Journal of Forest Science, 2016 (vol. 62), issue 11

Preliminary results of statistical analysis focused on the dependence between forest litter moisture and relative air humidityOriginal Paper

A. Majlingová, D. Schallerová

J. For. Sci., 2016, 62(11):493-500 | DOI: 10.17221/87/2016-JFS  

The results of the dependence of forest litter moisture on relative air humidity are presented in this paper. The dependence was studied applying the data obtained during a field survey in research plots situated in the Low Tatras Mountains territory. To process the statistical analysis the Statistica 8 software was applied. As a result of this analysis we expected to find the conversion index that can be used to calculate the fine fuel moisture based on the actual relative air humidity. The information on litter moisture (fine fuel component) is essential for the software for modelling fire behaviour. Results of analyses confirmed that the conversion...

Horizontal and vertical distribution of carbon stock in natural stands of Hyrcanian lowland forests: A case study, Nour Forest Park, IranOriginal Paper

A.A. Vahedi, A.R. Bijani-Nejad, A. Djomo

J. For. Sci., 2016, 62(11):501-510 | DOI: 10.17221/49/2016-JFS  

The Nour Forest Park located in the north of Iran is the most important Hyrcanian lowland forest which plays a significant role in the local/national carbon cycle. Since the forest is protectively managed, the distribution of C pools in the forest may give proper information for climate change negotiations. We investigated variations in above- and belowground C pools between three natural stand types that occur in the forest - Alnus glutinosa-Parrotia persica (AI), Acer velutinum-Parrotia persica (MI), and Ulmus glabra-Carpinus betulus (EH). The carbon stocks of trees, herbs and litter...

Management of Natura 2000 sites in Italy: An exploratory study on stakeholders' opinionsOriginal Paper

I. De Meo, F. Brescancin, A. Graziani, A. Paletto

J. For. Sci., 2016, 62(11):511-520 | DOI: 10.17221/52/2016-JFS  

The Natura 2000 network includes the sites of community importance identified by Directive 92/43/EEC and the special protection areas defined by Directive 79/409/EEC. This network can be considered the cornerstone of the European Union (EU) nature conservation policy in order to ensure the long-term protection of endangered species in their natural habitats. The European Union has adopted an integration approach to the Natura 2000 network. The integration approach is based on combining human activities and nature conservation purposes in Natura 2000 sites and in neighbouring areas. Furthermore, the stakeholders' involvement in the site management is...

Beech sawn timber for structural use: A case study for mechanical characterization and optimization of the Italian visual strength grading ruleOriginal Paper

D. Cibecchini, A. Cavalli, G. Goli, M. Togni

J. For. Sci., 2016, 62(11):521-528 | DOI: 10.17221/93/2016-JFS  

The potential use of beech (Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus) sawn timber for structures has been investigated. Beech stands in transition from coppice to high forest after thinning interventions have been sampled from different Italian sources. A sample of 160 beams of two different cross sections was extracted and tested, according to the normalized procedures for the characterization of wood for structures. The specimens were visually graded considering the strength relevant defects, according to the Italian standard. To determine the mechanical properties of the timber (namely strength and stiffness), four-point bending tests were performed and...

The potential impact of climate change and forest management practices on Heterobasidion spp. infection distribution in northwestern Russia - a case study in the Republic of KareliaOriginal Paper

M. Trishkin, E. Lopatin, O. Gavrilova

J. For. Sci., 2016, 62(11):529-536 | DOI: 10.17221/90/2016-JFS  

Heterobasidion spp. is considered as a major pathogen which causes butt and root rots and impairs the forest health. The increasing Earth's temperature could be favourable for Heterobasidion spp. in terms of the increased duration of dispersal period. The results of the field work showed that about 35% of visually observed stumps in the southern part of Karelia are rotten, although the laboratory analysis showed that 6% from the total number of observed stumps were infected by Heterobasidion spp. Moreover, there are evident long-term trends of increased average annual temperature and number of days per year with...