The results of the analysis of profitability and impact of thinning on wood production in Järvselja Training and Experimental Forest Centre are presented in the article. The profitability was assessed on the basis of harvesting income and costs of logging operations in 2015–2017. The impact of thinning on the wood production was assessed using the MOTTI simulation program. Three different scenarios for the management of the stand were compared: 1) stand management in accordance with the Finnish forest management recommendations (Tapio recommendations), 2) management according to the Estonian Forest Management Regulations and 3) stand development without thinning. The results revealed that 61 thinnings out of the 70 were profitable. The average net income from thinning was 344 euros per hectare. Fuel wood accounted for 45% and pulpwood for 30% of the harvested timber. Net present value was applied as a criterion to assess the profitability of long-term management scenarios. Considering Tapio's recommendations, the total net present value was 33% higher and following Estonian forest management rules, it was 23% higher compared to the simulations without thinning. The results indicated that thinning is economically viable in the long run. In simulations without thinning, timber production is the highest, but the net present value of management is lower compared to simulations with thinning.
{"title":"Harvendusraiete tasuvuse analüüs ja pikaajalise mõju simulatsioonid Järvselja õppe- ja katsemetskonnas","authors":"Paavo Kaimre, Priit Vellak, Meelis Teder","doi":"10.2478/fsmu-2020-0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2020-0005","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The results of the analysis of profitability and impact of thinning on wood production in Järvselja Training and Experimental Forest Centre are presented in the article. The profitability was assessed on the basis of harvesting income and costs of logging operations in 2015–2017. The impact of thinning on the wood production was assessed using the MOTTI simulation program. Three different scenarios for the management of the stand were compared: 1) stand management in accordance with the Finnish forest management recommendations (Tapio recommendations), 2) management according to the Estonian Forest Management Regulations and 3) stand development without thinning. The results revealed that 61 thinnings out of the 70 were profitable. The average net income from thinning was 344 euros per hectare. Fuel wood accounted for 45% and pulpwood for 30% of the harvested timber. Net present value was applied as a criterion to assess the profitability of long-term management scenarios. Considering Tapio's recommendations, the total net present value was 33% higher and following Estonian forest management rules, it was 23% higher compared to the simulations without thinning. The results indicated that thinning is economically viable in the long run. In simulations without thinning, timber production is the highest, but the net present value of management is lower compared to simulations with thinning.","PeriodicalId":35353,"journal":{"name":"Forestry Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89379318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The year 2020 marks the centenary of the establishment of the Department of Forestry at the University of Tartu in the Republic of Estonia, and thus the cradle of forestry education and forestry science in Estonian. These hundred years have witnessed rapid development, spurts, and swings as well as standstills and changes in direction. Although the birth of the Department of Forestry was initiated by the sharp and urgent need of the young republic for educated forestry specialists, it was finally accomplished with the opening of the University of Tartu with Estonian as the language of instruction on December 1, 1919. Although the formation of the department at the newly-established national university in 1920 was a major undertaking, it laid a strong basis for systematic forestry research and experimental activities, and higher education in forestry in Estonia. The establishment of the Department of Forestry brought about a rapid growth in the number of forest officers with higher education who applied their newly acquired knowledge and energy in domestic forestry. In addition to the training of forestry specialists, the Department of Forestry started to conduct national research in forestry, which quickly reached the international arena. The generous early years of forestry education were followed by difficult years of war. Many forestry teachers and scientists either emigrated or they were arrested, or killed. The subsequent change in the state order inevitably left an irreplaceable imprint on forestry education and science. Nevertheless, fresh hopes surged in 1951, when the Estonian Academy of Agriculture was established. The revolutionary years after the restoration of independence also caused changes in academic forestry education. In recent decades, academic forestry education and science at the Estonian Agricultural University and the Estonian University of Life Sciences have been influenced by changes in society as well as general education and environmental policy. The sustainability of modern forestry education and forest science in Estonian is proven by the fact that in the hundred years, 4,048 people have obtained a forestry specialist’s diploma and a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Estonia. During this period, 83 forestry Master’s theses, 67 candidate and 56 Doctoral theses have been defended. The work done in Estonia has received high recognition – in the international ranking of universities, the Estonian University of Life Sciences ranks among the fifty best universities in the world in the field of forest science and forestry education. The increase in the number of young lecturers, the good quality of forestry education as well as the international scope of forest science in Estonia provide certainty that Estonian higher education in forestry will live, grow and flourish for the next hundred years as well.
{"title":"One hundred years of academic forestry education in Estonian","authors":"I. Sibul","doi":"10.2478/fsmu-2020-0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2020-0001","url":null,"abstract":"The year 2020 marks the centenary of the establishment of the Department of Forestry at the University of Tartu in the Republic of Estonia, and thus the cradle of forestry education and forestry science in Estonian. These hundred years have witnessed rapid development, spurts, and swings as well as standstills and changes in direction. Although the birth of the Department of Forestry was initiated by the sharp and urgent need of the young republic for educated forestry specialists, it was finally accomplished with the opening of the University of Tartu with Estonian as the language of instruction on December 1, 1919. Although the formation of the department at the newly-established national university in 1920 was a major undertaking, it laid a strong basis for systematic forestry research and experimental activities, and higher education in forestry in Estonia. The establishment of the Department of Forestry brought about a rapid growth in the number of forest officers with higher education who applied their newly acquired knowledge and energy in domestic forestry. In addition to the training of forestry specialists, the Department of Forestry started to conduct national research in forestry, which quickly reached the international arena. The generous early years of forestry education were followed by difficult years of war. Many forestry teachers and scientists either emigrated or they were arrested, or killed. The subsequent change in the state order inevitably left an irreplaceable imprint on forestry education and science. Nevertheless, fresh hopes surged in 1951, when the Estonian Academy of Agriculture was established. The revolutionary years after the restoration of independence also caused changes in academic forestry education. In recent decades, academic forestry education and science at the Estonian Agricultural University and the Estonian University of Life Sciences have been influenced by changes in society as well as general education and environmental policy. The sustainability of modern forestry education and forest science in Estonian is proven by the fact that in the hundred years, 4,048 people have obtained a forestry specialist’s diploma and a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Estonia. During this period, 83 forestry Master’s theses, 67 candidate and 56 Doctoral theses have been defended. The work done in Estonia has received high recognition – in the international ranking of universities, the Estonian University of Life Sciences ranks among the fifty best universities in the world in the field of forest science and forestry education. The increase in the number of young lecturers, the good quality of forestry education as well as the international scope of forest science in Estonia provide certainty that Estonian higher education in forestry will live, grow and flourish for the next hundred years as well.","PeriodicalId":35353,"journal":{"name":"Forestry Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84064855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper explores the history of age detection of trees, especially the age history of oak trees, throughout two centuries in Estonia. It was already in the beginning of the 19th century when relations between the size and age of oaks in northern Latvia (previous Livonian province) were described. The paper explains how the species concept of Quercus robur developed over time in the past and points out discussions on the existence of two varieties Q. robur L. var. tardiflora Czern and Q. robur L. var. praecox Czern. It also states that thanks to the use of the increment borer, the first dendrochronological studies were carried out in Estonia in the 1920s. Dendrochronological research in the Soviet Union began in the 1950s with Lithuania being the leading country in the field headed by Teodaras Bitvinskas. In Estonia, research was continued in the 1960s until now. The paper takes a look at the life of Mart Rohtla who introduced the method of determining tree age according to tree bark, presents his standpoints on oaks and critically assesses these. A comparative assessment is given on the ages of oak and lime trees found according to the tree-ring method and bark increment method. The great ages of the oaks and limes found by applying the bark increments method are doubted and considered unreliable. However, the age of the surface layers of the bark of oaks and limes needs clarification in the future.
{"title":"A history of varying methods for determining tree age in Estonia with emphasis on oak","authors":"H. Sander","doi":"10.2478/fsmu-2020-0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2020-0002","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 This paper explores the history of age detection of trees, especially the age history of oak trees, throughout two centuries in Estonia. It was already in the beginning of the 19th century when relations between the size and age of oaks in northern Latvia (previous Livonian province) were described. The paper explains how the species concept of Quercus robur developed over time in the past and points out discussions on the existence of two varieties Q. robur L. var. tardiflora Czern and Q. robur L. var. praecox Czern. It also states that thanks to the use of the increment borer, the first dendrochronological studies were carried out in Estonia in the 1920s. Dendrochronological research in the Soviet Union began in the 1950s with Lithuania being the leading country in the field headed by Teodaras Bitvinskas. In Estonia, research was continued in the 1960s until now. The paper takes a look at the life of Mart Rohtla who introduced the method of determining tree age according to tree bark, presents his standpoints on oaks and critically assesses these. A comparative assessment is given on the ages of oak and lime trees found according to the tree-ring method and bark increment method. The great ages of the oaks and limes found by applying the bark increments method are doubted and considered unreliable. However, the age of the surface layers of the bark of oaks and limes needs clarification in the future.","PeriodicalId":35353,"journal":{"name":"Forestry Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88174761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The availability of a large amount of data from reliable sources is important for forest growth modelling. A permanent plot where trees are repeatedly measured provides a clearer picture of stand alterations. Various factors, including forest management, affect forest growth and accuracy of its assessment. In Estonia, mean height as a regression height prediction at mean square diameter is commonly used in forest management practice. Alternatively, dominant height can be used. The main advantage of using dominant height instead of mean height is that the growth of dominant trees is not so strongly affected by stand density (thinning). The aim of our research was to investigate the difference between mean height and dominant height when used as stand height. The research was based on the Estonian Network of Forest Research Plots (ENFRP). As a result, we found that the average mean height change was significantly greater in the case of thinning when compared to undisturbed stand development, whereas, the average dominant height change in the case of thinning compared to undisturbed development was less significant. As a side result, we developed a regression model that can be used for calculating the dominant height of the main tree species using stand attributes (mean height, quadratic mean diameter and density) with a residual standard deviation of 0.466 m.
{"title":"Mean height or dominant height – what to prefer for modelling the site index of Estonian forests?","authors":"Toomas Tarmu, D. Laarmann, A. Kiviste","doi":"10.2478/fsmu-2020-0010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2020-0010","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The availability of a large amount of data from reliable sources is important for forest growth modelling. A permanent plot where trees are repeatedly measured provides a clearer picture of stand alterations. Various factors, including forest management, affect forest growth and accuracy of its assessment. In Estonia, mean height as a regression height prediction at mean square diameter is commonly used in forest management practice. Alternatively, dominant height can be used. The main advantage of using dominant height instead of mean height is that the growth of dominant trees is not so strongly affected by stand density (thinning). The aim of our research was to investigate the difference between mean height and dominant height when used as stand height. The research was based on the Estonian Network of Forest Research Plots (ENFRP). As a result, we found that the average mean height change was significantly greater in the case of thinning when compared to undisturbed stand development, whereas, the average dominant height change in the case of thinning compared to undisturbed development was less significant. As a side result, we developed a regression model that can be used for calculating the dominant height of the main tree species using stand attributes (mean height, quadratic mean diameter and density) with a residual standard deviation of 0.466 m.","PeriodicalId":35353,"journal":{"name":"Forestry Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75029877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
To date according to the registration work, the number of the Russian desman determined actually is 588 individuals in Mordovia. Based on extrapolation, the total desman population in Mordovia is about 1,400 individuals. We may assume that the most of the desman population is concentrated on floodplain lakes and reclamation canals. The highest density of the desman population in Mordovia was recorded in Krasnoslobodsky and Temnikovsky Districts (10.5 and 8.2 burrows per km, respectively). About 400 animals may live on the shore of the rivers Vad, Partsa, Yavas, Vindrey, Nuluy, and Kundybolka. The mean value of density of the desman population on the rivers was 0.9 burrows per km of the coastline, which corresponded to habitat quality class IV (0.5–5 burrows per km). The distribution of habitats across river basins is extremely uneven. The main part of the desman population is restricted to the Moksha basin (more than 1,350 individuals), and in the Alatyr basin (left tributary of the Sura River) just twenty individuals were recorded.
{"title":"Distribution and population density of the Russian desman (Desmana moschata L., Talpidae, Insectivora) in the Middle Volga of Russia","authors":"A. Andreychev, V. Kuznetsov, A. Lapshin","doi":"10.2478/fsmu-2019-0012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2019-0012","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 To date according to the registration work, the number of the Russian desman determined actually is 588 individuals in Mordovia. Based on extrapolation, the total desman population in Mordovia is about 1,400 individuals. We may assume that the most of the desman population is concentrated on floodplain lakes and reclamation canals. The highest density of the desman population in Mordovia was recorded in Krasnoslobodsky and Temnikovsky Districts (10.5 and 8.2 burrows per km, respectively). About 400 animals may live on the shore of the rivers Vad, Partsa, Yavas, Vindrey, Nuluy, and Kundybolka. The mean value of density of the desman population on the rivers was 0.9 burrows per km of the coastline, which corresponded to habitat quality class IV (0.5–5 burrows per km). The distribution of habitats across river basins is extremely uneven. The main part of the desman population is restricted to the Moksha basin (more than 1,350 individuals), and in the Alatyr basin (left tributary of the Sura River) just twenty individuals were recorded.","PeriodicalId":35353,"journal":{"name":"Forestry Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78790369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The effects of fall and spring prescribed fires on large seedlings (0.3 to 1.3 m height) of oak and other hardwood species three years after a shelterwood harvest were examined in Richland Furnace and Zaleski State Forests in southern Ohio. Fall and spring burns appeared to be more deleterious to red oaks (Quercus rubra L., Q. velutina Lam., Q. coccinea Muenchh.) than white oaks (Q. alba L., Q. prinus L.). Red oak experienced reductions in numbers and canopy volume after spring burns, and canopy reductions after fall burns. White oak experienced small increases in numbers of stems after both fall and spring burns, and an increase in the canopy volume after fall burns, but a slight decrease after spring burns. Yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), a major oak competitor prior to fire, experienced dramatic reductions in the number of regenerating stems and canopy volume after both fall and spring burns. On the other hand, red maple (Acer rubrum L.) experienced large increases in the number of regenerating stems and canopy volume after both fall and spring burns. Based on importance value, the oak species remained relatively unchanged after both fall and spring burns. Yellow-poplar became the least dominant species after spring burns and the second to last dominant species after fall burns.
{"title":"Effects of burn season on large seedlings of oak and other hardwood regeneration three years after shelterwood harvest","authors":"Ying Xin, Roger A. Williams","doi":"10.2478/fsmu-2019-0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2019-0009","url":null,"abstract":"The effects of fall and spring prescribed fires on large seedlings (0.3 to 1.3 m height) of oak and other hardwood species three years after a shelterwood harvest were examined in Richland Furnace and Zaleski State Forests in southern Ohio. Fall and spring burns appeared to be more deleterious to red oaks (Quercus rubra L., Q. velutina Lam., Q. coccinea Muenchh.) than white oaks (Q. alba L., Q. prinus L.). Red oak experienced reductions in numbers and canopy volume after spring burns, and canopy reductions after fall burns. White oak experienced small increases in numbers of stems after both fall and spring burns, and an increase in the canopy volume after fall burns, but a slight decrease after spring burns. Yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), a major oak competitor prior to fire, experienced dramatic reductions in the number of regenerating stems and canopy volume after both fall and spring burns. On the other hand, red maple (Acer rubrum L.) experienced large increases in the number of regenerating stems and canopy volume after both fall and spring burns. Based on importance value, the oak species remained relatively unchanged after both fall and spring burns. Yellow-poplar became the least dominant species after spring burns and the second to last dominant species after fall burns.","PeriodicalId":35353,"journal":{"name":"Forestry Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74427321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
V. Tkach, M. Rumiantsev, Oleksii Kobets, V. Luk’yanets, S. Musienko
Changes in the areas and stock volumes of oak stands were analyzed within the six administrative regions in the plain area of Ukraine, based on forest management data (subcompartment database) as of 2001 and 2016. The studied regions geographically related to the Left-bank Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine (Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy and Chernihiv Regions). The analyzed area was over 284,000 hectares. The paper outlines the present state of the oak stands, concerning their origin (vegetative, natural seed and planted seed stands). Forestry-taxation indices of the stands were determined by grouping the plots according to age and further clustering in four age groups. The natural regeneration under a canopy in oak stands was accounted and estimated using circular 10 m2 (R = 178 cm) accounting plots. The oak forests were found to be dominated by stands of vegetative (coppice) origin (57%). Planted seed-origin oak stands covered 101,000 ha or 36% of the total area (284,000 ha). Stands of natural seed origin amounted to 7%. From 2001 to 2016, the total area of oak forests in the study region decreased by nearly 7,000 hectares. The analysis of literature sources allowed identifying numerous factors, which have the greatest influence on the emergence, liveability, and growth of natural regeneration of pedunculated oak. Only 20% of the investigated oak stands were found to have a sufficient amount of oak regeneration. For the implementation of sustainable forest management, activities should be aimed at optimizing the age structure of oak forests and growing natural forests from seeds.
{"title":"Ukrainian plain oak forests and their natural regeneration","authors":"V. Tkach, M. Rumiantsev, Oleksii Kobets, V. Luk’yanets, S. Musienko","doi":"10.2478/fsmu-2019-0010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2019-0010","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Changes in the areas and stock volumes of oak stands were analyzed within the six administrative regions in the plain area of Ukraine, based on forest management data (subcompartment database) as of 2001 and 2016. The studied regions geographically related to the Left-bank Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine (Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy and Chernihiv Regions). The analyzed area was over 284,000 hectares. The paper outlines the present state of the oak stands, concerning their origin (vegetative, natural seed and planted seed stands). Forestry-taxation indices of the stands were determined by grouping the plots according to age and further clustering in four age groups. The natural regeneration under a canopy in oak stands was accounted and estimated using circular 10 m2 (R = 178 cm) accounting plots. The oak forests were found to be dominated by stands of vegetative (coppice) origin (57%). Planted seed-origin oak stands covered 101,000 ha or 36% of the total area (284,000 ha). Stands of natural seed origin amounted to 7%. From 2001 to 2016, the total area of oak forests in the study region decreased by nearly 7,000 hectares. The analysis of literature sources allowed identifying numerous factors, which have the greatest influence on the emergence, liveability, and growth of natural regeneration of pedunculated oak. Only 20% of the investigated oak stands were found to have a sufficient amount of oak regeneration. For the implementation of sustainable forest management, activities should be aimed at optimizing the age structure of oak forests and growing natural forests from seeds.","PeriodicalId":35353,"journal":{"name":"Forestry Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83711502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study investigated the environmental factors affecting functional traits, which have been shown to be important for species assembly in diverse forest stands on limestone hills in northern Thailand. We established 54 plots of 400 m2 in three forest sites (lower, middle, and upper) established along an altitudinal gradient on a limestone hill. The functional traits were assessed and then linked to environmental factors governing forest composition. Results indicated that elevation, rocky outcroppings, and sunlight were important factors affecting functional trait diversity at the study site. Areas with high values of these three factors exhibited increased community-level leaf size, specific leaf area, and leaf thickness, all of which are associated with light-demanding species. However, in areas with low values of these three factors, we observed increased community-level wood density and maximum plant height, which are characteristic of shade-tolerant species. Elevation also positively affected functional dispersion and functional richness values, indicating a wide functional trait space in higher elevation areas, but lower areas exhibited a narrower functional trait space. We suggest that combining a trait-based approach with environmental factors can reveal patterns of species composition in limestone forests.
{"title":"Environmental factors related to community-level functional traits in limestone hill forests along an altitudinal gradient: a case study in northern Thailand","authors":"L. Asanok, T. Kamyo, Dokrak Marod","doi":"10.2478/fsmu-2019-0014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2019-0014","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 This study investigated the environmental factors affecting functional traits, which have been shown to be important for species assembly in diverse forest stands on limestone hills in northern Thailand. We established 54 plots of 400 m2 in three forest sites (lower, middle, and upper) established along an altitudinal gradient on a limestone hill. The functional traits were assessed and then linked to environmental factors governing forest composition. Results indicated that elevation, rocky outcroppings, and sunlight were important factors affecting functional trait diversity at the study site. Areas with high values of these three factors exhibited increased community-level leaf size, specific leaf area, and leaf thickness, all of which are associated with light-demanding species. However, in areas with low values of these three factors, we observed increased community-level wood density and maximum plant height, which are characteristic of shade-tolerant species. Elevation also positively affected functional dispersion and functional richness values, indicating a wide functional trait space in higher elevation areas, but lower areas exhibited a narrower functional trait space. We suggest that combining a trait-based approach with environmental factors can reveal patterns of species composition in limestone forests.","PeriodicalId":35353,"journal":{"name":"Forestry Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90071379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The relevance of the research topic is prompted by the need to improve the practical instruments of forest management and make them in line with the principles of sustainable development. The research is aimed at facilitating the implementation of environmental, social and economic functions of forest ecosystems in a long-term perspective. The study made use of the following methods: systemic structural analysis, clustering and comparative analysis to identify groups of administrative areas that correspond to certain strategic areas of sustainable forestry. The research is based on cybernetic modeling which helps determining the strategic zones of sustainable forestry. The stages of creating model forests were defined alongside formulating economic, organizational, social and environmental aspects of forest management. The methodology envisages grouping of administrative districts on the basis of a number of factors, including the percentage of forest land, social and economic indicators prompted. The methodology was implemented when analysing official data from several administrative districts in the Zhytomyr region. Several scenarios of sustainable forestry were detailed for each group of administrative districts. Three strategic options were pursued: 1) preserving the viability of forest ecosystems in Ukraine, 2) contributing to the welfare of Ukrainians, 3) ensuring economic development of the forestry sector. It follows from the research that the model forest is a powerful form of cost-effective business interaction in the process of sustainable development that shall bring into action the conservation of nature, provision of comfortable living conditions for territorial communities as well as the most capital-productive utilization of forest resources.
{"title":"Using model forests as a form of balanced forestry in Ukraine","authors":"L. Cherchyk, L. Korchynska, V. Babenko","doi":"10.2478/fsmu-2019-0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2019-0013","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The relevance of the research topic is prompted by the need to improve the practical instruments of forest management and make them in line with the principles of sustainable development. The research is aimed at facilitating the implementation of environmental, social and economic functions of forest ecosystems in a long-term perspective. The study made use of the following methods: systemic structural analysis, clustering and comparative analysis to identify groups of administrative areas that correspond to certain strategic areas of sustainable forestry. The research is based on cybernetic modeling which helps determining the strategic zones of sustainable forestry. The stages of creating model forests were defined alongside formulating economic, organizational, social and environmental aspects of forest management. The methodology envisages grouping of administrative districts on the basis of a number of factors, including the percentage of forest land, social and economic indicators prompted. The methodology was implemented when analysing official data from several administrative districts in the Zhytomyr region. Several scenarios of sustainable forestry were detailed for each group of administrative districts. Three strategic options were pursued: 1) preserving the viability of forest ecosystems in Ukraine, 2) contributing to the welfare of Ukrainians, 3) ensuring economic development of the forestry sector. It follows from the research that the model forest is a powerful form of cost-effective business interaction in the process of sustainable development that shall bring into action the conservation of nature, provision of comfortable living conditions for territorial communities as well as the most capital-productive utilization of forest resources.","PeriodicalId":35353,"journal":{"name":"Forestry Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88025282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Land abandonment studies have drawn scientists’ attention for more than a decade. Under the conditions of a growing world population and pressure to preserve the environment, there are still areas which are abandoned. Land abandonment occurs also in Estonia. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of the arable land plot features on the probability that land abandonment will occur on those plots. The occurrence of the brushwood on the arable land plots was used as the indicator that some areas of those plots are abandoned. The area of the plot, compactness, soil productivity, ratio of ameliorated land, roughness of land and the distance to the different objects were used for the description of the arable land plots. The study area covered Tartu County in Estonia and was based on the combination of the Estonian National Topographic Database vector data and land cover height model raster data provided by the Estonian Land Board. The study period covered the timeframe from 2011 to 2017 and consisted of 6,604 agricultural plots. The plots were divided into two groups (without and with brushwood) and the mean values of the indicators describing the features of the arable land plots were calculated for the groups. The binominal logistic regression analysis was also used to assess the potential (probability) of plots to be abandoned. Results of the study showed that the features of the arable land plots have an impact on the probability that land abandonment will occur on those plots.
{"title":"Haritava maa mahajätmine Tartu maakonnas","authors":"Merit Mandel, Siim Maasikamäe, Mait Lang","doi":"10.2478/fsmu-2019-0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2019-0011","url":null,"abstract":"Land abandonment studies have drawn scientists’ attention for more than a decade. Under the conditions of a growing world population and pressure to preserve the environment, there are still areas which are abandoned. Land abandonment occurs also in Estonia. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of the arable land plot features on the probability that land abandonment will occur on those plots. The occurrence of the brushwood on the arable land plots was used as the indicator that some areas of those plots are abandoned. The area of the plot, compactness, soil productivity, ratio of ameliorated land, roughness of land and the distance to the different objects were used for the description of the arable land plots. The study area covered Tartu County in Estonia and was based on the combination of the Estonian National Topographic Database vector data and land cover height model raster data provided by the Estonian Land Board. The study period covered the timeframe from 2011 to 2017 and consisted of 6,604 agricultural plots. The plots were divided into two groups (without and with brushwood) and the mean values of the indicators describing the features of the arable land plots were calculated for the groups. The binominal logistic regression analysis was also used to assess the potential (probability) of plots to be abandoned. Results of the study showed that the features of the arable land plots have an impact on the probability that land abandonment will occur on those plots.","PeriodicalId":35353,"journal":{"name":"Forestry Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91155960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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