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Copyright of Arboriculture & Urban Forestry is the property of International Society of Arboriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper explores the significance of ecosystem functions in maintaining the health and balance of ecological systems, particularly in the context of planning, managing, and maintaining trees in landscape settings. It emphasises the multifaceted relationship between humans and trees, encompassing cultural, ecological, economic, and emotional connections, and underscores the value of traditional ecological knowledge alongside empirical science. By combining these two ways of knowing, along with social science insights into human health and well-being, future landscapes can be crafted to be sustainable, diverse, and functional. As urbanisation continues to shape landscapes globally, urban planners face the challenge of managing rapidly changing environments. Urban forestry and arboriculture have emerged to address these challenges, aiming to enhance environmental quality and human well-being. The concept of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) has gained traction, recognising the importance of integrating natural systems into urban planning to address environmental challenges while preserving functional ecosystems. This paper advocates for an enhanced understanding of tree and human ecology to navigate the complex relations between trees, people, and their environments. It calls for interdisciplinary collaboration, research, and education to inform policy, assess environmental impacts, and widen approaches to ecosystem management. By monitoring ecosystem health and collaborating across disciplines, arboriculturists and urban foresters can shape resilient practices for tree conservation and sustainable urban development. In conclusion, integrating tree ecology into urban planning and management practices is essential for ensuring the health, resilience, and sustainability of tree populations and the ecosystems they inhabit. By embracing a holistic understanding of trees and their environments, professionals can contribute to shaping future landscapes that support both human well-being and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation is crucial for crop cultivation and productivity. However, traditional methods often waste water and energy due to neglecting soil and crop variations, leading to inefficient water distribution and potential crop water stress. The crop water stress index (CWSI) has become a widely accepted index for assessing plant water status. However, it is necessary to forecast the plant water stress to estimate the quantity of water to irrigate. Deep learning (DL) models for water stress forecasting have gained prominence in irrigation management to address these needs. In this paper, we present a comparative study between two deep learning models, ConvLSTM and CNN-LSTM, for water stress forecasting using remote sensing data. While these DL architectures have been previously proposed and studied in various applications, our novelty lies in studying their effectiveness in the field of water stress forecasting using time series of remote sensing images. The proposed methodology involves meticulous preparation of time series data, where we calculate the crop water stress index (CWSI) using Landsat 8 satellite imagery through Google Earth Engine. Subsequently, we implemented and fine-tuned the hyperparameters of the ConvLSTM and CNN-LSTM models. The same processes of model compilation, optimization of hyperparameters, and model training were applied for the two architectures. A citrus farm in Morocco was chosen as a case study. The analysis of the results reveals that the CNN-LSTM model excels over the ConvLSTM model for long sequences (nine images) with an RMSE of 0.119 and 0.123, respectively, while ConvLSTM provides better results for short sequences (three images) than CNN-LSTM with an RMSE of 0.153 and 0.187, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of water requirements for crops holds a crucial role in optimizing irrigation and enhancing agricultural productivity. However, identifying these needs remains a significant challenge due to the variety of factors influencing this decision, such as meteorological conditions, soil structure, and the phenological stages of each crop. In this study, we propose the design and development of a dedicated web-based irrigation advisory platform for arboriculture named 'Soqia-Advice'. This platform will provide services to farmers, advisors, and decision-makers. The proposed methodology is based on four main steps: (1) need assessments; (2) definition of functionalities to fulfill these needs; (3) design of the overall architecture and the conceptual data model; and (4) implementation of key features of the module dedicated to farmers. The prototype of the "Farmer" module was tested on a farm in Azrou city, Morocco, as a case study. Seven-day weather forecasts were seamlessly integrated using the Weatherbit API. Additionally, the irrigation schedule was accurately displayed, ensuring efficient water management. Functionality tests were conducted on each menu to ensure the seamless and reliable operation of all planned features. The results were rigorously assessed to ensure that each feature aligned with the identified needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trees growing in urban environments are often impacted by maintenance or construction work involving the cutting of roots. Tree protection zones have been proposed to avoid critical damage to the tree. However, despite incorporating quantitative information, they heavily rely on expert judgement that remains to be validated. In a study conducted across six parks in Quebec City, Canada, two commonly found tree species, Acer platanoides L. and Tilia cordata Mill., presumed to be different in terms of vulnerability to root damage, were subjected to a range of trenching treatments. The trees were between 23 and 40 cm diameter at breast height (DBH). A safety factor was calculated relating the turning moment the tree can withstand to the turning moment imposed by high winds likely to occur. The safety factor against uprooting was assessed for each tree before and after root trenching using a non-destructive pulling approach. The effects of tree species, distance to the trench, and their combined interaction were tested on tree stability. The relationship between tree stability and soil texture, tree characteristics, and the number of damaged roots were also tested. Safety factors were initially variable, ranging from 0.5 to 4.5. T. cordata safety factors were lower than those of A. platanoides and influenced by soil texture. Trenching treatments had no effect on the safety factor, even when two perpendicular trenches were dug at 1 m from the stem. No index of the amount of root damaged was significantly related to the safety factor. Root trenching treatments that encroached closer to the tree trunk than the recommended tree protection zones did not affect the stability of both species. Nevertheless, it is essential to recognize that other ecophysiological processes might still be influenced, and long-term monitoring is crucial. Both should be taken into account when determining these zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of water requirements for crops holds a crucial role in optimizing irrigation and enhancing agricultural productivity. However, identifying these needs remains a significant challenge due to the variety of factors influencing this decision, such as meteorological conditions, soil structure, and the phenological stages of each crop. In this study, we propose the design and development of a dedicated web-based irrigation advisory platform for arboriculture named ‘Soqia-Advice’. This platform will provide services to farmers, advisors, and decision-makers. The proposed methodology is based on four main steps: (1) need assessments; (2) definition of functionalities to fulfill these needs; (3) design of the overall architecture and the conceptual data model; and (4) implementation of key features of the module dedicated to farmers. The prototype of the “Farmer” module was tested on a farm in Azrou city, Morocco, as a case study. Seven-day weather forecasts were seamlessly integrated using the Weatherbit API. Additionally, the irrigation schedule was accurately displayed, ensuring efficient water management. Functionality tests were conducted on each menu to ensure the seamless and reliable operation of all planned features. The results were rigorously assessed to ensure that each feature aligned with the identified needs.

Abstract Background Bolete cultivation is economically and ecologically valuable. Ectomycorrhizae are advantageous for plant development and productivity. This study investigated how boletes affect the formation of Pinus thunbergii and Quercus acutissima ectomycorrhizae using greenhouse-based mycorrhizal experiments, inoculating P. thunbergii and Q. acutissima with four species of boletes (Suillus bovinus, Suillus luteus, Suillus grevillei, and Retiboletus sinensis). Results Three months after inoculation, morphological and molecular analyses identified S. bovinus, S. luteus, S. grevillei and R. sinensis ectomycorrhizae formation on the roots of both tree species. The mycorrhizal infection rate ranged from 40 to 55%. The host plant species determined the mycorrhiza morphology, which was independent of the bolete species. Differences in plant growth, photosynthesis, and endogenous hormone secretion primarily correlated with the host plant species. Infection with all four bolete species significantly promoted the host plants’ growth and photosynthesis rates; indole-3-acetic acid, zeatin, and gibberellic acid secretion increased, and the abscisic acid level significantly decreased. Indole-3-acetic acid was also detected in the fermentation broths of all bolete species. Conclusions Inoculation with bolete and subsequent mycorrhizae formation significantly altered the morphology and hormone content in the host seedlings, indicating growth promotion. These findings have practical implications for culturing pine and oak tree species.

The optimization of irrigation in arboriculture holds crucial importance for effectively managing water resources in arid regions. This work introduces the development and implementation of an innovative solution named ‘Soqia’, a responsive WEB-GIS web application designed for real-time monitoring of the water status in arboriculture. This solution integrates meteorological data, remote sensing data, and ground sensor-collected data for precise irrigation management at the agricultural plot level. A range of features has been considered in the development of this WEB -GIS solution, ranging from visualizing vegetation indices to accessing current weather data, thereby contributing to more efficient irrigation management. Compared to other existing applications, ‘Soqia’ provides users with the current amount of water to irrigate, as well as an estimated amount for the next 8 days. Additionally, it offers spatio-temporal tracking of vegetation indices provided as maps and graphs. The importance of the Soqia solution at the national level is justified by the scarcity of water resources due to increasingly frequent and intense drought seasons for the past years. Low rainfall is recorded in all national agricultural areas. The implemented prototype is a first step toward the development of future innovative tools aimed at improving water management in regions facing water challenges. This prototype illustrates the potential of Web-GIS-based precision irrigation systems for the rational use of water in agriculture in general and arboriculture in particular.

There is an urgent need for energy sources with lower environmental impacts to dispose of waste generated by human activities. In this context, a holistic analysis of energy use of waste from agricultural and forestry activities, animal excreta, urban solid waste and sewage, waste from the pulp and paper industry and charcoal in Brazil is presented. Based on a bibliographic review, the current Brazilian panorama is presented in figures giving, a vision of national potential for harnessing bioenergy from this theoretical and technical potential. The QGIS3.24.2 Tisler geoprocessing tool was used to generate potentiality maps from census data of microregions and municipalities available in the IBGE database (2022) and in the Geocentric Reference System for the Americas (SIRGAS 2000). The results of map analysis by micro‐regions of the primary energy from agricultural residues highlight sugar cane, corn and soybeans crops, followed by wastewater and animal excreta. They stood out amont the studied sources of biomass with technical potentials of 53.17, 15.23 and 6.81 GW, respectively. With these results, it is concluded that Brazil could enable around 75 GW installed power, reusing all biomass, potentially 12.5 PJ, without considering the 16 GW already installed from sugarcane and paper black liquor plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arboriculture & Urban Forestry is the property of International Society of Arboriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The optimization of irrigation in arboriculture holds crucial importance for effectively managing water resources in arid regions. This work introduces the development and implementation of an innovative solution named 'Soqia', a responsive WEB-GIS web application designed for real-time monitoring of the water status in arboriculture. This solution integrates meteorological data, remote sensing data, and ground sensor-collected data for precise irrigation management at the agricultural plot level. A range of features has been considered in the development of this WEB -GIS solution, ranging from visualizing vegetation indices to accessing current weather data, thereby contributing to more efficient irrigation management. Compared to other existing applications, 'Soqia' provides users with the current amount of water to irrigate, as well as an estimated amount for the next 8 days. Additionally, it offers spatio-temporal tracking of vegetation indices provided as maps and graphs. The importance of the Soqia solution at the national level is justified by the scarcity of water resources due to increasingly frequent and intense drought seasons for the past years. Low rainfall is recorded in all national agricultural areas. The implemented prototype is a first step toward the development of future innovative tools aimed at improving water management in regions facing water challenges. This prototype illustrates the potential of Web-GIS-based precision irrigation systems for the rational use of water in agriculture in general and arboriculture in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data regarding Alzheimer's disease (AD) occurrence in farming populations is lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether, among the entire French farm manager (FM) workforce, certain agricultural activities are more strongly associated with AD than others, using nationwide data from the TRACTOR (Tracking and monitoring occupational risks in agriculture) project. Administrative health insurance data (digital electronic health/medical records and insurance claims) for the entire French agricultural workforce, over the period 2002–2016, on the entire mainland France were used to estimate the risk of AD for 26 agricultural activities with Cox proportional hazards model. For each analysis (one for each activity), the exposed group included all FMs that performed the activity of interest (e.g. crop farming), while the reference group included all FMs who did not carry out the activity of interest (e.g. FMs that never farmed crops between 2002 and 2016). There were 5067 cases among 1,036,069 FMs who worked at least one year between 2002 and 2016. Analyses showed higher risks of AD for crop farming (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.72 [3.47–3.98]), viticulture (HR = 1.29 [1.18–1.42]), and fruit arboriculture (HR = 1.36 [1.15–1.62]). By contrast, lower risks of AD were found for several animal farming types, in particular for poultry and rabbit farming (HR = 0.29 [0.20–0.44]), ovine and caprine farming (HR = 0.50 [0.41–0.61]), mixed dairy and cow farming (HR = 0.46 [0.37–0.57]), dairy farming (HR = 0.67 [0.61–0.73]), and pig farming (HR = 0.30 [0.18–0.52]). This study shed some light on the association between a wide range of agricultural activities and AD in the entire French FMs population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological research on traditional Hawaiian agriculture has generally focused on two primary strategies: irrigated pondfield and intensive dryland cultivation. However, other cultivation strategies, such as colluvial slope agriculture, were practiced but have been less intensively studied and remain poorly understood. To begin to remedy this paucity of information, a joint education and research project between International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc., the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (UHM) Department of Anthropology, and Kamehameha Schools (KS) was conducted in Punalu'u Ahupua'a to examine an integrated slope agricultural, religious, and residential complex. Subsurface investigations and radiometric dating indicate that initial vegetation clearing of the area may have occurred as early as the late thirteenth to early fifteenth centuries AD. As early as the fifteenth century, some stands of economic trees were growing, which may have coincided with initial placement of boundary walls along some portions of the slopes. Major expansion of the surface agricultural infrastructure along the landscape occurred through the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries AD. Religious structures and associated features were built as early as the seventeenth century and later. These results situate colluvial slope agriculture within the broader context of traditional Hawaiian agronomic strategies and political and social processes across the Hawaiian archipelago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Just as plants confiscated from one part of the world and introduced to another may become naturalized over time, so too may the stories humankind tells about the natural world. Both can have consequences for local and global biocultures. The North American black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) offers a case study through which to consider the transmission of early modern environmental and cultural histories. The persistence of a singular specimen planted in Paris in the early seventeenth century stands in contrast to the mutability of histories over time and the divergent modality of narratives about the natural world in different cultures. The many material lives of the plant species—from its propagation and first publication by Europeans to accounts by European colonizers in North America to the tree's historic and continued use in Indigenous craft practices—can be read through intertwined histories of botany, bioprospecting, settler colonialism, and the Atlantic slave trade. Expanding the profundity of the black locust's history by connecting its prehistories to written narratives reveals the tree to be an entangled organic object whose histories are integral to its materiality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a passage in book 15 of Pliny's Natural history which lists Livia among the creators of new fruit cultivar. It argues that Livia's unique position within and outside her family explains why she appears to be the only woman remembered for her direct involvement in arboriculture. The article then discusses grafting, which in ancient Rome was charged with many symbolic meanings, and contextualises the appearance of Livia in horticultural discourse within the ideology of the Augustan era and the increased interest in horticultural matters at that time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is one of the most fundamental ways in which human societies interact with the environment. The form and function of agriculture have important socio-political implications in terms of yields, labor requirements, variability and resilience, and elite control. Hawai'i has been used as a model system for the discussion of coupled human and natural systems, and how the uneven distribution of agricultural opportunities has manifested in the political ecology. However, consideration of agriculture has emphasized forms with physical infrastructure documented through archaeology and have not included arboricultural forms that were extensive among Pacific Islands. We leverage existing, independent data sets to build and validate spatial models of two intensities of arboriculture across the Hawaiian archipelago: Agroforestry and Novel Forest. Model validation demonstrates good accuracy that includes both expected and unexpected sources of errors. Results of the models demonstrate that arboricultural techniques accounted for ~70% of the agricultural potential by area and ~40% of the agricultural potential by yield. Unlike existing agricultural forms modeled, such as flooded wetland terrace cultivation and rainfed field production, which have strong distributional patterns based on the age of the islands, arboricultural potential is well distributed across all the islands. The extent, distribution, and characteristics of arboricultural methods provide important augmentation of the current narrative of production dynamics and distribution, and the political ecology, of pre-contact Hawai'i. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the years, the green cover has been substantially reduced and transformed into human development projects and settlements in many cities of Sri Lanka. Hambantota, a southern coastal district, has faced similar changes over the last two decades. Therefore, this study was aimed at the Land-Use and Land-Cover (LULC) changes which had taken place along its coastal belt during the period, 1996-2017. Comparison was done among LULC maps bearing fourteen different classes for the years 1996 and 2017. The results reveal that all LULC classes except coconut plantations and paddy lands show significant area changes (p < 0.05) during the period considered. Among the LULC changes, forest cover showed the highest area change (2341 ha loss (p < 0.05)) while 358 ha of scrubland has been cleared to establish housing schemes. The settlements have significantly increased (1318 ha) and a considerable amount is due to development projects including the Hambantota port. The survey results show that 63.9% of the residents in the study area agreed that the natural environment of the city had been affected by the development projects. Analysis of LULC changes and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data suggests that Hambantota coastal area has developed significantly at the cost of forests and associated vegetation from 1996 to 2017. Rapid economic and population growths are identified as the main driving forces for the LULC changes. These results deliver an important decision-making reference for LULC planning and sustainable development in the Hambantota coastal region, which is, in broad sense, valid for any booming city in the country and the world. The urban forestry concept can be an ideal sustainable move to compensate the green cover loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation is crucial for crop cultivation and productivity. However, traditional methods often waste water and energy due to neglecting soil and crop variations, leading to inefficient water distribution and potential crop water stress. The crop water stress index (CWSI) has become a widely accepted index for assessing plant water status. However, it is necessary to forecast the plant water stress to estimate the quantity of water to irrigate. Deep learning (DL) models for water stress forecasting have gained prominence in irrigation management to address these needs. In this paper, we present a comparative study between two deep learning models, ConvLSTM and CNN-LSTM, for water stress forecasting using remote sensing data. While these DL architectures have been previously proposed and studied in various applications, our novelty lies in studying their effectiveness in the field of water stress forecasting using time series of remote sensing images. The proposed methodology involves meticulous preparation of time series data, where we calculate the crop water stress index (CWSI) using Landsat 8 satellite imagery through Google Earth Engine. Subsequently, we implemented and fine-tuned the hyperparameters of the ConvLSTM and CNN-LSTM models. The same processes of model compilation, optimization of hyperparameters, and model training were applied for the two architectures. A citrus farm in Morocco was chosen as a case study. The analysis of the results reveals that the CNN-LSTM model excels over the ConvLSTM model for long sequences (nine images) with an RMSE of 0.119 and 0.123, respectively, while ConvLSTM provides better results for short sequences (three images) than CNN-LSTM with an RMSE of 0.153 and 0.187, respectively.

Copyright of XVIIe Siècle is the property of Presses Universitaires de France and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Arboriculture & Urban Forestry is the property of International Society of Arboriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The success of public trees planted in urban areas by tree planting initiatives (TPIs) depends on how well the new trees fit into existing municipal structures and capacities. We sought to understand municipal management of trees in mid-sized towns through a case study in Massachusetts (US) involving a state-funded and state-managed TPI. Data was collected through structured interviews with tree wardens (municipal urban forest managers) to understand the various impacts that maintenance practices, municipal support and funding, and departmental structure may have on recently planted trees. In this Massachusetts program, municipal structure influenced the number of proactive management practices as well as the size of the tree activity budget. Consideration of municipal department roles and structure by TPIs may allow for more effective implementation of these initiatives. Our study begins to fill a research gap regarding small to mid-size municipalities and their role in tree planting and maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban trees are extremely significant and provide numerous advantages for both the environment and people. In order to provide a healthy and sustainable environment, green spaces have long been seen as a crucial component of contemporary cities. Nevertheless, as urbanization and population growth have accelerated, environmental challenges have become a major worldwide issue. This study mainly focuses on the assessment of hazardous trees along the Bagmati river corridor and documents major tree species for urban forestry. The study was conducted in ward number 08 of Kathmandu metropolitan city. Total enumeration was carried out by recording information on trees through direct observation of the whole site. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) tree hazard evaluation method was used as a tree risk assessment tool. A total of 74 trees were recorded from the study site. Grevillea robusta, Cinnamomum camphora, Ficus bengalensis, F. religiosa, and so on were the major species planted along the Bagmati corridor. The trees were categorized in varying degrees of hazard. Forty-seven trees were less hazardous, 24 were semihazardous, and 3 were hazardous with hazard rates of 2.91, 6.04, and 9, respectively. Jasminum nudiflorum was the only hazardous species recorded followed by semihazardous species such as Morus alba and F. religiosa among other species, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Citrus limon, Psidium guajava, Alnus nepalensis, and so on were least hazardous tree species. The hazardous tree in urban areas increases the risk to people and public as well as private properties. There is a need for the removal of such hazardous trees and planting the right species at the right time. Moreover, regular inspection and a clear policy for urban trees are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction In the last 30 years, many forests have been destroyed in the Zagros region of Iran. Afforestation is necessary to reduce the pressure on the natural forests. Forest plantation and protection should be at the center of conservation efforts, significantly since plantations can offset the negative impact of climate change and be effective in absorbing atmospheric pollutants and helping to improve air quality. This research was conducted with the aim of evaluating the success of afforestation with the mountain almond (Amygdalus scoparia Spach.) in Arjan (Amygdalus elaeagnifolia Spach.) habitats of Jamal Beyg, Fars province and its effect on the understory vegetation, especially herbal species and soil. Comparing Arjan with mountain almond can provide additional information, to know the conditions of the native species in the region and the planted species, and it is a kind of comparative mode. In fact, evaluating the success and quantifying the ecological effects of the afforestation carried out by the executive organizations, which has been done at great expense, can guide managers for better decision-making. As no study has been done in this area yet, this research is the first one that quantifies the results of almond plantations in the Jamal Beyg region. Materials and Methods In order to check the percentage of survival and according to the budget and facilities, since the plantation rows were very long, three rows of planted shrubs in the Jamal Beyg region of Euclid in Fars province were randomly selected and the number of empty planting holes was counted. There are naturally but rarely shrubs such as Arjan (Amygdalus elaeagnifolia Spach.). In order to evaluate the existing vegetation, after initial sampling and based on the adequacy of the sample, 30 circular sample plots of 1000 square meters were taken in the form of a random-regular grid with dimensions of 100×100 meters. In the sample plots, the density of shrubs, their crow width, and survival, as well as the frequency of regeneration were measured. In order to check the number of species present in the plantation and control areas, at the end of May and the beginning of June 2021, all the plant species in the sample plots were identified or after they were collected and transferred to the herbarium, with the help of photos taken in the field, were identified. The life form and biological form of plant species were determined using the Raunkiaer system. Some physical and chemical characteristics of the soil such as texture, percentage of organic matter, phosphorus, EC, and pH amount were also measured and compared with the control area in the vicinity of the range which has similar topographical characteristics without afforestation operation. Due to the non-normality of the data distribution and the failure of various transformations, the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare two species of Arjan and mountain almond in terms of density, regeneration frequency, and crown area. Results and Discussion The survival rate of the plantation was 95 %, and the plantation area had a density of 342 trees per hectare, which created a canopy cover of five percent. The regeneration density of mountain almond and Arjan species was estimated to be 90 individuals and 4.5 individuals per ha, respectively. Afforestation with the mountain almond species in this area has increased the number of herbaceous species in such a way that there were 18 plant species belonging to 13 families in the afforestation area while 12 plant species belonging to eight families in the control area (without plantation area). In terms of canopy area, there was no significant difference between the two species of mountain almond and Arjan. In terms of regeneration density, there was a significant difference between the mountain almond and Arjan, and the regeneration density of the mountain almond was significantly higher than Arjan. The amount of organic matter (1.62), nitrogen (3.89), and phosphorus (11.02) of the soil in the afforestation area was higher than control area, and the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N) in the afforestation area (0.46) was lower than control area. Conclusion The results of this research indicate the significant success of mountain almond afforestation in the Jamal Beyg region, Fars province. Afforestation in this area has increased organic matter and also the number of herbal species. The existence of a significant natural regeneration of the mountain almond indicates that the stand is on the true way of its succession. In order to control the grass cover and prevent fires, it is better to do light grazing in the spring season in the stands. Also, if there is a history of the presence of Pistacia atlantica in the area, planting its seeds or seedlings under the shelter of existing shrubs will help the stability of the stand. It is suggested that sufficient research be carried out to determine the appropriate method for determining the age of shrubs in such a way that natural regeneration can be separated from planted shrubs. The main goal of initializing a seed garden is to produce the modified seeds of the desired forest species in abundance, cheap, continuous, and easily accessible, far from the reach of unwanted pollen and with better genetic quality and quantity. To select suitable genotypes of a species in terms of traits such as resistance to drought stress, the genomic selection method can be used. Jamal Beyg aforestation is a valuable seed garden for future plantation. Considering the significant survival of mountain almonds and the possibility of natural reproduction, it is suggested to use this nurse species in the restoration of similar fields in the study area. Considering the effect of mountain almond afforestation in improving the soil properties of the region, it is suggested to give more importance to bioengineering operations and stabilization of slopes with this shrub in the Fars Province watersheds. As this afforestation has supported herbal species richness, it is suggested that the results of afforestation be explained to rural communities so that they are encouraged to preserve and protect forest plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arborists work in high-risk environments, particularly when climbing trees, where a combination of grip strength and resistance to psychological stress are important attributes for safety. This study investigated the physical and cognitive activities of arborists combined with selected workload factors such as blood pressure, pulse, handgrip strength, and other anthropometric measurements, including manual dexterity and spatial awareness. The sample included 10 participants aged 17–48 years. Blood pressure was negatively correlated with handgrip strength after the activity had been performed. Different types of arborist activities led to various types of physiological feedback, as shown by the analysis of variance. According to our results, there is a difference between physical workloads, associated with activities such as tree felling, tree climbing, or chainsaw maintenance, and cognitive workloads, such as supervision or observation, in relation to blood pressure. Blood pressure was higher for activities that involved a cognitive workload. Before and after any activity, handgrip strength was positively associated with hand size. After any activity, greater changes in handgrip strength of the participant's right hand were associated with needing more time to successfully complete a peg test, which represents a greater cognitive burden. Our results suggest that arborists deal with physical activities such as tree felling, tree climbing, working with a chainsaw, and mental activities (supervising or observing) which were identified as two different groups correlated with hand grip strength, blood pressure, manual dexterity, and spatial awareness. In conclusion, the tree-climbing activity appeared to be the least stressful, and psychological stress appeared to have a greater impact on the health of observers and supervisors in the study group. This can be applied to other professions in many fields, including industries where workers face both physical and cognitive workloads.

Copyright of Studia Historica. Historia Medieval is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Trees with a decreasing level of health and structure can become a threat to life and property if they are not properly managed. Thus, a regular visual tree assessment (VTA) is essential to monitor the trees' conditions. A recent assessment, July 2022, by VTA on an existing Melaleuca citrina in the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) showed poor canopy growth colonised by parasitic plants with the emergence of fruiting bodies (conk or mushroom) on its trunk, indicating internal wood decay. Tree inspection using an advanced approach of PiCUS Sonic Tomograph (PiCUS) was performed to evaluate the severity of the decayed trunk. As a non-invasive method, PiCUS measures the wood deterioration in trees using sound wave velocity that moves through the density of the wood. The thicknesses of the residual wall of trees with internal defects were recorded as colour-coded tomograms. The results were then compared with previous observations in the year 2017. The soil penetration test, pH and "The Jar Test" were also adopted to analyse soil properties and condition around the tree. The tomogram images showed an increased percentage of decay from 2017 to 2022 of approximately 2 to 78%, respectively. The sound wood also decreased from 82 to 14% for the respective period. The soil is categorised as silt loamy with pH value of 5.6 to 6.4 while the soil penetration test exceeds a value of 2.06 MPa, which restricts the root growth. This information is vital for further maintenance of urban trees and very useful for managerial decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although as a professor of Divinity, diocesan bishop and political controversialist Richard Watson has attracted the attention of historians in those disciplines, his pioneering work as a scientist and agricultural reformer, especially in relation to arboriculture, has been largely overlooked. This paper seeks to redress the balance by focusing on his enduring interest in the emerging fields of applied science and demonstrate his important contributions to the cultivation of trees, larches in particular, as a commercial enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction In the last 30 years, many forests have been destroyed in the Zagros region of Iran. Afforestation is necessary to reduce the pressure on the natural forests. Forest plantation and protection should be at the center of conservation efforts, significantly since plantations can offset the negative impact of climate change and be effective in absorbing atmospheric pollutants and helping to improve air quality. This research was conducted with the aim of evaluating the success of afforestation with the mountain almond (Amygdalus scoparia Spach.) in Arjan (Amygdalus elaeagnifolia Spach.) habitats of Jamal Beyg, Fars province and its effect on the understory vegetation, especially herbal species and soil. Comparing Arjan with mountain almond can provide additional information, to know the conditions of the native species in the region and the planted species, and it is a kind of comparative mode. In fact, evaluating the success and quantifying the ecological effects of the afforestation carried out by the executive organizations, which has been done at great expense, can guide managers for better decision-making. As no study has been done in this area yet, this research is the first one that quantifies the results of almond plantations in the Jamal Beyg region. Materials and Methods In order to check the percentage of survival and according to the budget and facilities, since the plantation rows were very long, three rows of planted shrubs in the Jamal Beyg region of Euclid in Fars province were randomly selected and the number of empty planting holes was counted. There are naturally but rarely shrubs such as Arjan (Amygdalus elaeagnifolia Spach.). In order to evaluate the existing vegetation, after initial sampling and based on the adequacy of the sample, 30 circular sample plots of 1000 square meters were taken in the form of a random-regular grid with dimensions of 100×100 meters. In the sample plots, the density of shrubs, their crow width, and survival, as well as the frequency of regeneration were measured. In order to check the number of species present in the plantation and control areas, at the end of May and the beginning of June 2021, all the plant species in the sample plots were identified or after they were collected and transferred to the herbarium, with the help of photos taken in the field, were identified. The life form and biological form of plant species were determined using the Raunkiaer system. Some physical and chemical characteristics of the soil such as texture, percentage of organic matter, phosphorus, EC, and pH amount were also measured and compared with the control area in the vicinity of the range which has similar topographical characteristics without afforestation operation. Due to the non-normality of the data distribution and the failure of various transformations, the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare two species of Arjan and mountain almond in terms of density, regeneration frequency, and crown area. Results and Discussion The survival rate of the plantation was 95 %, and the plantation area had a density of 342 trees per hectare, which created a canopy cover of five percent. The regeneration density of mountain almond and Arjan species was estimated to be 90 individuals and 4.5 individuals per ha, respectively. Afforestation with the mountain almond species in this area has increased the number of herbaceous species in such a way that there were 18 plant species belonging to 13 families in the afforestation area while 12 plant species belonging to eight families in the control area (without plantation area). In terms of canopy area, there was no significant difference between the two species of mountain almond and Arjan. In terms of regeneration density, there was a significant difference between the mountain almond and Arjan, and the regeneration density of the mountain almond was significantly higher than Arjan. The amount of organic matter (1.62), nitrogen (3.89), and phosphorus (11.02) of the soil in the afforestation area was higher than control area, and the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N) in the afforestation area (0.46) was lower than control area. Conclusion The results of this research indicate the significant success of mountain almond afforestation in the Jamal Beyg region, Fars province. Afforestation in this area has increased organic matter and also the number of herbal species. The existence of a significant natural regeneration of the mountain almond indicates that the stand is on the true way of its succession. In order to control the grass cover and prevent fires, it is better to do light grazing in the spring season in the stands. Also, if there is a history of the presence of Pistacia atlantica in the area, planting its seeds or seedlings under the shelter of existing shrubs will help the stability of the stand. It is suggested that sufficient research be carried out to determine the appropriate method for determining the age of shrubs in such a way that natural regeneration can be separated from planted shrubs. The main goal of initializing a seed garden is to produce the modified seeds of the desired forest species in abundance, cheap, continuous, and easily accessible, far from the reach of unwanted pollen and with better genetic quality and quantity. To select suitable genotypes of a species in terms of traits such as resistance to drought stress, the genomic selection method can be used. Jamal Beyg aforestation is a valuable seed garden for future plantation. Considering the significant survival of mountain almonds and the possibility of natural reproduction, it is suggested to use this nurse species in the restoration of similar fields in the study area. Considering the effect of mountain almond afforestation in improving the soil properties of the region, it is suggested to give more importance to bioengineering operations and stabilization of slopes with this shrub in the Fars Province watersheds. As this afforestation has supported herbal species richness, it is suggested that the results of afforestation be explained to rural communities so that they are encouraged to preserve and protect forest plantations.

The development of agricultural systems is a fundamental component of social-ecological transformation and a predominant factor influencing social behavior and structuring. However, oversimplification of traditional agricultural production often occurs and limits the understanding of past populations’ abilities to mitigate potential risks and enhance food security through effective land management strategies. The social-ecological traits that characterize the Hawaiian Islands provides a unique vantage to explore human ecodynamics over the longue durée and assess how these systems can be used to inform current and future land-use strategies, both locally and globally. Using the Hawaiian archipelago as a case study, digitized historical maps depicting a range of crop species and cropping systems were georeferenced to assess previous estimates of land use by early island populations and demonstrate the limitations of narratives constructed from previously modeled extents of land-use activity that rely solely on the preservation of archaeological remnants. The results of our mapped vegetation correspond well with the more intensive forms of agriculture that were included in previous models, but overall indicate that previous models do not fully represent the extent of land use by early island populations, missing vast applications of agroforestry and arboriculture. Based on our findings, we argue that the omission of cultivation systems not associated with physical infrastructure has vastly limited the comprehension of land use by early island populations and driven narratives in social-ecological dynamics that underestimate the extent of agricultural production while inferring sociopolitical outcomes based on the prevailing agricultural dichotomy. To remedy this limitation, we suggest a multimethods approach that integrates diverse data sets for an agricultural model that is more inclusive of all agricultural forms implemented by early Native Hawaiian populations and, therefore, is more representative of the extents of land use by island populations.