Coarse Woody Debris Variability Due to Human Accessibility to Forest

Carbon Storage in Biomass and Soil after Mountain Landscape Restoration: Pinus nigra and Picea abies Plantations in the Hyrcanian Region

Forest plantations have significantly more potential for carbon storage than non-forested areas. In this study, the amount of carbon stored in the biomass (trees, shrubs, herb, litter, and deadwood) and soil of 25-year-old plantations with P. nigra and P. abies species was measured and compared with the non-planted adjacent area (control) in a mountainous region of northern Iran. The results show that the amount of carbon stored in the biomass of P. nigra and P. abies plantations was 4.4 and 3.3 times higher than the value of the control (4.59 C Mg ha−1), respectively. In addition, the amount of carbon stored in soil was 1.5 and 1.2 times higher than the value at the control site (47.91 C Mg ha−1), respectively. Of the total carbon stored in the biomass of plantations, the highest level was observed in trees (86.5–88.5%), followed by shrubs (4.6–6.5%), litter (2.7–2.8%), the herbaceous layer (1.8–2.5%), and deadwood (1.7–2.4%), while 45.5%, 34.6%, 10.8%, 5.8%, and 3.3% of the total carbon stored in the biomass of the control site were in shrubs, trees, the herbaceous layer, litter, and deadwood, respectively. The soil carbon sequestration rate (SCSR) in soil depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm was 0.46 and 0.44 C Mg ha−1 yr−1 in the P. nigra plantation and 0.15 and 0.23 C Mg ha−1 yr−1 in the P. abies plantation, respectively. According to the results, we conclude that the restoration of the landscape by tree plantation has a substantially determining impact on the acceleration of carbon sequestration.

Addressing Gender Inequities in Forest Science and Research

Forest research and professional workforces continue to be dominated by men, particularly at senior and management levels. In this review, we identify some of the historical and ongoing barriers to improved gender inclusion and suggest some solutions. We showcase a selection of women in forestry from different disciplines and parts of the globe to highlight a range of research being conducted by women in forests. Boosting gender equity in forest disciplines requires a variety of approaches across local, regional and global scales. It is also important to include intersectional analyses when identifying barriers for women in forestry, but enhanced equity, diversity and inclusion will improve outcomes for forest ecosystems and social values of forests, with potential additional economic benefits.

Evaluation of Deadwood Characteristics and Carbon Storage under Different Silvicultural Treatments in a Mixed Broadleaves Mountain Forest

The deadwood (DW) of the forest is in the following two forms: standing (snag) and fallen (log). The DW categories and decay stage are important functional and structural components of forest ecosystems. We used a field-based assessment to quantify how the relative contribution of deadwood to total above-ground carbon stock changes across a silvicultural method and stand altitude gradient in mixed broadleaves stands. The characteristics of DW and carbon stock in selection-cutting managed stands (Sc), shelter-wood managed stands (Sh) and protected stands (Pr) were examined in three altitude ranges (low, <600; medium, 600–1200; and high, >1200 m a.s.l.) in a mixed broadleaves high forest. The results showed that with increasing altitude, the volume of DW increased. The volume of DW in Pr stands was about three times higher than Sh stands and twice higher than Sc stands. The volume of the standing DW was greater than that of the fallen DW in all stands. The highest volume ratio of fallen DW to standing DW was found in the medium altitude in the Sc stand. The amount of carbon stock by DW in the Sh, Sc, and Pr stands was 1.53–2.22, 2.29–3.19, and 5.03–6.80 t ha−1, respectively. The DW share of C-stock of above ground biomass was 4%–4.6% in Sh stand, 4.3%–4.8% in Sc stand, and 7.4%–7.9% in the Pr stand. Deadwood assessment and management, in terms of volume, type, species composition, diameter distribution, spatial allocation and decay stage, is one of the new challenges for a proper sustainable forest management.

The effects of harvest frequency on coarse woody debris and its use by fauna

Abstract Context Forest harvest practices have the potential to alter habitat available to forest fauna. One aspect of harvesting practice that has received little research attention is the effect of multiple rotations on available habitat, and its use by fauna. Aims We examined one component of habitat that is critical to many taxa, coarse woody debris (CWD). In forests of north-eastern New South Wales, Australia, we aimed to assess whether harvest (moderate intensity for saw-logs) frequency influences CWD levels, and whether fauna activity on CWD varies with harvest frequency and with CWD attributes. MethodsUsing habitat surveys and camera trapping, we compared CWD quantity and quality in unharvested sites with those that had been harvested once, twice and three times, and assessed fauna use of CWD. Key results We found significantly greater volume of non-hollow CWD, and of medium-sized pieces (15–30cm diameter), in sites harvested three times versus unharvested sites. Camera trapping showed that the activity and composition of fauna were similar across these harvest treatments. Our results also found that a broad range of fauna used a variety of logs, including large and small logs in various states of decay. Conclusions Consistent with other Australian studies, our results suggested that there are no detectable impacts of harvesting on hollow or large CWD. Further studies using radio-tracking or similar methods are needed to more comprehensively assess how CWD is used by fauna. Implications CWD was used broadly by a range of species and should be targeted for retention under ecologically sustainable forest management practices to ensure that it continues to be present in harvested landscapes. This is particularly important in places where an intensification of practices is being considered.

Structure and Dynamics of Deadwood in Pine and Oak Stands and their Role in CO2 Sequestration in Lowland Forests of Central Italy

There are many data values describing deadwood in primary forests, however, there is much less information concerning managed forests, particularly in the Mediterranean area. Whole non-living woody biomass (deadwood) is the main component of forest types that plays a vital role in improving and maintaining biodiversity. The dynamics of deadwood and CO2 sequestration by deadwood were examined in three Mediterranean lowland forests: pine forest Pinus pinea L.), evergreen oak forest (Quercus ilex and Quercus suber L.), and deciduous oak forest (Quercus cerris L.). The aim of this study was to carry out a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the deadwood to gather useful information for the Mediterranean forest management, and to provide some useful data that can be integrated into the methods of estimation for carbon stored in dead components of Mediterranean forest types. The investigations focused on the characterization of the deadwood, to determine which traits are dominant and their potentially functionality within the forest type. Results indicated the deciduous oak type had the highest amount of stand volume (379 m3/ha), deadwood volume (161.8 m3/ha), and C storage (31.43 t/ha). The major component of dead wood was the standing dead trees or snags. There was a higher volume of deadwood in the deciduous oak forest than in the pine and evergreen oak forests. In addition, the deciduous oak forest had a higher snag creation index, a higher fallen log creation index, and a higher past management index compared to pine and evergreen oak forest types. Deadwood volume increased as the decay class in the deciduous oak forest increased, while this trend decreased in the evergreen oak and pine forests. The amount of deadwood was affected by the forest type and forest management regime. Dynamic and past management of deadwood indices indicated that their structure was still in the initial phase of creation and decay in the pine and evergreen oak forests. A comparison with other studies on similar forest types brought out that the variation range of the main parameters for the management of deadwood fell within the variation of the parameters studied. However, the values of these parameters cover a broad range. The population of each forest type is extremely sensitive to the different evolutionary periods of the forest dynamics.