Hasil untuk "Forestry"

F. Geels, Benjamin Sovacool, T. Schwanen et al.

N. Scarlat, J. Dallemand, F. Monforti-Ferrario et al.

Abstract The European Commission has set a long-term goal to develop a competitive, resource efficient and low carbon economy by 2050. Bioeconomy is expected to play an important role in the low carbon economy. This paper provides a review of the policy framework for developing a bioeconomy in the European Union covering energy and climate, agriculture and forestry, industry and research. The Europe has a number of well-established traditional bio-based industries, ranging from agriculture, food, feed, fibre and forest-based industries. This paper proposes an analysis of the current status of bioeconomy in the European Union and worldwide until 2020 and beyond. We estimate the current bio economy market at about € 2.4 billion, including agriculture, food and beverage, agro-industrial products, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, wood-based industry, biochemical, enzymes, biopharmaceutical, biofuels and bioenergy, using about 2 billion tonnes and employing 22 million persons. New sectors are emerging, such as biomaterials and green chemistry. The transition toward a bioeconomy will rely on the advancement in technology of a range of processes, on the achievement of a breakthrough in terms of technical performances and cost effectiveness and will depend on the availability of sustainable biomass.

D. N. Munns, P. Sánchez

The long-awaited second edition of this classic textbook expands on the first edition to include advances made in the last four decades, bringing the topic completely up to date. The book addresses critical issues such as whether humanity can feed itself, and whether it can do so in environmentally sound and sustainable ways. Written from agronomic, environmental, and ecological standpoints, the textbook employs a multidisciplinary approach, including policymaking and plant genetic improvements, as well as ecosystem services, climate change, biodiversity, sustainability and resilience. New chapters in this second edition focus on organic carbon in soil, soil biology, soils in relation to livestock production and forestry, and agroforestry. The new edition will again be the go-to textbook for courses on tropical soils, and a reference textbook for soil and agricultural scientists and development professionals working in the tropics.

Zhiying Tang, Yihang Jia, Zhibing Lu et al.

Global climate change and intensified human activities drive rapid land use and land cover (LULC) changes, particularly in ecologically fragile regions like China's Southern Hilly Region (SHR), affecting ecosystem services (ESs) trade-offs/synergies. However, scale-dependent thresholds governing these relationships remain poorly quantified. We analyzed ESs dynamics (water yield, soil conservation, carbon storage, nutrient retention, habitat quality) across regional, watershed, and sub-watershed scales (1990–2020) using the InVEST model, sensitivity indices, and piecewise linear regression. ESs responses exhibited significant scale effects, with sub-watersheds showing the highest sensitivity to LULC changes and representing the most stable management unit. Particularly, we found that critical LULC thresholds regulate trade-offs/synergies: forest cover exceeding ∼70 % strongly enhanced synergies among multiple ESs, while cropland proportions between 30 and 65 % intensified trade-offs (e.g., between soil conservation and water yield). Impervious expansion consistently degraded ESs. Our results demonstrate that optimizing LULC patterns-prioritizing forest conservation (>70 % cover), limiting cropland (<65 %), and controlling urban sprawl-at the sub-watershed scale minimizes ESs trade-offs. This study establishes quantitative thresholds to guide targeted land-use planning and ecological restoration policies in hilly regions globally, supporting sustainable landscape governance.

Zhong-Han Zhuang, Hui-Ping Tsai, Chung-I Chen

Tea (<i>Camellia sinensis</i> L.) holds agricultural economic value and forestry carbon sequestration potential, with Taiwan’s annual tea production exceeding TWD 7 billion. However, climate change-induced stressors threaten tea plant growth, photosynthesis, yield, and quality, necessitating an accurate real-time monitoring system to enhance plantation management and production stability. This study surveys tea plantations at low, mid-, and high elevations in Nantou County, central Taiwan, collecting data from 21 fields using conventional farming methods (CFMs), which emphasize intensive management, and agroecological farming methods (AFMs), which prioritize environmental sustainability. This study integrates leaf area index (LAI), photochemical reflectance index (PRI), and quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) data with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)-derived visible-light and multispectral imagery to compute color indices (CIs) and multispectral indices (MIs). Using feature ranking methods, an optimized dataset was developed, and the predictive performance of eight regression algorithms was assessed for estimating tea plant physiological parameters. The results indicate that LAI was generally lower in AFMs, suggesting reduced leaf growth density and potential yield differences. However, PRI and ΦPSII values revealed greater environmental adaptability and potential long-term ecological benefits in AFMs compared to CFMs. Among regression models, MIs provided greater stability for tea plant physiological parameters, whereas feature ranking methods had minimal impact on accuracy. XGBoost outperformed all models in predicting parameters, achieving optimal results for (1) LAI: R² = 0.716, RMSE = 1.01, MAE = 0.683, (2) PRI: R² = 0.643, RMSE = 0.013, MAE = 0.009, and (3) ΦPSII: R² = 0.920, RMSE = 0.048, MAE = 0.013. Overall, we highlight the effectiveness of integrating gradient boosting models with multispectral data to capture tea plant physiological characteristics. This study develops generalizable predictive models for tea plant physiological parameter estimation and advances non-contact crop physiological monitoring for tea plantation management, providing a scientific foundation for precision agriculture applications.

Rohit Sarkar, Gyan Prakash Mishra, Premakumar et al.

Abstract With climate change projections indicating an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events and irregular rainfall patterns globally, the threat to global food security looms large. Terminal heat stress, which occurs during the critical reproductive stage, significantly limits lentil productivity. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve lentil’s resilience to heat stress to sustain production. However, studies identifying heat-tolerant sources in lentils are limited. To address these issues, we assessed 158 lentil genotypes under normal and late-sown conditions over two consecutive seasons. We employed eleven heat stress indices to identify lines tolerant to heat stress. All genotypes exhibited a decrease in average grain yield when subjected to stress conditions as compared to non-stress conditions, indicating the impact of heat stress on crop yield. Correlation analysis showed significant positive correlation between yield in normal and late-sown conditions and the following heat stress indices: STI, MP, MRP, YI, GMP, and HM. In contrast, TOL, SSPI, and PYR showed negative associations with yield in late-sown conditions. Based on these indices, we identified the genotypes P13143, P13130, and P13135 as high-yielding in both stress and non-stress conditions. Cluster analysis and biplot display in PCA also confirmed that genotypes P13143, P13130, and P13135 exhibited suitability and high yield potential in both environments. These genotypes can be utilized as donors in future breeding programs to introduce genetic variations for improving heat stress tolerance in lentil.

Ana Carolina da Silva, Nelson Cosmo, Franklin Galvão

ABSTRACT Protected areas (PA) play a crucial role in preserving global biodiversity and ecosystem services. They ensure the protection of endemic species, preserve sensitive environments, and, in some cases, contribute to the livelihoods of local communities. Currently, there are 265,908 protected areas across 245 countries and territories, covering 16.64% of the planet’s land and 7.74% of its marine areas. This article compares national legislation on PA in Brazil and Italy, evaluating their alignment with IUCN standards. In Brazil, Law No. 9,985/00, which establishes the National System of Conservation Units (SNUC), regulates protected areas, while in Italy, Law 394/91 guides the classification and management of these areas. The classifications of both countries were analyzed based on the framework established by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). Brazil’s nomenclature shows greater similarity to the IUCN standard, although it is not fully adopted, and includes a greater number of classifications than the standard. Italy strictly follows the exact number of categories established by IUCN criteria and has a nomenclature that largely differs from the IUCN standard. Adopting a more standardized nomenclature between countries facilitates international comparisons and promotes a more effective exchange of knowledge on management practices.

Zamam Hassan, Fawad Z.A. Khan, Adel S. Aldosary et al.

The process of urban growth often results in the conversion of agricultural spaces, including orchards. In Pakistan, Multan - widely known as the city of Mangoes - has seen exponential urban growth in the past couple of decades, resulting in a huge loss of Mango orchards to urban settlements. This research focuses on investigating local farmers’ motivations for selling Mango orchards to urban colonies and their perceived implications of transforming mango orchards into residential areas in Multan, Pakistan. By surveying 100 participants, the study captures insights into urban expansion trends, primary motivations behind selling agricultural land, and the social, economic and environmental consequences of such conversions. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis (heatmap) are used to dissect the farmers perceptions on the drivers and implications of Mango orchards' conversion to housing settlements in Multan, Pakistan. Notably, 96% of respondents highlighted that orchards nearer to urban centers were predominantly targeted for conversion. Furthermore, 57% believed less productive orchards were more frequently turned into urban developments. Our correlation analysis provided clarity on the economic dimensions. Participants who felt their orchard was not a profitable venture tended to see greater economic advantages from selling their orchards. Interestingly, individuals motivated by a desire to 'improve quality of life' generally observed an improvement in their living conditions post-sale. On the environmental spectrum, concerns such as potential future temperature rises were consistently associated with several selling motivations, indicating a broad awareness of environmental consequences. This comprehensive research highlight the interplay of economic, social, and environmental factors in orchard-to-housing conversions, presenting valuable knowledge for urban development strategists and decision-makers.

Marina Moura Morales, Aaron Kinyu Hoshide, Leticia Maria Pavesi Carvalho et al.

Alternative biomass for energy can reduce fossil fuel use and environmental impacts, providing energy security in semi-arid areas with shallow soils that are not ideal for agro-forestry. The densification of sorghum biomass (SB) brings its energetic characteristics closer those of wood. Higher heating value (HHV) represents the heat produced by a given quantity of fuel. This Brazilian research tested different mixtures of SB, eucalyptus wood (W), and eucalyptus bio-oil (Bo) as briquettes for HHV and least ash. Compressed mixtures of SB+B were compared to W+Bo and SB+W+Bo. The concentrations of bio-oil added to SB/W were 1%, 3%, 4%, and 5%. SB+W+Bo composites’ W content was 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, with Bo as 3% of the weight. Sorghum biomass’ HHV is equivalent to W at 3%Bo. Bo doses of 4% and 5% had the same HHV as 3%. Eucalyptus wood did not have a significantly greater HHV with any amount of Bo. SB+W+3%Bo had the same HHV as W when W was at least 50% of the mixture. At greater than 36%W, the ash content was lower than 3%, meeting the EN-B international standard. The optimal composite mixture was 64%SB+36%W+3%Bo for HHV and ash content. SB briquettes can be more widely adopted given sorghum’s prevalence in semi-arid environments.

Pedro Medrado Krainovic, Angélica Faria de Resende, Nino Tavares Amazonas et al.

Restoring tropical forests still relies on expensive tree planting. Timber production from native trees offers a promising opportunity to make restoration financially viable, but species growth data are lacking. We assessed the potential of tropical forest restoration plantations for producing native timber in the Atlantic Forest. For that we inventoried a chronosequence of unmanaged restoration plantation sites with ten commercial native tree species. Then we developed growth models and used the Growth-Oriented Logging (GOL) method to inform targeted management decisions, including an optimized timber-focused scenario, based on growth and bole quality assessment. Usually, growth-rate classes for saw wood production would be defined according to the time necessary for achieving 35 cm in DBH. Harvesting age was markedly reduced using GOL for species of fast-growth (from <50 to <25 years), intermediate-growth (from 50 to 70 to 25–50 years), slow-growth (from >70 to 50–75 years). Following GOL, basal area was 42 ± 30% larger at harvest (taking 35 ± 23% more time) or 60 ± 16.5% smaller (taking 66 ± 16% less time). The optimized scenario speeded tree-size achievement and anticipated harvesting in an average of 58 years. Species selection, individualization, and silvicultural management are critical for producing timber in forest restoration programs.

Signe Preuschoft, Ishak Yassir, Asti Iryanti Putri et al.

Orangutans depend on social learning for the acquisition of survival skills. The development of skills is not usually assessed in rescued orphans’ pre-release. We collected data of seven orphans over an 18-months-period to monitor the progress of ontogenetic changes. The orphans, 1.5–9 years old, were immersed in a natural forest environment with human surrogate mothers and other orphans. Social interactions deviated significantly from those of wild mother-reared immatures. Infants spent more time playing socially with peers, at the expense of resting and solitary play. Infants were also more often and at an earlier age distant from their human surrogate mothers than wild immatures are from their biological mothers. We found important changes towards an orangutan-typical lifestyle in 4- to 7-year-old orphans, corresponding to the weaning age in maternally reared immatures. The older orphans spent less time interacting with human surrogate mothers or peers, started to use the canopy more than lower forest strata and began to sleep in nests in the forest. Their time budgets resembled those of wild adults. In conclusion, juvenile orphans can develop capacities that qualify them as candidates for release back into natural habitat when protected from humanising influences and immersed in a species-typical environment.

Ana Marjanović Jeromela, Sandra Cvejić, Velimir Mladenov et al.

Camelina (Camelina sativa [L.] Crtz.) is an oilseed crop of the Brassicaceae family. It represents revived crops, which was reintroduced to contribute in diversification of the used crops. Field trials were set in a total of five different locations across four years in which in Serbia (2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019) and in Austria (2016/2017). In all samples, 12 different environments were processed. Analysis of the distributions of environments for oil content, which mirrored protein content, using the PCA analysis, shows a statistical significance of the first two main components, which participated in the phenotypic variation with a larger amount to additive component and with both axes having a statistically significant effect on the interaction. The first two main components jointly explained more than 80% of the variation in two traits. The statistical significance of the remainder is a consequence of an agronomically explicable variation. The genotypes NS Zlatka and NS Slatka, used in this study, come from elite breeding material that is engineered to provide a consistent return to the producer regardless of the amount of money invested in primary agricultural production. Incorporating these varieties into the crop rotation would broaden the range of species available in Balkan agriculture.

Borghetti M, Moretti N

Basilicata, a land of forests and home to a Forest Sciences university program. We talk about the launch, in the eighties, of the higher education program in Forest Sciences at the University of Basilicata, in Southern Italy. Basilicata is a land of beautiful forests that have undergone great manipulation over time. We shortly describe their history in the last two centuries, and talk about some scholars who studied these forests in the postwar period until the early eighties. Afterwards, we recall the early years of Forest Sciences courses at the University of Basilicata. In a separate box, we deal with the possibility to restore the mixed silver fir/beech forest in the mountains of Basilicata: we address the ways in which silver fir natural regeneration can be promoted, where this species is still present; and the reasons and know-how for reintroducing it, where silver fir is no longer present.

N. E. Korotaeva, M. V. Ivanova, G. G. Suvorova et al.

The role of stress proteins in the formation of plant adaptability to environmental conditions has not yet been fully revealed. To identify the role of dehydrins (DH) in the strategy of biochemical adaptation in species occupying different ecological niches, we compared the amount and seasonal dynamics of DH in coniferous Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. and the Siberian spruce Picea obovata Ledeb. during the growing season. Weather conditions during the study period were favorable for photosynthetic activity of conifers. Based on the total monthly intensity of CO2 uptake, the physiological activity of both species did not differ from the average values of this indicator for these species. The quantitative ratio of the constitutive DH content of 72 and 55 kD, which varies depending on the season, as well as the accumulation of «unique» DH for each species, which were located in the high- and low-molecular area of pine and in the medium-molecular area of spruce, turned out to be different in pine and spruce conifers. The obtained results suggest that the occurrence of Scots pine in more arid vegetation conditions, and Siberian spruce in wetter but colder conditions may be associated with the accumulation of certain DH. The ability of Scots pine and Siberian spruce to occupy different habitats may be related to the increased accumulation of constitutive proteins DG 72 and 70 (in pine) and 55 kD (in spruce), but not differences in the composition of DH.

Teresa Casacchia, Adriano Sofo, Ivan Casaburi et al.

Conventional medicines used to treat obesity and cancer frequently exhibit high side effects, so that researchers are focusing on new therapies and drugs based on natural products. Total extracts from bulbs of Muscari comosum were tested for i) free radical scavenging activity, ii) in vitro enzymatic inhibition of pancreatic α-amylase and lipase, and iii) inhibition of the growth of breast adenocarcinoma cells. Three treatments were considered: bulbs boiled in water for 15 min (traditional cooking method; BB); bulbs steam-cooked for 15 min (alternative cooking method; SB); raw bulbs (RB). The polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of bulb extracts were related to the inhibition of pancreatic lipase and α-amylase, whose activities have been found to have a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.28, 2.14 and 3.22 mg/mL for lipase, and 0.16, 0.73 and 0.69 mg/mL for α-amylase in RB, SB and BB, respectively. The analysis on breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells revealed that RB extracts, and in a lesser extent BB, exerted a dose-dependent inhibition on cell proliferation. Considering that the potential of natural products for the treatment of obesity are under exploration, M. comosum could be an excellent plant for the development of future anti-obesity drugs, also able to prevent cancer.

Rafael Malfitano Braga, Karina Rodrigues Santos, Raul Alberto Rico Molina et al.

O bambu é fonte importante de matéria prima para o uso de múltiplos usos. O desenvolvimento de técnicas simples para sua propagação é uma forma prática de possibilitar sua própria implementação em propriedade de pequena tecnologia. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar métodos de propagação artesanais para Bambusa vulgaris . Foram testados dois tipos de propágulos, com gemas brotadas ou não, e três áreas relacionadas com a retirada de material vegetativo no colmo. O melhor propágulo foi com apenas um nó, retirado dos terços inferiores do colmo, apresentando 72% de enraizamento. Este resultado demonstra seu potencial para uma produção de mudas desta espécie sob baixa tecnologia.

B. McCarl, U. Schneider

Francis Roucher

A. Oasmaa, E. Kuoppala

E. Paavilainen, J. Päivänen