed by several countries. It is generally recognized that the regions of the Russian North-West are the most affected by trade barriers that have emerged. Against this background, the impact of bilateral trade restrictions on timber companies in the Asian part of Russia is not discussed. Nevertheless, the forest industry is an important sector of the Siberian economy that has an economic, social and environmental impact on the life of local communities. This paper analyzes the differences among Siberian timber companies in their response to the crisis depending on three factors: industrial specialization, scale of revenue and regional location. The results show that in 2022 the highest median revenues and net profits were generated by small firms that were focused on the domestic market and benefited from reduced competition due to sanctions. There is also evidence that spatial heterogeneity in the response to the crisis may be due to the different support measures of regional authorities and the proximity of the region to border points. We argue that the current conditions may become a new driver for the timber industry development, aimed at the growth of added value and expansion of domestic demand for wood products.
{"title":"Impact of Trade Restrictions on the Russian Forest Industry: Evidence from Siberian Timber Producers","authors":"R. Gordeev, A. Pyzhev","doi":"10.3390/f14122452","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122452","url":null,"abstract":"In 2022, the Russian forest sector was severely affected by the government’s ban on the export of unprocessed timber and trade sanctions imposed by several countries. It is generally recognized that the regions of the Russian North-West are the most affected by trade barriers that have emerged. Against this background, the impact of bilateral trade restrictions on timber companies in the Asian part of Russia is not discussed. Nevertheless, the forest industry is an important sector of the Siberian economy that has an economic, social and environmental impact on the life of local communities. This paper analyzes the differences among Siberian timber companies in their response to the crisis depending on three factors: industrial specialization, scale of revenue and regional location. The results show that in 2022 the highest median revenues and net profits were generated by small firms that were focused on the domestic market and benefited from reduced competition due to sanctions. There is also evidence that spatial heterogeneity in the response to the crisis may be due to the different support measures of regional authorities and the proximity of the region to border points. We argue that the current conditions may become a new driver for the timber industry development, aimed at the growth of added value and expansion of domestic demand for wood products.","PeriodicalId":12339,"journal":{"name":"Forests","volume":"20 35","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139000786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mia Marušić, I. Seletković, Mladen Ognjenović, M. Jonard, Krunoslav Sever, M. Schaub, Arthur Gessler, Mario Šango, Ivana Sirovica, Ivana Zegnal, Robert Bogdanić, N. Potočić
The increased frequency of climate change-induced droughts poses a survival challenge for forest trees, particularly for the common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Drought conditions adversely affect water supply and nutrient uptake, yet there is limited understanding of the intricate interplay between nutrient availability and drought stress on the physiology, growth, and biomass accumulation in young trees. We aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining the effects of irrigation and fertilisation and their interaction with various parameters in common beech saplings, including foliar and root N, P, and K concentrations; height and diameter increments; and aboveground and belowground biomass production. Our findings revealed that a higher fertilisation dose increased nutrient availability, also partially mitigating immediate drought impacts on foliar N concentrations. Also, higher fertilisation supported the post-drought recovery of foliar phosphorus levels in saplings. Prolonged drought affected nitrogen and potassium foliar concentrations, illustrating the lasting physiological impact of drought on beech trees. While drought-stressed beech saplings exhibited reduced height increment and biomass production, increased nutrient availability positively impacted root collar diameters. These insights have potential implications for forest management practices, afforestation strategies, and our broader understanding of the ecological consequences of climate change on forests.
{"title":"Nutrient and Growth Response of Fagus sylvatica L. Saplings to Drought Is Modified by Fertilisation","authors":"Mia Marušić, I. Seletković, Mladen Ognjenović, M. Jonard, Krunoslav Sever, M. Schaub, Arthur Gessler, Mario Šango, Ivana Sirovica, Ivana Zegnal, Robert Bogdanić, N. Potočić","doi":"10.3390/f14122445","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122445","url":null,"abstract":"The increased frequency of climate change-induced droughts poses a survival challenge for forest trees, particularly for the common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Drought conditions adversely affect water supply and nutrient uptake, yet there is limited understanding of the intricate interplay between nutrient availability and drought stress on the physiology, growth, and biomass accumulation in young trees. We aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining the effects of irrigation and fertilisation and their interaction with various parameters in common beech saplings, including foliar and root N, P, and K concentrations; height and diameter increments; and aboveground and belowground biomass production. Our findings revealed that a higher fertilisation dose increased nutrient availability, also partially mitigating immediate drought impacts on foliar N concentrations. Also, higher fertilisation supported the post-drought recovery of foliar phosphorus levels in saplings. Prolonged drought affected nitrogen and potassium foliar concentrations, illustrating the lasting physiological impact of drought on beech trees. While drought-stressed beech saplings exhibited reduced height increment and biomass production, increased nutrient availability positively impacted root collar diameters. These insights have potential implications for forest management practices, afforestation strategies, and our broader understanding of the ecological consequences of climate change on forests.","PeriodicalId":12339,"journal":{"name":"Forests","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138973242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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