Conservation and enhancement of old-growth forests are key in forest planning and policies.In order to do so,more knowledge is needed on how the attributes traditionally associated with old-growth forests are distribu...Conservation and enhancement of old-growth forests are key in forest planning and policies.In order to do so,more knowledge is needed on how the attributes traditionally associated with old-growth forests are distributed in space,what differences exist across distinct forest types and what natural or anthropic conditions are affecting the distribution of these old-growthness attributes.Using data from the Third Spanish National Forest Inventory(1997–2007),we calculated six indicators commonly associated with forest old-growthness for the plots in the territory of Peninsular Spain and Balearic Islands,and then combined them into an aggregated index.We then assessed their spatial distribution and the differences across five forest functional types,as well as the effects of ten climate,topographic,landscape,and anthropic variables in their distribution.Relevant geographical patterns were apparent,with climate factors,namely temperature and precipitation,playing a crucial role in the distribution of these attributes.The distribution of the indicators also varied across different forest types,while the effects of recent anthropic impacts were weaker but still relevant.Aridity seemed to be one of the main impediments for the development of old-growthness attributes,coupled with a negative impact of recent human pressure.However,these effects seemed to be mediated by other factors,specially the legacies imposed by the complex history of forest management practices,land use changes and natural disturbances that have shaped the forests of Spain.The results of this exploratory analysis highlight on one hand the importance of climate in the dynamic of forests towards old-growthness,which is relevant in a context of Climate Change,and on the other hand,the need for more insights on the history of our forests in order to understand their present and future.展开更多
As interest in tropical forest restoration accelerates,understanding its hydrological implications is increasingly urgent.While concerns persist that reforestation will reduce annual water yields—particularly in drie...As interest in tropical forest restoration accelerates,understanding its hydrological implications is increasingly urgent.While concerns persist that reforestation will reduce annual water yields—particularly in drier climates—we highlight conditions under which forest landscape restoration(FLR)can improve seasonal water availability,especially during the dry season.We examine the trade-off between increased vegetation water use(“pumping”)and enhanced infiltration and subsurface retention(“sponging”)following forestation of degraded lands,the recovery of vegetation's ability to capture“occult”precipitation(fog)in specific coastal and montane settings,and the role of forest cover in enhancing moisture recycling and transport at multiple scales.A pan-tropical sensitivity analysis shows that in degraded landscapes with deep soils and pronounced rainfall seasonality,infiltration gains following forestation can offset or exceed evaporative losses,thereby supporting groundwater recharge and increasing dry-season flows in approximately 10%of cases,with an additional 8%showing near-neutral(slightly negative)outcomes.These findings challenge the assumption that forestation uniformly reduces water availability and underscore the need to prioritize dry-season flow recovery—rather than annual water yield—as a central hydrological goal of FLR.We call for trans-disciplinary research and long-term monitoring to inform forest restoration strategies,particularly in seasonally dry regions where water scarcity is most acute.展开更多
A new model was developed to predict forestland demand of China during the years of 2010-2050 in terms of the concept of forest ecosystem services. On the basis of the relationship between forest ecosystem services an...A new model was developed to predict forestland demand of China during the years of 2010-2050 in terms of the concept of forest ecosystem services. On the basis of the relationship between forest ecosystem services and classified forest management, we hypothesized that the ecological-forest provides ecological services, whereas commercial-forest supplies wood and timber production, and the influences of the growth of population, social-economic development target, forest management methods and the technology changes on forest resources were also taken into account. The prediction reveals that the demand of total forestland of China will be 244.8, 261.2 and 362.2 million ha by the year 2010, 2020 and 2050, respectively. The results demonstrated that China will be confronted with a shortage of forest resources, especially with lack of ecological-oriented forests, in the future. It is suggested that sustainable management of forest resources must be reinforced and more attention should be drown no enhancing the service function of forest ecosystem.展开更多
Background: Continuous Cover Forestry(CCF) is a type of forest management that is based on ecological, environmental, and biological principles. Specific definitions of CCF greatly vary and the concept usually include...Background: Continuous Cover Forestry(CCF) is a type of forest management that is based on ecological, environmental, and biological principles. Specific definitions of CCF greatly vary and the concept usually includes a number of tenets or criteria. The most important tenet of CCF is the requirement to abandon the practice of largescale clearfelling in favour of selective thinning/harvesting and natural regeneration methods.Methods: CCF is commonly believed to have its main origin in an academic debate that was conducted through publications in a number of European and North American countries towards the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Our findings are exclusively based on a literature review of the history of CCF and they revealed that the European origins of CCF go much further back to a form of farm forestry that started to be practised in Central Europe in the 17th century. Eventually, this type of farm forestry led to the formation of the single-tree selection system as we know it today. Another influential tradition line contributing to modern CCF is individual-based forest management, which breaks forest stands down into small neighbourhood-based units. The centres of these units are dominant frame trees which form the framework of a forest stand. Consequently, management is only carried out in the local neighbourhood of frame trees. Individual-based forest management also modified inflexible area-control approaches of plantation forest management in favour of the flexible sizecontrol method.Results and conclusions: We found evidence that the three aforementioned tradition lines are equally important and much interacted in shaping modern CCF. Since CCF is an international accomplishment, it is helpful to thoroughly study the drivers and causes of such concepts. Understanding the gradual evolution can give valuable clues for the introduction and adaptation of CCF in countries where the concept is new.展开更多
Background:The heartwood(HW)proportion in the trunk of mature trees is an important characteristic not only for wood quality but also for assessing the role of forests in carbon sequestration.We have for the first tim...Background:The heartwood(HW)proportion in the trunk of mature trees is an important characteristic not only for wood quality but also for assessing the role of forests in carbon sequestration.We have for the first time studied the proportion of HW in the trunk and the distribution of carbon and extractives in sapwood(SW)and HW of 70–80 year old Pinus sylvestris L.trees under different growing conditions in the pine forests of North-West Russia.Method:We have examined the influence of conditions and tree position in stand(dominant,intermediate and suppressed trees)in the ecological series:blueberry pine forest(Blu)–lingonberry pine forest(Lin)–lichen pine forest(Lic).We have analyzed the influence of climate conditions in the biogeographical series of Lin:the middle taiga subzone–the northern taiga subzone–the transition area of the northern taiga subzone and tundra.Results:We found that the carbon concentration in HW was 1.6%–3.4%higher than in SW,and the difference depended on growing conditions.Carbon concentration in HW increased with a decrease in stand productivity(Blu-Lin-Lic).In medium-productive stands,the carbon concentration in SW was higher in intermediate and supressed trees compared to dominant trees.In the series from south to north,carbon concentration in HW increased by up to 2%,while in SW,it rose by 2.7%–3.8%.Conclusions:Our results once again emphasized the need for an empirical assessment of the accurate carbon content in aboveground wood biomass,including various forest growing conditions,to better understand the role of boreal forests in carbon storage.展开更多
Anthropogenic activities have significantly contributed to the loss and fragmentation of primary forests across the globe,which has accelerated biodiversity decline,particularly among highly specialised species depend...Anthropogenic activities have significantly contributed to the loss and fragmentation of primary forests across the globe,which has accelerated biodiversity decline,particularly among highly specialised species dependent on unique forest structures.Nevertheless,comparative studies between primary and managed forests are scarce,despite their importance for effective monitoring and conservation planning.To address this knowledge gap,we conducted a comparative study using a unique dataset of permanent study plots established across some of the best-preserved,mixed-beech primary forests and their adjacent managed counterparts in the Western Carpathian Mountains.We assessed the effects of forest structure and tree age—determined through extensive dendrochronological reconstructions—on contemporary lichen communities.Lichen species richness and the richness of red-listed species were 26%and 50%higher in primary forests than in managed forests,respectively,highlighting the outstanding conservation importance of primary forests.Generalised least squares(GLS)modelling demonstrated that in managed forests,lichen species richness was strongly associated with structural attributes:It increased with maximum tree age and the diameter of standing deadwood,and decreased with higher basal area(BA)of living trees,likely due to reduced understory light.In contrast,no structural variables significantly explained richness in primary forests,likely due to structural saturation and widespread microhabitat availability.Elevation emerged as the sole variable with significant explanatory strength.These findings underscore the critical role of structural complexity in supporting lichen diversity under different management regimes and provide a robust evidence base for promoting elements such as old trees,deadwood—especially large standing deadwood—and reduced canopy density.At the same time,they reaffirm the irreplaceable value of primary forests as biodiversity refuges and highlight the need for landscape-level conservation strategies that integrate both intact primary and structurally enriched managed forests.展开更多
As the impact of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance continues to intensify around the world,the ecological integrity(EI)of forest ecosystems is compromised in various ways.This study aims to quantify ecologi...As the impact of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance continues to intensify around the world,the ecological integrity(EI)of forest ecosystems is compromised in various ways.This study aims to quantify ecological integrity,explore its latitudinal patterns,and identify the potential determinants behind it.We selected 15 indicators of forest composition,structure,and function and used two approaches to quantify ecological integrity.The results show a significant negative correlation between forest ecological integrity and increasing latitude.Climate emerged as the main driver of the latitudinal pattern compared to anthropogenic and other influencing factors.Our study offers a new approach to quantifying ecological integrity based on a set of indicators that may help assess the contribution of forest ecosystems in conservation,restoration,and ecosystem services.展开更多
A better understanding of the structure and dynamics of disturbed forests is key for forecasting their future successional trajectories.Despite vulnerability of subalpine forests to warming climate,little is known as ...A better understanding of the structure and dynamics of disturbed forests is key for forecasting their future successional trajectories.Despite vulnerability of subalpine forests to warming climate,little is known as to how their community composition has responded to disturbances and climate warming over decades.Before the 1970s,subalpine forests on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau mainly experienced logging and fire,but afterwards they were more impacted by climate warming.Thus,they provide an excellent setting to test whether disturbances and climate warming led to changes in forest structure.Based on the analysis of 3145 forest inventory plots at 4-to 5-year resolution,we found that spruce-fir forests shifted to pine and broadleaved forests since the early 1970s.Such a turnover in species composition mainly occurred in the 1994e1998 period.By strongly altering site conditions,disturbances in concert with climate warming reshuffle community composition to warm-adapted broadleaf-pine species.Thus,moderate disturbances shifted forest composition through a gradual loss of resilience of spruce-fir forests.Shifts in these foundation species will have profound impacts on ecosystem functions and services.In the future,broadleaved forests could expand more rapidly than evergreen needle-leaved forests under moderate warming scenarios.In addition to climate,the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on subalpine forests should be considered in adaptive forest management and in projections of future forest changes.展开更多
Increasing human activity is altering the struc-ture of forests,which affects the composition of communi-ties,including birds.However,little is known about the key forest structure variables that determine the richnes...Increasing human activity is altering the struc-ture of forests,which affects the composition of communi-ties,including birds.However,little is known about the key forest structure variables that determine the richness of bird communities in European temperate oak forests.We,there-fore,aimed to identify key variables in these habitats that could contribute to the design of management strategies for forest conservation by surveying 11 oak-dominated forest sites throughout the mid-mountain range of Hungary at 86 survey points to reveal the role of different compositional and structural variables for forest stands that influence the breeding bird assemblages in the forests at the functional group and individual species levels.Based on decision tree modelling,our results showed that the density of trees larger than 30 cm DBH was an overall important variable,indi-cating that large-diameter trees were essential to provide diverse bird communities.The total abundance of birds,the foliage-gleaners,primary and secondary cavity nest-ers,residents,and five specific bird species were related to the density of high trunk diameter trees.The abundance of shrub nesters was negatively influenced by a high density of trees over 10 cm DBH.The density of the shrub layer positively affected total bird abundance and the abundance of foliage gleaners,secondary cavity nesters and residents.Analysis of the co-dominant tree species showed that the presence of linden,beech,and hornbeam was important in influencing the abundance of various bird species,e.g.,Eur-asian Treecreeper(Certhia familiaris),Marsh Tit(Poecile palustris)and Wood Warbler(Phylloscopus sibilatrix).Our results indicated that large trees,high tree diversity,and dense shrub layer were essential for forest bird communities and are critical targets for protection to maintain diverse and abundant bird communities in oak-dominated forest habitats.展开更多
Forest structural complexity influences arthropod communities by shaping habitat availability,microclimatic conditions,and resource distribution.However,the extent to which structural complexity and specific structura...Forest structural complexity influences arthropod communities by shaping habitat availability,microclimatic conditions,and resource distribution.However,the extent to which structural complexity and specific structural components drive arthropod abundance and biomass remains poorly understood in temperate forests.This study examined how local and landscape-scale forest characteristics influence arthropod communities across vertical strata(forest floor(FF),herb layer(HL),and shrub layer(SL))in 19 temperate deciduous forests in Belgium,dominated by pedunculate oak,European beech,or Canadian poplar.At the local scale,we assessed dominant tree species identity,overall forest structural complexity,and its components(vertical and horizontal structure,woody layer,herbal layer,and deadwood).At the landscape scale,we evaluated forest area,edge length,forest cover,and vegetation greenness(normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)).Contrary to expectation,arthropod biomass and abundance did not consistently increase with higher structural complexity.Instead,woody layer complexity,dominant tree species,and NDVI emerged as key drivers,with effects varying by context and stratum.Arthropod abundance and biomass were the highest in oak-and poplar-dominated forests and the lowest in beech forests,likely due to differences in litter quality,microhabitat availability,and understory development.Woody layer complexity positively influenced forest floor arthropods in poplar forests but had a negative effect in oak forests.At the landscape scale,NDVI unexpectedly showed negative relationships with arthropod abundance across strata and with arthropod biomass in the herb layer,likely reflecting dense canopy suppression of understory productivity.Arthropod biomass on the forest floor increased with forest cover,while abundance in the shrub layer decreased with forest cover but increased with forest area.These findings highlight the complex interplay between forest structural attributes,dominant tree species,and landscape factors in shaping arthropod communities.By identifying the key drivers of arthropod abundance and biomass,this study contributes to a better understanding of biodiversity patterns in temperate forests and their ecological dynamics.展开更多
Although numerous studies have proposed explanations for the specific and relative effects of stand structure,plant diversity,and environmental conditions on carbon(C)storage in forest ecosystems,understanding how the...Although numerous studies have proposed explanations for the specific and relative effects of stand structure,plant diversity,and environmental conditions on carbon(C)storage in forest ecosystems,understanding how these factors collectively affect C storage in different community layers(trees,shrubs,and herbs)and forest types(mixed,broad-leaved(E),broad-leaved(M),and coniferous forest)continues to pose challenges.To address this,we used structural equation models to quantify the influence of biotic factors(mean DBH,mean height,maximum height,stem density,and basal area)and abiotic factors(elevation and canopy openness),as well as metrics of species diversity(Shannon–Wiener index,Simpson index,and Pielou’s evenness)in various forest types.Our analysis revealed the critical roles of forest types and elevation in explaining a substantial portion of variability in C storage in the overstory layer,with a moderate influence of stand factors(mean DBH and basal area)and a slightly negative impact of tree species diversity(Shannon–Wiener index).Notably,forest height emerged as the primary predictor of C storage in the herb layer.Regression relationships further highlighted the significant contribution of tree species diversity to mean height,understory C storage,and branch biomass within the forest ecosystem.Our insights into tree species diversity,derived from structural equation modeling of C storage in the overstory,suggest that the effects of tree species diversity may be influenced by stem biomass in statistical reasoning within temperate forests.Further research should also integrate tree species diversity with tree components biomass,forest mean height,understory C,and canopy openness to understand complex relationships and maintain healthy and sustainable ecosystems in the face of global climate challenges.展开更多
Forest hydrology,the study of water dynamics within forested catchments,is crucial for understanding the intricate relationship between forest cover and water balances across different scales,from ecosystems to landsc...Forest hydrology,the study of water dynamics within forested catchments,is crucial for understanding the intricate relationship between forest cover and water balances across different scales,from ecosystems to landscapes,or from catchment watersheds.The intensified global changes in climate,land use and cover,and pollution that occurred over the past century have brought about adverse impacts on forests and their services in water regulation,signifying the importance of forest hydrological research as a re-emerging topic of scientific interest.This article reviews the literature on recent advances in forest hydrological research,intending to identify leading countries,institutions,and researchers actively engaged in this field,as well as highlighting research hotspots for future exploration.Through a systematic analysis using VOSviewer,drawing from 17,006 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning 2000–2022,we employed scientometric methods to assess research productivity,identify emerging topics,and analyze academic development.The findings reveal a consistent growth in forest hydrological research over the past two decades,with the United States,Charles T.Driscoll,and the Chinese Academy of Sciences emerging as the most productive country,author,and institution,respectively.The Journal of Hydrology emerges as the most co-cited journal.Analysis of keyword co-occurrence and co-cited references highlights key research areas,including climate change,management strategies,runoff-erosion dynamics,vegetation cover changes,paired catchment experiments,water quality,aquatic biodiversity,forest fire dynamics and hydrological modeling.Based on these findings,our study advocates for an integrated approach to future research,emphasizing the collection of data from diverse sources,utilization of varied methodologies,and collaboration across disciplines and institutions.This holistic strategy is essential for developing sustainable approaches to forested watershed planning and management.Ultimately,our study provides valuable insights for researchers,practitioners,and policymakers,guiding future research directions towards forest hydrological research and applications.展开更多
Forest ecosystems are one of the largest terres-trial carbon(C)reservoirs on Earth and an important sink of anthropogenic CO_(2) emissions.Abiotic and biotic distur-bances such as windfalls,fires,outbreaks of insects ...Forest ecosystems are one of the largest terres-trial carbon(C)reservoirs on Earth and an important sink of anthropogenic CO_(2) emissions.Abiotic and biotic distur-bances such as windfalls,fires,outbreaks of insects or pests may negatively affect C storage in forest ecosystems decreas-ing their role as CO_(2) sink.The objective of this review was to summarize the current knowledge on the impact of large-scale forest ecosystem disturbances caused by windthrow and insect outbreaks on soil C stocks and cycles,and to gather information on the impact of restoration treatments performed in disturbed stands in the context of carbon accumulation in forest soils.Discussed were effects of wind-storms and insect outbreaks as well as impacts of various approaches of forest regeneration after disturbance on C stocks and fluxes.Disturbances decrease C stocks in forest ecosystems and turn them from C sink into C source for a certain time.Regeneration of the disturbed forest restores its role as a CO_(2) sink.In montane forests artificial afforestation seems to shorten the time of achieving C parity.However,no data exists for lowland forests.Hence,there is an urgent need for studies that assess effect of windfalls and insect outbreaks on carbon storage in forests of lowland Europe.展开更多
Climate change is the most severe ecological challenge faced by the world today.Forests,the dominant component of terrestrial ecosystems,play a critical role in mitigating climate change due to their powerful carbon s...Climate change is the most severe ecological challenge faced by the world today.Forests,the dominant component of terrestrial ecosystems,play a critical role in mitigating climate change due to their powerful carbon sequestration capabilities.Meanwhile,climate change has also become a major factor affecting the sustainable management of forest ecosystems.Climate-Smart Forestry(CSF)is an emerging concept in sustainable forest management.By utilizing advanced technologies,such as information technology and artificial intelligence,CSF aims to develop innovative and proactive forest management methods and decision-making systems to address the challenges of climate change.CSF aims to enhance forest ecosystem resilience(i.e.,maintain a condition where,even when the state of the ecosystem changes,the ecosystem functions do not deteriorate)through climate change adaptation,improve the mitigation capabilities of forest ecosystems to climate change,maintain high,stable,and sustainable forest productivity and ecosystem services,and ultimately achieve harmonious development between humans and nature.This concept paper:(1)discusses the emergence and development of CSF,which integrates Ecological Forestry,Carbon Forestry,and Smart Forestry,and proposes the concept of CSF;(2)analyzes the goals of CSF in improving forest ecosystem stability,enhancing forest ecosystem carbon sequestration capacity,and advocating the application and development of new technologies in CSF,including artificial intelligence,robotics,Light Detection and Ranging,and forest digital twin;(3)presents the latest practices of CSF based on prior research on forest structure and function using new generation information technologies at Qingyuan Forest,China.From these practices and reflections,we suggested the development direction of CSF,including the key research topics and technological advancement.展开更多
With the rapid economic development and continuous expansion of human activities,forest degradation—characterized by reduced forest stock within the forest including declining carbon storage—poses significant threat...With the rapid economic development and continuous expansion of human activities,forest degradation—characterized by reduced forest stock within the forest including declining carbon storage—poses significant threats to ecosystem stability.Understanding the current status of forest degradation and assessing potential carbon stocks in China are of strategic importance for making forest restoration efforts and enhancing carbon sequestration capacity.In this study,we used the national forest inventory data from 2009 to 2018 to develop a set of standard measures for assessing degraded forests across China,based on five key indicators:forest accumulation growth rate(FAGR),forest recruitment rate(FRR),tree species reduction rate(TSRR),forest canopy cover reduction rate(FCCRR),and forest disaster level(FDL).Additionally,we estimated standing carbon stock,potential carbon stock,and theoretical space to grow by developing a stand growth model,which accounts for stand density across different site classes,to evaluate the restoration potential of degraded forests.The results indicate that degraded forest area in China is 36.15 million hectares,accounting for 20.10% of a total forest area.Standing carbon stock and potential carbon stock of degraded forests in China are 23.93 million tons and 61.90 million tons,respectively.Overall,degraded forest varies significantly across different regions.The results highlight the important trade-offs among environmental factors,policy decisions,and forest conditions,providing a robust foundation for developing measures to enhance forest quality.展开更多
The construction of artificial shelter forests(ASFs)has resulted in substantial ecological,economic,and societal benefits to the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP).However,the health and benefits of ASFs are being increasingl...The construction of artificial shelter forests(ASFs)has resulted in substantial ecological,economic,and societal benefits to the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP).However,the health and benefits of ASFs are being increasingly threatened by the formation of low-efficiency artificial shelter forests(LEASFs).In this study,LEASFs are systematically analyzed in terms of their status,formation mechanisms,and developmental obstacles.The key restoration techniques and schemes were summarized to improve the quality and efficiency of LEASFs.LEASFs are formed by relatively complex mechanisms,but they arise mainly due to poor habitat conditions,improper tree species selections,mismatch between stands and habitat,extensive forest management measures,and human interferences.The restoration and improvement of LEASFs are hindered by water deficits,mismatch between stands and habitat,single management purpose,and low efficiency.LEASFs are becoming more complex due to their wide range,the challenges associated with their restoration,and insufficient technological measures for their restoration.The key techniques of the quality and efficiency improvement of LEASFs include basic forest tending methods,near-natural restoration,multifunction-oriented improvement,and systematic restoration.An understanding on the formation mechanisms of LEASFs and a scientific approach toward their restoration are urgently needed and critical for the ecological protection and high-quality development of LEASFs on the CLP.Based on these analyses,we recommend strengthening the monitoring and supervision of LEASFs,considering the bearing capacity of regional water resources,implementing multiple restoration techniques,promoting multifunction-oriented ecological development,and exploring new management concepts to achieve the sustainable development of ASFs on the CLP.展开更多
Collaborative forest management (CFM) is a form of forest governance in which local communities are involved in the management and decision-making processes related to forest resources. It is believed that forests und...Collaborative forest management (CFM) is a form of forest governance in which local communities are involved in the management and decision-making processes related to forest resources. It is believed that forests under such management are better in tree diversity and conservation status and thus hold more carbon stocks. The study assessed the impact of CFM on carbon stocks, tree species diversity & tree species density in Mabira Central Forest Reserve. Data were collected from plots that were systematically laid in the different purposively selected forest areas. The study findings show that there is no difference in stem density and carbon stocks between CFM and non-CFM areas. CFM areas had lower species richness compared to non-CFM areas. CFM areas, however, exhibited more species diversity than non-CFM areas. Climax colonization may favor a few dominant species over others, hence lowering species diversity despite the number of species being many in the understory, hence at the same time increasing species richness. Likewise, disturbance in CFM area may affect natural colonization and favor the emergency of many species either naturally or through assisted regeneration by reforestation, hence increasing diversity, whereas artificial selection of preferred species through harvesting may lower species richness, as observed. Recommendations for improving collaborative forest management (CFM) areas include implementing targeted interventions to enhance carbon sequestration, such as promoting reforestation and afforestation with high-carbon-storing species and strengthening monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess carbon stock changes over time. Additionally, efforts should focus on enhancing biodiversity conservation by implementing more stringent protection measures and reducing human disturbance while encouraging community participation in biodiversity monitoring and conservation education.展开更多
We tested the effectiveness of the gradual removal of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)in former plantations of this species in Roztocze National Park(SE Poland)to support the restoration of natural herbaceous flora and...We tested the effectiveness of the gradual removal of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)in former plantations of this species in Roztocze National Park(SE Poland)to support the restoration of natural herbaceous flora and forest structure.We compared 0.5-ha study plots subjected to selective removal of pine trees with control plots excluded from any kind of human intervention for half a century.The observed changes in forest floor vegetation in the converted plots showed naturalization towards habitat-specific species.However,differences in the spatial distribution of trees between the treatment and control plots showed no universal pattern and revealed subtle but positive shifts from regular to random or clustered patterns.The mean tree diameters were higher in plots subjected to Scots pine removal,which resulted from the vigorous growth of tree species,consistent with habitat types.We conclude that forest restoration through the removal of planted trees can support the naturalization of former Scots pine plantations in protected areas.However,the selection of an appropriate method and its intensity are of vital importance.Methods that resemble typical management practices,such as selection thinning,are not always the best approach,as they may preserve or even increase the regular distribution of trees.Therefore,for restoration purposes,we recommend testing other methods that increase spatial heterogeneity,including systematic cutting or emulating natural disturbances.In addition,low-intensity thinning may not be sufficient to support the restoration of natural forest floor vegetation and the variability in forest stand structure.展开更多
Old-growth forests are of major importance for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation,as well as being a benchmark for the implementation of sustainable forest management.Although dedicated studies ha...Old-growth forests are of major importance for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation,as well as being a benchmark for the implementation of sustainable forest management.Although dedicated studies have significantly increased in the last decades,there is still limited knowledge of Mediterranean forests,especially those dominated by Quercus pubescens and related taxa.To fill this knowledge gap,we primarily studied in the field two downy oak forests possessing old-growth traits,localized in Sicily(Mediterranean,Italy).Second,we used a structural heterogeneity index(SHI)to assess their old-growthness level,in comparison with the downy oak stands surveyed in the Regional Forest Inventory(RFI)of Sicily.Third,we tested the effect of different sets of structural parameters on SHI scores,thus assessing whether their choice could affect the final score and the stand assessment.SHI was well proven to discriminate these two stands from the others,both showing,on average,a SHI score just higher than 80,whilst SHI in RFI plots was just under 50,a significantly lower value.The methodological approach used in our study highlights the need to standardize the parameters used to characterize the old-growthness level of Mediterranean forests in order to allow more reliable comparisons.Most of the structural parameters were higher in the two selected stands,except for the attributes related to standing deadwood,suggesting a still limited contribution of standing dead trees and snags in the potential old-growth stands under investigation.The application of a structural index has proven effective for the purpose it was tested for,demonstrating its usefulness in discriminating between two potential old-growth stands from ordinary stands of the same forest type.We believe that both forests deserve primary attention and tailored management measures,as well as inclusion in the recently established Italian Network of old-growth forests.展开更多
1.In recent years,climate change has led to drought and severe bark beetle infestations,affecting Norway spruce(Picea abies)across Europe,with detrimental consequences for forest owners,the forestry sector and associa...1.In recent years,climate change has led to drought and severe bark beetle infestations,affecting Norway spruce(Picea abies)across Europe,with detrimental consequences for forest owners,the forestry sector and associated industries.As a result,silviculture now faces the challenge of identifying tree species more resilient to these stressors to mitigate the impacts on forest management,forest-dependent economies and rural livelihoods.The North American Douglas-fir(Pseudotsuga menziesii)has emerged as a promising conifer species,better suited to future climate conditions and capable of producing high timber yields.2.Non-native tree species may affect native biodiversity,yet the impacts of Douglas-fir on native forest biodiversity are not clear.A comprehensive review evaluating the impact of Douglas-fir on faunal and floral biodiversity in European forests is lacking.3.Here,we present the results of a systematic literature review on Douglas-fir effects on native biodiversity,focusing on studies conducted in Europe.For arthropods,sufficient studies were found to do more detailed quantitative assessments.For fungi,birds,plants and soil fauna some studies existed,but only qualitative evaluations could be made.Other taxa were not investigated.4.In the present literature,the effects of Douglas-fir inclusion in stands on native biodiversity,compared to stands of solely native tree species,were mostly non-significant(78.6%,based on 32 studies).Positive effects were noted in 12%of cases,while negative effects were observed in 9.4%(total of 1,936 effects).Above-ground fauna was more extensively studied than below-ground fauna.Mechanisms proposed to explain taxa responses were often discussed but not always formally tested.For arthropods,there were varying effects on diversity between studies evaluating different scales(i.e.,tree-scale vs.stand-scale).In general,differences in effects depended on a range of factors,including stand composition and structure,season,and sampling site and period.5.Our review indicates limited evidence of adverse effects of Douglas-fir on biodiversity in European forests,highlighting a significant knowledge gap due to the scarcity of studies.Douglas-fir's impact on biodiversity likely varies depending on the forest type and management practices.Further research in diverse contexts is crucial to determine optimal levels of admixture and guide forest management.展开更多
基金supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation project GREEN-RISK(Evaluation of past changes in ecosystem services and biodiversity in forests and restoration priorities under global change impacts-PID2020-119933RB-C21)A.C.received a pre-doctoral fellowship funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation(PRE2021-099642).
文摘Conservation and enhancement of old-growth forests are key in forest planning and policies.In order to do so,more knowledge is needed on how the attributes traditionally associated with old-growth forests are distributed in space,what differences exist across distinct forest types and what natural or anthropic conditions are affecting the distribution of these old-growthness attributes.Using data from the Third Spanish National Forest Inventory(1997–2007),we calculated six indicators commonly associated with forest old-growthness for the plots in the territory of Peninsular Spain and Balearic Islands,and then combined them into an aggregated index.We then assessed their spatial distribution and the differences across five forest functional types,as well as the effects of ten climate,topographic,landscape,and anthropic variables in their distribution.Relevant geographical patterns were apparent,with climate factors,namely temperature and precipitation,playing a crucial role in the distribution of these attributes.The distribution of the indicators also varied across different forest types,while the effects of recent anthropic impacts were weaker but still relevant.Aridity seemed to be one of the main impediments for the development of old-growthness attributes,coupled with a negative impact of recent human pressure.However,these effects seemed to be mediated by other factors,specially the legacies imposed by the complex history of forest management practices,land use changes and natural disturbances that have shaped the forests of Spain.The results of this exploratory analysis highlight on one hand the importance of climate in the dynamic of forests towards old-growthness,which is relevant in a context of Climate Change,and on the other hand,the need for more insights on the history of our forests in order to understand their present and future.
文摘As interest in tropical forest restoration accelerates,understanding its hydrological implications is increasingly urgent.While concerns persist that reforestation will reduce annual water yields—particularly in drier climates—we highlight conditions under which forest landscape restoration(FLR)can improve seasonal water availability,especially during the dry season.We examine the trade-off between increased vegetation water use(“pumping”)and enhanced infiltration and subsurface retention(“sponging”)following forestation of degraded lands,the recovery of vegetation's ability to capture“occult”precipitation(fog)in specific coastal and montane settings,and the role of forest cover in enhancing moisture recycling and transport at multiple scales.A pan-tropical sensitivity analysis shows that in degraded landscapes with deep soils and pronounced rainfall seasonality,infiltration gains following forestation can offset or exceed evaporative losses,thereby supporting groundwater recharge and increasing dry-season flows in approximately 10%of cases,with an additional 8%showing near-neutral(slightly negative)outcomes.These findings challenge the assumption that forestation uniformly reduces water availability and underscore the need to prioritize dry-season flow recovery—rather than annual water yield—as a central hydrological goal of FLR.We call for trans-disciplinary research and long-term monitoring to inform forest restoration strategies,particularly in seasonally dry regions where water scarcity is most acute.
基金the National Key Technologies R&D Program of China (2006BAD03A09)the National Science Fund of China (40841001)
文摘A new model was developed to predict forestland demand of China during the years of 2010-2050 in terms of the concept of forest ecosystem services. On the basis of the relationship between forest ecosystem services and classified forest management, we hypothesized that the ecological-forest provides ecological services, whereas commercial-forest supplies wood and timber production, and the influences of the growth of population, social-economic development target, forest management methods and the technology changes on forest resources were also taken into account. The prediction reveals that the demand of total forestland of China will be 244.8, 261.2 and 362.2 million ha by the year 2010, 2020 and 2050, respectively. The results demonstrated that China will be confronted with a shortage of forest resources, especially with lack of ecological-oriented forests, in the future. It is suggested that sustainable management of forest resources must be reinforced and more attention should be drown no enhancing the service function of forest ecosystem.
基金supported by the Swedish Government Research Council for Sustainable Development(Formas)grant#2023-00994.
文摘Background: Continuous Cover Forestry(CCF) is a type of forest management that is based on ecological, environmental, and biological principles. Specific definitions of CCF greatly vary and the concept usually includes a number of tenets or criteria. The most important tenet of CCF is the requirement to abandon the practice of largescale clearfelling in favour of selective thinning/harvesting and natural regeneration methods.Methods: CCF is commonly believed to have its main origin in an academic debate that was conducted through publications in a number of European and North American countries towards the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Our findings are exclusively based on a literature review of the history of CCF and they revealed that the European origins of CCF go much further back to a form of farm forestry that started to be practised in Central Europe in the 17th century. Eventually, this type of farm forestry led to the formation of the single-tree selection system as we know it today. Another influential tradition line contributing to modern CCF is individual-based forest management, which breaks forest stands down into small neighbourhood-based units. The centres of these units are dominant frame trees which form the framework of a forest stand. Consequently, management is only carried out in the local neighbourhood of frame trees. Individual-based forest management also modified inflexible area-control approaches of plantation forest management in favour of the flexible sizecontrol method.Results and conclusions: We found evidence that the three aforementioned tradition lines are equally important and much interacted in shaping modern CCF. Since CCF is an international accomplishment, it is helpful to thoroughly study the drivers and causes of such concepts. Understanding the gradual evolution can give valuable clues for the introduction and adaptation of CCF in countries where the concept is new.
基金carried out within the framework of the most important innovative project of state importance“Development of a system of ground-based and remote monitoring of carbon pools and greenhouse gas fluxes on the territory of the Russian Federation,…”(No.123030300031-6)in the northern taiga subzone and on the border of tundra and taiga under the state assignment of the Forest Institute of the Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences(FMEN-2021-0018)with the partial financial support from RSF(grant no.21-14-00204)。
文摘Background:The heartwood(HW)proportion in the trunk of mature trees is an important characteristic not only for wood quality but also for assessing the role of forests in carbon sequestration.We have for the first time studied the proportion of HW in the trunk and the distribution of carbon and extractives in sapwood(SW)and HW of 70–80 year old Pinus sylvestris L.trees under different growing conditions in the pine forests of North-West Russia.Method:We have examined the influence of conditions and tree position in stand(dominant,intermediate and suppressed trees)in the ecological series:blueberry pine forest(Blu)–lingonberry pine forest(Lin)–lichen pine forest(Lic).We have analyzed the influence of climate conditions in the biogeographical series of Lin:the middle taiga subzone–the northern taiga subzone–the transition area of the northern taiga subzone and tundra.Results:We found that the carbon concentration in HW was 1.6%–3.4%higher than in SW,and the difference depended on growing conditions.Carbon concentration in HW increased with a decrease in stand productivity(Blu-Lin-Lic).In medium-productive stands,the carbon concentration in SW was higher in intermediate and supressed trees compared to dominant trees.In the series from south to north,carbon concentration in HW increased by up to 2%,while in SW,it rose by 2.7%–3.8%.Conclusions:Our results once again emphasized the need for an empirical assessment of the accurate carbon content in aboveground wood biomass,including various forest growing conditions,to better understand the role of boreal forests in carbon storage.
基金Funding for this research was provided by the TAČR SS06010420the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague(grant no.IGA A_13_23).
文摘Anthropogenic activities have significantly contributed to the loss and fragmentation of primary forests across the globe,which has accelerated biodiversity decline,particularly among highly specialised species dependent on unique forest structures.Nevertheless,comparative studies between primary and managed forests are scarce,despite their importance for effective monitoring and conservation planning.To address this knowledge gap,we conducted a comparative study using a unique dataset of permanent study plots established across some of the best-preserved,mixed-beech primary forests and their adjacent managed counterparts in the Western Carpathian Mountains.We assessed the effects of forest structure and tree age—determined through extensive dendrochronological reconstructions—on contemporary lichen communities.Lichen species richness and the richness of red-listed species were 26%and 50%higher in primary forests than in managed forests,respectively,highlighting the outstanding conservation importance of primary forests.Generalised least squares(GLS)modelling demonstrated that in managed forests,lichen species richness was strongly associated with structural attributes:It increased with maximum tree age and the diameter of standing deadwood,and decreased with higher basal area(BA)of living trees,likely due to reduced understory light.In contrast,no structural variables significantly explained richness in primary forests,likely due to structural saturation and widespread microhabitat availability.Elevation emerged as the sole variable with significant explanatory strength.These findings underscore the critical role of structural complexity in supporting lichen diversity under different management regimes and provide a robust evidence base for promoting elements such as old trees,deadwood—especially large standing deadwood—and reduced canopy density.At the same time,they reaffirm the irreplaceable value of primary forests as biodiversity refuges and highlight the need for landscape-level conservation strategies that integrate both intact primary and structurally enriched managed forests.
基金funded by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2023YFF1304001-01)the Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32371870)。
文摘As the impact of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance continues to intensify around the world,the ecological integrity(EI)of forest ecosystems is compromised in various ways.This study aims to quantify ecological integrity,explore its latitudinal patterns,and identify the potential determinants behind it.We selected 15 indicators of forest composition,structure,and function and used two approaches to quantify ecological integrity.The results show a significant negative correlation between forest ecological integrity and increasing latitude.Climate emerged as the main driver of the latitudinal pattern compared to anthropogenic and other influencing factors.Our study offers a new approach to quantifying ecological integrity based on a set of indicators that may help assess the contribution of forest ecosystems in conservation,restoration,and ecosystem services.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42030508)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)program(2019QZKK0301)the Key technology research and development projects in Xizang Autonomous Regions(XZ202101ZY0005G).
文摘A better understanding of the structure and dynamics of disturbed forests is key for forecasting their future successional trajectories.Despite vulnerability of subalpine forests to warming climate,little is known as to how their community composition has responded to disturbances and climate warming over decades.Before the 1970s,subalpine forests on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau mainly experienced logging and fire,but afterwards they were more impacted by climate warming.Thus,they provide an excellent setting to test whether disturbances and climate warming led to changes in forest structure.Based on the analysis of 3145 forest inventory plots at 4-to 5-year resolution,we found that spruce-fir forests shifted to pine and broadleaved forests since the early 1970s.Such a turnover in species composition mainly occurred in the 1994e1998 period.By strongly altering site conditions,disturbances in concert with climate warming reshuffle community composition to warm-adapted broadleaf-pine species.Thus,moderate disturbances shifted forest composition through a gradual loss of resilience of spruce-fir forests.Shifts in these foundation species will have profound impacts on ecosystem functions and services.In the future,broadleaved forests could expand more rapidly than evergreen needle-leaved forests under moderate warming scenarios.In addition to climate,the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on subalpine forests should be considered in adaptive forest management and in projections of future forest changes.
基金supported part ia l l y by LIFE4Oak Forests Project LIFE16NAT/IT/000245)the RRF 2.3.121202200008 projectthe MERLiN project funded under the European Commission H2020 Programme(101036337 MERLiN H2020 LC GD 2020)。
文摘Increasing human activity is altering the struc-ture of forests,which affects the composition of communi-ties,including birds.However,little is known about the key forest structure variables that determine the richness of bird communities in European temperate oak forests.We,there-fore,aimed to identify key variables in these habitats that could contribute to the design of management strategies for forest conservation by surveying 11 oak-dominated forest sites throughout the mid-mountain range of Hungary at 86 survey points to reveal the role of different compositional and structural variables for forest stands that influence the breeding bird assemblages in the forests at the functional group and individual species levels.Based on decision tree modelling,our results showed that the density of trees larger than 30 cm DBH was an overall important variable,indi-cating that large-diameter trees were essential to provide diverse bird communities.The total abundance of birds,the foliage-gleaners,primary and secondary cavity nest-ers,residents,and five specific bird species were related to the density of high trunk diameter trees.The abundance of shrub nesters was negatively influenced by a high density of trees over 10 cm DBH.The density of the shrub layer positively affected total bird abundance and the abundance of foliage gleaners,secondary cavity nesters and residents.Analysis of the co-dominant tree species showed that the presence of linden,beech,and hornbeam was important in influencing the abundance of various bird species,e.g.,Eur-asian Treecreeper(Certhia familiaris),Marsh Tit(Poecile palustris)and Wood Warbler(Phylloscopus sibilatrix).Our results indicated that large trees,high tree diversity,and dense shrub layer were essential for forest bird communities and are critical targets for protection to maintain diverse and abundant bird communities in oak-dominated forest habitats.
基金supported by the UGent GOA project“Forest biodiversity and multifunctionality drive chronic stress-mediated dynamics in pathogen reservoirs(FORESTER)”(No.BOF20/GOA/009).
文摘Forest structural complexity influences arthropod communities by shaping habitat availability,microclimatic conditions,and resource distribution.However,the extent to which structural complexity and specific structural components drive arthropod abundance and biomass remains poorly understood in temperate forests.This study examined how local and landscape-scale forest characteristics influence arthropod communities across vertical strata(forest floor(FF),herb layer(HL),and shrub layer(SL))in 19 temperate deciduous forests in Belgium,dominated by pedunculate oak,European beech,or Canadian poplar.At the local scale,we assessed dominant tree species identity,overall forest structural complexity,and its components(vertical and horizontal structure,woody layer,herbal layer,and deadwood).At the landscape scale,we evaluated forest area,edge length,forest cover,and vegetation greenness(normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)).Contrary to expectation,arthropod biomass and abundance did not consistently increase with higher structural complexity.Instead,woody layer complexity,dominant tree species,and NDVI emerged as key drivers,with effects varying by context and stratum.Arthropod abundance and biomass were the highest in oak-and poplar-dominated forests and the lowest in beech forests,likely due to differences in litter quality,microhabitat availability,and understory development.Woody layer complexity positively influenced forest floor arthropods in poplar forests but had a negative effect in oak forests.At the landscape scale,NDVI unexpectedly showed negative relationships with arthropod abundance across strata and with arthropod biomass in the herb layer,likely reflecting dense canopy suppression of understory productivity.Arthropod biomass on the forest floor increased with forest cover,while abundance in the shrub layer decreased with forest cover but increased with forest area.These findings highlight the complex interplay between forest structural attributes,dominant tree species,and landscape factors in shaping arthropod communities.By identifying the key drivers of arthropod abundance and biomass,this study contributes to a better understanding of biodiversity patterns in temperate forests and their ecological dynamics.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2021ZY89)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32201258 and 32271652)+4 种基金Research Service Project on the Effects of Extreme Climate on Biodiversity and Conservation Strategies in Mentougou District(2024HXFWBH-XJL-02)the Fang Jingyun Ecological Study Studio of Yunnan Province(China)the State Scholarship Fund of China(2011811457)support to the Xingdian Scholar Fund of Yunnan Provincethe Double Top University Fund of Yunnan University.
文摘Although numerous studies have proposed explanations for the specific and relative effects of stand structure,plant diversity,and environmental conditions on carbon(C)storage in forest ecosystems,understanding how these factors collectively affect C storage in different community layers(trees,shrubs,and herbs)and forest types(mixed,broad-leaved(E),broad-leaved(M),and coniferous forest)continues to pose challenges.To address this,we used structural equation models to quantify the influence of biotic factors(mean DBH,mean height,maximum height,stem density,and basal area)and abiotic factors(elevation and canopy openness),as well as metrics of species diversity(Shannon–Wiener index,Simpson index,and Pielou’s evenness)in various forest types.Our analysis revealed the critical roles of forest types and elevation in explaining a substantial portion of variability in C storage in the overstory layer,with a moderate influence of stand factors(mean DBH and basal area)and a slightly negative impact of tree species diversity(Shannon–Wiener index).Notably,forest height emerged as the primary predictor of C storage in the herb layer.Regression relationships further highlighted the significant contribution of tree species diversity to mean height,understory C storage,and branch biomass within the forest ecosystem.Our insights into tree species diversity,derived from structural equation modeling of C storage in the overstory,suggest that the effects of tree species diversity may be influenced by stem biomass in statistical reasoning within temperate forests.Further research should also integrate tree species diversity with tree components biomass,forest mean height,understory C,and canopy openness to understand complex relationships and maintain healthy and sustainable ecosystems in the face of global climate challenges.
基金supported by Yibin University,Sichuan,China and Hebei University,Baoding,China(Grant No.521100221033).
文摘Forest hydrology,the study of water dynamics within forested catchments,is crucial for understanding the intricate relationship between forest cover and water balances across different scales,from ecosystems to landscapes,or from catchment watersheds.The intensified global changes in climate,land use and cover,and pollution that occurred over the past century have brought about adverse impacts on forests and their services in water regulation,signifying the importance of forest hydrological research as a re-emerging topic of scientific interest.This article reviews the literature on recent advances in forest hydrological research,intending to identify leading countries,institutions,and researchers actively engaged in this field,as well as highlighting research hotspots for future exploration.Through a systematic analysis using VOSviewer,drawing from 17,006 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning 2000–2022,we employed scientometric methods to assess research productivity,identify emerging topics,and analyze academic development.The findings reveal a consistent growth in forest hydrological research over the past two decades,with the United States,Charles T.Driscoll,and the Chinese Academy of Sciences emerging as the most productive country,author,and institution,respectively.The Journal of Hydrology emerges as the most co-cited journal.Analysis of keyword co-occurrence and co-cited references highlights key research areas,including climate change,management strategies,runoff-erosion dynamics,vegetation cover changes,paired catchment experiments,water quality,aquatic biodiversity,forest fire dynamics and hydrological modeling.Based on these findings,our study advocates for an integrated approach to future research,emphasizing the collection of data from diverse sources,utilization of varied methodologies,and collaboration across disciplines and institutions.This holistic strategy is essential for developing sustainable approaches to forested watershed planning and management.Ultimately,our study provides valuable insights for researchers,practitioners,and policymakers,guiding future research directions towards forest hydrological research and applications.
基金funded by DGLP-General Directorate of the State Forest,Poland,in frame of the grant:“Changes in the carbon fixation potential of forest ecosystems in various regeneration scenarios after large-scale disturbances and stand decay in the context of climate protection and the role of forest management”,Agreement No.MZ.271.3.12.2023.University Grant No.BZ 4436/WL URK.
文摘Forest ecosystems are one of the largest terres-trial carbon(C)reservoirs on Earth and an important sink of anthropogenic CO_(2) emissions.Abiotic and biotic distur-bances such as windfalls,fires,outbreaks of insects or pests may negatively affect C storage in forest ecosystems decreas-ing their role as CO_(2) sink.The objective of this review was to summarize the current knowledge on the impact of large-scale forest ecosystem disturbances caused by windthrow and insect outbreaks on soil C stocks and cycles,and to gather information on the impact of restoration treatments performed in disturbed stands in the context of carbon accumulation in forest soils.Discussed were effects of wind-storms and insect outbreaks as well as impacts of various approaches of forest regeneration after disturbance on C stocks and fluxes.Disturbances decrease C stocks in forest ecosystems and turn them from C sink into C source for a certain time.Regeneration of the disturbed forest restores its role as a CO_(2) sink.In montane forests artificial afforestation seems to shorten the time of achieving C parity.However,no data exists for lowland forests.Hence,there is an urgent need for studies that assess effect of windfalls and insect outbreaks on carbon storage in forests of lowland Europe.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32192435)the Application and Demonstration Project of Network Security and Informatization Technology,Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS-WX2022SF-0101)+1 种基金the Liaoning Provincial Key Research and Development Program(2023021230-JH2/1018)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(2023205).
文摘Climate change is the most severe ecological challenge faced by the world today.Forests,the dominant component of terrestrial ecosystems,play a critical role in mitigating climate change due to their powerful carbon sequestration capabilities.Meanwhile,climate change has also become a major factor affecting the sustainable management of forest ecosystems.Climate-Smart Forestry(CSF)is an emerging concept in sustainable forest management.By utilizing advanced technologies,such as information technology and artificial intelligence,CSF aims to develop innovative and proactive forest management methods and decision-making systems to address the challenges of climate change.CSF aims to enhance forest ecosystem resilience(i.e.,maintain a condition where,even when the state of the ecosystem changes,the ecosystem functions do not deteriorate)through climate change adaptation,improve the mitigation capabilities of forest ecosystems to climate change,maintain high,stable,and sustainable forest productivity and ecosystem services,and ultimately achieve harmonious development between humans and nature.This concept paper:(1)discusses the emergence and development of CSF,which integrates Ecological Forestry,Carbon Forestry,and Smart Forestry,and proposes the concept of CSF;(2)analyzes the goals of CSF in improving forest ecosystem stability,enhancing forest ecosystem carbon sequestration capacity,and advocating the application and development of new technologies in CSF,including artificial intelligence,robotics,Light Detection and Ranging,and forest digital twin;(3)presents the latest practices of CSF based on prior research on forest structure and function using new generation information technologies at Qingyuan Forest,China.From these practices and reflections,we suggested the development direction of CSF,including the key research topics and technological advancement.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFD2200405(S.R.L.))Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31971653).
文摘With the rapid economic development and continuous expansion of human activities,forest degradation—characterized by reduced forest stock within the forest including declining carbon storage—poses significant threats to ecosystem stability.Understanding the current status of forest degradation and assessing potential carbon stocks in China are of strategic importance for making forest restoration efforts and enhancing carbon sequestration capacity.In this study,we used the national forest inventory data from 2009 to 2018 to develop a set of standard measures for assessing degraded forests across China,based on five key indicators:forest accumulation growth rate(FAGR),forest recruitment rate(FRR),tree species reduction rate(TSRR),forest canopy cover reduction rate(FCCRR),and forest disaster level(FDL).Additionally,we estimated standing carbon stock,potential carbon stock,and theoretical space to grow by developing a stand growth model,which accounts for stand density across different site classes,to evaluate the restoration potential of degraded forests.The results indicate that degraded forest area in China is 36.15 million hectares,accounting for 20.10% of a total forest area.Standing carbon stock and potential carbon stock of degraded forests in China are 23.93 million tons and 61.90 million tons,respectively.Overall,degraded forest varies significantly across different regions.The results highlight the important trade-offs among environmental factors,policy decisions,and forest conditions,providing a robust foundation for developing measures to enhance forest quality.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Shaanxi Academy of Forestry (SXLK2022-02)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42077452)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA23070201).
文摘The construction of artificial shelter forests(ASFs)has resulted in substantial ecological,economic,and societal benefits to the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP).However,the health and benefits of ASFs are being increasingly threatened by the formation of low-efficiency artificial shelter forests(LEASFs).In this study,LEASFs are systematically analyzed in terms of their status,formation mechanisms,and developmental obstacles.The key restoration techniques and schemes were summarized to improve the quality and efficiency of LEASFs.LEASFs are formed by relatively complex mechanisms,but they arise mainly due to poor habitat conditions,improper tree species selections,mismatch between stands and habitat,extensive forest management measures,and human interferences.The restoration and improvement of LEASFs are hindered by water deficits,mismatch between stands and habitat,single management purpose,and low efficiency.LEASFs are becoming more complex due to their wide range,the challenges associated with their restoration,and insufficient technological measures for their restoration.The key techniques of the quality and efficiency improvement of LEASFs include basic forest tending methods,near-natural restoration,multifunction-oriented improvement,and systematic restoration.An understanding on the formation mechanisms of LEASFs and a scientific approach toward their restoration are urgently needed and critical for the ecological protection and high-quality development of LEASFs on the CLP.Based on these analyses,we recommend strengthening the monitoring and supervision of LEASFs,considering the bearing capacity of regional water resources,implementing multiple restoration techniques,promoting multifunction-oriented ecological development,and exploring new management concepts to achieve the sustainable development of ASFs on the CLP.
文摘Collaborative forest management (CFM) is a form of forest governance in which local communities are involved in the management and decision-making processes related to forest resources. It is believed that forests under such management are better in tree diversity and conservation status and thus hold more carbon stocks. The study assessed the impact of CFM on carbon stocks, tree species diversity & tree species density in Mabira Central Forest Reserve. Data were collected from plots that were systematically laid in the different purposively selected forest areas. The study findings show that there is no difference in stem density and carbon stocks between CFM and non-CFM areas. CFM areas had lower species richness compared to non-CFM areas. CFM areas, however, exhibited more species diversity than non-CFM areas. Climax colonization may favor a few dominant species over others, hence lowering species diversity despite the number of species being many in the understory, hence at the same time increasing species richness. Likewise, disturbance in CFM area may affect natural colonization and favor the emergency of many species either naturally or through assisted regeneration by reforestation, hence increasing diversity, whereas artificial selection of preferred species through harvesting may lower species richness, as observed. Recommendations for improving collaborative forest management (CFM) areas include implementing targeted interventions to enhance carbon sequestration, such as promoting reforestation and afforestation with high-carbon-storing species and strengthening monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess carbon stock changes over time. Additionally, efforts should focus on enhancing biodiversity conservation by implementing more stringent protection measures and reducing human disturbance while encouraging community participation in biodiversity monitoring and conservation education.
基金financially supported by a grant from the Forest Fund of the Polish State Forests(Grant No.EZ.0290.1.16.2021).
文摘We tested the effectiveness of the gradual removal of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)in former plantations of this species in Roztocze National Park(SE Poland)to support the restoration of natural herbaceous flora and forest structure.We compared 0.5-ha study plots subjected to selective removal of pine trees with control plots excluded from any kind of human intervention for half a century.The observed changes in forest floor vegetation in the converted plots showed naturalization towards habitat-specific species.However,differences in the spatial distribution of trees between the treatment and control plots showed no universal pattern and revealed subtle but positive shifts from regular to random or clustered patterns.The mean tree diameters were higher in plots subjected to Scots pine removal,which resulted from the vigorous growth of tree species,consistent with habitat types.We conclude that forest restoration through the removal of planted trees can support the naturalization of former Scots pine plantations in protected areas.However,the selection of an appropriate method and its intensity are of vital importance.Methods that resemble typical management practices,such as selection thinning,are not always the best approach,as they may preserve or even increase the regular distribution of trees.Therefore,for restoration purposes,we recommend testing other methods that increase spatial heterogeneity,including systematic cutting or emulating natural disturbances.In addition,low-intensity thinning may not be sufficient to support the restoration of natural forest floor vegetation and the variability in forest stand structure.
基金Field surveys were carried out within the forest monitoring activities of Action A1.3 of the Project LIFE4OAKFORESTS(LIFE16NAT/IT/000245),in collaboration with“Ente di Gestione per i Parchi e la Biodiversità-Romagna”.
文摘Old-growth forests are of major importance for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation,as well as being a benchmark for the implementation of sustainable forest management.Although dedicated studies have significantly increased in the last decades,there is still limited knowledge of Mediterranean forests,especially those dominated by Quercus pubescens and related taxa.To fill this knowledge gap,we primarily studied in the field two downy oak forests possessing old-growth traits,localized in Sicily(Mediterranean,Italy).Second,we used a structural heterogeneity index(SHI)to assess their old-growthness level,in comparison with the downy oak stands surveyed in the Regional Forest Inventory(RFI)of Sicily.Third,we tested the effect of different sets of structural parameters on SHI scores,thus assessing whether their choice could affect the final score and the stand assessment.SHI was well proven to discriminate these two stands from the others,both showing,on average,a SHI score just higher than 80,whilst SHI in RFI plots was just under 50,a significantly lower value.The methodological approach used in our study highlights the need to standardize the parameters used to characterize the old-growthness level of Mediterranean forests in order to allow more reliable comparisons.Most of the structural parameters were higher in the two selected stands,except for the attributes related to standing deadwood,suggesting a still limited contribution of standing dead trees and snags in the potential old-growth stands under investigation.The application of a structural index has proven effective for the purpose it was tested for,demonstrating its usefulness in discriminating between two potential old-growth stands from ordinary stands of the same forest type.We believe that both forests deserve primary attention and tailored management measures,as well as inclusion in the recently established Italian Network of old-growth forests.
基金supported by grant klifW018 of the Bavarian State Ministry for Food,Agriculture and Forestry for funding.
文摘1.In recent years,climate change has led to drought and severe bark beetle infestations,affecting Norway spruce(Picea abies)across Europe,with detrimental consequences for forest owners,the forestry sector and associated industries.As a result,silviculture now faces the challenge of identifying tree species more resilient to these stressors to mitigate the impacts on forest management,forest-dependent economies and rural livelihoods.The North American Douglas-fir(Pseudotsuga menziesii)has emerged as a promising conifer species,better suited to future climate conditions and capable of producing high timber yields.2.Non-native tree species may affect native biodiversity,yet the impacts of Douglas-fir on native forest biodiversity are not clear.A comprehensive review evaluating the impact of Douglas-fir on faunal and floral biodiversity in European forests is lacking.3.Here,we present the results of a systematic literature review on Douglas-fir effects on native biodiversity,focusing on studies conducted in Europe.For arthropods,sufficient studies were found to do more detailed quantitative assessments.For fungi,birds,plants and soil fauna some studies existed,but only qualitative evaluations could be made.Other taxa were not investigated.4.In the present literature,the effects of Douglas-fir inclusion in stands on native biodiversity,compared to stands of solely native tree species,were mostly non-significant(78.6%,based on 32 studies).Positive effects were noted in 12%of cases,while negative effects were observed in 9.4%(total of 1,936 effects).Above-ground fauna was more extensively studied than below-ground fauna.Mechanisms proposed to explain taxa responses were often discussed but not always formally tested.For arthropods,there were varying effects on diversity between studies evaluating different scales(i.e.,tree-scale vs.stand-scale).In general,differences in effects depended on a range of factors,including stand composition and structure,season,and sampling site and period.5.Our review indicates limited evidence of adverse effects of Douglas-fir on biodiversity in European forests,highlighting a significant knowledge gap due to the scarcity of studies.Douglas-fir's impact on biodiversity likely varies depending on the forest type and management practices.Further research in diverse contexts is crucial to determine optimal levels of admixture and guide forest management.
