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Efficiently quantifying stand density is crucial in sustainably managing mid-rotation loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations. While various stand density measures, including basal area (BA), stand density index (SDI), relative spacing (RS), and live crown length ratio (CR), are used, ambiguity persists among these measures: are they each biologically sound and are they on par with each other in terms of density management? These topics were investigated by examining the relationships between measures and stand age, between measures and tree growth, and between measures using data from numerous long-term permanent plots established in loblolly pine plantations in east Texas. A strong trend of increasing density with age was found for all the measures. The trend followed an asymptotic trajectory when density was expressed as BA, SDI, or RS, adhering to biological expectations, but the trend showed a gradual decrease for CR. Strong and biologically sound relationships between DBH periodic annual increment ( P A I D ) and BA or SDI were observed, suggesting that both measures match true DBH growth. However, P A I D linearly decreased with decreasing RS and with decreasing CR in a smooth curve, biasing from the biological expectation. Strong relationships existed between the measures, suggesting that these seemingly disparate measures are not independent of each other. Site index affected all investigated relationships in a manner of having higher densities at a given age or a greater P A I D at a given density for higher site index sites regardless of measures. The effects of initial planting density on the relationships were mostly negligible, having no practical significance, with few exceptions (the relationships of SDI–age, RS–age, and CR–RS). Among the measures evaluated, our results advocate for the use of B A to regulate mid-rotation loblolly pine plantation density such as determining the approximate biological timing for thinning in the Western Gulf region due to its biological soundness, ease of measurement, and feasibility of incorporating effects of site quality and planting density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To apply the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to solve forest management problems, it is necessary to determine when the use of this method is appropriate and when another method would be more appropriate due to the limitations of the method itself. In this study, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) and meta-SWOT analyses were conducted to assess the applicability of the AHP method to sustainable forest management problems. Sixteen experts from 11 different European countries participated in the research. First, they evaluated the AHP method from the SWOT perspective and weighted the SWOT factors and groups using the AHP method. The results showed that the AHP method is more suitable for application in sustainable forest management than other multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods with respect to two competitive dimensions: design and calculation. However, the application of the AHP in sustainable forest management also has some weaknesses and threats that should be considered. Involving stakeholders with expertise and skills in model development and pairwise comparisons is the most important issue in this area; otherwise, incorrect results could be obtained for forest management decisions. Problem-solving conditions such as uncertainty, the interactions among criteria and the economic constraints of the problem may also lead to the use of other methods instead of the AHP in sustainable forest management. The results of this study contribute to global studies on decision-making in natural resource and environmental management, especially decisions related to forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three options for coppice management in Iran were developed. These management options include Traditional Coppicing (TC), modification of TC, and extreme conservation to convert them into high forest. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used for modeling to select the optimal solution for managing these forests. Six different scenarios were simulated in which the importance of the criteria in decision-making process changed. The results show that each of the three management options has its own importance, which depends on the conditions of the region and the different importance of the decision criteria. Therefore, the selection of the management scenario for future forest planning depends on prioritizing the criteria from the perspective of the managers and stakeholders and is dependent on social, economic and ecological conditions in each management unit. The results of this study show that it is not possible to rely solely on the results of the AHP method for forest management decisions, as AHP model does not include constraints. In this context, reverse engineering can be very helpful in the final conclusion of the decision. The results of this study can make a valuable contribution to the global literature and support decision-making, especially in scenarios where stakeholder participation may be limited and modeling stakeholder behavior is essential to the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oak decline is a major concern in Iran. A literature search with the terms 'Iran' AND 'oak' OR 'Quercus' from 1963 through 2023 resulted in 635 articles with over 200 dealing specifically with oak decline. In Iran, oak decline is most severe in the Zagros forests, followed by the Arasbaran and Hyrcanian forests. Of Iran's 11 native oak species, Quercus brantii is the most affected. Several factors have been identified as contributing to oak decline in Iran. Some economic and social factors include high rural unemployment, livestock overgrazing and uncontrolled cutting of live tree branches with the wood used for firewood and foliage used as food for farm animals. These pruning wounds can serve as entry points for pathogens and attract insects. Important abiotic factors included extended drought, increasing air temperature and wind speed, and increased levels of airborne dust and heavy metals. Important pathogens identified in the early 2000s included Armillaria mellea and charcoal rot fungus (Biscogniauxia mediterranea). More recently, many other fungal pathogens (e.g., Discula quercina, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, Obolarina persica, Paecilomyces formosus and Phaeoacremonium tuscanicum) and bacterial pathogens (e.g., Bacillus pumilus, Brenneria goodwinii, Gibbsiella quercinecans, Rahnella victoriana and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia) were found in association with declining oaks. Among the insects, severe oak defoliation has resulted from various Lepidoptera in the families Erebidae, Geometridae and Tortricidae. Similarly, several bark‐ and wood‐boring beetles in the families Buprestidae and Cerambycidae were reported from declining oaks, with the buprestid Agrilus hastulifer being one of the most common. It is hoped that this review will improve our understanding of the many factors involved in oak decline in Iran and promote the development of management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing forests to sustain their diversity and functioning is a major challenge in a changing world. Despite the key role of understory vegetation in driving forest biodiversity, regeneration and functioning, few studies address the functional dimensions of understory vegetation response to silvicultural management.We assessed the influence of the silvicultural regimes on the functional diversity and redundancy of European forest understory. We gathered vascular plant abundance data from more than 2000 plots in European forests, each associated with one out of the five most widespread silvicultural regimes. We used generalized linear mixed models to assess the effect of different silvicultural regimes on understory functional diversity (Rao's quadratic entropy) and functional redundancy, while accounting for climate and soil conditions, and explored the reciprocal relationship between three diversity components (functional diversity, redundancy and dominance) across silvicultural regimes through a ternary diversity diagram.Intensive silvicultural regimes are associated with a decrease in functional diversity and an increase in functional redundancy, compared with unmanaged conditions. This means that although intensive management may buffer communities' functions against species or functional losses, it also limits the range of understory response to environmental changes.Policy implications. Different silvicultural regimes influence different facets of understory functional features. While unmanaged forests can be used as a reference to design silvicultural practices in compliance with biodiversity conservation targets, different silvicultural options should be balanced at landscape scale to sustain the multiple forest functions that human societies are increasingly demanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests are crucial in sustaining life on Earth and are at the core of global sustainability efforts, to which Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification makes a significant contribution. Changes in motivations, benefits, and challenges associated with FSC certification among Croatian companies, particularly in light of recent market fluctuations and global sustainability trends, have been examined in this study. The research was conducted in 2015 and 2023 using a survey method among FSC chain of custody (CoC) certificate holders in Croatia. A statistically significant decline in the proportion of companies citing customer demands and company image as the main reasons for FSC certification was observed, while environmental awareness became a more prominent motivation. Additionally, although key benefits such as retaining existing customers and attracting new ones remain important, a significant decline in the proportion of companies reporting increased profits as a benefit was noted. Challenges related to extensive documentation and frequent changes in standards also significantly increased. This study suggests that FSC certification remains crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the Croatian wood industry, especially as environmental concerns gain importance. Given that FSC standards help enforce European sustainability regulations, FSC certification is important for ensuring long-term resilience and success in an unstable market environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a monitoring system for the socio-economic indicators of private forest owners includes the comprehensive collection of various socio-economic data. These data encompass general information about private forests owners, the need for monitoring, periodicity, and other relevant factors. This holistic approach allows for a detailed assessment of the social and economic conditions of private forest owners, as well as the economic efficiency of their operations, ultimately aiming to achieve sustainable forest management. This research builds upon previous studies by the authors that investigated the need for monitoring of the socio-economic indicators of private forests and involved interviews with forest experts. Based on the data obtained from these earlier efforts, this study aims to present a refined methodology for monitoring of the socio-economic indicators of Lithuanian private forest owners. Based on the findings of this research, it is highly recommended that monitoring be implemented at the state level across the entire territory of the Republic of Lithuania. The results of this research show that the monitoring of the economic and social indicators of private forest owners benefits not only the owners but also the state and society as a whole. Residence size, property size, and association membership emerged as the most significant factors influencing the need for forest monitoring, while knowledge in forestry, distance to the forest, and gender showed weaker but still notable effects. The research results suggest that monitoring can help to ensure the sustainable management of forests and the maintenance of ecosystem services, in addition to contributing to the region's economic development. It is recommended that this monitoring be conducted every five years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant functioning, photosynthesis, and metabolic activities. In terrestrial settings, nitrogen is not always sufficiently available because its basic form (N2) must be fixed into other forms, such as nitrate and ammonium, to be usable by plants. Adding nitrogenous fertilizer to soils may provide a means of increasing forest productivity. Ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3), an effluent produced during gold extraction, requires mining companies to manage its long-distance and costly transportation offsite for disposal. Applying this nitrogenous effluent, in its treated form of ammonium sulfate (ammoniacal nitrogen from mine water was converted into ammonium sulfate locally), to regional forest stands could provide a cost-effective and more environmentally sound means of managing this waste product and enhance forest productivity. Here, we conducted greenhouse- and field-based experiments to evaluate ammonium sulfate fertilization on black spruce (Picea mariana) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) seedling growth. We assigned five treatments, varying in terms of the fertilizer concentration and presence/absence of biochar, to seedlings in greenhouse trials. We also applied various concentrations of ammonium sulfate to an 8-year-old black spruce plantation in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec. We found that black spruce and jack pine seedlings experienced greater growth than the controls in terms of the stem diameter (32–44%), seedling height (21–49%), and biomass (86–154%). In the field experiment, we observed 37% greater volumetric growth in plots receiving medium-level fertilization than the control. Although nitrogen fertilization lowered the soil pH, essential nutrients increased to favor greater seedling growth. Thus, ammonium sulfate, derived from local mining effluent, appears to offer a suitable alternative for enriching nitrogen-limited boreal soils and increasing tree growth. This application could benefit both regional mining industries and forest management bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests and related environmental assets are crucial for fostering environmental and socioeconomic development. Different forest management paradigms, such as sustainable forest management, ecosystem-based forest management, adaptive management, multiple-use forest management, and restoration ecology, have influenced the policy formulation of different countries at different times. However, while implementing forestry development reforms, few documented studies have explored the changing forest management paradigms and their implications on the sustainability of forests and societies in many developing countries. A case study design and literature review using document-content analysis was used to evaluate secondary data obtained from online sources. This paper aims to explore the changes in forest management paradigms in Kenya from 1968 to the present to contribute to a better understanding of the strategies needed to achieve sustainable forest management in the future. Results show that Kenya has implemented three formal forestry policies since independence in 1963. These include Sessional Paper No. 01 of 1968, Forest Policy of 2005, and the National Forest Policy of 2014. The evolving forest management paradigm reflects a progression from Sessional Paper No. 01 of 1968 to subsequent forest policies in 2005 and 2014. The 2005 and 2014 forest policies emphasize holistic ecosystem management and ecosystem services and integrate a human rights-based approach to community involvement. Moreover, all three forest policies have had positive and negative implications for Kenyan society. The Forest Policy and the National Forest Policy demonstrated more positive environmental and socioeconomic outcomes, such as increased forest cover, biodiversity conservation, community empowerment, poverty alleviation, and improved transparency compared to the Sessional Paper No. 01 of 1968. Unfortunately, some negative consequences include conflicting stakeholder interests, elite capture, and slow decision-making. Based on these findings, there is a need for policy impact assessment, addressing the adverse effects of policy, and long-term monitoring for sustainable future forest policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Despite the wide application of riparian buffers in the managed boreal forest, their long-term effectiveness as freshwater protection tools remains unknown. Here, we evaluate windthrow incidence in riparian buffers in the eastern Canadian boreal forest and determine the effect of windthrow on the water quality index of the adjacent freshwater ecosystems. We studied 40 sites—20 riparian buffers, aged 10 to 20 years after harvesting and 20 control sites within intact riparian environments—distributed among clay and sandy (esker) soils and black spruce (Picea mariana) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) stands. We observed more windthrow in the harvested stands (36%) relative to the control sites (16%), regardless of substrate and species. We determined that the most important factors explaining windthrow were exposition, harvesting, aquatic environment size, and stand characteristics. These factors drive wind exposure, speed, and force, which determine post-harvest windthrow risk. Furthermore, windthrow negatively affected the water quality index of the adjacent aquatic systems, i.e., greater windthrow decreased the protective effect of the riparian buffer. We recommend increasing the use of partial harvest near riparian environments and adapting riparian buffers to site conditions to ensure the long-term protection of adjacent freshwater ecosystems.

The sustainability of forests and forestland resources is essential in ensuring the long-term well-being of ecosystems, biodiversity, and human society. This study analyzed available data from triangulated sources that produced information about extent and locations of the current assets, threats, and opportunities that were analyzed using various statistical methods, image and spatial analysis, and situational analysis in order to develop and sustain applicable management, conservation, and protection strategies for forest and forestland (FFL) resources of Baler, Aurora. Results revealed that there were significant changes of FFL assets from 2003 to 2018, and the recent data showed that closed forest was still the dominant cover of the area along with other assets like biodiversity, tourism, water resources, and others. The decreasing trend of the forest cover was the result of expansion of cultivated lands that follows the occurrence of several threats both from natural and anthropogenic sources. The most severe among the anthropogenic threats is timber poaching followed by charcoal making, pole timber collection, and firewood gathering. These threats were driven by the number of dependents, home-to-threat distance, conveyances used, and income earned per activity. Social geomatics of the identified threats shows that the human activities had extended almost to the farthest portions of each sub-watersheds that affects opportunities for development and sustainable utilization of resources. Assets, threats, and opportunities were considered as inputs used in situational analysis of sub-watersheds of which prior-itization of use was decided and FFL management strategies were developed and proposed to be sustained in order to produce optimum ecological, socio-cultural, and economical benefits in the future.

The research aims to identify potential High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) in Moldova, seen as crucial for biodiversity and providing long-term benefits. Despite the fact that forests only cover 11% of the Moldova's territory, they account for more than 80% of the country's biological diversity and have social, economic, climate, hydrological, and erosion-control benefits. The methodology involved mainly developing identification criteria of these forests, according to the approach developed by FSC, and processing the existing cartographic data using GIS techniques. The findings reveal that almost one-half of Moldova's forests have potential for HCVFs: approximately 175,500 ha of forest land, accounting for 47.3% of the total forested area, were identified as potential HCVFs. Most of these forests are owned and managed by the state. An important outcome of this research is to contribute to the protection of valuable forest ecosystems and establish discussion platforms with stakeholders for their future conservation and long-term resource management. Forest managers, landscape planners, and beneficiaries of forest ecosystem services can use the findings to align management plans, prioritize conservation, and promote sustainable land use. Proper implementation of HCVF principles can attract donors and investors to support Moldova's forestry sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tree ontogeny is the genetic trajectories of regenerative processes in trees, repeating in time and space, including both development and reproduction. Understanding the principles of tree ontogeny is a key priority in emulating natural ecological patterns and processes that fall within the calls for closer-to-nature forest management. By recognizing and respecting the growth and development of individual trees and forest stands, forest managers can implement strategies that align with the inherent dynamics of forest ecosystem. Therefore, this study aims to determine the ontogenetic characteristics of tree regeneration and growth in northern European hemiboreal forests. Methodology: We applied a three-step process to review i) the ontogenetic characteristics of forest trees, ii) ontogenetic strategies of trees for stand-forming species, and iii) summarise the review findings of points i and ii to propose a conceptual framework for transitioning towards closer-to-nature management of hemiboreal forest trees. To achieve this, we applied the super-organism approach to forest development as a holistic progression towards the establishment of natural stand forming ecosystems. Results: The review showed multiple aspects; first, there are unique growth and development characteristics of individual trees at the pre-generative and generative stages of ontogenesis under full and minimal light conditions. Second, there are four main modes of tree establishment, growth and development related to the light requirements of trees; they were described as ontogenetic strategies of stand-forming tree species: gap colonisers, gap successors, gap fillers and gap competitors. Third, the summary of our analysis of the ontogenetic characteristics of tree regeneration and growth in northern European hemiboreal forests shows that stand-forming species occupy multiple niche positions relative to forest dynamics modes. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of understanding tree ontogeny under the pretext of closer-to-nature forest management, and its potential towards formulating sustainable forest management that emulates the natural dynamics of forest structure. We suggest that scientists and foresters can adapt closer-to-nature management strategies, such as assisted natural regeneration of trees, to improve the vitality of tree communities and overall forest health. The presented approach prioritizes ecological integrity and forest resilience, promoting assisted natural regeneration, and fostering adaptability and connectivity among plant populations in hemiboreal tree communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to understand the variations in the domain‐specific pro‐sustainable‐forest‐management behavior (PSFMBs) and their explanatory factors across ecological, economic, recreational, and Aboriginal domains and between Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal groups. A hybrid model of PSFMB, which integrates environmental psychology and resource economics perspectives, is conceptualized and estimated using multi‐group path analysis and data from three Aboriginal and three non‐Aboriginal communities in Ontario, Canada. Results show that both groups make substantial pro‐SFM contributions, but the contributions and their influencing factors differ across domains and groups. For Aboriginals, environmental worldviews and assigned forest values are the only influencing factors, while for non‐Aboriginals, income and forest environmental conditions play dominant roles. The findings confirm the fundamental differences in the roles of beliefs, values, and situational factors in influencing the PSFMB of Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal groups, highlight the need for theoretical lenses that account for cultural differences, and contribute to the development of inclusive policies that respect the unique values of different social groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of mechanization in forestry has increased productivity in the forestry sector, bringing positive and negative impacts that require a deeper understanding for sustainable forest management. This study aimed to apply a simplified instrument for assessing damage and environmental impacts in forest harvesting of commercial eucalyptus plantations, using a combination of methodologies. The methodology used combined interaction networks and impact assessment matrices, carrying out field surveys, transposing them to interaction networks and weighting them through assessment matrices, resulting in environmental indices (ES) for prioritizing actions. The study was conducted on a commercial eucalyptus plantation in the municipality of São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil. The mechanized harvesting of the area consists of the structure of a module with a mobile unit consisting of a harvester and forwarder. The results indicated that wood transport presented the highest ES, both positive and negative. The most significant negative impacts (ES) were the depletion of water resources and erosion, while the positive impacts included regional development and job creation. The most notable changes, positive and negative, were observed in the physical and anthropic environment, with a lesser impact on the biotic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale owners constitute an essential share of private forest ownership, and their decision-making significantly affects nature conservation and landscape formation. From economic and environmental viewpoints, forest owners' associations are one of the most effective ways to manage small-scale forest property. Using the example of the Czech Republic, this paper focuses on small-scale forest associations' potential in sustainable forest management. For the qualitative study, the authors interviewed small-scale owners to elicit how they perceived joint management through associations and what they considered their most significant benefits and values. The findings indicate that although small-scale owners realize the importance of associations for joint forest management, they are reluctant to join or form them. Their restraints mainly result from insufficient awareness. Improving the communication strategy amongst forest policy players with small-scale owners as stakeholders on the one side and state authorities on the other is vital. The positive approach could also be reached by inevitable changes in legislation and subsidy schemes because, as they are set now, they provide little opportunity for small-scale owners to associate. The findings, however, indicate a shift from small-scale owners perceiving the forest purely economically to understanding its socio-ecological values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Highlight discussing: Fajardo, A., Moreno‐Meynard, P. & Soto, D. P. (2024). Forest stand dynamics of a short‐stature tree species: Ecological knowledge for sustainable forest management. Journal of Applied Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2664.14662.Oliver stand dynamics conceptual model of tree stand succession was designed for tall trees but is not necessarily applicable to short‐stature tree species, which represent a large proportion of forests/woodlands worldwide.The South American short tree/shrub Nothofagus antarctica is a persuasive example of a short tree species that can benefit from an alternative conceptual model on stand dynamics. It also illustrates the high variability in stand dynamics observed in many short‐stature trees.Stand dynamics of short‐stature trees remain generally understudied, hindering their management and silvicultural use. Although generalisations may not be feasible due to the continuum of growth forms and succession dynamics of short trees, there is an urgent need to increase our knowledge for their sustainable management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) reserves constitute the critical cornerstone of forest resilience to adversity and post-disaster recovery. Planting densities and configurations affect the growth and physiological processes of trees and are essential to investigate the effects of planting densities and configurations on the storage and allocation of NSC in trees for afforestation strategies. We investigated the seasonal dynamics of NSC in various organs (leaves, branches, stems, coarse roots, and fine roots) of Populus sp. in a stand density experiment located on the western bank of Hongze Lake, Jiangsu, China to assess the whole-tree carbon budget. We used a nested sampling design of stands with density as the first factor, which included two levels [400 vs. 277 stems per hectare (sph)], and spacing configuration (square vs. rectangular) as the nested factor. Our results indicated that the seasonal characteristics of NSC in poplar were obvious, with NSC in storage organs being consumed for growth from March to May and gradually accumulating after July, peaking in November, with the highest fluctuations in branches and stems. The NSC pool was dominated by starch (72.73 ± 4.28%), and the stems (65.49 ± 5.43%) contributed more than half of the whole-tree starch pool, and the branches were the largest sugar pool (39.88 ± 8.36%). The seasonal patterns in poplar NSC were similar across different planting densities and configurations, whereas the NSC pool size varied significantly across configurations. Low planting density (277 sph) with square configuration increases NSC storage to optimum levels at the individual and stand scales. A square configuration with low intraspecific competition might be an optimal afforestation practice to enhance carbon sequestration in poplar plantations located in temperate monsoon climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The establishment of the Sanjiangyuan National Park (SNP) system indicates a higher requirement for refining management practices, especially for protecting the ecological barrier system (EBS) that supports national ecological security and biodiversity. However, it is still understudied how planners can identify the key areas for maintaining EBS in addition to functional zoning. This study took the SNP as an example and built a comprehensive analytical framework, including fragmentation analysis, landscape morphology analysis, and connectivity analysis based on graph theory. The study found that the ecological patches of the Lancang River Source sub-park are relatively complete, while those of the Yangtze River Source sub-park and the Yellow River Source sub-park are more fragmented according to different indicators. The study then identified key nodes and edges of sources for maintaining the EBS. These areas are located mostly near core zones of habitat patches. Furthermore, the study analyzed key patches for maintaining landscape connectivity using two indicators DN (degree of nodes) and dIIC (the delta integral index of connectivity), which respectively quantify the number of neighbors of a habitat and its impact on the whole connecting EBS. Last, the study identified areas with dense landscape corridors in the EBS for suggesting key protection areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To maintain the ecosystem resilience to large-scale disturbances in managed forests, it is essential to adhere to the principles of close-to-nature silviculture, adapt practices to the traits of natural forest types, and utilize natural processes, including natural regeneration. This study examines the natural regeneration patterns in silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)-dominated forests, analyzing how the stand structure—tree size diversity, species composition, and stand density—affects the regeneration. We analyze the data from four sites in Poland, Germany, and Italy, employing generalized linear and zero-inflated models to evaluate the impact of the management strategies (even- vs. uneven-aged) and forester-controlled stand characteristics (structural diversity, broadleaf species admixture, and stand density) on the probability of regeneration, its density, and the developmental stages (seedling, small sapling, and tall sapling) across a climatic gradient. Our results indicate a significantly higher probability of regeneration in uneven-aged stands, particularly in areas with lower temperatures and lower overall regeneration density. The tree size diversity in the uneven-aged stands favors advancement from juveniles to more developed stages (seedling to sapling) in places with higher aridity. A denser stand layer (higher stand total basal area) leads to a lower density of natural regeneration for all the present species, except silver fir if considered separately, signifying that, by regulating the stand growing stock, we can selectively promote silver fir. A higher admixture of broadleaf species generally decreases the regeneration density across all the species, except in a water-rich site in the Bavarian Alps, where it had a strong positive impact. These findings underscore the complex interactions of forest ecosystems and provide a better understanding required for promoting silver fir regeneration, which is essential for a close-to-nature silviculture under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union Biodiversity Strategy 2030 (EUBDS) aims to regain biodiversity through enhanced forest conservation and protection, which may lead to increased timber harvest in non‐EU countries. We aimed to identify the potential leakage of biodiversity risks as induced by the EUBDS. We created an indicator framework that allows one to quantify vulnerability of forest biodiversity. The framework is based on 26 biodiversity indicators for which indicator values were publicly available. We weighted single indicator values with countrywise modeled data on changed timber production under EUBDS implementation. Nearly 80% of the indicators pointed to higher vulnerability in the affected non‐EU countries. Roundwood production was transferred to countries with, on average, lower governance quality (p = 0.0001), political awareness (p = 0.548), forest coverage (p = 0.034), and biomass (p = 0.272) and with less sustainable forest management (p = 0.044 and p = 0.028). These countries had more natural habitats (p = 0.039) and intact forest landscapes (p = 0.0001) but higher risk of species extinction (p = 0.006) and less protected area (p = 0.0001) than the EU countries. Only a few indicators pointed to lower vulnerability and biodiversity risks outside the EU. Safeguards are needed to ensure that implementation of EUBDS does not cause harm to ecosystems elsewhere. The EU regulation on deforestation‐free supply chains might have limited effects because the sustainable management of existing and even expanding forests is not well considered. Sustained roundwood production in the EU is needed to avoid placing more pressure on more vulnerable ecosystems elsewhere. Decreasing species and habitat indicator values nevertheless call for global conservation and protection schemes. The EUBDS helped pave the way to the Kunming–Montreal Biodiversity Framework. Yet, lower values for the indicators mean governance and biodiversity engagement in non‐EU countries suggest that this global framework might not sufficiently prevent leakage of risks to biodiversity. Effective land‐use planning is necessary to balance conservation schemes with roundwood production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) is the dominant conifer species across a large part of North American boreal forests, providing many goods and services essential to human activities, and playing a major climatic role through the global carbon cycle. However, a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of climate change on black spruce has not yet been undertaken. The dynamics of black spruce are influenced by various living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors, as well as their combined effects, which are particularly responsive to changes in climate. Climate change predictions suggest that northern ecosystems will experience the world's most significant impact. Therefore, black spruce is likely to undergo profound disruptions in its growth and mortality rate in the next few decades, resulting in significant changes in forestry and carbon storage. However, these changes will not be uniform throughout the entire distribution of the species. Future changes in temperature and precipitation will create more stress for water availability in the boreal forests of western and central North America than in their eastern counterparts. Thus, significant longitudinal and latitudinal gradients in tree growth and mortality variability are expected throughout the range of the species. This literature review aims to summarise the impacts of climate change on individual tree growth and mortality of this major species. While enhanced black spruce productivity could occur through both increased air temperature and nitrogen mineralisation in the soil, moisture limitation in central and western North America will result in significant growth reduction and mortality events across these regions. Conversely, under the expected climate change scenarios, black spruce forests may be more resilient in eastern North America, where climatic conditions appear more suitable, particularly in their northernmost range. In this review, we identify current research gaps for some disturbances, which should be addressed to better understand the impact of climate change on black spruce. Finally, we identify issues associated with sustainable forest management and the maintenance of black spruce under projected future climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest plantations play an increasingly important role in meeting global demand for wood. They usually have higher yield than naturally regenerated forests. Thus, plantations can support economically viable wood production, enable forest conservation elsewere, help mitigate climate change by contributing to carbon sequestration and increase forest resilience and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors. If yield of plantations is not as high as anticipated, then their use could generate important sustainability issues. There are still major gaps in our understanding of the factors that influence yield, even with respect to black spruce, white spruce, and jack pine, three of the most commonly planted tree species in northeastern North America. Our objective was to evaluate the yield of forest plantations of these species over a 416 000 km2 region that was representative of northeastern North American forests. Contrary to our prediction, realized yield of operational plantations was consistently lower than anticipated. Site index and competition both played a significant role in determining the yield of plantations. In the context of uncertain realized yield of operational plantations, we emphasize the necessity of relying on adaptive management to determine harvest levels that are compatible with sustainable management objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The logging intensity often does not take into account the spatial heterogeneity of the forest volume of commercial native species in the Brazilian Amazon. This study aims to evaluate the spatio-temporal heterogeneity distribution by assessing logging intensity and its effects on the volumetric stock and abundance of commercial species, with a focus on sustainable management practices. This study was conducted in the Saracá-Taquera National Forest in the Brazilian Amazon. Forest inventory data, elevation, and PlanetScope satellite images were integrated into a geographic information system. The information was aggregated into regular 1-hectare cells for the times before, during, and after logging (t0, t1, and t2). The unsupervised classification algorithm k-means with four clusters was used to analyze heterogeneity. Before logging, areas with higher commercial volumes were distant from water bodies, while areas with lower elevation had lower wood stocks. Logging intensity was generally low, concentrating on a few trees per hectare. Logging in the study area revealed a heterogeneous spatial distribution by intensifying in areas with the highest wood stocks. These results suggest that, in addition to the recommended logging intensity according to legislation, forest heterogeneity should be considered by the manager, promoting adaptive strategies to ensure the conservation of forest resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the applicability of the Sustainable Forest Management socio-economic functions criterion was investigated together with the forestry studies in Muğla, Isparta and Antalya Regional Directorates of Forestry in the West Mediterranean Region. The study group of the research consisted of 117 forest engineers working in the West Mediterranean Region. In the research, a survey form consisting of 9 sections was applied to determine the opinions of engineers. To analyze the data obtained, with the help of the Statistical Package 28.0 program for Social Sciences; frequency and percentage, mean, t test (independent samples t test) was used for pairwise group comparisons, and one-way analysis of variance (one way anova) was used for comparisons of more than two groups. If a significant difference was found between the groups as a result of one-way analysis of variance, Tukey HSD (multiple comparisons) tests were applied to determine which groups caused the differences. According to the study results, engineers find the criterion very important. Levels of knowledge and awareness about the measure are high, but the perceived difficulty of measurement is high. For these reasons, studies should be carried out to increase the measurability level of the Criterion, standards should be developed, especially in social content indicators, and monitoring studies should be continued.

Forests provide a variety of ecosystem services that contribute in various ways to human well-being. In times of land-use pressures, urbanisation, and nature degradation, the societal demand for forest-based therapeutic uses is increasing. Although nature-related therapies and the beneficial effects of nature on health and well-being are an old concept in cultures such as Asia and, more recently, Europe, forest therapy offers are increasingly taking hold in the forest recreation landscape. This Commentary paper identifies recent forest therapy offers and research in Asia and Europe that focus on the therapeutic effects of forests and examine their underlying rationales, practices, and status. In particular, we elaborate the socioeconomic potential of forest therapy to contribute to human health and sustainable forest management. Based on a scoping review on forest therapy offers and research, we found that countries such as Japan and South Korea are ahead of European countries in the professionalization of forest therapy offers and respective studies. While the number of studies that demonstrate the positive health benefits of forests are increasing, there is a lack of understanding the link with forest management approaches and forest and health policies. A lack of socioeconomic evaluation hinders its successful integration into policy frameworks, and prevents its use as an alternative forestry product or preventive medical treatment. For forest therapy to become part of the forestry portfolio and a medical alternative, we recommend: • Interdisciplinary research approaches and new actor alliances that link societal demands for forest therapy with insights from forest management and medical health research, • Transdisciplinary research and multi-actor approaches to link insights from forest and medical research with practitioners’ skills for forest management, service design, and communication, • To identify trade-offs and conflict potentials with forest therapy, for example in relation to timber production or questions of insurance in case of injuries by falling branches etc., that allow to develop integrated and sustainable solutions, • Policy backup and economic support for forest managers and owners to compensate for their efforts to manage their forests for therapeutic purposes • Recognition of forest therapy as an explicit part of the forestry portfolio and an alternative medical offer for clinical treatments.

This study aims to estimate the adoption rate of genetically advanced loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) seedlings and better understand the factors influencing seedling choice among family forest landowners and consulting foresters in Georgia, a major forestry state in the Southern United States. We conducted two online surveys, one for landowners and one for registered foresters in Georgia. Our findings reveal that the adoption rate, self-reported knowledge, and positive perceptions of genetically advanced loblolly pine seedlings were high among respondents of both surveys. The adoption rate was 13.5 % of all managed forestlands by foresters (29.3 % for managed loblolly pine stands) and 18.0 % of all the forestlands (37.4 % of managed loblolly pine stands) owned by family forest landowners. Reasons for adopting among both groups included fast growth and favorable financial outcomes. However, barriers to adoption include cost, beliefs that other factors are equally or more important than the genetics of seedlings, and the need for more evidence. Furthermore, a high proportion of each group expressed an interest in adopting genetically advanced seedlings for increasing carbon revenue over time. Our findings suggest that more research about the related benefits is needed to increase the adoption of genetically advanced loblolly pine seedlings. We also found that communicating these benefits using trusted sources is also necessary. Our study will feed into the growing movement for using better genetics to improve forest productivity and reduce forest health issues in Georgia and beyond, especially on family forestlands, as they supply the majority of roundwood and other forest-based ecosystem services.

Logging is a dominant land-use activity across the tropics and a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. This study quantifies emissions from selective logging in a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified concession in Guyana that includes carbon in extracted logs, tree carbon left in the forest, and incidental tree mortality caused by felling and logging infrastructure. We also estimate carbon emissions from sawmilling of round logs. Emissions from harvested trees from stump to mill gate were 8.44 Mg CO2 m−3 (131.96 Mg CO2 ha−1). The main sources of emissions were from trees killed during felling (34%) and unextracted biomass of harvested trees (32%). On average, 15.5% of the harvested tree biomass and 43% of the log biomass was converted to sawn lumber (0.78 Mg CO2 m−3 of round log volume). We find similar levels of logging emissions in our study with those reported for non-FSC concessions in Guyana (8.54 Mg CO2 m−3) and Suriname (8.94 Mg CO2 m−3) but higher in two FSC-certified concessions in Suriname (6.65 Mg CO2 m−3). Adopting forest management practices that reduce residual stand mortality from felling and improved milling technology to reduce wood waste will help meet future demand for wood products and support climate mitigation goals.

Modern forestry systems rely on typologies of forest types (FTs). In Argentina, several proposals have been developed, but they lack unified criteria. The objective was to compare different approaches, specifically focusing on (i) phenoclusters (functional forests based on vegetation phenology variations and climate variables) and (ii) forest canopy cover composition by tree species. We conducted comparative uni-variate analyses using data from national forest inventories, forest models (biodiversity, carbon, structure), and regional climate. We assessed the performance of phenoclusters in differentiating the variability of native forests (proxy: forest structure), biodiversity (proxy: indicator species), and environmental factors (proxies: soil carbon stock, elevation, climate). Additionally, we proposed a simple FT classification methodology based on species composition, considering the basal area of tree species. Finally, we compared the performance of both proposals. Our findings showed that classifications based on forest canopy cover composition are feasible to implement in regions dominated by mono-specific forests. However, phenoclusters allowed for the increased complexity of categories at the landscape level. Conversely, in regions where multi-specific stands prevailed, classifications based on forest canopy cover composition proved ineffective; however, phenoclusters facilitated a reduction in complexity at the landscape level. These results offer a pathway to harmonize national FT classifications by employing criteria and indicators to achieve sustainable forest management and conservation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest management is the fundamental approach to continuously improve forest quality and achieve the quadruple functions of forests. The identification of forest management types is the basis of forest management and a key technical link in the formulation of forest management plans. However, due to insufficient application of forestry informatization and digitization, there are problems in the organization and application of management types, such as inaccurate identification, diversified standards, long organizational cycles, and low decision-making efficiency. Typical technical models are difficult to widely promote and apply. To address these challenges, this study proposes the Stacking Ensemble Forest Management Type Identification (SEFMTI) method based on Stacking ensemble learning. Initially, four typical forest management types from the sustainable forest management pilot of the Yichun Forestry Group were selected as research subjects, and 19 stand parameters were chosen to form the research data, training various recognition models. Subsequently, the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression and random forest (RF) methods were used to analyze key decision-making indicators for forest management type recognition and compare the performance of different models. The results show that (1) the SEFMTI model achieved an accuracy rate of 97.14%, effectively improving the accuracy of forest management type recognition while ensuring stability; (2) average age (AG), age group (AGG), crown density (CD), and stand origin (SO) are key decision-making indicators for recognizing forest management types; and (3) after feature selection, the SEFMTI model significantly enhanced the efficiency of model training while maintaining a high accuracy rate. The results validate the feasibility of the SEFMTI identification method, providing a basis for the gradual implementation of sustainable forest management pilots and aiding in the precise improvement of forest quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effects of various forest management systems, including logging practices, on soil properties is essential for implementing sustainable management strategies. In Malaysia, two types of forest management systems were commonly used: Malayan Uniform System (MUS) and Selective Management System (SMS) practices. However, their effects on soil quality remained elusive, especially after decades of recovery. To address this need, we selected three plots for the MUS and SMS in Johor, Malaysia, to assess soil properties in logged-over forest plots. All the plots were natural forest reserves. Soil properties analyzed include soil acidity, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, selected nutrient contents, and soil compaction. Generally, the results of the study indicate that forests logged using the SMS exhibit superior soil quality compared to those logged using the MUS according to several key soil properties. Specifically, significantly higher cation exchange capacity, potassium content, calcium content, and magnesium content with lower soil compaction was observed in the SMS when compared to MUS plots. In short, the SMS enhances soil quality more effectively than the MUS, even with a shorter logging cycle. This is because the SMS does not harvest all trees and distributes the impact of harvesting more evenly over time, rather than concentrating it at a single time point. Ultimately, this highlights that the SMS can play a significant role in promoting sustainable forest management practices by preserving soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a refined approach to spatially identify carbon sequestration assets, crucial for effective climate action planning in Illinois. By integrating landscape analytical methods with species-specific carbon assessment techniques, we deliver a nuanced evaluation of forest area sequestration potential. Our methodology employs a combination of landscape imagery, deep learning analytics, Kriging interpolation, and i-Tree Planting tools to process forest sample data. The results reveal a spatial variability in sequestration capacities, highlighting significant carbon sinks in southern Illinois. This region, known for its historical woodland richness, showcases the distinct carbon sequestration abilities of various tree species. Findings emphasize the role of biodiversity in the carbon cycle and provide actionable insights for forest management and carbon neutral strategies. This study demonstrates the utility of advanced spatial analysis in environmental research, underscoring its potential to enhance accuracy in ecological quantification and conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Practices in sustainable forest management are ruled by national forest policies. Legal standards of forest management applied in Central African region display increasing risks of long-term depletion of timber resources. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of sustainable logging practices by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the forest management rules applied in Cameroon. The management of the populations of timber tree species is based on population dynamics traits and on measures imposed by national forestry policies. Before any exploitation in natural forest concessions, a management plan must be approved to define the various activities and the potential impacts on the forest. Despite many relevant principles, nearly three decades of forest management in Cameroon have exhibited gaps that need to be addressed in the legal standards of forest management. Proposals for improvement relate to procedures for determining the recovery rate and how considerations on density and seed tree populations should be included into the legal management policies. These suggestions depend on the knowledge of demographic dynamics and the reproductive ecology of the timber taxa as well as a more rapid integration of scientific results into the legal forest management standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the southern United States (US), female forest landowners (FeFLs) constitute 27% of family forest landowners, owning approximately 12.1 million ha of forestland. With changing demographic trends, FeFLs will likely own more forestlands in the foreseeable future. Understanding FeFLs' perceptions of ecosystem services (ESs) is vital as their management decisions will impact the flow of forest-based ESs. Our study used a mental model approach to comprehensively understand FeFLs' socio-cultural perceptions of ESs. Interviews with 39 FeFLs in Georgia, US, highlighted diverse perceptions of forest-based ESs encompassing cultural, provisioning, regulating, and supporting services. The FeFLs' mental model revealed five thematic areas on ESs perceptions: economics, personal enjoyment, family and heritage, forestland as a place for social activity, and environmental benefits. The economics theme emerged distinctly regardless of their ownership type or forestland proximity, whereas personal enjoyment, family and heritage, and forestland as a place for social activity demonstrated place attachment. Co-owners linked forest management more closely to economics than sole-owners. Residential FeFLs valued social benefits, while non-residential landowners emphasized biodiversity significance. Our findings provide crucial insights for shaping inclusive strategies and policies, enhancing forest management among FeFLs, fostering a sense of community, and ensuring the sustainability of forestlands in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the carbon and environmental service potential in the natural tourism zone of special purpose forest areas Mount Bromo. The study focused on understanding how this area, with its specific tree compositions and sizes, contributes to carbon absorption and environmental benefits, which can also translate into carbon credits, a form of state revenue. The methodology involved purposive sampling to create observational sample plots (OSP) of varying sizes based on tree diameter. These plots were designed to measure the biomass, carbon potential, and environmental service potential of the trees in a given area. The collected data included the composition of tree species, the number of each type of tree, their diameters, and heights. The study applied specific formulas to determine the potential of biomass, carbon, and environmental services in the area. Key findings revealed a dominance of mahogany trees (83 trees per hectare) among ten identified plant species, indicating a specific but lower biodiversity in this zone. The significant results of the study include the quantification of biomass potential, which was found to be 787.84 tons/ha above-ground and 228.47 tons/ha below-ground, totaling 1016.31 tons/hectare. The study also evaluated the environmental service potential, including CO2 absorption and O2 production. The CO2 absorption capacity of the area was estimated at 1753.04 tons/ha, with a corresponding high O2 production of 1279.72 tons/ha. Additionally, the potential for carbon credits in the area was calculated at approximately 70.12 US$/ha. This research is crucial in understanding how specific forest areas, like special purpose forest areas Mount Bromo, can play a significant role in global environmental sustainability efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although stakeholders' participation in forest management helps overcome problems and conflicts that prevent sustainable solutions, different approaches and nomenclature for similar contents in the literature hinder theoretical progress on the topic. This study organises existing information through a bibliometric analysis of scientific papers from the last 30 years (1991–2021) on sustainable forest management, focusing on the stakeholders' participation. Results demonstrate that stakeholders' participation in sustainable forest management gained relevance from 2017 onwards. Case studies are predominant (66%) and six major trends were identified. The first emphasises a systemic approach to participation. The second updates the community management discussion. The third studies historical problems related to the use of resources, rights, and services. The fourth focuses on regional assessments and studies. The fifth concerns assessment, decision-making, and planning, including issues related to certifications and policies. The sixth discusses innovation related to adaptation, climate change, equity, and resilience. The studies included in this last classification are problem-solving-oriented and seek new forest management. Although important, the role of innovation in stakeholders' participation in sustainable forest management is overlooked, which constitutes an avenue for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest reserve degazettement affects the sustainability of forests by altering their ecological functions, hence threatening human livelihoods. This study examines a recently degazetted forest, using a survey of 120 local respondents living near the Ampang Forest Reserve (AFR) in Selangor, Malaysia. A simple random sampling technique was implemented to reduce sampling bias, and descriptive and correlation statistics were used in the analysis. The study aimed a) to examine the public perceived importance of forest ecosystem services from the AFR, b) to determine public awareness of a range of environmental threat levels towards the AFR's ecosystem services, and c) to assess public agreement on conservation measures that could increase protection and ensure the sustainability of ecosystem services from the remaining area of the AFR. The results revealed that all ecosystem services were perceived as important, and the public was mostly aware of environmental threats. At the same time, conservation measures should be implemented to protect and ensure the sustainability of ecosystem services from the AFR. This study provides insights into public perceptions of the importance of forest ecosystem services derived from vulnerable forest reserves. This indicates the relevance and need for better protection in high-risk forest areas, as local livelihood depends on its significant ecological roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights the factors and conditions for the formation of a regime of sustainable development (SD) of a territory with environmental management according to the criterion of completeness of the composition and functioning of the nature–economy–population geographical system of the territory. Completeness is a pass-through indicator of the optimality of systems of various kinds at the minimum and maximum levels of their existence and changes in the process of nature conservation, economic growth, and improvement of society. The degree of completeness is a variant of the evaluation function that distinguishes geosystems of different locations and variable states by a set of interchangeable influencing factors of natural, economic, and social origin and features of local conditions of the geographical environment. All the processes reflect the goal of striving for perfection in the form of completeness and safety of their systemic expression, for the ideal, and for the priority development goal; only when that is achieved will it be possible to overcome SD. The trends of completeness are distinguished as the upper and lower envelope lines (surfaces) of the diversity of the connection of data from field and statistical observations. Controlling additive influences shift the landscape norm of completeness of different locations. It is necessary to take into account special restrictions on the degree of incompleteness and overflow of system qualities. Models and methods of analysis are demonstrated by the example of restoration of forest plantations and the implementation of the investment process in the regions of Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tree ontogeny is the genetic trajectories of regenerative processes in trees, repeating in time and space, including both development and reproduction. Understanding the principles of tree ontogeny is a key priority in emulating natural ecological patterns and processes that fall within the calls for closer-to-nature forest management. By recognizing and respecting the growth and development of individual trees and forest stands, forest managers can implement strategies that align with the inherent dynamics of forest ecosystem. Therefore, this study aims to determine the ontogenetic characteristics of tree regeneration and growth in northern European hemiboreal forests. Methodology We applied a three-step process to review i) the ontogenetic characteristics of forest trees, ii) ontogenetic strategies of trees for stand-forming species, and iii) summarise the review findings of points i and ii to propose a conceptual framework for transitioning towards closer-to-nature management of hemiboreal forest trees. To achieve this, we applied the super-organism approach to forest development as a holistic progression towards the establishment of natural stand forming ecosystems. Results The review showed multiple aspects; first, there are unique growth and development characteristics of individual trees at the pre-generative and generative stages of ontogenesis under full and minimal light conditions. Second, there are four main modes of tree establishment, growth and development related to the light requirements of trees; they were described as ontogenetic strategies of stand-forming tree species: gap colonisers, gap successors, gap fillers and gap competitors. Third, the summary of our analysis of the ontogenetic characteristics of tree regeneration and growth in northern European hemiboreal forests shows that stand-forming species occupy multiple niche positions relative to forest dynamics modes. Conclusions This study demonstrates the importance of understanding tree ontogeny under the pretext of closer-to-nature forest management, and its potential towards formulating sustainable forest management that emulates the natural dynamics of forest structure. We suggest that scientists and foresters can adapt closer-to-nature management strategies, such as assisted natural regeneration of trees, to improve the vitality of tree communities and overall forest health. The presented approach prioritizes ecological integrity and forest resilience, promoting assisted natural regeneration, and fostering adaptability and connectivity among plant populations in hemiboreal tree communities.

In order to create sustainable conservation policies for biodiversity, it is imperative that participatory forest management (PFM) be assessed. Forests contribute to the sustainability of the planet by controlling soil erosion in agricultural areas and by moderating the effects of climate change. However, Ethiopia's forest resources have been under intense pressure because of the increased demand for wood products and agricultural conversion. As one of the potential solutions, the PFM programme was implemented in 1990. This study set out to investigate the effects of the PFM programme on land use and land cover (LULC) in the Alle district of southwest Ethiopia, as well as the variables influencing community involvement and the obstacles to PFM implementation and community involvement. Changes in forest cover were detected using Landsat images from 1992, 2012, and 2022 obtained from Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+), and Operational Land Imager (OLI). Images were obtained during the dry season and were cloud-free. A total of 240 respondents were chosen by means of a straightforward random sampling technique, and survey data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and field observations. Data were analyzed using ArcGIS 10.5, ERDAS Imagine 2015, SPSS version 20, and Excel 2010. The change in forest cover shows an increasing trend from 2012 to 2022. Again, grassland and wetland coverage in this study decreased rapidly. In the years 2012–2022, forest land increased from 462.7ha (74.8 %), to 569.8ha (92.1 %), while, the agricultural land, grassland, and wetland were reduced from 109.5ha (17.7 %) to 37.8ha (6.1 %), 31.9ha (5.2 %) to 0.0ha (0.0 %); 14.1 ha (2.3 %), to 10.8 ha (1.7 %) respectively. There have been beneficial developments in the forests over the last 30 years. The binary logistic regression model disclose that, land ownership had a negative impact on forest management participation, while other factors such as gender, education level, family size, TLU, access to credit, training, and law enforcement had a positive and significant (p

In developing countries, studies on sustainable preservation of forests (including non-timber forest products NTFPs) have been poorly carried out for promoting alternative income generating activities (IGA) to alleviate pressure on praised resources by local communities living close by protected areas. This study aimed at (1) inventorying NTFPs exploited by local communities around the Kahuzi Biega National Park (KBNP), (2) assessing their therapeutic values and nutritional contributions, and (3) analyzing their rural and urban market values to determine their potential as alternative income sources as well as the major constraints in their exploitation. Individual interviews were conducted with 790 rural and urban households in Kabare, Walungu, Kalehe, and Bukavu City, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) coupled with focus group discussions with key stakeholders around KBNP. Street vendors, restaurants, hotels, and market owners were also interviewed on uses, awareness of the nutritional and therapeutic values, and factors hindering NTFPs wide use in Bukavu urban environments. Physicochemical analyses were also conducted on main NTFPs to determine their nutritional values. Results showed that local populations around KBNP exploit at least 55 NTFPs, mainly for self-consumption as food, feed, and medicine. NTFPs represent the second most important income source around KBNP, accounting for 23.3 % of total households’ income after agriculture that generates 25.7 % of total households’ income. Income from NTFP trade was primarily used for food supply (29 %), investment in small businesses (19.6 %), children's education (17.7 %), and healthcare expenses (5.1 %). These NTFPs had varying nutritional values (in terms of proximate composition, essential minerals, and bioactive compounds). Solanum nigrum (24.9 %), Termitomyces robustus (18.0 %), Amaranthus viridis (17.6 %), and Piper nigrum (16.9 %) are valuable sources of proteins while Zingiber officinale (25.5 %), T. robustus (15.4 %) and P. nigrum (14.3 %) are rich in dietary fibres. Piper nigrum (37.0 and 128.3 mg/kg) and Basella alba (35.1 and 108.7 mg/kg) had the highest zinc and iron contents, respectively. Some of the most nutritious NTFPs, such as S. nigrum, Dioscorea spp., and P. nigrum had high contents in anti-nutritional elements and should be processed properly to maximize bioavailability. Besides, NTFPs created employment opportunities for collectors, vendors, supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants both in rural and urban areas. Though varying with rural communities, the main challenges in the NTFP value chain were low market values (48.6 %), short shelf life (22.5 %), and excessive taxation (19.1 %) while in urban areas, seasonality (36.9 %), scarcity (17.7 %), and prohibiting high prices (17.7 %) were the major limiting factors. This study highlights the significant role played by NTFPs in providing healthy and nutritious food and income for households surrounding the KBNP, and thus emphasizes the necessity for their promotion as alternative income sources and healthy diets to alleviate poverty and hidden hunger around the KBNP.

The Philippines' Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) Program is the primary strategy for sustainable forest management and social justice in the uplands. The upland communities provided a catalytic role to restore degraded forestlands and protect the remaining forest cover in the country, but unlike the timber license agreement (TLA) concessionaires, they do not have enough assets to fulfill their needs and responsibilities. They are also subjected to restrictive policies beyond their capacity to follow. While numerous works of literature have been written on the successes and failures of different modes of community forestry in Asia and the Pacific for the past two decades, very limited, if any, attention has been given to the role of community welfare as a prerequisite for sustainability and social justice in forestry. Using the data on national CBFM assessment in the Philippines, this paper critically examines the CBFM Program after more than two decades of implementation using the community welfare lens. Thematic analysis of results revealed that in achieving sustainability and social justice in forestry, the following crucial elements should be taken into account: (1) land tenure is a crucial aspect of community welfare but the complexity of social-ecological relations must be taken into account; (2) skewed priority towards biophysical targets undermines the importance of socio-economic needs and considerations in the uplands; and (3) restrictive and conflicting policies significantly diminishes the potential of CBFM for transformative change.