Journal of Forest Science - Latest articles
Results 91 to 120 of 133:
Potential of mixed Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Pinus sylvestris L. forests in lowland areas of Central Bohemia
Pavel Brabec, Jakub Brichta, Zdenìk Vacek, Stanislav Vacek, Václav İimùnek, Vojtìch Hájek
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(11):470-484 | DOI: 10.17221/76/2023-JFS 
Mixed forests play a key role in terms of stability, production potential, and adaptation to climate change. In addition, the studied Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) belong to the most economically important tree species in Europe. The objectives were to determine the effect of the species composition of these two tree genera on the production, structure, diversity, and growth of mixed stands at lower elevations in the Czech Republic. Based on dendroecological samples, research was also carried out on the influence of climatic factors and climate change on the radial growth of these trees of interest....
Forest as a source of renewable material to reduce the environmental impact of buildings
Hana Svobodová, Petra Hlaváèková
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(10):451-462 | DOI: 10.17221/65/2023-JFS
Construction sector has high environmental impact throughout entire life cycle of buildings. One way to reduce the impact is to use building materials with the lowest possible environmental impact – such as wood. The use of wood-based building materials can improve the overall environmental balance of buildings. Compared to other materials, wood probably has the best environmental performance. These findings are particularly significant in the context of the environmental and legislative situation in Europe and the Czech Republic and may be one of the reasons for the increasing number of new wood-based buildings. The main reason for the...
Estimation of Fagus orientalis Lipsky height using nonlinear models in Hyrcanian forests, Iran
Mohammad Rasoul Nazari Sendi, Iraj Hassanzad Navroodi, Aman Mohammad Kalteh
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(10):415-426 | DOI: 10.17221/93/2022-JFS
Tree height is one of the most important variables in describing forest stand structure. However, due to difficulty in height measurement, especially in dense and mountainous forests, the common approach is to invoke the height-diameter (H-D) models. The oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) is one of the most important species of Hyrcanian forests, over the mid to high-altitudes (400–1 800 m a.s.l.), in northern Iran. In this study, the H-D relationship of beech trees was investigated separately for mid-altitude and high-altitude in Shafaroud forests of Guilan using 14 nonlinear H-D models and an artificial neural network...
The forest land tax systems in Slovakia and Portugal
Klára Báliková, Natacha Jesus-Silva, Noémia Bessa Vilela, Michaela Korená Hillayová, Jaroslav İálka
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(10):427-437 | DOI: 10.17221/51/2023-JFS
Forests cover almost one half of European land. Therefore, land taxes, including taxes from forests, are essential for a municipality's income. The land tax system is implemented on different levels, mainly nationally and locally. Therefore, many land tax features are settled by federal law, and others differ according to the local tax administrators. The objective of the paper is to compare the current laws and principles and the implementation process of forest land in Slovakia and Portugal. We have selected countries from different geographical areas of Europe. Even though the forest compositions and forest ownership differ, we aimed to identify...
Three scenarios for tree species composition and stand age in new and permanent forest areas: A case study of Latvia
Zigmārs Rendenieks, Līga Liepa
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(10):438-450 | DOI: 10.17221/25/2023-JFS
Land abandonment and the emergence of new forest areas create novel dynamics for forest ecosystems and landscapes. Modelling is often used to forecast tree species composition, age group distribution and spatial patterns in the future. The aim of this study was to develop three scenarios for changes in tree species composition, stand age distribution and spatial patterns of new forest areas and permanent forests using Latvia as a case study. We selected 19 study areas of the size 10 km × 10 km to sample the variety of forest cover patterns, tree species, and stand age. Using GIS tools, we developed three scenarios: baseline, commercial...
Distribution and environmental impact of alien woody species in lowland riparian forest habitats: Case study in the protected areas of Georgia, South Caucasus
Giorgi Kavtaradze, Lado Basilidze, Jan Pergl, Elizaveta Avoiani, Petr Vahalik, Besarion Aptsiauri, Nani Goginashvili, Margalita Bachilava, Zurab Manvelidze, Nato Kobakhidze
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(9):401-414 | DOI: 10.17221/3/2023-JFS
Biological invasions are globally recognised as a significant threat to native biodiversity, as they can change the structure, composition, and functioning of the native ecological system. The riparian forest is considered a habitat highly invaded by invasive plants since rivers serve as corridors for alien species through the terrestrial ecosystem or may simply harbour exotic species that cannot survive elsewhere. The riparian forest, as a high conservation value forest, is an important part of the lowland forests of Georgia. These forests are distributed along large rivers, including the Mtkvari, Alazani, Iori, Aragvi, Ksani, Algeti, and Great...
Impact of protection methods and abiotic factors on Nothofagus pumilio seedlings mortality in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Martin Smola, Josef Cafourek, Antonín Kusbach, Martin İenfeldr, Josef Stĝíteckŭ, Petr Madìra
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(9):389-400 | DOI: 10.17221/45/2023-JFS
National parks (NP) are the last refugia of forests dominated by the Nothofagus species in Chile. However, frequent, careless human-caused fires are destroying these forests even within the national parks. After large-scale fires, N. pumilio stands are unable to recover naturally neither in generative nor in vegetative ways and artificial regeneration must be resorted to in order to maintain their extent. However, even artificial regeneration is not successful without protection against browsing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to experimentally test a range of repellents and other methods of mechanical protection of seedlings...
Reducing costs, improving profits: A low-cost culture media for woody plants micropropagation
Ricardo Castro-Camba, Jesús María Vielba, Purificación Covelo, Nieves Vidal, Conchi Sánchez
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(9):377-388 | DOI: 10.17221/56/2023-JFS
Micropropagation has enormous potential in the forestry industry for the mass production of elite genotypes. A limiting factor that hinders a wider adoption of this technique is its high associated cost, dissuading small producers and laboratories from its use. Thus, it is important to develop low-cost protocols to increase the competitiveness of micropropagation. The goal of the present study was to elaborate a low-cost culture medium that would allow plant growth without diminishing plant quality and production. The replacement of laboratory sucrose with commercial sugar as a carbon source, and laboratory agar with locally produced agar as a gelling...
Effect of bioengineering treatments on reduction of soil erosion from road cut slope and fill slope
Aidin Parsakhoo, Seyed Ataollah Hosseini
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(9):367-376 | DOI: 10.17221/55/2023-JFS
The efficiency of different conservation practices on soil loss from road side slopes is scarcely identified in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran, which could retard the implementation of these management practices. Sediment of 48 plots on the cut slopes and fill slopes of forest roads were collected to explore their responses to soil conservation practices, including straw bale (SB), living hedge (LH), dead hedge (DH), geo-cell (GC), geotextile (GT), and bare soil (BS). Moreover, the efficiency of conservation practices was evaluated to find a cost-effective approach. Sediment traps were installed at the toe of side slopes in the ditch and end of each...
Sap flow modelling based on global radiation and canopy parameters derived from a digital surface model
Tomáı Mikita, Zdenìk Patoèka, Elizaveta Avoiani
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(8):348-359 | DOI: 10.17221/191/2022-JFS
Sap flow represents water transport from roots to leaves through the xylem and is used to describe tree transpiration. This paper proposed and tested a procedure to estimate sap flow by calculating global radiation in a digital model of the tree canopy surface obtained by unmanned aerial vehicle imaging. The sap flow of nine trees was continuously measured in the field. In the digital surface model, individual canopies were automatically delineated, their parameters were determined and the global radiation incident on their surface on specific days was calculated. A polynomial relationship was found between sap flow and the calculated incident solar...
First report of Thanasimus femoralis (Zetterstedt, 1828) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) in forest nursery in the Western Black Sea Region of Türkiye
Nuray Öztürk, Beşir Yüksel
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(8):360-365 | DOI: 10.17221/50/2023-JFS
In this study, the first observation of Thanasimus femoralis was conducted in Türkiye. Adults of T. femoralis and Thanasimus formicarius were collected from pheromone traps together with Ips sexdentatus, Ips acuminatus, Ips mannsfeldi and Scolytus intricatus in forest nurseries located in the Western Black Sea Region, between 2021 and 2022. The clerid and bark beetles were morphologically described. The aedeagus and antennae of T. femoralis were observed by scanning electron microscopy.
Comparison of nutrient and carbon stocks in the aboveground biomass of mature silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) stands
Tomáı Èihák, Monika Vejpustková
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(8):334-347 | DOI: 10.17221/37/2023-JFS
The aim of the study was to compare the stock of essential nutrients and carbon in the aboveground biomass of mature stands of silver fir and Norway spruce. A comparison was carried out for 14 mixed stands of spruce and fir. The tree-level dendrometric characteristics were taken from experimental measurements or were generated using the SIBYLA growth simulator. The amount of biomass was calculated using allometric equations. Samples of stem wood, stem bark, and needles were taken and analysed for carbon, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and sulphur concentrations. Using biomass data, the concentrations of the elements were converted...
Responses in leaf water status of Quercus castaneifolia C.A.Mey and Carpinus betulus L. exposed to cement dust pollution in Northern Iran
Jamshid Eslamdoust, Seyed Mohsen Hosseini, Fatemeh Kardel
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(8):325-333 | DOI: 10.17221/14/2023-JFS
Industrial air pollution, particularly cement dust, affects the leaf water status and resource utilisation and finally decreases primary production. Evaluating the relative water content (RWC), leaf mass per unit area (LMA), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf water per unit area (LWA) helps selecting more tolerant species for dusty polluted areas. In this study, we compare two species of Quercus castaneifolia C.A.Mey and Carpinus betulus L. in a polluted site (PL) around a cement factory, and a unpolluted site (UPL) in Mazandaran province, Northern Iran. Ten individual trees of each species were tagged at each...
A pilot study of continuous cover forestry in boreal forests: Do remaining trees affect forwarder productivity?
Jussi Manner, Back Tomas Ersson
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(7):317-323 | DOI: 10.17221/44/2023-JFS
According to the literature, forwarding productivity depends chiefly on log concentration, the number of assortments, mean log volume, load-size, slope, and extraction distance. However, there is not much scientific knowledge available on forwarding in continuous cover forestry (CCF) in boreal forests, nor whether the presence of remaining trees actually affects forwarding productivity. Thus, the objective of our study was to isolate the effect of remaining trees (i.e. stand density) on forwarding productivity during CCF, specifically selection cutting. The results showed that productivity was explained mainly by the log concentration, while...
Assessment of the Ellenberg quotient as a practical tool for vertical vegetation zonation
Petr Dujka, Antonín Kusbach
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(7):305-316 | DOI: 10.17221/133/2022-JFS
The Ellenberg quotient (EQ) is a climate index defined as a ratio of the hottest month's temperature and the average annual precipitation sum. The quotient indirectly expresses the relationship between climate and vegetation, and its application is related to the ecological niche of Fagus sp. Although the quotient was curated on the grounds of field research primarily on German vegetation, the possibilities of its utilisation are not limited to the Central European region. The objective of this study is (i) to compare the EQ values calculated for the forest vegetation zones in the Czech Republic with the published data using...
Assessment of aboveground biomass and carbon stock of subtropical pine forest of Pakistan
Nizar Ali, Muhammad Saad, Anwar Ali, Naveed Ahmad, Ishfaq Ahmad Khan, Habib Ullah, Areeba Binte Imran
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(7):287-304 | DOI: 10.17221/125/2022-JFS
The presented study estimated the aboveground biomass (AGB) of Pinus roxburghii (chir pine) natural forests and plantations, and created biomass maps using a relationship (regression model) between AGB and Sentinel-2 spectral indices. The mean AGB and BGB (belowground biomass) of natural forests were 79.54 Mg·ha–1 and 20.68 Mg·ha–1, respectively, whereas the mean AGB and BGB of plantations were 94.48 Mg·ha–1 and 24.56 Mg·ha–1, respectively. Correlation showed that mean diameter at breast height (DBH) and mean...
Pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic fungi against Myllocerus fotedari Ahmad, 1974 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) under laboratory conditions in India
Shaziya Gull, Ahmad Tariq, Abdul Lateef Khanday, Sureshan Pavittu Meethal, Gowhar Rashid
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(7):277-286 | DOI: 10.17221/10/2023-JFS
The weevil, Myllocerus fotedari Ahmad, 1974 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is widely recognised as one of the major walnut pests. Fungal pathogens have shown great potential for the management of some pest species. In the present study, the efficacy of three entomopathogenic fungi, namely Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (Metchnikoff) Sorokin and Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare and Gams were evaluated against the weevil, M. fotedari, under laboratory conditions. Each fungal suspension contained 1.0 × 109 spores of fungi in 1 mL. The experiment comprised of five treatments...
Analysis of the propensity of Italian and German forest owners towards forest certification for ecosystem services
Emanuela Lombardo
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(6):266-276 | DOI: 10.17221/193/2022-JFS
This study analyses the perception of the relationship between forest certification and the production of ecosystem services by Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sustainable forest management (SFM) certification holders. In addition, the psychological constructs that govern the use of certification for ecosystem services are investigated. Specifically, online questionnaire surveys were submitted to a sample of Italian and German forest owners and managers to study reasons for and against and global motives to adopt certification for ecosystem services through the application of Behavioural...
Forest cover change detection using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index in the Oued Bouhamdane watershed, Algeria – A case study
Boubaker Khallef, Rabah Zennir
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(6):254-265 | DOI: 10.17221/192/2022-JFS
The Algeria forest, particularly in the northeastern region, has undergone profound changes in recent years. The Oued Bouhamdane watershed has a great forest potential, which is threatened by several factors of natural and human origin, resulting in a decrease in forest cover. It requires adequate forest monitoring to support the sustainable forest management of this watershed, which is possible thanks to satellite imagery. The objective of this research is to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of the vegetation cover of the Oued Bouhamdane watershed between 2013 and 2022 using remote sensing data. This study is based on the use of Landsat 8 and 9 images...
The beneficial role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on population rates of aboveground herbivory: Zyginella pulchra (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) in plane trees
Hamed Aalipour, Ali Nikbakht, Jahangir Khajehali, Mohammad Taghizadeh
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(6):244-253 | DOI: 10.17221/158/2022-JFS
Herbivorous pests and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) coexist on the same host plant, having an indirect effect on one another. We established an experiment in a randomised complete block design with four treatments and six replications to examine the impact of AMF on the population and the damage caused to plane trees by the leafhopper Zyginella pulchra. Manure, manure plus fertiliser, manure plus fertiliser plus AMF, and non-inoculated plants (control) were all of the treatments. The findings revealed that while the nutritional content and soluble carbohydrate content were significantly enhanced by all treatments, they largely reached...
Road network designing in a forested watershed using network connectivity indices
Mohsen Mostafa, Shaban Shataee Jouibary, Majid Lotfalian, Amir Sadoddin
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(6):229-243 | DOI: 10.17221/8/2023-JFS
Designing and constructing a road network is one of the most critical steps of the development process in managing natural resources. The current research is going to investigate the application of network connectivity indices to the analysis of road networks in the forested watershed. First, the road network suitability map (RNSM) was created to emphasize the technical and physiographic criteria and integrated management scenarios using a weighted linear combination (WLC) and analytic network process (ANP). Subsequently, three road network alternatives (RNA) were assigned based on the priorities in the RNSM. In order to try to determine the appropriate...
Estimation of land cover changes and biomass carbon stock in north-eastern hill forests of Bangladesh
Tahmina Afroz, Md. Giashuddin Miah, Hasan Muhammad Abdullah, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Md. Mizanur Rahman
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(5):217-227 | DOI: 10.17221/111/2022-JFS
Forests are atmospheric CO2 sinks, but their losses and degradation accelerate the emissions of carbon stored as a sink. Deforestation and forest degradation are widespread in Bangladesh, but their impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is unknown. We assess land use and land cover (LULC) change and forest loss in this study by classifying different Landsat satellite imagery with a focus on forest cover loss from 1989 to 2020. Tier 1 standards were used to estimate the carbon removal and emissions from a small-scale tropical forest. Over the last three decades, the forest area has decreased by 2.40%, 3.74% and 7.52%, respectively....
Intensive initial care of silver fir using improving compounds: A way to support diverse forests?
Channa Suraweera, Martin Baláı, Josef Gallo, Giuseppe D'Andrea, Stanislav Vacek, Jiĝí Remeı
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(5):179-192 | DOI: 10.17221/178/2022-JFS
In some cases, it is difficult to promote climax tree species in the forest stand composition. In the Czech Republic, silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is a typical example. This study offers an evaluation of the use of two improving compounds for tree plantations in the initial stage of growth in Central Bohemia. In the experiment, we measured the initial growth performance of a young fir plantation treated with a brassinolide compound (concentration 1 : 100 and 1 : 200) and Bio-Algeen® prior to planting and compared it with control treatment: we assessed height, root collar diameter, vitality and mortality rate during the...
The effect of thinning intensity on sap flow and growth of Norway spruce
Ina Zavadilová, Justyna Szatniewska, Marko Stojanoviĉ, Peter Fleischer Jr., Lukáı Vágner, Marian Pavelka, Peter Petrík
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(5):205-216 | DOI: 10.17221/17/2023-JFS
Forest thinning can be used as an adaptive measure to improve the growth and resistance of Norway spruce forests affected by climate change. The impact of different thinning intensities on sap flow, growth, and tree water deficit of 40-year-old Norway spruce was tested. High thinning intensity (–61% of basal area) resulted in increased tree-level sap flow compared to the control (+27%), but it caused a decrease in the stand-level transpiration (–34%) due to reduced leaf area index. Low-intensity thinning (–28% basal area), high-intensity thinning, and control showed similar responses of sap flow to vapour pressure deficit and...
Effect of forest management on the genetic diversity of Abies hidalgensis, a threatened species with restricted distribution
Elena Rosales-Islas, Pablo Octavio-Aguilar
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(5):193-204 | DOI: 10.17221/13/2023-JFS
Abies hidalgensis is an endemic species from the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, that has been registered only in nine fragmented relict populations that have a total of 1 000 individuals among them. Intensive forest management takes place in five of the populations under specific programs focused on Pinus spp. Still, it is necessary to know the impact of these activities on the genetic diversity of the threatened species, if restoration and conservation strategies are to be proposed. The aim of this work was to estimate the effect of forest management on the genetic structure of A. hidalgensis using seven nuclear molecular...
Synergism of plant microbe interactions for remediation of potentially toxic elements
Ranjna Kaundal, Vipin Parkash, Supriti Paul, Meghna Thapa
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(4):127-143 | DOI: 10.17221/1/2023-JFS
Industrialization and urbanization are important for economic development which makes the human life easy by providing different job opportunities, increasing the production level of cheaper goods and standard of living. Despite its many positive effects, industrialization has had a negative impact on the natural ecosystem through environmental pollution. It is responsible for a greater input of potentially toxic and non-toxic substances into essential environmental components such as air, soil and water. Continuous industrialization has resulted in significant environmental problems due to the release of pollutants and extremely difficult treatment...
Evaluation of women’s participation and empowerment in community land rehabilitation programs: Lesson drawn from Wera District, Southern Ethiopia
Tesfanesh Ababu, Gezahegne Siyoum, Deginet Berhanu, Gemedo Furo
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(4):158-171 | DOI: 10.17221/165/2022-JFS
Local people’s socio-economic and natural resources, especially forest resources, have been affected by land degradation in Ethiopia in the past years. To combat this problem, rehabilitation of community-based degraded land has been performed since 1979. Rehabilitation of degraded land (RDL) is important for forest management strategy regarding the regeneration of degraded forests and related resources through women’s empowerment. Because empowered women are key users and managers of resources from rehabilitated land such as forest resources, which leads to sustainable utilization of forest products. The aim of the study was to evaluate...
A pilot study of Continuous Cover Forestry in boreal forests: Decreasing the harvest intensity during selection cutting increases piece size, which in turn increases harvester productivity
Jussi Manner, Tobias Karlsen, Back Tomas Ersson
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(4):172-177 | DOI: 10.17221/22/2023-JFS
While even-aged forestry is the dominating forest management system in Sweden, there is an increasing interest in Continuous Cover Forestry. Consequently, the conversion of even-aged stands into uneven-aged ones using e.g. selection cutting can be expected to become more common in Sweden. However, there are no up-to-date studies available on harvester productivity during selection cutting under Nordic conditions. Studying harvest intensity during selection cutting is of interest because lighter harvest intensities lead to higher volume growth and better-preserved forest ambience than heavier intensities. The objective of this study was to examine...
Distribution of genetic variability in mature and progeny populations of Abies alba Mill. from the Polish Western and Eastern Carpathians
Marcin Zarek, Marta Kempf
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(4):144-157 | DOI: 10.17221/11/2023-JFS
This study aimed to compare patterns in the genetic structure of 27 mature stands and the natural regeneration of A. alba in the Eastern and Western Carpathians within the introgression zone of two refugial lineages from the Apennine and Balkan peninsulas. The distribution of the genetic diversity of fir stands was analysed using paternally inherited chloroplast DNA and five nuclear dominant inter simple sequence repeat markers (ISSRs). The study showed that the Balkan haplotype prevailed in both parental and progeny populations, and this haplotype was found in many mature Eastern Carpathian stands. Relatively high levels of genetic...
Use of bioreactors RITA® in the propagation of Pinus patula Schiede ex Schltdl. & Cham.
Arturo Alonso Armas Silva, Lourdes Georgina Iglesias Andreu, Marco Antonio Ramírez Mosqueda
J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(3):124-126 | DOI: 10.17221/189/2022-JFS
The objective of the present work was to evaluate the efficacy of use of the RITA® temporary immersion system in the large-scale propagation of P. patula. The effects of four concentrations (0.00 µM, 4.50 µM, 9.00 µM, and 13.51 µM) of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) on 10 hypocotyl explants were studied using a completely randomised design with three replicates per treatment. Five hypocotyl explants were grown in 250 mL RITA® containers of Woody Plant Culture Medium (WPM) supplemented with 20 g·L–1 sucrose and 10 mg·L–1 vitamins from Murashige and Skoog...