Sustainable forest management

per il proficuo scambio di idee. Ringrazio, inoltre, i miei colleghi (ed amici), Felice, Sebastiano, Sergio, Enza, Pietro, Vincenzo, insostituibili compagni di viaggio di questi anni che hanno contribuito a rendere indimenticabile questo periodo. Infine, ma non in ordine di importanza, il mio ringraziamento va a Giulia, la mia ragazza, per la pazienza ed il sostegno che mi ha sempre dimostrato; ai miei amici, in particolare Maria e Paolo per i suggerimenti, il conforto o anche solo per le "chiaccherate"; ed a Marco, Emilio, Tiziana, Alessio, Enza, Felice, Dominique, Gabriele e Aldo per l'indispensabile aiuto nei rilievi in campo.

This study investigated the timber certification of sustainable forest management and the criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. Approach: Sustainable forest management is an important role in the forestry sector and takes a major player in Malaysia's sustainable development. It is a management regime that integrates and balances social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual needs to present and future generations. Results: We analyzed the pillars of sustainable forest management, criteria, indicators, activities and standards of performance for sustainable forest management in Malaysia. Conclusion: The aim of this study was to highlight and clarify the impacts of trade and environment on sustainable forest management in Malaysia.

In this paper, a PRA study was carried out in Khorwad watershed located on the bank of the river Mahi in Umreth taluka of Anand district in Gujarat state during December, 2011. The farmers' perception towards adoption of bamboo in Mahi ravines was studied with the help of PRA techniques in detail. Mapping of social habitation and resources availability in Khorwad watershed was done. It was found out that few farmers of Khorward watershed were cultivating bamboo in ravine wastelands and boundaries of their farms, whereas they were cultivating crops and fruits trees on leveled lands on upper side of Mahi ravines. Seasonal analysis of bamboo cultivation activities in Mahi ravines is also dealt in the paper. The different activities of bamboo cultivation were carried out by the farmers and they were very much busy in the month of April to June. The transect walk was also carried out along with the local farmers to verify and observe the information provided by the villagers during PRA exercise. The preference of bamboo adoption in Mahi ravines by the farmers was studied and it was found out that the 33.3 per cent of farmers of Khorwad village preferred bamboo plantation in ravine beds. A few farmers of other villages preferred bamboo plantation in ravine wastelands. The problems faced by farmers in bamboo adoption in Mahi ravines were found out with the help of matrix analysis technique. The farmers of Khorwad watershed perceived the wild animals attack and termite attack as major problems in the Mahi ravines area in bamboo cultivation.

Forests are among the most biologically rich ecosystems on Earth, providing vital services that sustain biodiversity, regulate climate, and support livelihoods. However, increasing deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and climate change threaten the stability of these ecosystems. This book offers a comprehensive exploration of forest biodiversity, bridging scientific research with conservation practice to address these challenges.

This book delves into the ecological and genetic foundations of biodiversity, examining species interactions, ecosystem resilience, and evolutionary adaptation. It highlights emerging technologies such as remote sensing and artificial intelligence in biodiversity monitoring, alongside policy frameworks like the Convention on Biological Diversity and REDD+ programs that shape global conservation strategies. Through detailed graphical data, tables, and case studies, it provides a multi-disciplinary perspective essential for understanding forest dynamics.

Designed for academics, researchers, conservation professionals, and policymakers, this work integrates quantitative ecological modeling, sustainability principles, and economic valuation of biodiversity conservation efforts. Whether exploring species adaptation, forest restoration strategies, or international conservation policies, this book serves as a valuable resource for advancing biodiversity research and practical applications. A must-read for those committed to understanding and safeguarding forest ecosystems, this book presents rigorous scientific insights while offering actionable solutions for biodiversity conservation in a rapidly changing world.

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.

REDD+—which stands for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries—debuted on the global stage more than a decade ago. The idea prompted high expectations that an approach that featured results-based incentives for reducing tropical deforestation and degradation could rapidly succeed where other approaches had failed. Since then, over 50 countries have initiated REDD+ strategies; subnational governments have experimented with jurisdictional REDD+ programs; and more than 350 REDD+ projects have been implemented globally. What are the lessons learned from REDD+ initiatives so far? How can these lessons support future forest-based climate change mitigation?

Whilst ‘REDD’ is the acronym for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, ‘REDD+’ refers to efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, foster conservation, promote the sustainable management of forests, and enhance forest carbon stocks [...]

In 2025, the UN estimates that over 5 billion people worldwide rely on forests and non-timber forest products (NTFP) for food, medicine and livelihoods, including 70 million Indigenous communities. Thus, the decentralisation of forest management has become the core of a rights-based approach that guarantees community access to forest resources, leading to the Community-based Forestry (CBF) regimes in the Global South. CBF strengthens the rights of local communities to actively participate and gain multiple social and environmental co-benefits from forest management, such as poverty alleviation and reduced deforestation. In Indonesia, CBF is known as Social Forestry (SF), which stands as one of the national strategic programmes with the allocation of 12.7 million ha for Village Forests, Community Forests, Community Plantation Forests, Customary Forests, and Forestry Partnerships. Over the past decade, studies have found a positive trend between the implementation of SF and the decrease of Indonesia's deforestation rates, enforcing community forest governance, and increasing livelihood alternatives, bringing up positive perceptions among smallholders to adopt the scheme in various regions. Social Forestry (SF) in Indonesia aims to empower local communities by providing access to forest management and fostering sustainable livelihoods. In Aceh Province, SF programmes have granted rights to 171,631 hectares of forest to 25,813 households since 2016. To assess the early impacts and challenges of these interventions, we conducted field assessments, questionnaires, and in-depth interviews with 226 respondents across 17 districts. Our findings indicate that, while SF is perceived to provide economic, social, and ecological benefits, it also presents significant risks, including production, investment, and market uncertainties, as well as capacity gaps among local stakeholders. Building on these insights, we developed a conceptual model that captures the benefits, costs, and risks associated with SF interventions in Aceh. This model provides a structured basis for future decision analysis, with the potential to inform long-term landscape planning and adaptive management strategies. By incorporating empirical data and stakeholder perspectives, this model will support ongoing efforts to evaluate the sustainability and viability of SF in the region.

T. Gómez a , M. Hernández a , J. Molina a , MA León b , R. Caballero a,1 ... En este trabajo se presenta un modelo de programación por metas no lineal de ... Palabras Clave: Planificación Forestal, Programación por Metas, Restricciones de ... 1 Corresponding author. Tel.:+34-...

The dismal state of the Philippine environment is eloquently manifested in the country's denuded mountains, eroded and unproductive slopes, dying and polluted rivers, a declining water table, damaged and dying coral reefs, depleted marine fishery stock, and the level of human poverty in the midst of a deteriorating natural ecosystem. Throughout the last century, the country's forest cover declined rapidly, from 70 percent of the country's 30 million hectares in the 1900s to 17 percent or 5.49 million hectares in 1996. In the 1980s, the area covered with old-growth rain forests amounted to less than 1 million (0.9 million) hectares or only 3 percent of the original cover at the start of the century. By 1994, old growth forests covered only 800,000 hectares. The rate of deforestation peaked with the expansion of logging concessions, the migration of poor lowlanders to upland areas in search of livelihood, and other forest degrading activities. Large-scale commercial logging was at its height in the 1960s and 1970s, a period that coincides partly with authoritarian rule and with minimal environmental consciousness among the population at large. Intensive logging, failure to replant logged-over areas and their conversion into farms, grazing and mining areas contributed significantly to the country's environmental problems. Deforestation reduced the stock of tree species and the flora and fauna hosted by former forests. Heaney and Regalado (1999) argue powerfully that the fauna unique to the Philippines (75 percent of amphibians, 70 percent of reptiles, 44 percent of birds, and 64 percent of mammals) are seriously endangered by the loss of rainforests. This is deplorable in light of the country's ranking as among the most mega-diverse in the world. The authors claim that the Philippines has 512 species unique to it; this number is much higher than Madagascar or Spain, countries renowned for their biodiversity. Apart from further endangering the country's 'vanishing treasures,' the conversion of forests into other uses has had far reaching consequences beyond the forests. It has resulted in the drying up of creeks, frequent and extensive forest fires and reduced capacity for carbon sequestration. Together with road construction activities in sloping mountainous terrain, upland development projects and the practice of agriculture without the application of contour farming and soil conservation, excessive logging brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk

The Philippine forest is clearly manifested in its denuded mountains and eroded and unproductive slopes, and the conditions of human poverty in the midst of a deteriorating natural ecosystem. Over this century, the Philippines had lost about 15 million hectares of forest land. By 1996, the country was left with only 5.49 million hectares of lands with some forest vegetation. Deforestation has not only reduced the stock and biodiversity of flora and fauna, it has also contributed to a set of off-site impacts, like drying up of some mountain creeks during the summer month, the increasing occurrence of forest fires, groundwater depletion, coral reef damage and its effect on the stock of fishery resources.

The regeneration status of a forest is an essential metrics to assess the regeneration potential and population structure of forests. In emerging nations like Nepal, however, human dependency on forests has had a negative influence on forest diversity and sustainability. This paper analyzes the regeneration status and its link with bio-physical aspects and human disturbances. The data were collected using a systematic random sampling method and sample plots were established using the fishnet tool in ArcGIS. An inventory survey of 96 plots was carried out with nested circular sample plots with a main radius of 1261 cm. The overall regeneration condition of the forest was found to be in good condition according to Community Forestry Inventory Guideline, 2004. The majority of the tree species were determined to have a sound quality and medium (II) grades in this study. In terms of the diameter class distribution, lower diameter classes (21-60 cm) comprised more adults than the upper di...

Arthropods are largest phylum of invertebrates these are bioindicators of ecological health. Body is segmented with jointed appendages and life cycle is completed through metamorphosis, they are found all over the world including in terrestrial and aquatic environments. In terrestrial ecosystems, arthropods such as butterflies, moths, spiders, and beetles are used for health, soil quality, and biodiversity. In grassland micro-and macroarthropods like ants and beetles monitor restoration and grazing effects, and desert arthropods are indicated soil fertility and metal contamination. Freshwater arthropods particularly insects like water beetles, and aquatic species such as crustaceans, used for indicators of water quality and pollution levels. Marine arthropods, including crustaceans and dipteran larvae, indicate environmental changes, and accumulation of metals. arthropods' sensitivity to environmental modifications makes them ecological stress, pollution, and habitat degradation, and their biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. Wide roles in ecological monitoring.

Private forest in Toraja cannot be separated from tradition and local culture. Products from private forest are used for traditional ceremonies, raw materials of traditional house "tongkonan", and souvenirs for tourists. The potency of private forest has decreased, concequence to the supply-demand imbalance of raw material fulfillment. This research aims to: (1) analyze the sustainability index and status of private forest management based on aspect of ecology, economics and technical forestry; (2) analyze sensitivity indicator of ecology, economics, and forestry technicality in the private forest management. The research was conducted in Toraja area (Tana Toraja and North Toraja regency) on three locations of private forests (Tampo, Padangiring, and Sangkaropi). The research was conducted from October 2014 to June 2015. The research approach using multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis, which is modified from Rapfish (Rapid Appraisal for Fisheries). The results shown that the ecology aspect index values between 54.14% -63.00% (quite-sustain status), economic aspects index values between 22.08% -44.12% (unsustainable and less-sustainandquite-sustain status) , and the technical aspects of forestry index values between 41.92% -53.02% (less-sustainandquite-sustain status).

Private forest in Toraja cannot be separated from tradition and local culture. Products from private forest are used for traditional ceremonies, raw materials of traditional house "tongkonan", and souvenirs for tourists. The potency of private forest has decreased, concequence to the supply-demand imbalance of raw material fulfillment. This research aims to: (1) analyze the sustainability index and status of private forest management based on aspect of ecology, economics and technical forestry; (2) analyze sensitivity indicator of ecology, economics, and forestry technicality in the private forest management. The research was conducted in Toraja area (Tana Toraja and North Toraja regency) on three locations of private forests (Tampo, Padangiring, and Sangkaropi). The research was conducted from October 2014 to June 2015. The research approach using multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis, which is modified from Rapfish (Rapid Appraisal for Fisheries). The results shown that the ecology aspect index values between 54.14% -63.00% (quite-sustain status), economic aspects index values between 22.08% -44.12% (unsustainable and less-sustainandquite-sustain status) , and the technical aspects of forestry index values between 41.92% -53.02% (less-sustainandquite-sustain status).

The target rate of afforestation in Ireland over the next 30 years is 20,000 ha per year, which would result in an increase of the forest cover from the current 10% to 17%. In order to promote sustainable forest management practices, it is essential to know the composition and conservation value of habitats where afforestation is planned and the effects of subsequent planting upon biodiversity. The objectives of this study were to investigate changes in vegetation composition and diversity of grasslands 5 years after afforestation with Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and determine the primary ecological and management factors responsible for these changes. Species cover, environmental and management data were collected from 16 afforested and unplanted improved and wet grassland site pairs in Ireland. Our results indicate that 5 years after tree planting, there were significant changes in richness, composition, and abundance of species. Competitive and vigorous grasses were more abundant in planted than in unplanted sites, as were generalist species found in both open and wooded habitats, while small-stature shadesensitive species were less abundant. Vascular plant species richness and Shannon's diversity index were higher in unplanted wet grassland, than in the planted sites. Bryophyte species richness was higher in planted improved grassland than in unplanted sites. The differences were primarily the result of the exclusion of grazing, ground preparation, changes in nutrient management and drainage for afforestation. Drainage ditches provided a temporary habitat for less competitive species, but the overall effect of drainage was to reduce the diversity of species dependent on wet conditions. Variance partitioning showed differences in the relative influences of environmental and management variables on biodiversity in the two habitats, probably due to the greater pre-afforestation grazing pressure and fertilisation levels in improved grasslands. The differences in biodiversity

The Bangladeshi tourism industry needs strategic management to achieve long-term growth and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The research aims to identify the sustainability difficulties of Bangladesh's tourism industry, evaluate their causes, and provide strategic remedies. Tourism's environmental, socioeconomic, and managerial effects are assessed using secondary data from literature, government papers, and case studies. Significant results include ecological damage, overtourism, unequal economic advantages, and insufficient regulatory enforcement. Lack of community participation and technological integration in tourist management are also significant challenges. Ecotourism, community-based tourism, and innovative tourism technology can address these issues. A comprehensive National Sustainable Tourism Strategy improved environmental enforcement, incentives for eco-friendly tourism, and increased community engagement in decision-making are needed. Sustainable tourism development in Bangladesh can be achieved by incorporating sustainability into national policy, fostering public-private partnerships, and empowering local communities through capacity-building initiatives. Bangladesh may utilize strategic management to promote tourism as a driver of economic growth, environmental preservation, and social development.

Sustainable forest management is a crucial issue in developing countries where the majority of the rural population relies on forests for livelihoods. While Nepal’s community forestry program is widely recognized for successfully conserving and regenerating forests, its contribution towards enhancing the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities is suboptimal. This is largely due to poor design and implementation of the operational plans for managing community forests. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to understand how operational plans can be designed to optimise forest management and utilisation practices. It achieves this by: 1] assessing the extent to which operational plans are sub-optimal, and this is found to have both biophysical and social components; 2] determining local communities perceptions on those biophysical and social factors influencing forest management; and finally 3] determining how operational plans can be adapted to the needs and practicable management ...

Conservation of biological diversity is a pressing need and protected areas are the cornerstones for conserving remaining flora and fauna. However, forest dependent livelihood in countries like Bangladesh making this task very critical. In the case of the poor and forest-dependent livelihood in the Sundarbans area of Bangladesh, an eco-friendly ecotourism may provide an alternative livelihood, which mayreduce the overexploitation from the valuable Sundarbans forest ecosystems. Furthermore, this initiative may also serve to aware people on the value of this unique ecosystems. Therefore, this study discusses the scope, benefits and challenges for developing sustainable ecotourism within the protected area. It focuses on the development of a potential site for sustainable ecotourism inside the Sundarbans Reserve Forest. Developing sustainable tourism spots inside the wildlife hub has a high demand among tourists and it is also necessary for the socio-economic development of the local c...

Climate variations in temperature and precipitation significantly impact forest productivity. Precipitation influences the physiology and growth of species, while temperature regulates photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration. This study developed bioclimatic models to assess how climate change will affect the carbon density of aboveground biomass (cd AGB) in Mexico's coniferous forests for 2050 and 2070. We used cd AGB data from the National Forest and Soils Inventory (INFyS) of Mexico and 19 bioclimatic variables from WorldClim ver. 2.0. The best predictors of cd AGB were obtained using machine learning techniques with the "caret" library in R. The model was trained with 80% of the data and validated with the remaining 20% using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs). Current cd AGB prediction maps were generated using the best predictors. Future cd AGB was calculated with the average of three general circulation models (GCMs) of future climate projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5), under four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs): 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5 W/m 2. The results indicate cd AGB losses in all climate scenarios, reaching up to 15 Mg C ha-1 , and could occur under the RCP 8.5 scenario by 2070 in the central region of the country. Temperature-related variables are more important than precipitation variables. Bioclimatic variables can explain up to 20% of the total variance in cd AGB. The temperature in the study area is expected to increase by 2.66 • C by 2050 and 3.36 • C by 2070, while precipitation is expected to fluctuate by ±10% relative to the current values, which could geographically redistribute the cd AGB of the country's coniferous forests. These findings underscore the need for forest management to focus not only on biodiversity conservation but also on the carbon storage capacity of these ecosystems.

As more forest entities worldwide consider pursuing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, a critical question remains on whether stand-level management impacts differ between certified and uncertified forests. To begin to answer this question, we measured forest structure on three FSC-certified stands, three uncertified stands, and six adjacent unharvested reference stands (12 stands total) composed primarily of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) on non-industrial private properties in

This article analyzes how the European Union's Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EUDR) could affect the production of forest goods in Mato Grosso (MT), a Brazilian state whose economy depends on commodity exports. The text is divided into five topics: the first discusses the context of forestry products in the Brazilian state; the second analyzes the trade in forestry goods in the EU, its regulation, and the prospects for its application in MT; the third offers a conceptualization of the Brussels Effect and its manifestation in Brazil; the forth one presents the results of field research with actors in the forestry sector in the state, exploring their perceptions about the EU Brussels Effect; and the last one analzyes which Mato Grosso's municipalities are more exposed to the EUDR in their timber exports. The results obtained through semi-structured interviews highlight the diversity of knowledge of the different groups interviewed about European regulations in the country's timber forestry industry. State authorities show a clear awareness of the influence of EU regulations, mainly concerning local public policies and international pressure on deforested areas in the Amazon. Stakeholder perceptions reveal a complex intersection between environmental, economic, and social concerns, highlighting the importance of constructive dialogue between different actors to mitigate conflicts and promote sustainable practices in the forestry sector, in line with global and local conservation demands for environmental and sustainability. Additionally, more than 80 Mato Grosso municipalities will be directly impacted by the EUDR, given their export profiles.

Sustainable forest management integrates ecological, social, and economic objectives. To achieve the former, researchers and practitioners are modifying silvicultural practices based on concepts from successional and landscape ecology to provide a broader array of ecosystem functions than is associated with conventional approaches. One such innovation is disturbance-based management. Under this approach, forest practices that emulate natural ecological processes, such as local disturbance regimes, are viewed as more likely to perpetuate the evolutionary environment and ecosystem functions of the forest matrix. We examine how this concept has been applied in three U.S. forest types: Pacific Northwest temperate coniferous, Western mixed-conifer, and Northeastern northern hardwood forests. In general, stand-level treatments have been widely used and often closely mimic historic disturbance because forest structure and composition guidelines have been well defined from reconstructive research. Disturbance-based landscape management, however, has not yet been closely approximated in the three forest types we examined. Landscape implementation has been constrained by economic, ownership, safety, and practical limitations. Given these constraints we suggest that disturbancebased management concepts are best applied as an assessment tool with variable implementation potential. Silviculture practices can be compared against the frequency, scale, and level of biological legacies characteristic of natural disturbance regimes to evaluate their potential impact on ecosystem sustainability. Recent landscape ecology texts and some U.S. regional management plans ) have proposed using natural disturbance as a model for sustainable forest management. This chapter examines how forest managers can use natural disturbance patterns and

Community based forestry is seen in many countries as a way to enhance sustainable forest management through close involvement of local people. This paper aims to develop understanding of local perspectives on criteria, indicators and verifiers for evaluating sustainable community based forest management practices. This study includes ten different forest user groups ranging from full autonomy to semi-autonomy in making decisions regarding forest management practices covering three districts from three physiographic (mid-hill, inner-tarai and tarai) regions of Nepal. A village to village approach was used to acquire the perspectives from male, female and different castes. The findings show that local people identified four criteria, 26 indicators and 60 verifiers for evaluating sustainable community based forest management practices. Three locally identified criteria were found to be identical with the institutional topdown criteria. The paper concludes that understanding local know...

RESUMOA infraestrutura para exploração florestal é fundamental nas atividades de exploração madeireira, mas responde por grande parte dos impactos ambientais dessa atividade. O presente estudo aplicou e testou cinco técnicas de processamento digital de imagens orbitais com três resoluções espaciais distintas para a detecção de estradas e pátios florestais construídos em áreas sob manejo florestal sustentável na Floresta Nacional do Jamari, estado de Rondônia. Os resultados mostraram que o NDVI e a Análise de componentes principais apresentaram a melhor acurácia global nas resoluções espaciais de 5 e 10 metros e na de 30 metros, respectivamente. De maneira geral, a acurácia do produtor para a classe de interesse não foi alta, alcançando no máximo 39,2%, e índice Kappa de 0,38. A baixa performance das técnicas de geoprocessamento utilizadas na detecção de florestas exploradas seletivamente está relacionada às alterações ocorridas no dossel da floresta manejada, pouco perceptíveis em i...

Tree growth predictions still present a challenge to forestry scientists. Species richness, ecological behavior variations, and different climate and soil interactions make it difficult to predict and understand tree growth in managed forests. This study examined the relationship between soil, climate, and forest management parameters and tree growth, using data from more than 30 years of monitoring in the Brazilian Amazon. We evaluated all trees with DBH ≥ 20 cm in a database of 66,182 observations in 166 permanent plots, corresponding to 17,440 individuals and 642 species. We used the CAFOGROM growth model approach to analyze the dataset, and found 10 statistically distinct species groups in terms of tree diameter growth and maximal DBH for the species. Species classification based on ecological characteristics plays a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of treatment decisions and selective logging in forest management, making it possible to adopt appropriate practices and define logging intensities and cutting cycles compatible with conserving forest structure and species population. The model revealed variations in species growth resulting from the influence of factors including light, nutrients, and competition. Depending on the group, soil properties such as percentage of sand, silt, total carbon, presence of aluminum and phosphorus, and exchangeable bases or cation exchange capacity can accelerate or limit tree growth. However, no direct relationship has been found between specific soil and climate variables and an ecological group or tree size. Our study highlights distinct growth patterns among different species groups in response to reduced-impact logging and environmental variables. Effective forest management requires a nuanced approach, considering the varied growth responses of different species groups to ensure sustainable use and conservation of forest resources.

Land use changes over recent decades have led to serious decline in natural ecosystems, in particular the Mediterranean forests. This is due mainly to uncontrolled urbanisation causing agricultural land to be abandoned or to become partially polluted. In such areas, forest restoration appears the most appropriate remedy, in particular, by using native species with high ecological and economic values, such as cork oak. This species can be used for noble biomass production, that is biomass not addressed for energy production but mainly for industrial purposes. This work describes a case study located in central Italy, which is characterised by the integration of forest restoration with water-saving management for irrigation purposes, based on the use of effluents from a phytodepuration plant. By joining thematic maps with a map of topographic wetness index (TWI) a suitable site was selected in the municipality of Tuscania for a cork oak plantation. An irrigation scheme, useful for maximising the growth rate of cork oak and consequently for maximising the economic profits retrievable from the plantation, was determined based on the estimated potential evapotranspiration using Thornthwaite's equation, the soil type and the available wastewater. An economic analysis showed that the total cost of the works might be amortised within the first stripping of gentle cork or even before, for example, if cork oak was cultivated in conjunction with an economically relevant non-food species. In this case study, the advantages of dyeing species were analysed. Results show that an integrated forest restoration and wastewater 6496 Tatiana Marras et al. management system could be implemented to provide an economic income that ensures both cost recovery and a significant profit over time.

«Il rapporto di serietà e serenità dell’arte soggiace», secondo Adorno, «a una dinamica storica»: una volta mutate le condizioni da cui essa era scaturita, dunque, la sgargiante levità del musical classico «si ottunde irrecuperabilmente» divenendo «alla fine [...] insopportabile». Se, come è noto, è «dopo Auschwitz» che secondo il filosofo tedesco «non ci si può più immaginare un’arte serena», altri fantasmi tormentano a partire dagli anni sessanta la coscienza degli Stati Uniti (che del nazionalsocialismo erano stati irriducibili avversari). Con il frantumarsi delle effimere speranze generate dal riformismo di John Fitzgerald Kennedy e poi, soprattutto, con l’intensificarsi dell’intervento militare statunitense in Vietnam, la società nordamericana entra in una fase di sistematica messa in discussione dei suoi principi fondanti dalla quale sarebbe scaturito un diffuso movimento di contestazione capace di farne vacillare le fondamenta fino a poco prima ritenute incrollabili. In questo mutato contesto, prosegue ancora il saggio di Adorno, «il contenuto di verità della gioia sembra essere diventato inaccessibile. Ne discende che i generi si sfrangiano», primo tra tutti il musical, la cui identitaria spensieratezza diviene – in un’America attraversata dalle lotte per l’emancipazione delle comunità razzializzate, dal dilagante antimilitarismo e dal crescente dissenso nei confronti del modello capitalista e della morale borghese – propriamente inimmaginabile.

Sustainable management of tropical forests is essential for conserving the ecosystem services they provide and protecting the livelihoods of the millions of people who depend on these forests. Community-based forest management in Quintana Roo, Mexico, has shown that conserving forests while generating economic benefits is achievable in the tropics. However, this management is carried out with technical gaps that jeopardize sustainable use of these resources. Crucial among these gaps is a lack of equations for precise calculations of logged timber volumes. Current equations employ a proportion of bark volume (PBV) of 0.14 for mahogany and a flat 0.10 for species with dense woods, despite their wide variation in bark thickness. Here, using Meyer's method, we calculated species-specific PBVs for the most commercially-important species in the Felipe Carrillo Puerto community-based logging operation. For most species, the new PBVs were smaller, indicating that wood volumes are currently underestimated. However, for two species, PBVs were higher. New values could influence the profits of the local enterprise and on the management of some of the most commercially-important species of Mexico's tropical forests through changes in the numbers of individuals felled.

Background and Purpose: The declining and dieback of lowland oak forests as the result of global climate change, as well as the attack of various pathogenic organisms, industrial pollution, and other negative effects reduce acorn yield and will continue to do so in the future. As a result of this fact, the areas on which artificial regeneration will be applied by planting seedlings will have to be increased. The artificial regeneration process is more expensive than the natural one, so protection measures need to be applied to minimize the loss of young seedlings. Materials and Methods: Experimental plots were set up in the forest area of Spačva Basin. A completely randomized block design experiment in four repetitions was used, in which four variants of planting and protection of oak seedlings were examined. We tested polypropylene tree shelters and hydrophilic superabsorbent based on maize starch. Heights of the plants were measured by measuring tape, and survival was registered b...

The 2030 global agenda of the United Nations emphasizes peace, human rights, gender equality, partnership, and women's empowerment. It balances the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The SDG framework was designed to be integrated and indivisible, making the interconnections of 17 Goals and 169 Sustainable Development Goals Targets (SDTs) more complex that need extensive and intensive investigative research. Recent studies have increased on the interrelationships of SDGs, but none of these have focused on integrating Climate Change (CC), Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), also known as CSI Nexus. This study aims to investigate and identify the 169 SDTs linked to CC, SFM, and ICT and assesses the significance of the relationships between these variables. The alignment of SDTs to CSI Nexus was identified through clustering and mapping techniques. The result argued that 56 SDTs are directl...

There is sufficient proof that the entire world is fronting an ecological disaster because of huge deforestation. This study assessed the drivers of deforestation and the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. Information was sourced by administering questionnaires to 200 respondents drawn from the support zone dwellers of Mandara hills in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, and alongside interviews scheduled using participatory rural appraisal technique. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and smith's saliency model. The later was used for ranking of benefits derived from the hills and the conservation measures proffered by the respondents. The following age classes 26-30 years with 30 respondents, 31-35 years (35), 36-40 years (32) and 41-45 years (30) had the majority of the respondents. On gender, the majority (84.50%) of the respondents were males. Percentage of respondents for civil servants (21.50%) and farming (27.50%). The mainstream of the respondents had formal education represented by primary (19.5%), secondary (24.50%) and tertiary (36.0%). Most of the respondents had income that ranged from N100,000.00 -N2,000,000.00. The major benefits derived from the hills included; human protection during wars and insurgency (32.50%) and farming (30.50%). Drivers of deforestation based on; bad, worse and worst effect rankings cumulatively showed agricultural expansion topping the list, followed by indiscriminate destruction of wildlife habitat. Conservation measures suggested in order of frequency of respondents included; reduced human settlement around the hills (34.50%) and implementation of natural forest regeneration and restoration (31.50%).

The octopus fishery on the Campeche Bank (Yucatán, Mexico) is considered the third largest in the world. In Yucatán, two fleets target this resource: an artisanal fleet and a semi-industrial fleet. The artisanal fleet only catches Octopus maya, while the semi-industrial fleet catches two species, O. Maya and O. “vulgaris” Type II, because it operates at deeper waters ( > 30 m). Since there is no information on the abundance of O. “vulgaris” Type II, management is based only on O. Maya. In order to generate information about the abundance of this species, four fishing research cruises were carried out in the northeastern area of the continental shelf off the Yucatán Peninsula. Four methods (a stratified random method, a swept area, geostatistics and a weighted swept area) were applied and compared to determine the instantaneous abundance and biomass of both species in the study area. The lowest potential biomass was calculated with the geostatistical method, with values between 18...

This research to aims for to determine implementation of the Forest Management Production Unit role in realizing sustainable forest management in Sarmi Regency, and as well to find out the obstacles and solutions for unified Forest Management Production Unit in realizing sustainable forest management at the Sarmi Regency, Province of Papua. The method used in this research is sociological juridical research methods and/or empirical legal research. This method is used for the reason that in this research the emphasis is on legal science and the study of legal rules that apply in society related to forest management units. Sociological juridical research uses primary and secondary data. Primary data comes from interviews with sources and the public, while secondary data is obtained through references from literature studies in accordance with the title of this research. The results of the research show that, the role of the Forest Management Production Unit (KPHP) for region XXI across Sarmi and Memberamo Raya Regencies, on the one hand has made several positive contributions to economic development and regional development in Papua Province, but on the other hand the presence of KPHP has not had a direct impact on indigenous community around a forests, especially at site level. Likewise, the proposal for the formation of KPHP by the Sarmi Regency government to become a Regional Work Unit (SKPD), has not yet been realized due to many factors and indicators that must be met.

Hasta la actualidad, los bosques de las Yungas Australes se manejaron sólo para proveer madera de unas pocas especies arbóreas con alto valor económico. Extracciones sucesivas sin respetar los tiempos de recuperación del sistema llevaron a que una gran proporción de esta ecorregión se encuentre empobrecida y simplificada, lo que hace que estos bosques sean más propensos a ser transformados a otros usos de la tierra. Por esta razón es necesario una pronta adopción de lineamientos de manejo forestal sostenible en las que se incluya el amplio rango de valores que estos bosques proveen (e.g., biodiversidad y servicios ecosistémicos). Actualmente, existen lineamientos para mantener una producción sostenible de madera y disminuir los efectos negativos de la intervención silvícola, y también se dispone de una cantidad de información que permite empezar a delinear pautas de manejo forestal ecológicamente sostenible para otros valores del bosque de las Yungas Australes. Sin embargo, en esta ecorregión, dichos lineamientos fueron en su mayoría ignorados. Opinamos que esto puede deberse a la falta de un adecuado escenario socio-económico y político, enmarcado en una política forestal a largo plazo. Es necesario contar con compensaciones económicas que permitan mejorar la rentabilidad del bosque al incentivar a los propietarios a cambiar a prácticas de manejo forestal sostenible. Otra posibilidad debería ser reconocer y pagar por los diversos servicios ecosistémicos que las Yungas Australes proveen. La implementación de un esquema de manejo forestal sostenible permitirá que estos bosques puedan seguir brindando distintos bienes y servicios que benefician a distintos actores sociales que dependen de las Yungas Australes. [Palabras clave: selvas de montaña, bosque nativo, lineamientos de manejo, política forestal, servicios ecosistémicos, biodiversidad, conservación] ABSTRACT. Limitations and advances to attain sustainable forest management in Southern Yungas of Argentina. Until now, the Southern Yungas forests have been managed only to provide wood from a few economically valuable tree species. Successive reentries without considering the time needed for the ecosystem to recover led to a degradation and simplification of great proportion of the Southern Yungas, making these forests more susceptible to transformation to other land-uses. For this reason, an early adoption of guidelines for sustainable forest management, including the wide range of values that these forests provide (e.g., biodiversity and ecosystem services), is needed. Currently, guidelines to attain a sustainable yield of wood and decrease the negative effects of logging are available, and also a great amount of information has been developed to start delineating sustainable forest management guidelines for other values of the Southern Yungas forest. However, these guidelines have been mainly ignored in the Southern Yungas due to, in our opinion, primarily, a lack of a socio-economic and political scenario framed in a long-term forest policy is set. It is necessary to provide economic compensations that promote land-owners to shift to sustainable forest management activities. An alternative should be to recognize and pay for the diverse ecosystem services that the Southern Yungas provide. To implement sustainable forest management guidelines will ensure that these forests continue providing multiple goods and services that benefit local stakeholders which depend on the Southern Yungas.

Amburana cearensis is a commercially valuable timber species, categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is distributed throughout the seasonal dry tropical forests of Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. In Argentina it is restricted to the provinces of Salta, where legislation sets a minimum cutting diameter of 60 cm, and Jujuy, where logging of this species has been banned since 1972. The effect of these laws on the species’ conservation status has not been assessed. We estimated species density, using distance sampling methodology, and measured the diameter at breast height of each individual encountered at 13 sites in north-west Argentina. Across both provinces we found a density of 1.12 individuals ha−1 (95% CI 0.48–2.63) and there was no significant difference between the density in Salta (5.15 ha−1;; 95% CI 3.14–8.45) and that in Jujuy (3.67 ha−1;; 95% CI 2.59–5.17), although 84% of the individuals encountered in Salta were found at one site. Diameter at br...

Erosion through ravines causes many problems on bank of Chambal river in Madhya Pradesh. It damages rangelands, croplands and infra-structures. Plantation of different fruit trees (Moringa oleifera, Amblica officinalis, Psidium guaijava, Ziziphuszezuba, Punica grantum, Annonasquamosa), forest / medicinal trees (Cenchr sciliaris,Azardirechtaindica, Pongamia pinnata, Albizialebbeck, Dalbergiasisso and Acacia nilotica)) and some grasses (lemon grass, pamarosa, para and napier grass) under four management modules viz. M1-diversified cropping system, M2- Agri-horticultural, M3- Horti-pastoral, M4- Silvi-medicinal and M5- Silvi-pastoral were raised during 2012 at 3x3 m spacing. Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by the process of photosynthesis and store the carbon (C) as biomass.The highest biomass carbon wasyielded in ModuleM3, followed by M2, M5, M4 and M1, respectively. The average biomass carbon was found highest in grasses followed by fruit and forest trees. The study ...

Forest biomass and carbon storage models are crucial for inventorying, monitoring, and assessing forest resources. This study develops models specific to China's diverse forests, offering a methodological foundation for national carbon storage estimation and a reference for regional and global carbon sequestration projections. Utilizing data from 52,700 permanent plots obtained during China's 9th national forest inventory, we calculated biomass and carbon storage per hectare for 35 tree species groups using respective biomass models and carbon factors. We then constructed a hierarchical volume-based model system for forest biomass and carbon storage, applying weighted regression, dummy variable modeling, and simultaneous equations with error-in-variables. This system encompasses a single population, three forest categories (level I), 20 forest types (level II), and 74 forest sub-types (level III). Finally, assessment of these models was carried out with six evaluation indices, and comparative analyses with previously established biomass models were conducted. Determination coefficients (R²) for the population average, level I, II, and III dummy models exceed 0.78, 0.85, 0.92, and 0.95, respectively, with corresponding mean percent standard errors (MPSE) of approximately 22%, 21%, 15%, and 12%. Furthermore, mean prediction errors (MPE) have consistently lessened to below 0.5%, and total relative errors (TRE) approximate zero. Models for 20 forest types and 74 sub-types yield R² values above 0.87 and 0.85, with MPE values below 3% and 5%, respectively. Notably, the estimates of previous biomass models demonstrated considerable uncertainty, with TRE ranging from -20% to 74%. However, accuracy has improved with larger sample sizes. In total biomass and carbon storage estimations, the R² values of dummy models for levels I, II, and III progressively increase and MPSE values decrease, whereas MPE and TRE remain relatively stable. The tiered model system of simultaneous equations developed herein offer a quantitative framework for precise evaluations of biomass and carbon storage across China's forests. For enhanced accuracy in such estimations, applying level III models is recommended whenever feasible. Keywords： biomass conversion factor; simultaneous equations; error-in-variable; dummy variable; carbon storage Forest biomass and carbon storage, akin to forest volume, are vital for monitoring forest resources and are integral indicators of forest ecosystem function and productivity [1-3]. As global climate concerns rise, the examination of forest carbon storage and its sequestration potential is increasingly prioritized [4-5]. Forest biomass can be determined through individual tree biomass models [6-7], or by formulating stand-level biomass models and conversion factors [2,6]. Forest carbon storage estimates are derived by multiplying biomass by the forest's average carbon factor [2].

This study explored the agricultural activities and other factors contributing to deforestation in the Okpe-Urhobo Forest Reserve (OUFR). A multi-stage sampling was employed to pick 150 respondents from 10 communities around the OUFR boundary. Data were collected through questionnaire administration and interviews. The respondents' socioeconomic characteristics, agricultural activities practiced, and activities that lead to deforestation were obtained. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse the socioeconomic characteristics, agricultural activities, and activities that lead to deforestation, and Pearson's product moment correlation (α = 0.01 and α = 0.05) was used to analyse the influence of agricultural activities on deforestation. The respondents are mainly male (51%), between the ages of 31 and 40 (35%), with 49.3% having secondary education. They engaged more in farming (80.1%). The multiple responses showed that bush burning, crop rotation, bush/land clearing, and others are the agricultural activities practiced. Construction activities, charcoal production, and agricultural land expansion, among others, are the key activities leading to deforestation. There are strong positive correlations between deforestation and crop plantation establishment (r = 0.75), agricultural land expansion (r = 0.75), and bush burning (r = 0.84). Agricultural practices except mulching cause deforestation and biodiversity loss in Okpe-Urhobo Forest Reserve.

High-elevation, late-successional forests over much of British Columbia are dominated by Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex. Engelm.) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.). Throughout the range of these forests, however, there is a wide variation in natural disturbance and successional dynamics as influenced by diverse climate and topography. We divided these high elevation forests into four groups arranged along a regional climatic gradient that affects forest composition, structure and disturbance regime. For each, we describe the climate, topography, major vegetation, and natural disturbance dynamics. We suggest that management practices reflect the ecological variability demonstrated for these high elevation forests. Key words: high elevation forests, ecological variability, natural disturbance dynamics, vegetation, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, British Columbia, climate, topography

Many people have contributed to this research project. I would particularly like to thank the two Indian researchers who co-authored the project's Discussion Paper with me, Ms Abha Mishra and Mr Ajay Rai. I would also like to thank the staff of all of the NGOs that provided assistance with the fieldwork in their operational areas. These included:

Growth and yield models at different scales are useful tools for forest stakeholders. Adequate simulation of forest stand conditions after different silvicultural scenarios allows stakeholders to adopt appropriate actions to maintain forest integrity while forest products and services are obtained to benefit society as a whole. SIMANFOR is a platform to simulate sustainable forest management alternatives, integrating different modules to manage forest inventories, simulate and project stand conditions and maintain systems security and integrity. SIMANFOR output is compatible with an Office environment (Microsoft or Open), allowing users to exchange data and files between SIMANFOR and their own software. New developments are being planned under a web 2.0 environment to take advantage of user input to improve SIMANFOR in the future.

The change in status of forest areas to Special Purpose Forest Areas (KHDTK) aims to optimize forest resource management to support sustainability and sustainable use. KHDTK Mungku Baru is one example of an area managed by the local government and universities, but it faces various challenges, especially conflicts of interest between stakeholders. This research aims to analyze the role of stakeholders in managing KHDTK Mungku Baru and understand the interests and influence of each party in the management process. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with various parties involved, such as local governments, academics, NGOs, and the surrounding community. The results of the study indicate that stakeholders in the management of KHDTK Mungku Baru can be categorized into four groups based on their level of influence and interests: key players, context setters, subjects, and crowd. Local communities have high interests but low influence in the management of KHDTK, thus requiring a more effective empowerment approach. Meanwhile, local governments and academic institutions, as key players, play a major role in decision-making and policy implementation. To optimize the management of KHDTK Mungku Baru, a collaborative strategy that actively involves all stakeholders is needed.

From the existing full set of international policy instruments on forests, eight core components are identified and submitted to two differing assessments. The first (consistency assessment) uses a policy design approach to match the core components with their goals, policy tools, target group preferences and justifications for the choice of goals and policy tools. The second (compatibility assessment) examines the institutional inter-linkages of the core components. Both assessments reveal a series of challenges for international forest governance that can, however, be turned into opportunities. It is proposed that the coordination of and cooperation between the representatives of forest and non-forest users be strengthened at the national, regional and international levels, under the shared overarching idea of sustainable forest management, by means of 'forests+' policies. Forests+ policies go beyond the forest sector and acknowledge both the inter-sectoral character of forest policymaking and the importance of international regimes that have a decisive impact on forests but for which forests are not the main focus of attention.