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Using residual biomass from forest harvesting to produce energy is viewed increasingly as a means to reduce fossil fuel consumption. However, the impact such practices on soil and future site productivity remains a major concern. We revisited 196 forest plots that were subject to either whole-tree (WTH) or stem-only (SOH) harvesting 30 years ago in the boreal forest in Quebec, Canada. Plots were stratified by four soil regions grouped by so-called ‘soil provinces’. Soil analyses indicated that after 30 years, the forest floor of WTH sites had smaller pools of N (−8%), exchangeable Ca (−6%) and exchangeable Mn (−21%) and a higher C/N ratio (+12%) than that of SOH sites. Mineral soil responses to the two harvesting intensities differed among soil provinces. In the two coarse-textured granitic soil provinces, organic matter, organic carbon, and nitrogen pools over the whole solum (0–60 cm soil depth) were at least 28% smaller after WTH than after SOH. Site productivity indicators followed differences between soils and were lower after WTH than after SOH in the two granitic soil provinces. The study shows that soil characteristics greatly influence a soil’s sensitivity to increased forest biomass harvesting in the long term.

Penggunaan kayu jati muda merupakan solusi alternatif terhadap terbatasnya ketersediaan bahan baku yang dihadapi oleh industri mebel. Kayu muda cenderung memiliki kayu berkualitas rendah. Salah satu pengukur kualitas kayu adalah sifat struktur makroskopik. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh umur pohon, bonita dan posisi aksial batang terhadap struktur makroskopis kayu dan kualitas kayu. Tiga puluh enam pohon jati muda ditebang dari kawasan hutan KPH Kendal, Provinsi Jawa Tengah. Tiga cakram berketebalan 3 cm diambil dari masing-masing posisi aksial batang, yaitu bagian pangkal, tengah dan ujung. Pengukuran proporsi kayu teras dan dimensi lingkaran tahun dilakukan berdasarkan perbedaan warna alami dan dengan menggunakan lembaran plastik transparan bergambar pola milimeter. Data dianalisis dengan analisis varians dalam rancangan acak lengkap berblok yang disusun secara faktorial. Pengujian lanjutan dilakukan dengan uji HSD Duncan. Kualitas kayu ditentukan dengan analisis determinan berdasarkan kurva normal Z. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa interaksi tiga faktor tidak berpengaruh terhadap proporsi kayu teras, dan dimensi lingkaran tahun. Interaksi kelas umur dan bonita pengaruh nyata terhadap proporsi kayu teras dan dimensi lingkarah tahun. Posisi aksial batang berpengaruh secara nyata terhadap proporsi kayu teras dan berpengaruh sangat nyata terhadap dimensi lingkaran tahun. Semakin mendekat pada posisi pangkal batang, semakin tinggi proporsi kayu teras dan dimensi lingkaran tahun. Interaksi tiga faktor yaitu kelas umur V, bonita 4 dan posisi tengah batang menghasilkan kualitas kayu tertinggi, yaitu kelas 2, dan interaksi kelas umur V, bonita 3 dan bagian ujung batang menghasilkan kualitas terendah, yaitu kelas 4. Penggunaan kayu berbasis kualitas akan memaksimalkan nilai guna dan meningkatkan umur pakai produk, sehingga mengurangi intensitas penebangan hutan dan lebih ramah lingkungan hidup. ABSTRACT Young teak utilization is an alternative solution of limited raw materials faced by furniture industry. Young wood tends to have a low-quality wood. One element for measuring wood quality is wood macroscopic structure properties. This study was aimed to determine the effect of tree age, site quality index and axial stem position on wood structures and wood quality. Thirty-six young teak trees were harvested on forest areas of Kendal Forest District, Central Java Province. Three disks were taken from each trunk, namely from the butt, middle and upper parts. Heartwood proportion and annual ring dimensions were measured based on natural color difference by using millimeter grid apparatus. Data were analyzed by using variance analysis arranged in blocked factorial and further testing were performed by using HSD Duncan. Wood quality was analyzed using determinant method which elaborated based on Z norm curve. Results showed that interaction of three factors did not affect on heart-wood proportion and growth ring dimensions. Interaction of age classes and site quality index influence significantly on heart-wood proportion and growth ring dimensions. Stem axial position significantly affects on heart-wood proportion and very significantly effect on growth ring dimensions. The lower wood position, the higher heart-wood proportion and the wider growth ring dimensions. Interaction of three factors namely class age V, site quality index 4 and middle trunk position has a highest wood quality, namely class 2, but interaction of age class V, site quality index 3 and top trunk has the lowest one, namely class 4. The use of wood-based quality will maximize the value and increase the product lifespan, thereby reducing the intensity of logging and become more environmental friendly.

This is the Coleopteran Fauna of ERS on the river Dane, Cheshire: a survey report produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. A comprehensive survey of the Exposed Riverine Sediment (ERS) on the River Dane, Cheshire was undertaken between mid-April and mid-June 2003. 6 locations were selected and subsequently examined to determine the importance of the constituent invertebrate fauna. Appropriate sampling techniques (i.e. pitfall trapping, hand searching and excavations) were directed towards the target group (Coleoptera). All adults from the chosen taxa were identified to species level. The relative value of the fauna was assessed using species richness, conservation status, fidelity score and a site quality index. Environment Agency Archives North West + appendices

As características ecológico-culturais das espécies florestais dão indicações acerca da sua adaptabilidade às diferentes condições edafo-climáticas. Na silvicultura clássica a aptidão é definida pela classe de qualidade, o que pressupõe a existência de povoamentos florestais. A metodologia apresentada neste artigo tem como objectivo a delimitação de áreas de aptidão, para diferentes espécies, em função das suas características ecológico-culturais e das características edafo‑climáticas da área, podendo pois ser utilizada independentemente da presença de formações florestais. A definição de áreas homogéneas de aptidão potencial permite uma caracterização e avaliação detalhadas em termos de aptidão biofísica, contribuindo decisivamente para o processo de tomada de decisão. Por outro lado, os processos de análise espacial implementados constituem um contributo inovador numa perspectiva de avaliação biofísica de cenários de aptidão florestal e de operacionalização efectiva de um vasto conjunto de informação com um elevado nível de detalhe geográfico. Neste trabalho foram calculadas as áreas de aptidão potencial para as cinco espécies mais representativas, em termos de área para o Alto Alentejo, nomeadamente o sobreiro, a azinheira, o pinheiro manso, o pinheiro bravo e o eucalipto. The species ecological-cultural characteristics give indications of their adaptability for different edafo-climatic conditions. In classical silviculture, aptitude is defined by the site quality index, according to the forest stands. The methodology presented in this article has the main goal of defining the aptitude areas, for different species, only as a function of the ecologico-cultural characteristics of the species and the edafo-climatic characteristics of the site, enhancing its use independently of the presence of forest stands. The definition of potential aptitude areas allows the detailed characterisation and evaluation, in terms of biophysical aptitude, giving an important contribution to the process of decision making. On the other hand, the implemented spatial analysis processes constitute an innovative contribution, in a perspective of biophysical evaluation of forest aptitude scenarios and of effective operationalisation of a wide set of information with an high level of geographical detail. In this paper the areas of potential aptitude were calculated for the five most representative species, in terms of area, for Alto Alentejo, namely cork oak, holm oak, umbrella pine, maritime pine and eucalyptus. Les caractéristiques écologique-culturales des essences forestières donnent des indications sur leur adaptabilité aux différentes conditions édapho-climatiques. Dans la sylviculture classique l'aptitude est définie par la classe de qualité, assumant l'existence de peuplements forestiers. La méthodologie présentée dans cet article a pour objectif la délimitation d’un zonnement d'aptitude, pour différentes essences, en fonction de leurs caractéristiques écologico - culturelles et des caractéristiques édapho-climatiques de la zone, pouvant donc être utilisé indépendamment de la présence de formations forestières. La définition des zones homogènes d'aptitude potentielle permet une caractérisation et une évaluation détaillées dans une perspective d'aptitude biophysique, contribuant décisivement à la procédure de prise de décision. D'autre part, les processus d'analyse spatiale mis en oeuvre constituent une contribution innovatrice dans une perspective d'évaluation biophysique de scénarios d'aptitude forestière et d'opérationnalisation effective d'un vaste ensemble d'informations avec un grand niveau de détail géographique. Dans ce travail on a déterminé les zones d'aptitude potentielle pour les cinq essences les plus représentatives, dans le Alto Alentejo, notamment le chêne-liège, le chêne vert, le pin parasol, le pin maritime et l'eucalyptus.