Tabu search optimization of horizontal and vertical alignments of forest roads

This article describes a program for optimizing horizontal and vertical alignments of forest roads using Tabu search, a modern heuristic technique. Once a series of intersection points (IPs) is selected manually, the program generates alternative horizontal and vertical alignments. The program precisely generates ground profile and cross sections using a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) derived from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. It accurately calculates earthwork volumes for curved roadways using the Pappus-based method. The program also estimates construction and maintenance costs. Tabu search optimizes forest road alignments based on the total costs. The application of the program to part of Capitol State Forest in Washington State, USA, indicated that the program successfully found better alignments than manually selected initial alignments. The effect of initial solutions and the number of iterations on the Tabu search process was examined. The result showed that the solutions were improved using the best solutions with the smaller number of grade change points as the initial solutions. It also showed that a small number of iterations could be used to reduce computation time due to the fact that Tabu search is based on a gradient search technique. Finally, the Dijkstra method was examined to find initial solutions without manually initialized solutions. The program, when combined with the Dijkstra method, could find similar-quality solutions from manually initialized solutions. The program will become useful with further tests and verifications.     

Improving cross drain systems to minimize sediment delivery using GIS

A well developed network of roads must exist as a necessary infrastructure system in modern forestry to facilitate forest operations. But forest roads have the potential to disrupt the drainage characteristics of watersheds and lead to negative impacts on the environment with increased erosion and sediment yields. Numerous factors affect surface erosion of roads and sediment production potential; determining and ranking them could be a guide for management decisions to erosion control. In this study, the CULSED model (as an extension of ArcGIS) was used to estimate sediment delivery and the distribution of a road network, given the existing culverts. Using the model, some culverts were added to the road network around places with high sediment delivery in order to minimize it. After a correlation analysis and adjustment between sediment production and the factors, i.e., road width, road gradient, age of road and vegetation cover, the trend of changes in sediment delivery with model changes in the input was investigated with a sensitivity analysis of the model. The results show that adding new culverts to the road resulted in a significant reduction of sediment delivery. The most important factor affecting sediment delivery was road width, followed by road gradient, vegetation cover and age of road. Road width and gradient were positively correlated with sediment delivery, while vegetation cover and age of road were negatively correlated. The best model to show the relation between sediment delivery and road width as well as with road gradient was a linear model, for vegetation cover a cubic equation and for road age a power model. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that sediment delivery had the greatest sensitivity to changes of road width and was least sensitive to changes in the age of the road. This model can help to estimate sediment delivery with its spatial distribution, which can be used for optimization of cross drain systems and strategies of sediment control. Application of the model requires field trials to acquire the necessary input data. The reliability of our results is a function of the accuracy of inputs, especially digital elevation model.     

Sedimentation associated with forest road surfacing in a bottomland hardwood ecosystem

Access systems are a necessary element of resource production in bottomland hardwood sites. However, road building may have a detrimental effect on hydrologic function of the site. This report describes initial results of a study designed to examine the effect of different road surfacing treatments on water quality.

Four surfacing treatments installed on two test roads included native soil, native soil with vegetative stabilization, 6 cm of gravel, and 15 cm of gravel over geotextile. During the first flooding season periodic sampling measured floodwater suspended sediments and location of erosion and sediment deposition within the road prism. Initial results suggest that sediment movement was confined to the road right-of-way, with no statistically significant sedimentation effects detected beyond the clearing limits of the road. The study is continuing for another field season.     

Impacts of forest drainage improvement on stream biota: A multisite BACI-experiment

Impacts of forestry have been described in many studies, with a strong focus on changes in run-off water quality. Biological responses to forest drainage and the efficiency of commonly used water protection methods remain largely unknown, however. We used a six-year replicated before-after-control-impact (BACI) field experiment to assess the effects of forest drainage improvement works (ditch cleaning; digging of supplementary ditches) on water chemistry, sedimentation, brown trout egg mortality and macroinvertebrate community composition in six headwater streams in Northern Finland. Standard water protection methods (ditch break combined with sedimentation pit) were used to reduce fine sediment (<1.0 mm) loading into the streams. Six artificial spawning sites were constructed in each stream, three downstream (treatments) and three upstream (controls) of the drainage areas. Sediment loading did not increase after forest drainage, and no changes were detected in water quality. Brown trout egg mortality rate increased after drainage works, but more so in the upstream controls than downstream treatment sections, and only in smaller (watershed <6.25 km²) streams. All macroinvertebrate metrics (e.g. total macroinvertebrate diversity and density) decreased significantly through time. However, these responses were observed in both control and treatment sections, and could not have been caused by the drainage works directly but were rather related to inter-annual variability in precipitation and discharges. Our results thus highlight the importance of placing results from local monitoring studies in a regional context.     

Methods to prioritize placement of riparian buffers for improved water quality

Agroforestry buffers in riparian zones can improve stream water quality, provided they intercept and remove contaminants from surface runoff and/or shallow groundwater. Soils, topography, surficial geology, and hydrology determine the capability of forest buffers to intercept and treat these flows. This paper describes two landscape analysis techniques for identifying and mapping locations where agroforestry buffers can effectively improve water quality. One technique employs soil survey information to rank soil map units for how effectively a buffer, when sited on them, would trap sediment from adjacent cropped fields. Results allow soil map units to be compared for relative effectiveness of buffers for improving water quality and, thereby, to prioritize locations for buffer establishment. A second technique uses topographic and streamflow information to help identify locations where buffers are most likely to intercept water moving towards streams. For example, the topographic wetness index, an indicator of potential soil saturation on given terrain, identifies where buffers can readily intercept surface runoff and/or shallow groundwater flows. Maps based on this index can be useful for site-specific buffer placement at farm and small-watershed scales. A case study utilizing this technique shows that riparian forests likely have the greatest potential to improve water quality along first-order streams, rather than larger streams. The two methods are complementary and could be combined, pending the outcome of future research. Both approaches also use data that are publicly available in the US. The information can guide projects and programs at scales ranging from farm-scale planning to regional policy implementation.     

Changes in benthic macroinvertebrate communities in upper catchment streams across a gradient of catchment forest operation history

The effects of forest harvesting on wet eucalypt forest stream macroinvertebrates were examined in Tasmania, Australia. Sites were selected in second to fourth order streams across a gradient of catchment forest harvesting history and in paired reference catchments. Historical data for every forest parcel (coupe) were obtained for each catchment, detailing forest operational type, area and year of operation, length of roads and number of stream road crossings.     

Forest-floor temperatures and soil moisture across riparian zones on first- to third-order headwater streams in southern New England,USA

Riparian zones along forest streams in the western United States have been repeatedly shown to be floristically and climatically different from adjacent upland forest, and to be important contributors to forest biodiversity. Similar evidence for the presence or function of riparian zones is lacking for forests of the northeastern U.S. We conducted seasonal surveys of forest-floor temperature and soil moisture across 30-m riparian transects on first- to third-order streams in southern New England. We were unable to detect any effect of distance from the stream channel on either temperature or soil moisture. These preliminary results indicate the absence of a unique riparian forest-floor microclimate within 30 m of low-order streams in southern New England. While this study failed to identify a distinctive riparian microclimatic zone, protection of a riparian buffer during forestry operations or other disturbance is essential for the protection of forest streams and their resources and the maintenance of forest biodiversity.     

Linkages between forest soils and water quality and quantity

The most sustainable and best quality fresh water sources in the world originate in forest ecosystems. The biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of forest soils are particularly well suited to delivering high quality water to streams, moderating stream hydrology, and providing diverse aquatic habitat. Forest soils feature litter layers and high organic contents, both of which contribute to an abundant and diverse micro- and macro-fauna. Root systems under forests are extensive and relatively deep compared to agricultural lands and grasslands. Together, these biological conditions create soils with high macroporosity, low bulk density, and highly saturated hydraulic conductivities and infiltration rates. Consequently, surface runoff is rare in forest environments, and most rainfall moves to streams by subsurface flow pathways where nutrient uptake, cycling, and contaminant sorption processes are rapid. Because of the dominance of subsurface flow processes, peak flows are moderated and baseflows are prolonged. Conversion of forests to row crops, pastures, or lawns almost always results in deterioration of water quality. In North America, the majority of municipalities ultimately rely on forested watersheds to provide adequate quantities of high quality water for human use. This is particularly true in the western and eastern parts of the continent where human populations are large or growing rapidly. Forest soils provide the perfect conditions for creating high quality water supplies. This paper provides a historical perspective of the linkage between forest soils and water quantity and quality over the past century, and it also makes predictions about research directions in the area of forest soil and water quality linkages.     

Assessment of soil erodibility and aggregate stability for different parts of a forest road

We measured erodibility and mean weight diameter （MWD） of soil aggregates in different parts of a forest road. Samples of topsoil were collected from cutslope, fillslope, road surface and forest ground to assess the texture, bulk density, moisture, CaCO3 and organic matter. Soil aggregate stability was determined by wet sieving. Soil erodibility on the road surface was 2.3 and 1.3 times higher than on the fillslope and cutslope, respectively. The forest soil had the lowest erodibility. Aggregate stability of cutslope and road surface were low and very low, respectively. There was a significant negative relationship between cutslope erodibility with CaCO3 and sand content. Cutslope erodibility increased with increasing silt, clay and moisture content. On fillslopes, MWD increased with in-creasing rock fragment cover, plant cover, litter cover, organic matter and sand. There was a strong negative correlation between fillslope erodibility and organic matter, sand and MWD. There was no significant difference between erodibility of bare soil and soils beneathRubus hyrcanusL. and Philonotis marchica （Hedw.） Brid.     

Post-harvest windthrow and recruitment of large woody debris in riparian buffers on Vancouver Island

Large woody debris (LWD) provides structural complexity to small streams. Riparian buffers are intended to provide long-term vegetation cover and supplies of LWD, but post-harvest windthrow often occurs. To evaluate the impacts of windthrow in riparian buffers and identify the components for a small stream LWD recruitment model, we sampled 26 streams in immature and older stands in wind-exposed areas of southwestern and northern Vancouver Island. These treed buffer strips had been exposed following clearcut harvest of adjacent timber on both sides 1–20 years previously. For stream sections 100 m long in each buffer, all logs greater than 7.5 cm diameter that spanned at least part of stream channel were measured. A total of 658 logs were recorded. Windthrown trees were comparable in characteristics to the trees that made up the buffer. The majority of logs derived from windthrown trees were oriented perpendicular to the stream channel and were suspended above the stream channel. Even 20 years after harvesting, two-thirds of the logs were still suspended above the stream. Logs in older buffers were more decayed, and the decay rate depended on tree species and initial diameter. Log height above stream was negatively correlated with log decay class and time since logging. Log length declined with time since harvest exposure and decay class. Sediment was exposed on upturned roots and within mineral soil pits. The volume of soil retained on upturned rootwads declined over time, but some soil remained even after 20 years. Very little of this exposed sediment was close enough to the creek to result in sediment delivery.     

Riparian trees,shrubs, and forest regeneration in the coastal mountains of Oregon

Riparian trees and shrubs are important providers of shade, bank stability, and woody debris needed for optimal stream quality and fish habitat in the coastal mountains of Oregon, but more data are needed to relate this woody vegetation to environmental variables. Trees, shrubs, and forest regeneration were studied in 22 riparian environments to provide those data. Conifer basal area increased with elevation, stream gradient, time since disturbance, and distance from the stream; it decreased with stream width. Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis Pursh) cover and stink currant (Ribes bracteosum Dougl. ex Hook.) cover were highest near the streams. Dwarf Oregon grape (Berberis nervosa Pursh) cover and salal (Gaultheria shallon Pursh) cover were lowest near the streams. Although forest regeneration was poor everywhere, it decreased with total shrub cover and increased with stream gradient. Existing riparian conifer stands should be maintained wherever a continuing supply of coarse woody debris is required.     

Characteristics of runoff and sediment generation of forest vegetation on a hill slope by use of artificial rainfall apparatus

We studied the impact of forest vegetation on soil erosion,surface runoff, and sediment generation by using field simulated rainfall apparatus. We measured runoff and sediment generation of five 4.5 × 2.1m runoff plots (a bare soil as a control; two Pinus tabulaeformis forestplots and two Platycladus orientalis forest with row spacing of 1 m × 1m and 1.5 m × 1.5 m, respectively) in Beijing Jiu Feng National ForestPark under three rainfall intensities (0.42, 0.83, 1.26 mm per minute).Forest vegetation significantly reduced soil erosion and sediment yield.Mean total runoff volume in the four tree stand plots was 93% of that inthe control plot, demonstrating the limited effectiveness of forest vegetation in runoff control. With increasing rainfall intensity, runoff reductionin forest plots declined from 28.32% to 2.1%. Similar trends in runoff coefficient and the relationship between runoff volume and rainfall duration was observed. Mean total sediment yield and mean sediment yield reduction rate under different treatments was 55.05% and 43.17% of those in the bare soil control plot, respectively. Rainfall intensity playedan important role in runoff and sediment generation processes, and had agreater impact on runoff than on soil erosion and sediment generation.When considering several factors in runoff and sediment transport processes, the P. tabulae form plot with row spacing at 1 × 1 m had a greater effect on soil and water conservation than did other forested plots.     

Long-term dynamics of large woody debris in a managed boreal forest stream

Little is known about how past forest management in Sweden influenced the quantity and quality of large woody debris (LWD) in streams. The present study provides information of the long-term dynamics of LWD in a reach of a boreal stream intersecting a managed forest. Dendrochronological methods were used to reconstruct mortality years of the pieces of LWD and the general history of fire and cuttings of the surrounding riparian forest. Today, spruce dominates among the living trees, whereas the LWD is dominated by birch in the forest and by pine in the stream. Fire frequency prior to active fire suppression was similar to values reported from boreal forests. Pine trees were more abundant in the riparian forest before selective logging operations and active fire suppression began in the 1800s. Many of the pieces of LWD found in the stream today died more than 200 years ago and derived from a cohort of pines that generated in the early 1600s. Pine LWD in stream channels is highly resistant to decomposition and can reside for more than 300 years. A substantial amount of the LWD found today in managed forest streams in boreal Sweden most likely derives from the time before extensive human influence and is likely to decrease further in the future. Management of riparian forests to ascertain future supply of long-lived LWD in streams should target to increase the proportion of pine trees.     

Does the effect of forest roads extend a few meters or more into the adjacent forest? A study on understory plant diversity in managed oak stands

Roads are recognised as having different ecological roles such as barrier, corridor or habitat, but the spatial extent of road effects on plant communities in forests remains unclear. We studied the effect of forest road distance on plant understory diversity at 20 sites in young and adult oak stands in a French lowland forest with a long history of management and road construction. All vascular and bryophyte species were collected at five distances ranging from the road verge to 100 m into the adjacent forest stand. We analysed species composition, individual species response, a priori life-history traits response – life form, habitat preference and dispersal mode – and environmental indicator values in relation to road distance and stand age. Plant composition strongly differed between road verge and forest interior habitats. The main road effect extended less than 5 m into the forest stand. A third habitat was detected at the forest-road edge resulting from the road effect on light and soil conditions, and from edge-specific topography. Non-forest species were almost absent from the forest interior. In contrast, many bryophytes and several vascular plants kept away from the road. We identified a posteriori six species groups that better explained the variability of plant response profiles than a priori life-history traits. Plant response to road distance was also dependent on stand age: some species colonised from the road into the forest interior in young stands following regeneration cutting, while other species displayed the reverse pattern in adult stands once canopy closed above the forest road. Even if the depth of forest road effect measured in lowland managed stands was narrow, building of a new forest road has non-negligible effects on plant population dynamics. Forest managers should take into account the impacts of roads on biodiversity, since the expected intensification of silviculture in response to global changes is set to accentuate the effect of forest roads. We recommend further study on the role of dispersal by vehicles (i.e. agestochory) in road effects.     

三峡库区典型马尾松林生态系统碳分配格局研究

马尾松林——三峡库区最主要的森林类型之一,对维持区域碳平衡具有非常重要的作用。本文以新田林场40 a～45 a生马尾松林生态系统为研究对象,同时结合铁山坪林场46 a～51 a生马尾松林文献资料,探讨了三峡库区马尾松林生态系统的生物量和碳分配格局。结果表明：马尾松林的总生物量约为140.00 t.hm-2,其中乔木层生物量所占比例大于80.00%。新田林场和铁山坪林场马尾松林生态系统的总碳储量分别为206.28 t.hm-2和197.78 t.hm-2,其中植被层约占1/3,土壤层占2/3。植被层中,乔木层碳储量占绝对优势。土壤层的碳储量主要集中于表层,土壤层碳储量呈现出随深度而降低的规律。与其它地区关于马尾松林的研究相比,年龄相近的林分,三峡库区的马尾松林碳储量偏低。因此,对三峡库区的马尾松林进行合理的经营管理,可能增加其固碳能力。     

滇缅公路薇甘菊危害状况调查初报

为掌握云南薇甘菊危害核心区内薇甘菊发生危害的分布特征,2010年11月22日沿滇缅公路木康至畹町桥段路肩两侧200m进行薇甘菊发生危害情况调查。结果表明,滇缅公路薇甘菊分布不连续,呈板块、点状分布;纬度越低,距中缅边境越近,薇甘菊发生、分布点频度越高;薇甘菊发生点盖度变化大,厚薄不均,发生面积大小不等;危害植物高度由被侵害植物高度决定;覆盖能力强,危害植物种类多,表现极强的入侵、侵害性;薇甘菊分布点多在农业耕作区的田边、地角以及稀疏林地、河流、溪水、水沟边和农户院落四旁;林木郁闭度大的林地薇甘菊危害相对较轻,完全郁闭的林中尚未发生薇甘菊危害。     

广州花城大道道路绿化及其变迁——以珠江公园段为例

花城大道地处广州珠江新城中央商务区，是20余年来广州城市主干道道路绿化发展的缩影。选取花城大道具代表性路段珠江公园段为研究对象，分析和研究其道路绿化从几何式种植到疏林草地，以及“花”主题营造从利用观花乔木到形成多层次观花体系的变迁历程，并对比该路段与临近城市主干道的差异，总结出花城大道道路绿化视野开阔、考虑行人视线的特点，及其所特有的“乔木—灌木—时令花卉—宿根多年生地被”造景模式。以此为基础，得出应在道路绿化建设中贯彻低碳理念，通过长期探索打造高品质的特色道路绿化，政府、设计师、公众多方协同巩固道路绿化成果的启示。     

广东省蕉岭长潭省级自然保护区表层土壤物性的研究

通过对广东省蕉岭长潭省级自然保护区针阔混交林、马尾松林、杉木林、毛竹林、阔叶混交林等5种不同森林类型土壤理化性质状况的比较,研究了不同森林类型对土壤肥力状况的影响。结果表明：（1）广东省蕉岭长潭省级自然保护区表层表土呈酸性,石砾含量、土壤容重、总孔隙度、毛管孔隙度和非毛管孔隙度分别为4.0%、1.11 g/cm3、58.01%、37.73%和20.28%;自然含水量、最大持水量、最小持水量分别为296.02,442.95,321.38 g/kg;土壤阳离子交换量为5.99-8.20 cmol（＋）/kg,电导率为57.87-97.44,全氮、碱解氮、全磷、速效磷和速效钾分别为1.88 g/kg、105.20 mg/kg、0.19 g/kg、2.22 mg/kg和130.53 mg/kg。（2）土壤孔隙度、土壤自然含水量、最小持水量、阳离子交换量、电导率、全磷、速效磷在不同林分类型间差异不显著,但土壤容重、石砾含量、最大持水量、土壤pH值、全氮、碱解氮、速效钾在不同林分类型间差异显著。马尾松林的石砾含量与针阔混交林、毛竹林、阔叶混交林有显著差异（p=0.003,p=0.009,p=0.01）,全氮与针阔混交林差异显著（p=0.025）,碱解氮与针阔混交林差异显著（p=0.028）,速效钾与阔叶混交林差异显著（p=0.012）;毛竹林pH值和杉木林、针阔混交林和阔叶混交林差异显著（p=0.026,p=0.030,p=0.035）。（3）从土壤理化性状来看,阔叶混交林、毛竹林的土壤质量和肥力要比马尾松林和杉木林好。